Wednesday, December 30, 2009


Walk in the Light of the Lord

Psalms 89:15 Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.

Psalms 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Proverbs 4:18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

Isaiah 2:5 O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.

Isaiah 59:8 The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.
9 Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness.

John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

John 11:9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.
10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.

John 12:35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.

Ephesians 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

1 John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Revelation 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Revelation 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

What must we have to Live?


Faith, Hope, and Love
And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13

Sermon: Our question today is one for now and the future. The past is already clear and done. We must move forward to our higher calling. The scripture shows us the way, and is a lamp unto our feet. Faith, hope and love abide in us as it is in Christ Jesus.

The greatest of faith , hope and love is love. The real question is why? We are faced with a world for all practical purposes;that has lost all relevance. As we bare witness, the Pope was tackled right before Christmas Mass? People are sick and suffering as no one speaks out nor cares. Yet, our scriptures does ring out, as a bright light in a very dark place. That Love is Great!

Do you ever wonder about Love? Have you ever asked yourself what is love, do I have love or to fall in love? Love makes the world go round. Love is the power beyound power. God is Love.

The love that God has and is clearly is found in Christ Jesus. He was born to save us from sin. Jesus gave His life on a bloody cross for our sins. God raised Jesus from the grave and gave Him All Power, Honor and Glory. Jesus is coming back for a New Zion.

Love my friend is God. His grace is found in Christ Jesus: The answer to all of our questions. Our faith, love and hope is in the Christ. Sure these are the darkest day ever seen by man. However the greatest gift is found in Jesus. He is our hope. His peace passes all understanding. His grace is simply amazing.

We will will be changed in a twinkling of an eye. God love us. We will see Him as He is in perfect Love. Jesus said if you have seen me, you have seen the Father. How shall we live. We shall live in Christ Jesus where peace,and love, and hope abide by faith in Him. Let us pray...Praise god in His Full Glory A-men.

Friday, December 25, 2009

Joy to the World






Joy to the World Lyrics
The words and lyrics of the old Christmas carol 'Joy to the World' were written in 1719 by Isaac Watts (1674-1748). The father of John Watts was a Non-conformist and so extreme were his views that he was imprisoned twice. His father's influence over Isaac was demonstrated when he choose to attend Non­conformist Academy at Stoke Newington in preference to a University. Watts was ordained as a Pastor of an Independent congregation. He wrote many hymns and Carols and was awarded a Doctor of Divinity degree by the the University of Edinburgh in 1728. The music to the carol is by George Frederick Handel (1685-1759).
Our grateful thanks goes to Eric Halstead for giving his kind permission to play his self sequenced midi file of this superb piano rendition of this Christmas Carol.







Joy to the World Lyrics
Christmas Carol Lyrics
Pause Music!

Joy to the World , the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

Joy to the World Lyrics
Christmas Carol Lyrics








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Tuesday, December 22, 2009

A Night to Remeber




Silent Night : Lyrics
Play Music !

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth "


Silent Night – Christmas Carol Music and lyrics

Sunday, December 20, 2009

What is The True Spirit of Christmas?


Luke 1:35 (New International Version)

35The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[a] the Son of God.


Footnotes:
a.Luke 1:35 Or So the child to be born will be called holy


Sermon: Glory to God in The Highest as we embark upon Holy Week, celebrating the day of The Lord, in Christ Jesus, it is a time to reflect on what God means to us today? This is a time of year that brings tremendous joy to the life of the believer. Our scripture tell us that The Holy Spirit will come upon you..the one to be born ...will be called holy


The angel of The Lord revealed to Mary, Gods plan and grace. Do you ever wished that you were Mary?

The Holy Spirit is the third component of The Trinity. God The Father of The Lord Jesus, Christ The Son of God, and The Holy Spirit. Mary was filled with all three, the week before Christmas. We too can be like Mary. Just filled with all whom God is, and can offer.

Christmas is perhaps the most miss-understood day of all. People are out trying to find the right gift; money is as tight as ever, and confusion, as to the future seems as murky as a fog filled day. Yet, we of the faith have seen a great light. We of the faith, are to be that great light.

Mary was only 13 years old on the first Christmas Day. She was meek and pure. Yet, she was filled with the hope of the world. Her heart must have had the most powerful love in the universe.

The Gospel is such a powerful testimony for the life of the believer. To understand what Mary experienced in her heart, is a gift of God. We pray for her gift today. To be filled with The Love of God; in Christ Jesus, by the power of The Holy Spirit is a good thing today. This is the light my friend, that moves the universe.

In closing, Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding. The people shouted, "you have saved the best for last." Jesus was born out of pure love. The Holy Spirit moved to make everything fall in to Gods plan. Jesus took this all to the cross; shed His blood, and on the third day, rose with all power and glory. Jesus died for our sins. For this purpose I was born. Now Jesus will return to set all things right.

Let us pray: Dear God, father of the Lord Jesus Christ, and The Gift of The Holy Spirit, fill us with Thy love O' Lord. Let us walk in the light. Let us be this light unto the world. The Holy Spirit built the universe by Your powerful hand. Keep us in the light. The light is good in Thy sight Lord our Strength and Redeemer. Let The Holy Spirit teach us what Christmas truly means. Bless us Lord, in all that we do. Let this ministry do Thy work; on Earth, as it is in Heaven. In Jesus Name: We Pray. A-men,,,,
















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Sunday, December 13, 2009

Is Christmas Really Important?


“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the
government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called
Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
ISAIAH 9:6

Sermon: The question as to the importance of Christmas is at hand today. People are so lost in the commercialization of Christmas has gone too far. Children believe more so in Santa Claus and miss the true meaning of the Christmas.

Our scripture helps make the coming of The Christ clear. A child is born who is wonder. This child is the counsellor. A baby born that is God. The everlasting Father. The prince of peace.

In other words, God will come to earth as a baby in the person of Jesus. We has come to save the world from all sin. He will give peace and have all power.

We thank God for His Goodness and Love in Christ Jesus. In Jesus we find hope and joy. God loves us so much that our faith in Jesus will save us from sin.

Jesus gave His life so that we may live in peace and joy with God forever. This is why Christmas is so very important. That God gave us 'Jesus who died on the cross and was raised by the power of God to save all who believe in Him will have eternal life.

The Joy of Christmas is that Jesus was born and died so that we may live. Is Christmas important? Yes. In the life of the believer it is a moment of absolute joy to know that God is with us through all time because of His Divine Love in us and Christ Jesus. What a wonderful idea to be with The Lord of our salvation forever. In Jesus name we pray.

Friday, December 11, 2009

The Face of God


We are entering a time of year where everything becomes so overwhelming that it is so easy to lose ones focus. The idea of seeing the face of God is unthinkable. The scriptures gives us some insight to the face of God. We of the faith believe that Jesus is the reflection of God and that we too are made in His image. I pray that you can appreciate these words to understand that we have all power through Christ Jesus. As we draw nearer to Christmas, let us reflect on the Son of God being born in a manger, in the middle of the night, in absolute silence and a star shining brightly in the night. Goodwill and Peace are the gifts from God. This is Face and will of God. That we place our faith in Jesus. God bless you so much. I hope you appreciate this writing:

" The Face of God "
"When You say, Seek My face, my heart has said unto You, Your face, O Jehovah, I will seek. Hide not Your face from me; turn not Your servant away in anger. You have been my help; do not leave me, nor forsake me, O God of my salvation." (Ps27:8-9)
"And He said, I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of Jehovah before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But He said, You are not able to see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live. And Jehovah said, Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen." (Ex33:19-23)

"Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood is not able to inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption." (1Co15:50)

"For now we see through a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall fully know just as I also am fully known." (1Co13:12)

"Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure." (1Jn3:2-3)

The 'burden' for each month's topic comes differently from month to month. This time it comes from a question of a visitor to the website.
"How about writing a study on Phil3:10, Psa27:8, stuff like this. If all we do is follow Him, which is a whole lot, believe me, all we see is His back, as Moses saw. I want to see His face. Where do I find His face? The Refiner sees his face reflected in the gold when it is fully refined. Does the "gold," also see His face? Do I need to wait for Heaven before I can see His face? Will I, even there?"
The term "face" is often considered to be synonymous to "presence", and is often translated that way. When Adam and Eve hid from God's "presence" (Gen3:8), the word could equally say "face". Ditto when Cain "went out from the presence of Jehovah" (Gen4:16) In seeking to be more 'literal' the LITV renders Gen3:8 with the word "face".
On the other hand the Hebrew word for "face" is also used of expressions like the "-surface- of the waters" (Gen7:18) Some translations say "face", and others "surface". Even in current English some might speak of the "-face- of the mirror"... referring to its flat shiny surface.

