TIME for GENTLENESS

 

Galatians 5:22-23

King James Version

22 But the fruit of the Spirit 

is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, 

gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: 

against such there is no law.

Does gentleness exist in the world?

The heart has become hard.

We look at the world, and it is so.

We need to turn back to CHRIST.

Who is gentle, truthful, and humble.

Isaiah 40:10-11

King James Version

10 Behold, 

the Lord God will come with strong hand, 

and his arm shall rule for him: 

behold, 

his reward is with him, 

and his work before him.

11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: 

he shall gather the lambs with his arm, 

and carry them in his bosom, 

and shall gently lead those 

that are with young.

Matthew 11:29-30

King James Version

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.

2 Corinthians 10:1

King James Version

10 Now I Paul myself beseech you 

by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, 

who in presence am base among you, 

but being absent am bold toward you:

We were all babies once.

Our flesh was delicate.

Our bodies were fragile.

Our hearts were soft.

Our minds were unformed.

Our trust was pure.

What made us so tough?

What hardened our hearts?

What made us so ambitious?

What made us so competitive?

What made us so corrupt, and sinful?

What made us so vain, and self-absorbed?

What made us forget the gentleness of our spirits?

What made us forget GOD?

We are in the end times.

JESUS wants us converted.

Matthew 18:3-5

King James Version

3 And said, 

Verily I say unto you, 

Except ye be converted, 

and become as little children, 

ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself 

as this little child, 

the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

5 And whoso shall receive 

one such little child in my name 

receiveth me.

He wants us born again, that His SPIRIT may teach us.

John 3:3-7

King James Version

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, 

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, 

Except a man be born again, 

he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him, 

How can a man be born when he is old? 

can he enter the second time

into his mother's womb, 

and be born?

5 Jesus answered, 

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, 

Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, 

he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; 

and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, 

Ye must be born again.

JESUS wants us to have eternal life.

John 10:10

King James Version

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.

Our hearts, minds, bodies, and spirits are fragile.

We need strength from JESUS.

We need clarity from SPIRIT.

We need to love GOD.

We need to have a sound mind.

Let us return to the LORD.

Let us run back to His arms, and be held by Him.

Let us never leave His side.

Ever again.

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CLEARING the CLUTTER

 

2 Corinthians 4:3-4

King James Version

3 But if our gospel be hid, 

it is hid to them that are lost:

4 In whom the god of this world 

hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, 

lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, 

who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

What is clutter?

What makes it a roadblock?

Let's hear what JESUS has to say:

Matthew 6:19-21

King James Version

19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, 

where moth and rust doth corrupt, 

and where thieves break through and steal:

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, 

where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, 

and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

21 For where your treasure is, 

there will your heart be also.

Luke 12:15

King James Version

15 And he said unto them, 

Take heed, 

and beware of covetousness: 

for a man's life consisteth not 

in the abundance of the things 

which he possesseth.

Luke 16:15

King James Version

15 And he said unto them, 

Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; 

but God knoweth your hearts: 

for that which is highly esteemed among men 

is abomination in the sight of God.

Apostle John cautions us, too:

1 John 2:15-17

King James Version

15 Love not the world, 

neither the things that are in the world. 

If any man love the world, 

the love of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world, 

the lust of the flesh, 

and the lust of the eyes, 

and the pride of life, 

is not of the Father, 

but is of the world.

17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: 

but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Let us not be possessed by our possessions.

It is covetousness.

As well as idolatry.

As apostle Paul states:

Colossians 3:5

King James Version

5 Mortify therefore your members 

which are upon the earth; 

fornication, uncleanness, 

inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, 

and covetousness, which is idolatry:

The true born again's room, home, and life are focused on JESUS alone.

On the commanments He gave.

To love GOD, and others.

To believe in His life, death, and resurrection.

The true believer's mind is clear.

It's not cluttered with evil.

It's not cluttered by possessions.

It's not cluttered with desires.

Our souls don't have cobwebs.

JESUS shines His LIGHT upon our hearts.

We can see clearly, because of the LORD.

We are not caretakers of worldly possessions.

In all simplicity is how we live:

Psalm 1:1-2

King James Version

1 Blessed is the man 

that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, 

nor standeth in the way of sinners, 

nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; 

and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

We stick to our Bible.

Which earthly possessions could not compare with.

GOD's WORD lives forever.

Isaiah 40:8

King James Version

8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: 

but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

It is the soul-saving WORD.

James 1:21

King James Version

21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness 

and superfluity of naughtiness, 

and receive with meekness the engrafted word, 

which is able to save your souls.

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What if you've NEVER heard of JESUS?

 

Romans 10:14

King James Version

14 How then shall they call on him 

in whom they have not believed? 

and how shall they believe in him 

of whom they have not heard? 

and how shall they hear without a preacher?

Pretend you don't know a thing about JESUS.

That you live in the boondocks.

And honestly don't know a thing about the LORD.

Would that mean you can't be saved?

That you'll burn in the fires of hell?

What chance have you got?

So, I took this little exercise of finding out.

As always, I turn to SPIRIT, and Scripture.

Join me in my little trip to discovery.

Let's take this a step at a time.

GOD is a loving GOD.

A merciful GOD.

He sent JESUS for this primary purpose:

Luke 19:10

King James Version

10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save 

that which was lost.

JESUS, the faithful shepherd, looks for that one, lost soul.

Luke 15:4-6

King James Version

4 What man of you, 

having an hundred sheep,

if he lose one of them, 

doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, 

and go after that which is lost, 

until he find it?

