r L n -- really LOVE now! : January 2024

Wednesday, January 24, 2024

Glorifying GOD IN CHRIST

WHY did GOD The SON, The LORD of GLORY, leave His heavenly Kingdom of LIGHT to come down to this corrupt, evil world of Darkness? To glorify GOD, The FATHER of GLORY. WHY did GOD The FATHER and GOD The SON send GOD The Holy SPIRIT into this fallen world? To glorify CHRIST JESUS, The SON of GOD and SON of Man. "WHAT is the chief end of man? To glorify GOD (The ONE TRUE Living TRIune SOVEREIGN: Creator-Sustainer-Controller of The Universe) and to enJOY Him forEVERmore" (The Westminster Confession of Faith).

HOW did GOD The SON glorify GOD The FATHER? By fully succeeding in the Work of REDEMPTION that The FATHER sent Him to do -- by fulfilling ALL that GOD required for the Redemption of SIN-natured SIN-doers like you, like me. As SON of Man, JESUS was born of a virgin, a real Human Who lived a perfectly sinless, blameless, righteous earthly life. As The Anointed HOLY ONE sent of GOD, CHRIST is The LORD and SAVIOR of those who would REPENT of their SINs, who would TRUST IN Him, in His Sacrificial DEATH at Calvary's CROSS to PAY-IN-FULL the JUST penalty and JUST punishment for SIN-natured SIN-doers like you, like me (see Philippians 2:6-8).

HOW did GOD The FATHER glorify GOD The SON -- CHRIST JESUS? By approving of CHRIST JESUS' own BLOOD-Payment to redeem LOST sinners; by raising JESUS CHRIST from the Grave and seating The Risen LORD JESUS at the Right Hand of The MOST HIGH. 'GOD also highly exalted CHRIST JESUS, and bestowed on Him The NAME which is ABOVE EVERY NAME, so that at THE Name of JESUS EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in Heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that EVERY TONGUE WILL CONFESS that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, to the GLORY of GOD The FATHER' (Philippians 2:9-11).

HOW does The Holy SPIRIT sent of GOD The FATHER and of GOD The SON glorify The Risen LORD JESUS? By testifying about The LORD JESUS; by applying the INfinite riches of GOD's superabounding GRACE paid for by the Precious BLOOD of CHRIST JESUS for those born-again of GOD; by conforming the 2xborn Believers into the image of CHRIST, The SON of GOD (John 15:26; Ephesians 1:3-14; Romans 8:29).

CHRIST JESUS, The LORD of GLORY, communing with GOD The FATHER of GLORY, said: "I AM glorified in them" (John 17:10). "THEM" are those who have repented of their SINs and have believed the GOOD News of SALVATION, who've admitted to GOD that they are indeed helpless, hopeless SIN-natured SIN-doers, needing His merciful FORGIVENESS for their rebellious sins against The MOST HOLY GOD. "THEM" are those who have humbly acknowledged that they are SAVED from EVERlasting HELL by the GRACE of GOD alone, through FAITH alone, IN CHRIST alone.

So then -- HOW do we (who are IN CHRIST, who are born again from Above, who are NOW the adopted children of GOD) glorify our Beloved LORD and SAVIOR, CHRIST JESUS? By being a "LIVING PROOF of the FACT that The LORD JESUS CHRIST has finished the Work which His FATHER sent Him to do" (Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones, "Safe In The World" p.94).

Are we manifesting to the world the finished Work of CHRIST -- that we have been quickened ALIVE spiritually, living OUTwardly HIS Resurrection Life IN us, walking by HIS Light so that we do not stumble in Darkness? Are we repenting DAILY of our daily stumbling? Are we proving to the world by our Life-101 the literal TRUTH that 'CHRIST is the POWER of GOD, and the WISDOM of GOD' (1 Corinthians 1:23-24)? Are we who are the REDEEMED proving to the world that The LORD JESUS CHRIST has been made Wisdom, and Righteousness, and Sanctification, and Redemption (1 Cor 1:30) IN us, and that to us individually -- HE is THE ALL in all?

Are we hungering and thirsting for the SPIRITual nourishment of The Word of GOD? Is GOD's Written VOICE speaking into our hearts, illuminating our minds with the very Thoughts of GOD? Are we eager to meet with GOD with unceasing adoration and loving fellowship with Him through our prayers, so that we may be granted the GRACE of KNOWing Him more intimately and experientially as GOD reveals Himself to us personally?

Are we demonstrating to the world of our NEW position IN CHRIST -- that we have been 'rescued from the Authority/Dominion of Darkness, and transferred to the Kingdom of The SON of GOD's LOVE' (Colossians 1:13)? "Are we a LIVING PROOF and example that the tremendous POWER of The SON of GOD has literally taken hold of us and transferred us into the Kingdom of GOD's dear SON?" (MLJ, p.96) Do our lifestyle, mindset, and worldview reflect our NEW citizenship in GOD's Heaven?