So, when we consider the matter of man's interactions and fellowship with God, we must consider variations and subtle nuances in the meaning of words, and the understanding of concepts.

For instance, if two people are interacting, there are many levels at which they do so. For the topic at hand let's consider two scenarios:

First, a couple are happily married. They are both together in the house, in harmony; one is doing chores over here, another over there. They sit down to eat a meal together. Perhaps they cuddle together while watching a favorite TV show. Through all of this they talk to each other, ask each other questions, respond in actions according to each other's verbal particulars.

But then, there's the more earnest interaction. Whatever the topic under discussion, they are standing or sitting, -facing- each other, looking each other in the eyes, perhaps holding hands or embracing. Perhaps the topic is so serious that they reach out and touch each other's face or cheek. If the topic is such that there are tears, perhaps the other reaches over to wipe away the tears.
What we speak of, most of the time, is this 'first' scenario. As the reader suggests as "seeing God's -back-". But what is being asked is the 'second' scenario. The person wants it. And in truth, is this not what all True Believers want!
But did you notice the progression of the Scripture passages that opened this article?

Seeking God's face, striving to be pleasing to Him (2Co5:9)... is that not the gist of the Christian life? Please note: we are not speaking of how to be saved. We are assuming this discussion (and article) is -to- [C]hristians, those who already know the Lord from having received Jesus unto Salvation of Eternal Life. (Jn1:12,3:16) We strive to be "holy" before our Holy God. (Eph1:4, 5:27, 1Pet1:14-17, etc) Things that are written to Believers from this ministry: is this not the essential summary of what we address regularly. Yes, many things are also written to the unsaved and pretenders; as well as warnings -about- the 'pretenders' -to- True Believers. But when we forget about others, and look inward, is this not our souls' desire? To be "faithful". (1Co4:2)

However, before Moses was shown God's 'back' parts, what does the passage tell us? What is the background of that incident?

"And Jehovah spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, and his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tent." (Ex33:11)
But why could not Moses see the face of God's glory? Israel had sinned. Moses had been up in the mountain receiving the Law at God's hand, and they were busily breaking the very first two commandments. They were worshiping an idol which they had made. And the context of the 'back' incident is Moses interceding before God on Israel's behalf. (Ex32-33) When Jesus was on the cross bearing the sin of the world, what did the Father do then? He turned His back on the Son, with whom their relationship had been "One" (Jn10:30); whereupon Jesus cries out, "My God, My God, Why have You forsaken Me?" (Mt27:46)
This is why we cannot go to Heaven. Even True Believers, on this earth, in these present bodies of "flesh and blood" ARE NOT ABLE TO go to Heaven. (1Co15:50) Our spirits are saved, and we have the Holy Spirit of 'promise' (Eph1:13); but we have not yet experienced the "redemption of our body" (Rom8:23) Our spirits could go to Heaven, because being saved, we "are the righteousness of God in Christ" (2Co5:21); and at death, that's what happens; the spirits go to be "home with the Lord" (2Co5:8) But you notice, at death, the -bodies- remain on this earth and rot, "dust...to dust" (Gen3:19)

But we have the promise. At the resurrection God will bring those spirits back to be joined up with their resurrected bodies. (1Th4:14-16) And what is the nature of these bodies?

"So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body." (1Co15:42-44)
This is why Paul also speaks of how our present view of God is presently 'dim', but then it will be face-to-face. We don't know it all now, but then we will. (1Co13:12) All we see presently is our physical existence and we have no clue as to the glories of eternity (1Co2:9), but when He comes for us and "transform[s] our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body..." (Php3:21) we will be "like Him" as we have a full view of Him "as He is" (1Jn3:2)
I suspect we -will- see God face-to-face, and look Him in the face. Remember the intimate moment mentioned earlier of the two, face-to-face, looking into each other's eyes, and one wiping the other's tears?

"...for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.... And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." (Rev7:17,21:4)
And so, what is our response to all this happy dreaming? Do we live, la-dee-dah, no cares in the world, running along frolicking, dancing with glee, "praising the Lord", and relishing that God loves us "just as we are", and His 'graaaeeeesss' sustains us because we know that He "knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust" (Ps103:14)? After all: whine whine, sniff sniff... I'm so weak, I just can't help it! Boo hoo!
But what does John exhort? Chin up! Salvation did not make us sissies!!

Get to work:

"And everyone who has this hope in Him -PURIFIES- himself, just as He is pure." (1Jn3:3)
"For this is the love of God, that we -KEEP- His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome." (1Jn5:3)

"For this commandment which I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you to understand, nor is it far off. It is not in the heavens, for you to think: Who shall ascend into the heavens for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it? Nor is it beyond the sea, for you to think: Who shall go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it? But the Word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, THAT YOU MAY -DO- IT." (De30:11-14)

Amen!
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Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Convocation: What We Need


Prayer: O Mighty God our Father, we praise Thee in The Name of Jesus and The Holy Spirit.

Blessed is The Lord: and His salvation, righteousness, truth, peace, faithfulness and word all in Christ Jesus. We lift You up Lord for what you did on the cross of a new life in Christ. Let our prayer be a blessing to us all in the name of
Jesus we pray. A-men

Scripture: Philippians 4:18-20 (King James Version)

18But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.

19But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

20Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen

Convocation: We live in the most interesting times. The Lord is good yet, the works of evil and corruption are abound. People are being tried in all directions. In some cases whole families have died at the hands of their own. Families are falling apart. Our religious leaders are silent.

God is still on the throne. We of the faith and light must stand strong with the Lord. God is Great and God is Good, Let us Thank Him for Our Food. Jesus is the bread of life my friend. Let us not get twisted in the winds of trouble, Keep the faith, walk in the glorious light of The Lord of Our Salvation.

The time is near, we are closer today than yesterday. Our God will supply all of our needs in the riches found in Christ Jesus. God is Great and God is Good. Christ Jesus is The Answer My Friend. We Pray for us all and pray for me...

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Sermon: The Road to Greatness

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father;

Our prayer is to magnify Thy Holy name in Christ Jesus. We pray that your anointing falls on us with the blessings of The Lord in full measure. We pray that The Holy Spirit will direct us as your will so orders. We thank You so much, and love You Lord.

Sermon:The Road to Greatness is a road less traveled throughout history. There have been many people who have been deemed great. True greatest is hard to measure. However, there is one road that lead to the greatest event in the history of all time.

Society enjoys numerous roads today. In Germany the Autobahn is the fastest highway or road if you will in the world. The Dan Ryan Expressway in Chicago is perhaps the biggest and most dangerous on the world. Yet the road to greatness is not as well known as these mega structures.

The road to greatest is the old country pass the took the virgin Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem. This my friend is the the absolute road to greatness. It is the road that took the King of Kings and Lord of Lords to a little manger for the greatest story ever told.

God selected a place called nowhere to give us the Prince of Peace. A barn to feed and shelter the animals to produce the greatest event of all time. Why is this so important one mat ask. Jesus was born to save the world. He was born so that we may live.

