JESUS CHRIST'S TREE
A few days ago, early in the morning, it was raining - a very light, sprinkling rain, so I stopped and stood under a tree to get out of the rain......
Suddenly,
A drop of rain hit me on the top of my head.
I laughed, and said -
Father, You got me!
I'm standing under a tree,
But You got me!!!
He Who knows me and loves me intimately,
"Got me" forever on a tree---
Called Jesus' cross at Calvary;
There He died for you and me.
'Though He died and was buried,
He was not done yet.
Conquering sin, death, and the grave,
He brought victory!!!
Now, giving His life to you and me.
He is still not finished---
Because you and I are not complete.
By His word and His Spirit
He is transforming us to be...
so that in you and me
Others can see
Jesus Christ the King---
Lover, Life-giver, and Eternal Victory!!!
So let us - His pupils,
The "apples of His eye",
Never fall far from His tree;
So His reign in, and over us,
Will bring many others
To Him for eternity.
Friday, May 22, 2015
Thursday, May 21, 2015
THE PREEMINENCE OF JESUS CHRIST!!!!!!!!!!!!
"...that in all things He may have the preeminence." (Colossians 1:18)
(that in all things Jesus Christ may be recognized as Supreme, of First Importance!!!).
Let's begin with a brief look at the disciple of Jesus Christ named John. As Jesus' disciple, John walked with Jesus, He sat under Jesus Christ's teaching for approximately three and one-half years. John saw Jesus perform miracles, He went to the top of the Mount of Transfiguration with Jesus, where Jesus spoke with Moses and Elijah.....John was a friend of Jesus. (John 1:1 - John 21:25; John 15:14-15)
Now, let us look at John.....now an elderly man...exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the gospel.
(Remember, when Jesus was here on earth, John was a disciple and fiend of Jesus.....now, let us see, and hear, what John saw and heard of Jesus - after Jesus has ascended to heaven!!!).........
Revelation 1:9-18 --- "I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
"I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind a loud voice, as of a trumpet,
"saying, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last...
"Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me." ("see the voice".....Have you ever thought about SEEING a voice??? Keep reading, and the graphic description of the "voice" will enable you to see it in your "mind's eye", and by the Holy Spirit to see it in your heart!!!!!!!!!).
"Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands,
"and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.
"His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire.
"His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters.
"He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance (face) was like the sun shining in its strength.
"And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, 'Do not be afraid, I am the First and the Last.
"I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. I have the keys of Hades and of Death.'" (Revelation 1:9-18)
[I am sure that most of you who are reading this are familiar with Niagara Falls, which is located in the state of New York, where it borders Canada. Many of you have either visited Niagara Falls,, or at least seen it on television or in movies. Whether you have seen it or not........please ask, and allow, the Holy Spirit to "...guide you into all the truth" (John 16:13); and let your "sanctified imagination" help you to SEE the voice, and all that is described above in Revelation 1:9-18........
You can hear Niagara Falls from a distance. When you get close to the falls...you can hear almost nothing BUT the falls! It is indeed a thundering sound...but it never stops like ordinary thunder does! The air is FILLED with water! If it is a sunny day when you see the falls.........rainbows are all over the place! EVERYTHING that is anywhere near the falls is permeated, SOAKED with water!!!!!!!
And God created Niagara Falls (Genesis 1:1 - 2:7). It is proved throughout God's Word that the Creator is infinitely superior to everything that is created. Therefore "...His voice as the sound of many waters" is infinitely greater than Niagara Falls!!!!!!!].
Let us keep in our hearts, our minds, and our spirits how HOLY and how AWESOME JESUS CHRIST is !!!!!!!!!
"...that in ALL things Jesus Christ may have the preeminence."!! (Colossians 1:18)
That in every part of our lives, and in ALL things---Jesus Christ is First and Supreme!!!!!!!
There are two Key words in this message, and for the rest of our lives; the rest of our lives begins the MOMENT you finish reading this sentence.
