Listen & Hear: “What God Says”…

 CLICK HERE

A Divided Mind is a Divided Life Part 2

 Click Here 

A Divided Mind is a Divided Life

 Click Here

An Attack From The Enemy: What If?

 Click Here

Kiss the Son & Live

Psalm 2:11-12 (KJV)

Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

Give Honor to Jesus.

Kiss of submission

Kiss of adoration & religious worship (Ps. 45:1)

Kiss of affection & sincere love (Luke 7:38)

Kiss of agreement & reconciliation

Kiss of allegiance & loyalty (1 Sam. 10:1)

Kiss of worship

Kiss of friendship

Kiss of obedience

Matthew Henry:

To welcome Jesus Christ and to submit to him, Ps. 2:12. This is the great duty of the Christian religion; it is that which is required of all, even kings and judges, and it is our wisdom and interest to do it.

“Kiss the Son; enter into a covenant of friendship with him, and let him be very dear and precious to you; love him above all, love him in sincerity, love him much, as she did to whom much was forgiven, and, in token of it, kissed his feet,” Luke 7:38. (4.) With a kiss of allegiance and loyalty, as Samuel kissed Saul, 1 Sam. 10:1. Swear fealty and homage to him, submit to his government, take his yoke upon you, and give up yourselves to be governed by his laws, disposed of by his providence, and entirely devoted to his interest.

Christ is the way; take heed lest you be cut off from him as your way to God. It intimates that they were, or at least thought themselves, in the way; but, by neglecting Christ, they perished from it, which aggravates their ruin, that they go to hell from the way to heaven, are not far from the kingdom of God and yet never arrive there.

Swear fealty & homage (obligation to be faithful) to him, submit to his government, take His yoke upon you, & give yourself to be governed by his laws, & entirely devoted to His interest. 

It is certain ruin we run upon if  we refuse & reject Christ. His The Son; for it is at your peril if you do not. (Ps. 1:6) Lest your way perish. Christ is the only way. Yield to Christ. Those that trust in Him & so Kiss Him are truly happy. Blessed are those who trust i Him.  

Philippians 2:12 Amplified Bible (AMP)

12 So then, my dear ones, just as you have always obeyed [my instructions with enthusiasm], not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation [that is, cultivate it, bring it to full effect, actively pursue spiritual maturity] with awe-inspired fear and trembling [using serious caution and critical self-evaluation to avoid anything that might offend God or discredit The Name of Christ]. 

Kiss of Faith. Faith is vital. By Kissing Christ we fetch life from Him. The just shall live by faith. (Hab. 2:4, Rom. 1:17, Gal. 3:11, Heb. 10:38)

Kiss The Son: Pay homage to Him. Respect, reverence, public acknowledgment of Him, loyalty, adoration, awe, submission, & so much more. 

Blessed are all who take refuge in Him. Those who wish to know God must come to Him through His Son, Jesus Christ. Those who do not Kiss, or honor The Son of God shanty condemned by God. (John 3:18)

Kissing demonstrates the subject’s reverence towards the master. 

Why? Someday every one will submit to Him.

Philippians 2:10 Amplified Bible (AMP)

So that at the name of Jesus [a]every knee shall bow [in submission], of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth…

He died for YOU!

Romans 5:5-7 King James Version (KJV)

5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

Romans 3:23-25 King James Version (KJV)

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

John 10:9-11 King James Version (KJV)

9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

John 14:6 King James Version (KJV)

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 3:16 King James Version (KJV)

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Matthew 11:29-30 King James Version (KJV)

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

He took upon Himself your sin and is giving you eternal life. He said His yoke is easy, take it upon yourself. Surrender to Him today. Today is the day of salvation. Now is the acceptable time. (2 Corinthians 6:2) 

The Soul, The Deciding Factor

We all are made up of Body, Soul (mind, will, emotions), & Spirit. We all are born in sin and need to be made new. We must understand the whole man. 

1 Thessalonians 5:23 (KJV)

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We are born in sin and have the nature of Adam, who sinned from the beginning. That is why Jesus told Nicodemus he must be born again. 

John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

If we are going to know the difference between the soul & the spirit we must be in the word of God. 

Hebrews 4:12 (KJV)

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Even though many are born again and their spirits are alive, they still act and think in their Adamic nature. They are living in the old man. They are living in the ways and the feelings of the old nature. 

"The spirit of man must rule; otherwise, the soul and the body will take over." (Lester Sumrall, Spirit Soul and Body)

For the Christian, it is imperative that we understand how to walk and build up the spirit within. Jesus said in Matthew 26:41: "Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." 