In fact, Jesus gave his life on the cross to pay in full the sins of the world. The blood that He shed give us a new life. This live is eternal. God gave us his son so that we may live with Him forever. That is why the road to Bethlehem is the Greatest Road of All time, because it leads to Calvary. God is so good my friend. He built this road for you and I to travel with Him in His full Glory, in Jesus name we pray . Jesus will return soon in His full glory to save us all forever. A-men.

Scipture: 2 (New International Version)

Luke 2
The Birth of Jesus
1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to his own town to register.
4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels
8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Please reflect on this story as we work our way to the new year...God Bless You!

Scripture for Life

John 3:16 (English Standard Version)

For God So Loved the World
16"For(A) God so loved(B) the world,[a](C) that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not(D) perish but have eternal life.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Praise God Today!

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
A-men

God Bless You Too Much Today!
Praise God All Day......

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Scripture for Life

This is the season to focus our attention on the Spirit, of The Christ Jesus. The more we meditate on the perfect of love that is found in The Christ, the more enriched our faith and our understanding becomes of the perfect will of God:

Isaiah 9:6 (New International Version)

6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, [a] Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace

God Bless you so much today and always, in the name of Jesus...A-men.

Monday, November 30, 2009

Prayer Time

Dear God our Father,

We pray today for the Will of God to lead,guide, and direct our lives in perfect order..

We submit to Thy Power and confess and repent of all sin.

We forgive all in the name of Jesus.

We pray for all people for all reasons. We pray for love to touch our hearts and souls in every way possible. Fill our cups and let them overflow with blessings and love so that we may share your word.

Praise and God and Thank God for all and each spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus. Lord do bless this ministry for an increase. Send your helpers by way of the Holy Spirit in Christ Jesus to lift Him Up Today.

Glory to God in The Highest and Peace on Earth. We ask in Jesus name A-men.

Oh Lord: Bless the children, homeless,the jobless, the poor, sick and elderly and give us peace in the valley. A-men

Saturday, November 28, 2009

What Roles Does Jesus Play in The World?

Prayer: Hear our O'Lord of our Salvation. Praise God for Whom all blessings flow. Thank You Lord for Christ Jesus and The Holy Spirit, with All Praise, Glory and Honor in His name we pray A-men.

Scripture:This took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said,
"Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"
Gospel of John 1:28-29

Sermon: We are so thankful in the Lord for this holiday experience. The question before us is what role does Jesus play? Often we thank God for all that He has done, and this is a good thing. Yet, the one thing that Jesus did was to save the world.

Our lives are simply one huge gift of God. Although we all make mistake and experience trouble and pain at some level we are Gods creation. Our faith is what makes the big difference in life and living. We walk by our faith in God through Christ Jesus. This is just an amazing thing. The Grace of God.

Our scripture tell us clearly that Jesus takes away the sins of the world. This is the role of Jesus. There has been no other person to die on the cross for the sins of the world and rise the third day to be with God. Moreover, Jesus is coming back soon to make a new heaven and earth for those who walk in His light. We praise God today for this light of heaven.The role did Jesus plays is to take away the sins of the world and to return to replace it with one of purity, Holiness and God. We praise God and Bless His Holy Name today. God Bless so much today. A-men in Jesus name...

Friday, November 27, 2009

Praise God to Thank God!

Glory to God in The Highest, all in Christ Jesus and The Holy Spirit of God.
We Thank You God with all of our Praise.

The Lord is good and worthy of all Praise.

We thank Thee Lord for all and each Spiritual Blessing in The Christ.

Lord we love Thee so much.

We can never Praise Your Holy Name enough...

Glory to Glory, with all thanksgiving, in the name of Jesus we pray, A-men...

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Can You Thank God?

The God and Lord of our Salvation stands ready to Love us today. We thank God for all blessings in Christ Jesus ans The Holy Spirit. Bless us all Lord. We love Thee so much today and forever. Thank You Lord for being our God and continue to Bless us. Thank You Lord for all that You Have Done and Will Do. In Jesus Name We Pray. A-men.

If You wish to Thank God ,Please do so....

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Pre-Thanksgiving Prayer

O' Lord, Thy God of all heaven and Earth,

We Praise Thee with all the love in our hearts.

We humble ourselves completely to Your power.

We thank Thee for all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus Your son.

We thank You for every drop of life we have in this world.

We pray for all those in need. We pray for all of our followers in The Joy of Jesus.

We thank you for the gift of this mew form of ministry, that seeks only to worship You in spirit and in truth. Bless us right now Jesus in Your name.Lord we can never thank you enough in these days. Thank You Lord.

To God be the power, glory forever A-men in Jesus name and joy we pray....

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Do We Really Appreciate Jesus

Prayer: Eternal God our Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and The Holy Spirit, we humble ourselves of all sin and forgive all in your name. We thank Thee for all blessings in Christ Jesus. We ask that You continue to bless and this ministry. Praise God for whom all blessings flow in the name of Jesus we pray.

Scripture:

Luke 17:11-19 (English Standard Version)

Jesus Cleanses Ten Lepers
11(A) On the way to Jerusalem(B) he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers,[a](C) who stood at a distance 13and lifted up their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us." 14When he saw them he said to them, "Go and(D) show yourselves to the priests." And as they went they were cleansed. 15Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back,(E) praising God with a loud voice; 16and(F) he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was(G) a Samaritan. 17Then Jesus answered, "Were not(H) ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18Was no one found to return and(I) give praise to God except this(J) foreigner?" 19And he said to him, "Rise and go your way;(K) your faith has made you well."[b]


Footnotes:
a.Luke 17:12 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13
b.Luke 17

Sermon: We see in our scripture that 10 lepers asked Jesus for healing and only one came back to say thank you. The lesson is so clear. Jesus can heal everyone for any reason, yet only one will give thanks. The question today are you the one?

Lepercy is a form of our modern day AIDS. This is a horrible disease. Jesus had compassion on these people and healed them. We need healing today. We also need to give thanks to God that we are able to give thanks for all of the blessings that life has to offer. God is good all the time. His love is beyound our understanding. We love God because He first loved us.

In closing, Jesus did His part by healing the 10, as He heals our sin sick world. Jesus died on the cross for our sins and resurrected on the right hand of the Father in heaven. This is the reason for thanksgiving. We thank God for His Grace and Love until the end of time. Praise God for His goodness and love during these difficult days. Bless us all in the name of Jesus, we give God all of the Power, Honor and Glory. A-men.

Thank God Almighty...

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Christian Education: Understanding Thanksgiving

Our lesson is to illustrate how Jesus receives a thanksgiving from one person out of ten. There are too many people who fail to give thanks. God Bless you today...

Nineteenth Sunday of Pentecost

Jesus Heals Ten Lepers

Luke 17: 11 - 19

Leprosy is a mildly contagious disease which today is called Hansen's disease and can be readily treated with sulfa drugs.

In Jesus' time people who were physically unclean or who had a disease were considered to be spiritually unclean and could not participate in prayers or make sacrifices in the temple.

The people in Palestine were afraid of lepers because they could infect healthy people with their disease, and they despised the lepers as people who must have committed terrible secret sins.

Since leprosy shows in the skin, lepers could not hide their illness from the community, so they were shunned and forced to live apart, because other people were afraid they could catch their disease from them.

Though leprosy is not fatal, it can affect the voice and vision, as well as the skin, nose, toes, and fingers, and the leper's physical condition continued to deteriorate during his or her lifetime.

Because lepers could not participate in worship, most people believed that the disease was a punishment for earlier sins - not being able to worship God was the worst punishment people could imagine, so people thought the lepers must have done something horrible to be punished so severely for their whole lifetimes.

That Jesus could cure a disease that no one else could even stop in its course shows that he was a true worker of miracles. That Jesus cured so many people who were prevented from praying and worshiping shows that his mission on earth was to reconcile people to God.