The two key words are "In", and "All" "In", and "All".
(Not just "all in", meaning "fully committed".) "In", and "All".
We are to be continually setting our hearts on: (A) Jesus Christ being preeminent (first in order, supreme) in ALL things; and (B) our completeness IN HIM.!!!
All right now, Let us begin THINKING, REPEATING, AND BELIEVING these "Alls" about JESUS CHRIST:
"Firstborn over all creation" (Col. 1:15) (not just the timing of His physical birth:- but His exalted position!!!)
"For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers (rulers or authorities). All things were created through Him and by Him." (v. 16)
"And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist".(Col 1:17)
"...He upholds, maintains, guides, and propels the universe...by His mighty word of power"!!!
(Hebrews 1:3/Amplified Bible)
"...For it pleased the Father that in Him (Jesus) all the fullness should dwell, and by (Jesus) to reconcile all things to Himself, by (Jesus) whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross." (Col. 1:19-20)
"In..(Jesus Christ) are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."(Col. 2:3)
(A little joke: You mean Jesus Christ has more wisdom and knowledge than "Google" and "Wikipedia"? YES!!!!!!! "In Jesus Christ are hidden ALL the treasuries of (TRUE) knowledge and wisdom."
"Jesus Christ... is the head of all principality and power (rule and authority)." (Col. 2:10)
NOW, begin agreeing-with-Jesus Christ about us-IN HIM:
IN JESUS CHRIST we may: (Colossians 1:9-14; 2:12-14)
know His will, fully please Him, be strengthened,
qualify to partake of the inheritance of the saints in the light;
be conveyed out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of the Son of His love,
have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins;
buried with Him in baptism, .in which we were also raised with Him
through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead,
made alive together with Him; (He) having...nailed to the cross all
requirements against us..."!!!(Colossians 1:9-14; 2:12-14)
Did you get all of that?
Can you remember all of it?
THANKFULLY, He wrote it down for us!!!!!!! (You will find it in Colossians chapters 1-4, and Revelation 1:9-18).
PLEASE Study it for yourself! "...the Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth." (John 16:13)
He can make it intimately personal for you!!!!!
For now, remember 4 things:
1) Jesus Christ is to be Preeminent in ALL things!!! (Col. 1:18)
2) We are (each) "...complete IN HIM" (Col. 2:10)
3) Our lives are "...hidden with Christ IN GOD." (Col. 3:3)
4) GOD IS IN CONTROL!!!!!!!!!!!!
For the absolute glory of JESUS CHIST!!!!!!!!
"...that in all things He may have the preeminence." (Colossians 1:18)
(that in all things Jesus Christ may be recognized as Supreme, of First Importance!!!).
Let's begin with a brief look at the disciple of Jesus Christ named John. As Jesus' disciple, John walked with Jesus, He sat under Jesus Christ's teaching for approximately three and one-half years. John saw Jesus perform miracles, He went to the top of the Mount of Transfiguration with Jesus, where Jesus spoke with Moses and Elijah.....John was a friend of Jesus. (John 1:1 - John 21:25; John 15:14-15)
Now, let us look at John.....now an elderly man...exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the gospel.
(Remember, when Jesus was here on earth, John was a disciple and fiend of Jesus.....now, let us see, and hear, what John saw and heard of Jesus - after Jesus has ascended to heaven!!!).........
Revelation 1:9-18 --- "I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
"I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind a loud voice, as of a trumpet,
"saying, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last...
"Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me." ("see the voice".....Have you ever thought about SEEING a voice??? Keep reading, and the graphic description of the "voice" will enable you to see it in your "mind's eye", and by the Holy Spirit to see it in your heart!!!!!!!!!).
"Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands,
"and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.
"His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire.
"His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters.
"He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance (face) was like the sun shining in its strength.
"And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, 'Do not be afraid, I am the First and the Last.