Galatians 5:16-18 (KJV)

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

Colossians 3:9-10 (KJV)

Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

First we must be born again so our new nature can receive the things of THE SPIRIT. Then the battle begins. Our flesh doesn’t want the things of our born again spirit unless it is ruled by our new nature. Our soul, which is our mind, our will, & our emotions. Our soul is the deciding factor. The mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, it doesn’t not submit to God’s law. 

Colossians 3:10 (KJV)

And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

Ephesians 4:22-24 (KJV)

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Our soul - mind, will, & emotions will decide to accept or reject the things of God. If your soul is not fixed on eternal things, it will not hold steady in the time of crisis. The word of God in you controls your thinking & transforms your life. 

James 1:21 (KJV)

Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

Romans 12:2 (KJV)

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Romans 12:2 J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS) Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mold your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity.

Galatians 5:16 (KJV)

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Galatians 5:25 (KJV)

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Romans 8:13-14 (KJV)

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

We do not follow in our strength. We are led by His power. (Stay hooked up to the divine source of Power & go wherever He leads) As we surrender to the work of THE HOLY SPIRIT in our lives, He will work the miracle of renewal in our lives. When we let Him lead our flesh will be conquered. 

If we surrender to the flesh we will produce the works of the flesh. But if we allow the Holy Spirit to work in us we will produce the fruit of the Spirit. 

Galatians 5:18-25 (KJV)

But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Our soul (mind, will, & emotions) can surrender to the work of The Holy Spirit or our flesh (body). If we fill our minds with the things of this world and the things that will produce the works of the flesh then we will give in to all the things that are contrary to the ways of God. 

Romans 8:5-8 J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)

5-8 The carnal attitude sees no further than natural things. But the spiritual attitude reaches out after the things of the spirit. The former attitude means, bluntly, death: the latter means life and inward peace. And this is only to be expected, for the carnal attitude is inevitably opposed to the purpose of God, and neither can nor will follow his laws for living. Men who hold this attitude cannot possibly please God.

Read all of Ephesians 2, We were dead in trespasses and sins. We walked according to the course of this world. BUT GOD, who is rich in mercy, for his great love changed all that. We must receive this gift. 

Matthew Henry:

The mind is the acting ruling part of us; so that the renewing of the mind is the renewing of the whole man, for out of it are the issues of life, Prov. 4:23. The progress of sanctification, dying to sin more and more and living to righteousness more and more, is the carrying on of this renewing work, till it be perfected in glory. This is called the transforming of us; it is like putting on a new shape and figure. Metamorphousthe—Be you metamorphosed. The transfiguration of Christ is expressed by this word (Matt. 17:2), when he put on a heavenly glory, which made his face to shine like the sun; and the same word is used 2 Cor. 3:18; where we are said to be changed into the same image from glory to glory. This transformation is here pressed as a duty; not that we can work such a change ourselves: we could as soon make a new world as make a new heart by any power of our own; it is God’s work, Ezek. 11:19; 36:26, 27. But be you transformed, that is, “use the means which God hath appointed and ordained for it.” It is God that turns us, and then we are turned; but we must frame our doings to turn, Hos. 5:4. “Lay your souls under the changing transforming influences of the blessed Spirit; seek unto God for grace in the use of all the means of grace.” Though the new man be created of God, yet we must put it on (Eph. 4:24), and be pressing forward towards perfection.

We must frame our doings to turn. Lay your soul under the changing transforming influences of the Blessed Spirit. Seek the things of God. We must avoid being conformed to this world. Do not fashion yourselves according to this world. Do not conform to the lusts of the flesh. We must labour after the things of God. 

Colossians 3:1-3 (KJV)

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

Ephesians 4:22 (KJV)

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

Colossians 3:9 (KJV)

…put off the old man with his deeds;

Ephesians 4:24 (KJV)

And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Romans 13:14 (KJV)

But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.

Be ye transformed today. Be born again, then let the that transformed life change you. You can be free from this world and its ways. You do not have to give in to the culture and the thinking that produces death. Put off the old man and put on Christ. Our bodies are in submission to our mind. The mind is the control center of our body. In our mind we determine our affections. 

So our part is to set our affections, our minds, our will, our emotions, all on the things of God. Then the work begins. That work is The Holy Spirit’s work. As we do our part, He works a miracle of changing our lives. As we place our faith in what Jesus accomplished at the Cross and surrender daily to that work, we will be transformed!!!