When Jesus healed the lepers just as Elisha had healed Naaman, many people thought he was an Old Testament prophet returned from the dead.

Some of the people Jesus healed may have had psoriasis, an autoimmune disease, which is not contagious. But people were so afraid of being banned from worship, that they avoided anyone who had a skin disease; nothing could be worse than a lifetime away from worshipping God.

1. How many lepers did Jesus heal?

[Jesus healed ten lepers.]

2. How many lepers came back to thank him?

[One healed leper came back to thank Jesus.]

3. Where did the healed leper come from?

[The healed leper came from Samaria.]

4. According to Jesus, why were the lepers healed?

[Jesus said, "Your faith has made you well."]

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Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Reaching Out for Jesus, True Thanksgiving

Matthew 21:9 The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David; BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Hosanna in the highest!"

One of the hardest jobs of the believer is reaching out for Jesus. People are more and more sceptical of The Lord. They are too busy, there is something else they have to do. They are just not into it. Yet, to reach out for Jesus could mean rejection.

These are the days when time may not be on our side. Everything happens so fast. Problems run like water. We need a strong foundation to simply go on in life. Jesus is that rock.

When I ask some people to visit us or join us, they are reluctant. They are afraid. Why one may ask? The answer is sin. We are so burdened by our faults, it is too painful to even think about it. But I have good news. Jesus can give you peace and joy.

In closing, reach out for Jesus. Tell some one about the goodness of God in Christ Jesus who died for all of our sins and was raised up by the power of God to return again to save those who hold on to their faith. Praise God Almighty in the name and joy of Jesus.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Our Father who art in heaven, Father of Christ Jesus and The Holy Spirit.
We humble ourselves of all sin, we forgive all in Your name.

Blessed is the name of the Lord. We Thank Thee Lord so much today. The Joy in our soul must be magnified. Lord we lift you up today and forever.

This Joy in our hearts is over-flowing. Thank you for the love of all the saints.

Praise God, Thank God, Glory to God. The Center of all Joy and Thanks giving.

Thank you Lord. We just Thank you. Bless us right now, let us continue to grow. Heal us Lord of all sin ,.

Glory to God in the highest.. Glory to Glory.
In Jesus name we pray...A-em.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Sermon: We need a Blessing

Prayer: Almighty God, we bless your Holy name and give Thee all the power, honor, glory and praise. We thank Thee for all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus for the His death on the cross, resurrection and return to all glory. Bless us now. We love Thee and magnify Thee. In The Name of Jesus we pray.

Sermon: Our message today is one of the blessings of The Lord in Christ Jesus from one of the greatest preachers of the past. God Bless you today...


Blessing for Blessing

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A Sermon
(No. 2266)
Intended for Reading on Lord's-day, July 24th, 1892,
Delivered by
C. H. SPURGEON,
At the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington
On Lord's-day Evening, October 26th, 1890.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love."—Ephesians 1:3, 4.
od blesses us; let us bless him. I pray that every heart here may take its own part in this service of praise.


"O thou, my soul, bless God the Lord,
And all that in me is,
Be stirred up his holy name
To magnify and bless!"

Sit in your seats, and keep on blessing God from the first word of the sermon to the last; and then go on blessing God till the last hour of life, and enter into heaven into the eternal glory, still blessing God. It should be our life to bless him who gave us our life. It should be our delight to bless him whom give us all our delights. So says the text, and so let us do: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."
I. Our first occupation, at this time, will be that of BLESSING GOD.
But how can we bless God? Without doubt the less is blessed of the Greater. Can the Greater be blessed by the less? Yes, but it must be in a modified sense. God blesses us with all spiritual blessings; but we cannot give him any blessings. He needs nothing at our hand; and if he did, we could not give it. "If I were hungry," saith the Lord, "I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof." God has an all-sufficiency within himself, and can never be thought of as dependent upon his creatures, or as receiving anything form his creatures which he needs to receive. He is infinitely blessed already; we cannot add to his blessedness. When he blesses us, he gives us a blessedness that we never had before; but when we bless him, we cannot by one iota increase his absolutely infinite perfectness. David said to the Lord, "My goodness extendeth not to thee." This was as if he had said, Let me be as holy, as devout, and as earnest as I may, I can do nothing for thee; thou art too high, too holy, too great for me to be really able to bless thee in the sense which thou dost bless me.
How, then, do we bless God? Well, I should say, first, that this language is the expression of gratitude. We say with David, "Bless the Lord, O my soul," and we say with Paul, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." We can bless God by praising him, extolling him, desiring all honour for him, ascribing all good to him, magnifying and lauding his holy name. Well, we will do that. Sit still, if you will, and let your heart be silent unto God; for no language can ever express the gratitude that, I trust, we feel to him who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus. Praise him also in your speech. Break the silence; speak of his glory. Invite other to cry with you, "Hallelujah!" or "Hallels unto Jah!" "Praise to Jehovah!" Ascribe ye greatness unto our God. Oh, that all flesh would magnify the Lord with us!
This language is also the utterance of assent to all the blessedness that is ascribed to the Lord. After hearing how great he is, how glorious he is, how happy he is, we bless him by saying, "Amen; so let it be! So would we have it! He is none to great for us, none too blessed for us. Let him be great, glorious and blessed, beyond all conception." I think that we bless God when we say concerning the whole of his character, "Amen. This God is our God for ever and ever." Let him be just what the Bible says he is; we accept him as such. Sternly just, he will not spare the guilty. Amen, blessed be his name! Infinitely gracious, ready to forgive. Amen, so let it be! Everywhere present, always omniscient. Amen, so again do we wish him to be! Everlastingly the same, unchanging in his truth, his promise, his nature. We again say that we are glad of it, and we bless him. He is just such a God as we love. He is indeed God to us, because he is really God, and we can see that he is so, and every attribute ascribed to him is a fresh proof to us that Jehovah is the Lord. Thus, we bless him by adoration.
We also bless God in the spreading of his kingdom. We can win hearts to him through his mighty grace blessing our service. We can fight against evil; we can set up a standard for the truth. We can be willing to suffer in repute, and every way else, for his name's sake. We can by his grace do all this, and thus we are blessing God. Surely, dear friends, if it is well-pleasing in God's sight that sinners should repent, if it makes heaven the gladder, and makes joy in the presence of the angels that men should repent, we are in the best and most practical way blessing God when we labour to bring men to repentance through faith in Christ Jesus.
There is also another way of blessing God which, I trust, we shall all endeavour to practise; and that is by the doing good to his children. When they are sick, visit them. When they are downcast, comfort them. When they are poor, relieve them. When they are hard pressed by outward adversaries, stand at their side, and help them. You cannot bless the Head, but you can bless the feet; and when you have refreshed the feet, you have refreshed the Head. He will say, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." If they be naked, and you clothe them; if they be sick, and you visit them; if they be hungry, and you feed them; you do in this respect bless God. David not only said, "Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;" but added, "but to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent in whom is all my delight." You can be good to them, and in that respect you may be blessing God. He has done so much for us, that we would fain do something for him; and when we have reached the limit of our possibilities, we long to do more. We wish that we had more money to give, more talent to use, more time that we could devote to his cause, we wish that we had more heart and more brain; sometimes we wish that we had more tongue, and we sing,—

"Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer's praise!"