Are we glorifying our LORD JESUS by confidently KNOWing that ALL our SINs have been forgiven by the efficacy of His ATONING Death? Are we showing the UNfathomable PEACE of GOD withIN that flows from having PEACE With GOD (Who was IN CHRIST, reconciling sinners back to Himself, 2 Cor 5:19)? Are we rejoicing IN The LORD, even when assailed with trials that are but common to all humankind living in this fallen world (see James 1:2)?

Are we running after the Holiness of GOD? Are we proving our SALVATION from the Power of SIN by no longer practicing or immersing ourselves in that sinful lifestyle that we were rescued from? Are we mortifying our UNredeemed Flesh by the SUPERnatural emPOWERment of The Holy SPIRIT withIN? Are we becoming more aware of the subtlety of SIN and is hatred of our own SINs increasing? Are we resisting the devil and overcoming temptations?

Are we LIVING PROOF that we have the Promised Holy SPIRIT living IN us -- leading, teaching, controlling, conforming us into more and more CHRIST-likeness (Romans 8:14-17, 29)? Is the INdwelling SPIRIT growing and maturing His Fruit of LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS and SELF-CONTROL (Galatians 5:22-23), as well as The SPIRIT's Fruit 'in all GOODNESS, RIGHTEOUSNESS, and TRUTH' (Ephesians 5:9)?

Our LORD JESUS Himself declared to our Heavenly FATHER that "IN THEM" (who belonged to The FATHER and were given to The SON) -- "I AM GLORIFIED" (John 17:10). We IN CHRIST are the special LOVE-gifts from The FATHER to His ONE and ONLY Begotten SON; and we have been given the SUPERLATIVE privilege of being part of glorifying The GODhead. As for me -- "i am one of a people in the world today through whom CHRIST is glorified. i am NOT here for mySELF, or for ANYthing i want to do -- the Main Thing for me this day is that CHRIST should be glorified and praised in me" (MLJ, p.104).

Are you a LIVING PROOF of the FACT that The LORD JESUS CHRIST has finished the Work which His FATHER sent Him to do? \o/

(This blogpost was developed from my notes from the book's chapter, "Manifesting the Work of CHRIST.")

Wednesday, January 3, 2024

Do You Have EARS That HEAR?

The CHRIST of GOD, The Risen LORD JESUS Himself said: 'LET these Words sink down INto your ears' --

'BLESSED [JOYful, SPIRITually FAVORed] is he who does NOT take offense at Me. For whoever is ASHAMED [here and now] of Me and My Words, The SON of MAN will be ASHAMED of him when He comes in His GLORY and the GLORY of The [Heavenly] FATHER and of the holy angels' (Luke 9:44, 7:23, 9:26 AMP).

'I say to you, whoever declares openly and confesses Me before men [speaking freely of Me as his LORD], The SON of MAN also will declare openly and confess him [as one of His own] before the angels of GOD. But he who DENIES Me before men will be DENIED in the presence of the angels of GOD' (Luke 12:8-9).

'BLESSED (HAPPY, FAVORed by GOD) are those who hear the Word of GOD and CONTINUALLY OBSERVE it. NO ONE who puts his hand to the plow and LOOKS BACK [to the things left behind] is FIT for The Kingdom of GOD' (Luke 9:62, 11:28).

'He who is NOT WITH Me [believing in Me as LORD and SAVIOR] is AGAINST Me [there is NO impartial position]; and he who does NOT gather with Me [assisting in My ministry], scatters. The one who listens to you LISTENS to Me; and the one who rejects you REJECTS Me; and the one who REJECTS Me rejects Him [My heavenly FATHER] Who sent Me' (Luke 11:23, 10:16).

'BLESSED [SPIRITually aware, and FAVORed by GOD] are your eyes, because they SEE; and your ears, because they HEAR' (Matthew 13:16).

BLESSED are the 2xborn of GOD who have been SPIRITually quickened ALIVE to "SEE" The INvisible ONE -- to understand and to KNOW by the SUPERnatural illumination of The INdwelling Holy SPIRIT, the Written TRUTHs of GOD; to HEAR with opened-hearts and with reNEWed MINDset the Written Voice of GOD in His HOLY Scriptures. HalleluYAH! GOD's Amazing GRACE! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdG2JYQzsVo) \o/

BUT the SELF-righteous, the SELF-sufficient, the SELF-satisfied has NO ear to HEAR, for he is still spiritually DEAD: enSLAVEd to SIN, Satan, SELF-idolatry. ("Original SIN" by Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones -- https://www.mljtrust.org/sermons/book-of-ephesians/original-sin/)

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)