Below is a link to a diagram that will help to understand the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

CLICK HERE

Slay Discouragement

2 Corinthians 4:16 (AMP)

Therefore we do not become discouraged [spiritless, disappointed, or afraid]. Though our outer self is [progressively] wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day by day.

Recognize discouragement and fatigue. Don’t listen to the lies of the enemies. Do not be afraid remembering The Lord who is great & awesome & you can receive encouragement from Him. Cry out to Him. Continue His work. Don’t let your feelings rule you. Concentrate on the ig Picture. Claim the encouraging promises of God. Force feed yourself the word of God if you have to. Don’t grow weary. Carry someone else burden. Sow encouragement. Be single minded. Set your focus & faith on unseen & eternal things. See the present from the perspective of the future. Look forward to God’s great & eternal glory. Recognize & believe in the certainty of victory for those who endure to the end. 2 Corinthians 4:17 (AMP) For our momentary, light distress [this passing trouble] is producing for us an eternal weight of glory [a fullness] beyond all measure [surpassing all comparisons, a transcendent splendor and an endless blessedness]! He always causes us to triumph. We are more than conquerors. 

Proverbs 17:22 (KJV)

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Proverbs 17:22 (AMP)

A happy heart is good medicine and a joyful mind causes healing, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.

Proverbs 17:22 (CJB)

A happy heart is good medicine, but low spirits sap one’s strength.

Proverbs 17:22 (GNV)

A joyful heart causeth good health; but a sorrowful mind drouth the bones.

Proverbs 17:22 (MSG)

A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.

Matthew Henry:

Note, 1. It is healthful to be cheerful. The Lord is for the body, and has provided for it, not only meat, but medicine, and has here told us that the best medicine is a merry heart, not a heart addicted to vain, carnal, sensual mirth; Solomon himself said of that mirth, It is not medicine, but madness; it is not food, but poison; what doth it? But he means a heart rejoicing in God, and serving him with gladness, and then taking the comfort of outward enjoyments and particularly that of pleasant conversation. It is a great mercy that God gives us leave to be cheerful and cause to be cheerful, especially if by his grace he gives us hearts to be cheerful. The sorrows of the mind often contribute very much to the sickliness of the body: A broken spirit, sunk by the burden of afflictions, and especially a conscience wounded with the sense of guilt and fear of wrath, dries the bones, wastes the radical moisture, exhausts the very marrow, and makes the body a mere skeleton. We should therefore watch and pray against all melancholy dispositions, for they lead us into trouble as well as into temptation.

Proverbs 12:25 (KJV)

Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.

Proverbs 12:25 (GNV)

Heaviness in the heart of man doth bring it down; but a good word rejoice it.

Proverbs 12:25(AMP)

Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, But a good (encouraging) word makes it glad.

Proverbs 12:25 (MSG)

Worry weighs us down; a cheerful word picks us up.

Proverbs 12:25(WYC)

Mourning in the heart of a just man shall make him meek; and he shall be made glad by a good word. (Mourning in the heart of a righteous person shall make him weak; but he shall be made happy by a good, or by a kind, word.)

Happy - Delighted, pleased, glad, favored

Cheerful-pleasant, hearty, ungrudging

Joyful - glad, delighted

Acts 26:2 (KJV)

I think myself happy…

Acts 26:2 (AMP)

“I consider myself fortunate…

Rally yourself

1 Samuel 30:6(KJV)

…but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.

(He encouraged himself. He found Strength in the Lord. He strengthened himself in the Lord. He drew Strength from the Lord. 

Judges 20:22(KJV)

And the people the men of Israel encouraged themselves

The Troops rallied themselves, took courage and strengthened themselves.

Colossians 2:2 (AMP)

[For my hope is] that their hearts may be encouraged as they are knit together in [unselfish] [a]love (Heart may be encouraged - unselfish love)

Hebrews 13:6(AMP)

So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently say,

“The Lord is my Helper [in time of need], I will not be afraid.

What will man do to me?”

It’s time we the people of God stand up and be cheerful. We have this confidence that the Lord is bigger than anything we are going through or will go through. Take on courage and strength today. This world needs what we have. Peace with God and the Peace of God. We may walk through the valley of death but He is with us!!!! WE WILL GO THROUGH!!!! 

Psalm 46:1 (AMP)

God the Refuge of His People.

God is our refuge and strength [mighty and impenetrable],

A very present and well-proved help in trouble.