This word "blessed" is an attempt to break the narrow circle of our capacity. It is an earnest endeavour of a burning heart to lay at God's feet crowns of glory which it cannot find: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."
II. But now, secondly, we shall spend a little time in VIEWING GOD in the light in which Paul sets him before us: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."
We bless the god of nature. What beauties he has strewn around us! We bless the God of providence. How bountifully doth he send us harvests and fruitful seasons! We bless the God of grace who hath redeemed us, and adopted us as his children. But here is a peculiar aspect of God, which should call forth our highest praises; for he is called "the God and Father or our Lord Jesus Christ."
When we see God in connection with Christ, we see God through Christ, when we see God in Christ, then our hearts are all aflame, and we burst out with, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." God apart from Christ—that is a great and glorious theme; but the human mind fails to grasp it. The infinite Jehovah, who can conceive him? "Our God is a consuming fire." Who can draw near to him? But in the Mediator, in the Person of the God, the Man, in whom we find blended human sympathy and divine glory, we can draw nigh to God. There it is that we get our hands upon the golden harp-strings, and resolve that every string shall be struck to the praise of God in Christ Jesus.
But note carefully that God is described here as the God our Lord Jesus Christ. When Jesus knelt in prayer, he prayed to our God. When Jesus leaned in faith upon the promises, he trusted in God that he would deliver him. When our Saviour sang on the passover night, the song was unto God. When he prayed in Gethsemane, with bloody sweat, the prayer was unto our God. Jesus said to Mary at the sepulchre, "Go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God." How we ought to bless God when we think that he is the God, whom our Redeemer blesses! This is the God who said of Christ, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Delightful thought! When I approach Jehovah, I approach the God or our Lord Jesus Christ. Surely, when I see his blood-stained footprints there on the ground before me, though I put my shoe off from my foot, for the place is holy ground, yet I follow with confidence where my Friend, my Saviour, my Husband, my Head has been before me; and I rejoice as I worship the God of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He is also called the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is a great mystery. Think not that we shall ever understand the high relationship between the first and second Persons of the blessed Trinity, the Father and the Son. We speak of eternal filiation, which is a term that does not convey to us any great meaning; it simply covers up our ignorance. How God is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ as God, we do not know; and perhaps to wish to gaze into this tremendous mystery were as great a folly as to look at the sun, and blind ourselves with its brilliance. It is so; that ought to be enough for us. God the Father is the Father of Jesus Christ as to his divine nature: "Thou art my Son; this day I have begotten thee." He is also his Father as to the human side of his nature. He was begotten of the Holy Ghost. That body of his, that human life, came of God; not of Joseph, not of man. Born of a woman, God sent forth his Son; but he was his Son then. It was God's son that was born at Bethlehem. Gabriel said to the Virgin Mary, "That holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." Now take the two natures of their wondrous blending in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, and you see how the great God is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Yet, sweet thought, he is my Father, too; my Father is Christ's Father. Jesus Christ's Father is our Father, and he teaches us all to call him, "Our Father, which art in heaven." Often in prayer he said, "Father"; and he bids us say the same, putting the plural pronoun before it, "Our Father." Now will you not bless the Lord, who is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ? Do you not feel a glowing in your hearts, as you think of the near and dear relationship into which you are brought through Jesus Christ? The God of Jesus Christ, the Father of Jesus Christ, is my God, my Father, too. Blessed, blessed, blessed, for ever blessed be that dear name!
III. Our third occupation, at this time, is that of RECOUNTING HIS GREAT MERCIES. I will read the rest of the third verse: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ."
This recapitulation of mercies is written with full assurance; and you will not bless God unless you have a touch of that same experience. Paul does not say, "Who has, we hope and trust, blessed us," but he writes, "Who hath blessed us." Ah, beloved, if you have a full assurance that God has blessed you in Christ, and that now his smile rests upon you, and all the benisons of the covenant are stored there for you, I think that you cannot help saying, "Blessed, blessed be the name of the Most High!" that doubt, that trembling, this it is that empties out the marrow from the bone of our blessedness. If you have suspicions about the truth of this precious Book, if you have questions about the truth of the doctrines of grace, if you have doubts about your own interest in those things. I do not wonder that you do not praise God, for a blessing which is only mine by peradventure, well, peradventure I shall be grateful for it; but peradventure I shall not. But if I know whom I have believed, if I have a firm grip of spiritual mercies, if all heavenly things are mine in Christ my Lord, I can sing, "Wake up, my glory; awake psaltery and harp; I myself will awake right early." "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings."
With this full assurance should come intense delight: "Who hath blessed us." God has blessed us. Come, brethren, he has not done some trifle for us, which we can afford to ignore. He has not merely given us some absolutely necessary boons, which we must have, for we could not live without them; but he has in grace dealt still more abundantly with us. He has gone beyond workhouse fare, and made us a feast with saints and princes. He has given us more than home-spun garments; he has put upon us robes of beauty and of glory, even his own spotless righteousness. He has blessed us; we are blessed; we feel that we are. Each believer can say:—

"I feel like singing all the time,
For my tears are wiped away;
For Jesus is a Friend of mine,
I'll praise him every day.
I'll praise him! Praise him! Praise him all the time!"

We are not sitting here, and groaning, and crying, and fretting, and worrying, and questioning our own salvation. He has blessed us; and therefore we will bless him. If you think little of what God has done for you, you will do very little for him; but if you have a great notion of his great mercy to you, you will be greatly grateful to you gracious God.
Let me also remark, next, that as assurance and delight lead to blessing God, so does a right understanding of his mercies. To help your understanding, notice what Paul says: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings." An enlightened man is grateful to God for temporal blessings; but he is much more grateful to God for spiritual blessings, for temporal blessings do not last long; they are soon gone. Temporal blessings as not definite marks of divine favour, since God gives them to the unworthy, and to the wicked, as well as to the righteous. The corn, and wine, and oil, are for Dives; and Lazarus gets even less than his share. Our thanks are due to God for all temporal blessings; they are more than we deserve. But our thanks ought to go to God in thunders of hallelujahs for spiritual blessings. A new heart is better than a new coat. To feed on Christ is better than to have the best earthly food. To be an heir of God is better than being the heir of the greatest nobleman. To have God for our portion is blessed, infinitely more blessed than to own broad acres of land. God hath blessed us with spiritual blessings. These are the rarest, the richest, the most enduring of all blessings; they are priceless in value. Wherefore, let me beg you to join in blessing the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed you with spiritual blessings.
But did you notice the word "all"? I must bring that out clearly. I must turn the microscope on it. "Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings." Surely, Paul means that we have not a spiritual blessing which God did not give. We have never earned one; we could never create one. All spiritual blessings come from the Father; he has really given us all spiritual blessings. "I have not received them," says one. That is your own fault. He hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ. A new heart, a tender conscience, a submissive will, faith, hope, love, patience, we have all these in Christ. Regeneration, justification, adoption, sanctification, perfection are all in Christ. If we do not take them out, it is the fault of our palsied hand, that has not strength enough to grasp them; but he has given us all spiritual blessings in Christ. Whenever you read your Bible, and see a great promise, do not hesitate to claim it. He hath given us all spiritual blessings in Christ. "I am afraid," says one, "that I should be presuming if I took some of the promises." He hath given us all spiritual blessings in Christ. You are in your Father's house; you cannot steal; for your Father says, "Help yourself to what you like." He has made over his whole estate of spiritual wealth to every believing child of his; wherefore take freely, and you will, by doing so, glorify God. He hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ.
This he has done in the "heavenly places." What does that mean, "Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places"? Does it not mean that he is working upon us all spiritual blessings out of the heaven where he dwells? Or does it mean much more, that his is sending us all these spiritual blessings to bring us to the heaven where he dwells, and where he would have us dwell?
I want to stir up your heart by reminding you that all the spiritual blessings we receive are the richer and rarer because they are given to us "in Christ." Here are the blessings; and Christ is the golden casket that holds them all. When the City of London makes a man a freeman of the city, the document giving him his liberty is usually presented to him enclosed in a golden casket. Christ is that golden casket, in which we find the charter of our eternal liberty. He hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ. If they came to us any other way, we might lose them; or we might not be sure that they were genuine; but when they come to us in Christ, they come to stay, and we know that they are real. If Christ is mine, all blessings in heavenly places are mine.
I seemed, to myself, to be talking very drily of things that ought to be swimming in a sea of joy and delight. Beloved, do not let my faint words rob my Lord of any of his glory. He has done such great things for you; bless his name. We cannot stand up, and ask for instruments of music with which to sound his praise; but we can sit still, and each one say, "Blessed be his name! It is all true; he has blessed me; I know that he has. He has blessed me, with a liberal hand, with all spiritual blessings. He has blessed me, just where I wanted blessing, where I was poorest in spiritual things. I could make my way in business, but I could not make my own way in grace; so he has blessed me with all spiritual blessings; and he has made the garments all the dearer because of the wardrobe in which he has hung them. He has given me these royal things in Christ; and as I look to my dear Lord, and see what there is for me stored up in him, I prize each thing the more because it is in him. Come, Holy Spirit, set our hearts on fire with blessing and praise to God for all the great things that he has done for us!"
IV. I shall close with this fourth remark: Let us bless God, BEHOLDING THE MANNER OF HIS GIFTS. That is described in the fourth verse: "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love."
Now, brethren, we are to praise God because all spiritual blessings have come to us in the same way as our election came, "according as he hath chosen us in him." How did that come? Well, it came of his free, sovereign grace. He loved us because he would love us. He chose us before he chose us. "Ye have not chosen me; but I have chosen you." If there is any virtue, if there be any praise in us now, he put it there. To the bottomless abyss of his own infinite goodness we must trace the election of his grace. Well, now, every blessing comes to us in the same way. God hath not blessed thee, my brother, with usefulness because thou didst deserve it; but because of his grace. He did not redeem thee, or regenerate thee, or sanctify thee, or uphold thee, because of anything in thee. Again and again, by the prophet Ezekiel, did the Lord remind his ancient people that the blessings he bestowed upon them were all gifts of his grace. "Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God, I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake." And again, "Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord God, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for you own ways, O house of Israel." Every blessing comes to us with the hall-mark of sovereign grace upon it. As the Lord distributed the gifts of his grace, he says, "May I not do as I will with my own?" He does so, and we bless, and praise, and adore the sovereign grace of God, which having chosen us, continues to bless us according as he hath chosen us in Christ.
Next, we have to bless God that all his gifts come to us in Christ. Notice Paul's words, "according as he hath chosen us in him." God called us in Christ. He justified us in Christ. He sanctified us in Christ. He will perfect us in Christ. He will glorify us in Christ. We have everything in Christ, and we have nothing apart from Christ. Let us praise and bless the name of the Lord that this sacred channel of his grace is as glorious as the grace itself. There is as much grace in the gift of Christ to save us as there is in the salvation which Christ has wrought out for us. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Again, all our blessings come from the divine purpose. Listen: "Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in him." No spiritual blessing comes to any man by chance. No man gets a boon from God through his "good luck:; it all comes according to the eternal purpose of God which he purposes or ever the earth was.