"I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. I have the keys of Hades and of Death.'" (Revelation 1:9-18)
[I am sure that most of you who are reading this are familiar with Niagara Falls, which is located in the state of New York, where it borders Canada. Many of you have either visited Niagara Falls,, or at least seen it on television or in movies. Whether you have seen it or not........please ask, and allow, the Holy Spirit to "...guide you into all the truth" (John 16:13); and let your "sanctified imagination" help you to SEE the voice, and all that is described above in Revelation 1:9-18........
You can hear Niagara Falls from a distance. When you get close to the falls...you can hear almost nothing BUT the falls! It is indeed a thundering sound...but it never stops like ordinary thunder does! The air is FILLED with water! If it is a sunny day when you see the falls.........rainbows are all over the place! EVERYTHING that is anywhere near the falls is permeated, SOAKED with water!!!!!!!
And God created Niagara Falls (Genesis 1:1 - 2:7). It is proved throughout God's Word that the Creator is infinitely superior to everything that is created. Therefore "...His voice as the sound of many waters" is infinitely greater than Niagara Falls!!!!!!!].
Let us keep in our hearts, our minds, and our spirits how HOLY and how AWESOME JESUS CHRIST is !!!!!!!!!
"...that in ALL things Jesus Christ may have the preeminence."!! (Colossians 1:18)
That in every part of our lives, and in ALL things---Jesus Christ is First and Supreme!!!!!!!
There are two Key words in this message, and for the rest of our lives; the rest of our lives begins the MOMENT you finish reading this sentence.
The two key words are "In", and "All" "In", and "All".
(Not just "all in", meaning "fully committed".) "In", and "All".
We are to be continually setting our hearts on: (A) Jesus Christ being preeminent (first in order, supreme) in ALL things; and (B) our completeness IN HIM.!!!
All right now, Let us begin THINKING, REPEATING, AND BELIEVING these "Alls" about JESUS CHRIST:
"Firstborn over all creation" (Col. 1:15) (not just the timing of His physical birth:- but His exalted position!!!)
"For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers (rulers or authorities). All things were created through Him and by Him." (v. 16)
"And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist".(Col 1:17)
"...He upholds, maintains, guides, and propels the universe...by His mighty word of power"!!!
(Hebrews 1:3/Amplified Bible)
"...For it pleased the Father that in Him (Jesus) all the fullness should dwell, and by (Jesus) to reconcile all things to Himself, by (Jesus) whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross." (Col. 1:19-20)
"In..(Jesus Christ) are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."(Col. 2:3)
(A little joke: You mean Jesus Christ has more wisdom and knowledge than "Google" and "Wikipedia"? YES!!!!!!! "In Jesus Christ are hidden ALL the treasuries of (TRUE) knowledge and wisdom."
"Jesus Christ... is the head of all principality and power (rule and authority)." (Col. 2:10)
NOW, begin agreeing-with-Jesus Christ about us-IN HIM:
IN JESUS CHRIST we may: (Colossians 1:9-14; 2:12-14)
know His will, fully please Him, be strengthened,
qualify to partake of the inheritance of the saints in the light;
be conveyed out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of the Son of His love,
have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins;
buried with Him in baptism, .in which we were also raised with Him
through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead,
made alive together with Him; (He) having...nailed to the cross all
requirements against us..."!!!(Colossians 1:9-14; 2:12-14)
Did you get all of that?
Can you remember all of it?
THANKFULLY, He wrote it down for us!!!!!!! (You will find it in Colossians chapters 1-4, and Revelation 1:9-18).
PLEASE Study it for yourself! "...the Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth." (John 16:13)
He can make it intimately personal for you!!!!!
For now, remember 4 things:
1) Jesus Christ is to be Preeminent in ALL things!!! (Col. 1:18)
2) We are (each) "...complete IN HIM" (Col. 2:10)
3) Our lives are "...hidden with Christ IN GOD." (Col. 3:3)
4) GOD IS IN CONTROL!!!!!!!!!!!!
For the absolute glory of JESUS CHIST!!!!!!!!
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