r L n -- really LOVE now! : August 2022

Saturday, August 27, 2022

KNOWing GOD is The WAY to Eternal LIFE

"A high view of GOD leads to high and holy worship. A high view of GOD leads to transcendent living. A low view of GOD leads to trivial worship. A low view of GOD leads to common, mundane living. So, what you believe about Who GOD IS is really the rudder of the ship. It's the engine of the car and it's the steering wheel. Your whole life, whether you realize it or not, is being driven and directed by Who you believe GOD IS.

"The doctrine of GOD is the most important doctrine in the Bible, because your doctrine of GOD becomes the paradigm or the lens or the template through which you see everything else. What you believe about GOD affects your worldview and how you view history and how you view the culture and how you view society. It affects how you view politics. It affects how you view marriage. It affects everything. Your knowledge of GOD either blurs or brings sharply into focus how you see what you see. It is the knowledge of GOD that affects how you see trials, how you see persecution, how you see tribulation. It is all governed by the knowledge of GOD" (Steven Lawson -- "The Attributes of GOD" seminar).

The One TRUE Living TRIune GOD -- 'HE Who is THE Blessed and Only SOVEREIGN, The KING of those who reign as kings and The LORD of those who rule as lords, Who alone possesses IMmortality and dwells in UNapproachable LIGHT, whom no one has seen or can see. To HIM be Honor and Eternal DOMINION! Amen.' (1 Timothy 6:15-16)

"The Sovereignty of GOD is the towering, foundational TRUTH of ALL CHRISTian Theology -- that GOD IS -- and The GOD Who IS, is The GOD Who reigns over the entirety of HIS created order. HE has supreme authority in His right to exercise His Sovereignty -- His absolute, active, continual reign over the Heavens and the Earth and Hell itself. It is HIS undisputed right to govern ALL He has created" (Steven Lawson -- "The Sovereignty of GOD").

"GOD is preeminent in Power and Authority. GOD’s Sovereignty is a natural consequence of His Omniscience, Omnipotence, and Omnipresence. The fact that GOD is SOVEREIGN essentially means that HE has the Power, Wisdom, and Authority to do ANYthing He chooses within His Creation. GOD rules the Universe" (Got Questions).

'And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY IS THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, Who was and Who is and Who is to come"' (Revelation 4:8).

"The one attribute of GOD that is raised to the superlative degree is the Holiness of GOD -- that HE is Holy-er than any of His works/creatures, HE is the Holy-est of ALL beings; that HE is elevated to the very highest level of Holiness. GOD Himself is perfectly HOLY... The angels are not crying out LOVE, LOVE, LOVE... nor TRUTH, TRUTH, TRUTH... nor WRATH, WRATH, WRATH -- but they are crying out day and night, HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is The LORD GOD Almighty! EVERYthing about GOD IS HOLY" (Steven Lawson -- "The Holiness of GOD").

The LOVE of GOD is AGAPE-Love -- the highest expression of REAL Love. "It is a LOVE that is rooted deep within The ONE Who loves, that sacrificially gives to seek the highest GOOD in the one who is loved... who is unlovely... who is abhorrent to GOD because of their sin and their disobedience. GOD's LOVE is redeeming LOVE -- a Love SO great that He has given His ONLY Begotten SON to die for us upon Calvary's CROSS" (Steven Lawson -- "The Love of GOD").

'And may you have the Power to understand, as all GOD’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His LOVE is. May you experience the LOVE of CHRIST, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with ALL the fullness of Life and Power that comes from GOD.' (Ephesians 3:18-19)

The breadth and length and height and depth of the Love of GOD IN CHRIST "was proven when GOD sent His SON to die on the Cross for sinners. When CHRISTians look at GOD's LOVE, they see their FATHER Who cares for them, Who redeemed them through His SON, and made them HOLY by His SACRIFICE. ALL Believers should experience the Depth and Breadth of GOD’s LOVE for them IN CHRIST JESUS. This great TRUTH is an anchor for all in times of suffering and depression, and it is this TRUTH in which all CHRISTians can put their Hope and Trust" (Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones -- https://www.mljtrust.org/sermons-online/ephesians-3-18-19/breadth-length-depth-height/).

'And this is The WAY to have Eternal LIFE—to KNOW You, The ONLY TRUE GOD, and JESUS CHRIST, The ONE You sent to earth' (John 17:3).

("Attributes of GOD" sermons by various preachers -- Steven Lawson, John MacArthur, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, R.C. Sproul, Ligon Duncan, W. Robert Godfrey, Sinclair Ferguson)

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my Prayer For You

When i think of the wisdom and scope of GOD's plan, i fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. i pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will give you mighty inner strength through His Holy SPIRIT. i pray that CHRIST will be more and more at home in your heart as you trust in Him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of GOD's marvelous love.

And may you have the power to understand, as all GOD's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love really is. May you experience the love of CHRIST, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from GOD.

Now to Him Who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by CHRIST JESUS to all generations, forever and ever. AMEN!

(Ephesians 3:14-21)

The Great I AM

I AM the Bread of life. He who comes to Me will never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
(John 6:35)

I AM the Light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the Light of life.
(John 8:12)

I AM the Door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I AM the Door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
(John 10:7, 9)

I AM the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep. I AM the Good Shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.
(John 10:11, 14)

I AM the True Vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. I AM the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
(John 15:1, 5)

I AM the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
(John 11:25)

I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
(John 14:6)

Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" JESUS answered, You say rightly that I AM a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the Truth hears My voice.
(John 18:37)

LOVE is...

Though i speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, i have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

And though i have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though i have all faith, so that i could remove mountains, but have not love, i am nothing.

And though i bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though i give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;

does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;

does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

For we know in part and we prophesy in part.

But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

When i was a child, i spoke as a child, i understood as a child, i thought as a child; but when i became a man, i put away childish things.

For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now i know in part, but then i shall know just as i also am known.

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

(I Corinthians 13)

Rejoice!

Rejoice in the LORD always. i will say it again: Rejoice!

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The LORD is near.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to GOD. And the peace of GOD, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and your mind in CHRIST JESUS.

Finally, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.

(Philippians 4:4-8)

How Great Thou Art!

O LORD, my GOD! When i in awesome wonder consider all the works thy hands have made.
i see the stars, i hear the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!

And when i think that GOD, His Son not sparing, sent Him to die, i scarce can take it in;
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!

When CHRIST shall come with shout of acclamation and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then i shall bow in humble adoration and there proclaim, my GOD, how great Thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!

Amazing Grace

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! i once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now i see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved; how precious did that grace appear the hour i first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares, i have already come; 'tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.

The LORD has promised good to me, His word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be, as long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, and mortal life shall cease, i shall possess, within the veil, a life of joy and peace.

The world shall soon dissolve like snow, the sun refuse to shine; but GOD, who called me here below, shall be forever mine.

When we've been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun; we've no less days to sing GOD's praise than when we'd first begun.

The Holy BIBLE -- The Word of GOD

The BIBLE contains the mind of GOD, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.

It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the CHRISTian's charter. Here is Paradise restored, Heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed.

CHRIST is its grand subject, our good the design, and the glory of GOD its end.

It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.

(Foreword from The Gideons International)