"Long e'er the sun's refulgent ray
Primeval shades of darkness drove,
They on his sacred bosom lay,
Loved with an everlasting love."

"Before the foundation of the world", says the text, there was a purpose in the heart of God, and in that purpose we were chosen, and by that same purpose God continues to bless us. Look, beloved, God never gives his people either a gift or a grace without his purpose. Has God given you a brain cleat, quick, capacious? Think for him. Has God given you a tongue fluent, eloquent? Speak for him. He does not give you these gifts without purpose. Has God given you influence among your fellow-men? Use it for him. Your election came according to his purpose; and so have all your gifts, and much more, all your graces. Have you a strong, bright-eyes faith? Have you burning zeal? Have you vehement love? Have you any of these gifts of the covenant? Use them for a purpose. God has given them for a purpose; find out what that purpose is, and glorify God thereby.
Lastly, the text tells us that God blesses us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, "that we should be holy and without blame before him in love." God's choice of us was not because we were holy, by to make us holy; and God's purpose will not be fulfilled unless we are made holy. Some people, when they talk about salvation, mean escaping from hell, and getting into heaven by the skin of their teeth. We never mean any such thing. We mean deliverance from evil, deliverance from sin. Like a dog in the manger, they cannot eat the hay themselves, and they growl at those who can. If you wish to be safe from sin, ask God for that great blessing, and he will give it to you; but if you do not want it, do not complain if God says, "I shall give it to such and such a person, and you that do not even ask for it shall be left without it." If you do not care to be holy, you shall not be holy. If you did not care for it, and wish for it, you might have it, for God denies it to none who seek it at his hands. But if you neither wish for it, nor value it, why do you lift your puny fist against the God of heaven because he hath chosen others, that they should be holy and without blame before him in love?
The object of our election is our holiness, and the object of every spiritual blessing is our holiness. God is aiming at making us holy. Are you not glad of that? May I not say, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, because his aim in every gift is to make us holy"? Brothers and sisters, would we not sacrifice everything we have, and count it no sacrifice, if we might be perfectly holy? I said to a young girl, who came to join the church, "Mary, are you perfect?" She looked at me and said, "No, sir." I said, "Would you like to be?" "Oh, that I would! I long for it; I cry for it." Surely, the God who makes us long to be perfect, has already wrought a great work in us; and if we can say that, to be perfect, would be heaven to us, then we are already on the road to heaven, and God is working out in us his eternal purpose, which is, "that we should be holy."
There is one thing more: "That we should be holy and without blame before him in love." Does that mean that we are to be loving, full of love, and without blame in that matter? Well, I am afraid that there are not very many Christians who are without blame on the score of love. I know a man, a noble man intellectually, and, in some respects, spiritually. I believe that he would die at the stake for the grand old Calvinistic faith; but he is as hard as iron; you cannot feel any kind of love to him, for he does not feel any kind of love to anybody else. That man is not without blame before God in love. I have known others; wonderful Christians they appear to be, they could pray for a week; but if you are poor, and ask them for a little help, your asking will all be in vain. I do not think that they are without blame before God in love. O brothers, God has chosen us to be loving, he has ordained us to be loving; and all the innumerable blessings which he has given to us, he sends to win us to a loving spirit, that we may be without blame in that matter. Our dear friend, Mr. William Olney, whom we remember here still, and never can forget, was, I think, without blame in that matter of love. I sometimes thought that he used to shed his love on some who might have been the better for a hard word; for they were deceivers; but he could not bring his mind to think that anybody could be a deceiver; and if anybody was in want of help, no matter though their own misconduct had brought them into poverty, his hand was in his pocket, and out again, very quickly with help for them. He never failed in love; and I pray that you and I, with prudence and wisdom mixed with it, may be without blame before God in the matter of love. Love your fellow-Christians. Love poor sinners to Christ. Love those that despitefully use you. Love those round about you who are strangers to the love of God. It may be that they will see in your love some little image of the love of God, as in a drop of water you may sometimes see the sun and the heavens reflected. God make us to be reflections of the love of God! His purpose is that we may be holy and without blame before him in love.
Now, I have set before you a rare treasury. Does this treasury belong to you? My dear hearers, is Christ yours? Are you trusting him? If not, there is nothing yours. Without Christ, you can do nothing, and you are nothing, and you have nothing. Come to Jesus as you are, and put your trust in him, and then all things are yours. If Christ be yours, beloved, then I charge you bless the Lord, ay, bless the Lord again and again, for you will never bless him as much as he deserves to be blessed. Let us finish this service as we closed our worship this morning, by singing the doxology,—

"Praise God from whom all blessings flow."