5 And when he hath found it, 

he layeth it on his shoulders, 

rejoicing.

6 And when he cometh home, 

he calleth together his friends and neighbours, 

saying unto them, 

Rejoice with me; 

for I have found my sheep which was lost.

What does "lost" mean?

Romans 8:8

King James Version

8 So then they that are in the flesh 

cannot please God.

Galatians 5:19-21

King James Version

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, 

which are these; 

Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, 

emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21 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.

Yeah, but you're alone in the boondocks.

How can you possibly sin?

Romans 3:23

King James Version

23 For all have sinned, 

and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 3:10

King James Version

10 As it is written, 

There is none righteous, 

no, not one:

Isolated as you are, you're still part of the world, aren't you?

Why would GOD forget you?

John 3:16

King James Version

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.

2 Peter 3:9

King James Version

9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, 

as some men count slackness; 

but is longsuffering to us-ward, 

not willing that any should perish, 

but that all should come to repentance.

If you live in the boondocks, perhaps, you don't want to have anything to do with the world.

You want to live simply, quietly, peacefully.

Might it not be that GOD would eye you for all that?

Psalm 14:2

King James Version

2 The Lord looked down from heaven 

upon the children of men, 

to see if there were any that did understand, 

and seek God.

You're probably not even aware you're seeking GOD.

But the fact you're seeking peace and quiet, means you've got the potential seeds for GOD to come into your life.

But what if you don't know GOD at all?

Well, HE knows you.

Jeremiah 1:5

King James Version

5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; 

and before thou camest forth out of the womb 

I sanctified thee, 

and I ordained thee a prophet 

unto the nations.

Okay, okay, you're not a prophet.

But GOD did BREATHE life into you.

Genesis 2:7

King James Version

7 And the Lord God formed man 

of the dust of the ground, 

and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; 

and man became a living soul.

You were created in His image, and likeness.

How can He not KNOW you?

Genesis 1:26-27

King James Version

26 And God said, 

Let us make man in our image, 

after our likeness: 

and let them have dominion 

over the fish of the sea, 

and over the fowl of the air,

 and over the cattle, 

and over all the earth, 

and over every creeping thing 

that creepeth upon the earth.

27 So God created man in his own image, 

in the image of God created he him; 

male and female created he them.

GOD's got plans for you.

Jeremiah 29:11-13

King James Version

11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, 

saith the Lord, 

thoughts of peace, 

and not of evil, 

to give you an expected end.

12 Then shall ye call upon me, 

and ye shall go and pray unto me, 

and I will hearken unto you.

13 And ye shall seek me, 

and find me, 

when ye shall search for me 

with all your heart.

GOD knows who are HIS.

2 Timothy 2:19

King James Version

19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, 

having this seal, 

The Lord knoweth them that are his. 

And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ 

depart from iniquity.

And once you are His, He gives you to His Son, JESUS:

John 6:37

King James Version

37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; 

and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

John 6:39

King James Version

39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, 

that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, 

but should raise it up again at the last day.

John 10:27-28

King James Version

27 My sheep hear my voice, 

and I know them, and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life; 

and they shall never perish, 

neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

You see, you can go up the boondocks, you can shun the world, but GOD won't shun you.

You can hide, but if GOD sets His eyes on you, forget it.

You're His.

Job 34:21

King James Version

21 For his eyes are upon the ways of man, 

and he seeth all his goings.

Proverbs 15:3

King James Version

3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, 

beholding the evil and the good.

Proverbs 5:21

King James Version

21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, 

and he pondereth all his goings.

Ephesians 2:10

King James Version

10 For we are his workmanship, 

created in Christ Jesus unto good works, 

which God hath before ordained 

that we should walk in them.

Hebrews 4:13

King James Version

13 Neither is there any creature 

that is not manifest in his sight: 

but all things are naked and opened 

unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

Admit it.

You've run out of excuses not to love the LORD.

Much less to make an effort to know Him.

Surrender.

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SELF roadblocks

 

Mark 7:20-23

King James Version

20 And he said, 

That which cometh out of the man, 

that defileth the man.

21 For from within, 

out of the heart of men, 

proceed evil thoughts, 

adulteries, fornications, murders,

22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, 

deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, 

blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

23 All these evil things come from within, 

and defile the man.

Vanity is an abomination to the Lord.

Everything that distracts us from the Lord, is usually vanity.

Our pursuit for beauty, power, glory, wealth, and popularity are not acceptable to the Lord.

It creates sin, division, jealousy, competition, and addiction to what people think.

It keeps our hearts away from God.

We become our own god.

And God does hate idolatry of any sort.

A true follower of Jesus, a born again, only focuses on the will of God.

Everything of the world has been set aside, so we can focus on obeying God.

It's the greatest delight of the born again heart, to serve the Lord.

The sins of the flesh distract us from worshiping the Lord.

All GLORY belong to GOD alone.

Everything we have in this world can be gone in the twinkling of an eye.

Where we're all going, we carry nothing with us.

Here's the apparent truth of it:

Job 1:21

King James Version

21 And said, 

Naked came I out of my mother's womb, 

and naked shall I return thither: 

the Lord gave, 

and the Lord hath taken away; 

blessed be the name of the Lord.

Ecclesiastes 5:15

King James Version

15 As he came forth of his mother's womb, 

naked shall he return to go as he came, 

and shall take nothing of his labour, 

which he may carry away in his hand.

1 Timothy 6:7

King James Version

7 For we brought nothing into this world, 

and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

We must focus on God alone, and on what His will is.

All glory really belong to God.

That must be our supreme focus, and not self.

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