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EPHESIANS 1

The Epistle to the Ephesians is a complete Body of Divinity. In the first chapter you have the doctrines of the gospel; in the next, you have the experience of the Christians; and before the Epistle is finished, you have the precepts of the Christian faith. Whosoever would see Christianity in on treatise, let him "read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest" the Epistle to the Ephesians.
1, 2. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus; grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
All down through the ages this benediction comes to us, even to as many of us as are " the faithful in Christ Jesus." "Grace be to you," brethren and sisters, grace in every form of it, the free favour of God, all that active force of grace which comes of his unmerited love. May you have a fresh draught of it at this time! "and peace." May you feel a deep peace with God, with your own conscience, and with all the world! Oh, that you might find an atmosphere of quiet calm about your mind at this very moment! The double blessing of "grace" and "peace" comes "from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ."
3, 4. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world,
One of the first doctrines of our holy faith is that of the union of all believing souls with Christ. We are blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ. Apart from Christ we are nothing; in Christ we have "all spiritual blessings" We are rich as Christ is rich, when we are united to him by the living bond of faith. Another great doctrine of Holy Scripture is that of election. We are blessed in Christ according as the Father "hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world." Why did God choose any unto eternal life? Was it because of any holiness in them then existing, or forseen to exist? No, by no means; for we read that: "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world,"
4. That we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
We are chosen, not because we are holy, but that we may be made holy. The election precedes the character, and is indeed the moving cause in producing the character. Before the foundation of the world, God chose us in Christ, "that we should be holy and without blame before him in love." You see, then, beloved brethren and sisters, the end for which the Lord chose you by his grace.
5. Having predestinated us
Having destined us before we were born,
5. Unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
The chosen ones are adopted; they become the children of God. The universal Fatherhood of God, except in a very special sense, is a doctrine totally unknown to Scripture. God is the Father of those whom he adopts into his family, who are born again into his family, and no man hath any right to believe God to be his Father except through the new birth, and through adoption. And why God thus elects or adopts is declared here: "According to the good pleasure of his will." He does as he pleases. That old word of God is still true: "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." Men do not like that doctrine; it galls them terribly; but it is the truth of God for all that. He is Master and King, and he will sit on the throne, and none shall drag him thence.
6. To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
There is another precious doctrine, the acceptance of those who are adopted. We are beloved of God; he has a complacency toward us; he takes a delight in us; we are acceptable in his sight. Oh, what a blessing this is! But remember that it is all in Christ: "Accepted in the beloved." Because Christ is accepted, therefore those who are in him are accepted.
7, 8. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
In the working out of the economy of grace, God has been lavish with his love; but yet there have been wisdom and prudence in it. He did not suffer the full light of the gospel to break in upon our eyes at first, lest we should have been blinded by it. Jesus had many things to say unto his disciples; but they could not bear them all at once; so, by little and little he has led us on, and led us up, abounding always in his grace, and only limiting the display of it by our capacity to receive it.
9, 10. Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself; that in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all thing in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
Everything that is in Christ shall be gathered in; all his chosen, all that the Father gave him, all that he hath redeemed by blood, all that he hath effectually brought into union with himself shall be gathered together in one. There shall be one flock under one Shepherd.
11. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance,
Not only shall we have it, but we have it now. We have heaven in the price of it, in the principles of it, in the promise of it, in the foretaste of it.
11, 12. Being predestined according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
The enmity of men's hearts to this doctrine of predestination was seen in the House of Common, not a fortnight ago, when one who ought to have known better talked about "the gloomy tenets of Calvin." I know nothing of Calvin's gloomy tenets; but I do know that I read here of predestination, and I read here that God hath his own way, and his own will, and that he reigns and rules, and so he will until the world's end; and all who are loyal subjects wish God to rule. He is a traitor who would not have God to be King; for who is infinitely good and kind as God is? Let him have his divine will. Who wishes to restrain him? Whether we wish is or not, however, the Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice, and let his adversaries tremble. Our predestination is "according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will."
13, 14. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with the holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Those who believe in Christ have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them: the Holy Spirit is a part of heaven, "the earnest of our inheritance"; and wherever he dwells, it is not possible that the heart should lose the inheritance. It is entailed upon those in whom the Spirit dwells. Judge, there, dear brethren, whether the Spirit of God dwells in you or no.
15-23. Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and love unto all the saints, cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him; the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; they ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward, who believe; according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things in the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
How Paul glows as he writes on this great theme! He waxes warm, and rises to an enthusiasm of eloquence. We could not stop to explain his words; that were to spoil their mystic poetry. Oh, to have a heart that can glorify Christ as Paul did! Truly, if we know ourselves to be one with Christ, and know the privileges which come to us through that blessed gate, we may indeed extol him with all our heart and soul.



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HYMNS FROM "OUR OWN HYMN BOOK"—232; Ps. 103, Version I.; 219; and the Doxology.



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Thursday, November 12, 2009

Scripture for Life

Please pray with us and for us as we stand strong in the Word of God;


New International Version (©1984)
Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid?
New American Standard Bible (©1995)
A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread?

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
[By David.] The LORD is my light and my salvation. Who is there to fear? The LORD is my life's fortress. Who is there to be afraid of?

King James Bible
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

American King James Version
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

American Standard Version
Jehovah is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? Jehovah is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?

Bible in Basic English
The Lord is my light and my salvation; who is then a cause of fear to me? the Lord is the strength of my life; who is a danger to me?

Douay-Rheims Bible
The psalm of David before he was anointed. The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the protector of my life: of whom shall I be afraid?

Darby Bible Translation
{A Psalm of David.} Jehovah is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? Jehovah is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

English Revised Version
A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Webster's Bible Translation
A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

World English Bible
Yahweh is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? Yahweh is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?

Young's Literal Translation
By David. Jehovah is my light and my salvation, Whom do I fear? Jehovah is the strength of my life, Of whom am I afraid?


Geneva Study Bible
<> The LORD is my {a} light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

(a) Because he was assured of good success in all his dangers and that his salvation was surely laid up in God, he did not fear the tyranny of his enemies.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

PSALM 27

Ps 27:1-14. With a general strain of confidence, hope, and joy, especially in God's worship, in the midst of dangers, the Psalmist introduces prayer for divine help and guidance.

1. light-is a common figure for comfort.

strength-or, "stronghold"-affording security against all violence. The interrogations give greater vividness to the negation implied.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

27:1-6 The Lord, who is the believer's light, is the strength of his life; not only by whom, but in whom he lives and moves. In God let us strengthen ourselves. The gracious presence of God, his power, his promise, his readiness to hear prayer, the witness of his Spirit in the hearts of his people; these are the secret of his tabernacle, and in these the saints find cause for that holy security and peace of mind in which they dwell at ease. The psalmist prays for constant communion with God in holy ordinances. All God's children desire to dwell in their Father's house. Not to sojourn there as a wayfaring man, to tarry but for a night; or to dwell there for a time only, as the servant that abides not in the house for ever; but to dwell there all the days of their life, as children with a father. Do we hope that the praising of God will be the blessedness of our eternity? Surely then we ought to make it the business of our time. This he had at heart more than any thing. Whatever the Christian is as to this life, he considers the favour and service of God as the one thing needful. This he desires, prays for and seeks after, and in it he rejoices.



Exodus 15:2 "The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; This is my God, and I will praise Him; My father's God, and I will extol Him.
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Psalm 18:28 For You light my lamp; The LORD my God illumines my darkness.
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Psalm 28:8 The LORD is their strength, And He is a saving defense to His anointed.
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Psalm 62:7 On God my salvation and my glory rest; The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.
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Psalm 118:6 The LORD is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me?
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Psalm 118:14 The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation.
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Isaiah 33:2 O LORD, be gracious to us; we have waited for You. Be their strength every morning, Our salvation also in the time of distress.
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Isaiah 60:20 "Your sun will no longer set, Nor will your


Let us Praise God all in Christ Jesus and The Holy Spirit of God A-men

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

A Veterans Day Tribute

As a church and people we salute all veterans in service to their nation. We continue to pray for peace in a world filled with war and violence. The Holy Spirit of God has directed me to a different level of thought and emotion on this particular subject. The true focus of our time on Earth is one of service to God. My blood runs deep in terms of service to both God and Nation. Our veterans are worthy of this Day in The Lord.

Let us pray. Eternal God of all Peace. We pray for all veterans in service to all nations. We thank God and Praise God for all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus. We ask that peace have its day and way. We give You O' Lord all the power, glory and honor as you bless all veterans and their families with the gift of love and peace in troubled times. In Jesus name we pray..

Please note the following history and song that reflects our direct guidance by The Holy Spirit of God all in Christ Jesus; God Bless you today:

Baring-Gould wrote about this hymn:

Whit-Mon­day is a great day for school fes­tiv­als in York­shire. One Whit-Mon­day, thir­ty years ago, it was ar­ranged that our school should join forc­es with that of a neigh­bor­ing vil­lage. I want­ed the child­ren to sing when march­ing from one vil­lage to another, but couldn’t think of any­thing quite suit­a­ble; so I sat up at night, re­solved that I would write some­thing myself. “Onward, Christ­ian Sol­diers” was the re­sult. It was writ­ten in great haste, and I am afraid some of the rhymes are faulty. Cer­tain­ly no­thing has sur­prised me more than its pop­u­lar­i­ty. I don’t re­mem­ber how it got print­ed first, but I know that very soon it found its way into sev­er­al col­lect­ions. I have writ­ten a few other hymns since then, but only two or three have be­come at all well-known.

This hymn was sung at the fun­er­al of Amer­i­can pre­si­dent Dwight Ei­sen­how­er at the Na­tion­al Ca­thed­ral, Wash­ing­ton, DC, March 1969.


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Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
Forward into battle see His banners go!

Refrain

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.

At the sign of triumph Satan’s host doth flee;
On then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver at the shout of praise;
Brothers lift your voices, loud your anthems raise.

Refrain

Like a mighty army moves the church of God;
Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.
We are not divided, all one body we,
One in hope and doctrine, one in charity.

Refrain

What the saints established that I hold for true.
What the saints believèd, that I believe too.
Long as earth endureth, men the faith will hold,
Kingdoms, nations, empires, in destruction rolled.

Refrain

Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,
But the church of Jesus constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never gainst that church prevail;
We have Christ’s own promise, and that cannot fail.

Refrain

Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.
Glory, laud and honor unto Christ the King,
This through countless ages men and angels sing.

Refrain


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Sunday, November 8, 2009

Sermon: We need more Prayer

Glory to Good in the highest all in Christ Jesus and The Holy Spirit of God Forever in the Name of Jesus.
We need more prayer today. The question is why? There is so much evil in the world that we must get closer to God to protect our souls. Jesus was born to take away the sins of the world. Jesus died on the cross to give us our salvation to live with He and God for ever. God raised him on the third day, all to the Glory of God. This is what our faith. Glory to God in The Highest. We thank Thee Lord for such a wonderful gift in Christ Jesus.

We need more prayer to acknowledge this all important gift of our salvation that can overcome all the evils of this world. The key is The Lords Prayer:


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Lord's Prayer Commentary
by John Calvin

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Matthew chapter 6 verse 13

13. And lead us not into temptation Some people have split this petition into two. This is wrong: for the nature of the subject makes it manifest, that it is one and the same petition. The connection of the words also shows it: for the word but, which is placed between, connects the two clauses together, as Augustine judiciously explains. The sentence ought to be resolved thus, That we may not be led into temptation, deliver us from evil The meaning is: “We are conscious Of our own weakness, and desire to enjoy the protection of God, that we may remain impregnable against all the assaults of Satan.” We showed from the former petition, that no man can be reckoned a Christian, who does not acknowledge himself to be a sinner; and in the same manner, we conclude from this petition, that we have no strength for living a holy life, except so far as we obtain it from God. Whoever implores the assistance of God to overcome temptations, acknowledges that, unless God deliver him, he will be constantly falling. 441 “Afin qu'i! ne trebusche pas a chacun coup;” — “that he may not reel at every blow.”
The word temptation is often used generally for any kind of trial. In this sense God is said to have tempted Abraham, (Genesis 22:1 ,) when he tried his faith. We are tempted both by adversity and by prosperity: because each of them is an occasion of bringing to light feelings which were formerly concealed. But here it denotes inward temptation, which may be fitly called the scourge of the devil, for exciting our lust. It would be foolish to ask, that God would keep us free from every thing which makes trial of our faith. All wicked emotions, which excite us to sin, are included under the name of temptation Though it is not impossible that we may feel such pricks in our minds, (for, during the whole course of our life, we have a constant warfare with the flesh,) yet we ask that the Lord would not cause us to be thrown down, or suffer us to be overwhelmed, by temptations
In order to express this truth more clearly, that we are liable to constant stumbling and ruinous falls, if God does not uphold us with his hand, Christ used this form of expression, (μὴ εἰσενέγκὟς,) Lead us not into temptation: or, as some render it, Bring us not into temptation It is certainly true, that “every man is tempted,” as the Apostle James says, (1:14 ) “by his own lust:” yet, as God not only gives us up to the will of Satan, to kindle the flame of lust, but employs him as the agent of his wrath, when he chooses to drive men headlong to destruction, he may be also said, in a way peculiar to himself, to lead them into temptation In the same sense, “an evil spirit from the Lord” is said to have “seized or troubled Saul,” (1 Samuel 16:14 :) and there are many passages of Scripture to the same purpose. And yet we will not therefore say, that God is the author of evil: because, by giving men over to a reprobate mind,” (Romans 1:28 ,) he does not exercise a confused tyranny, but executes his just, though secret 442 “Combien que la raison nous en soit incognue;” — “though the reason of them may be unknown to us.” judgments.
Deliver us from evil The word evil (πονηροῦ) may either be taken in the neuter gender, as signifying the evil thing, or in the masculine gender, as signifying the evil one Chrysostom refers it to the Devil, who is the contriver of every thing evil, and, as the deadly enemy of our salvation, is continually fighting against us. 443 Chrysostom's words are: — Πονηρὸν ἐνταῦθα τὸν διάζολον καλεῖ Κατ ᾿ ἐξοχὴν δὲ οἱτος ἐκεῖνος καλεῖται διὰ τὴν ὑπερζολὴν τὢς κακίας, καὶ ἐπειδὰν μηδὲν παρ ᾿ ἡμῶν ἀδικηθεὶς ἄσπονδον πρὸς ἡμᾶς ἔχει τὸυ πόλεμον. “He calls the Devil, in this place, THE EVIL ONE. He is, by way of eminence, so called, on account of his superlative wickedness, and because, though he has received no injury from us, he carries on against us an implacable war.” — Ed. But it may, with equal propriety, be explained as referring to sin There is no necessity for raising a debate on this point: for the meaning remains nearly the same, that we are in danger from the devil and from sin, if the Lord does not protect and deliver us.
For thine is the kingdom It is surprising that this clause, which agrees so well with the rest of the prayer, has been left out by the Latins: 444 That part of the Lord's Prayer, which we commonly call the conclusion, is not found in the Gospel by Luke, and its genuineness has been questioned. None of the Latin copies (as Calvin mentions) have it: but even those who have most zealously maintained that it is spurious, admit that it exists in the greater number of the Greek manuscripts. Erasmus, Grotius, Witsius, Griesbach, Matthaei, and Scholz, may be consulted by those who wish to examine the question for themselves, and to hear all that has been said on both sides. Any thing like the summing up of the argument here would exceed the limits of a note. — Ed.
for it was not added merely for the purpose of kindling our hearts to seek the glory of God, and of reminding us what ought to be the object of our prayers; but likewise to teach us, that our prayers, which are here dictated to us, are founded on God alone, that we may not rely on our own merits.

Do continue to pray. Bless this ministry and all our followers. Let us continue to grow and bless others, we pray for Gods' Will for our families.We ASK this in Jesus name....


John Calvin (1509-1564) - Commentary on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 1