One Nation, One Faith, One Baptism

"I will make them one nation in the land, upon the mountains of Israel, and there shall be one king for them all. They shall never again be two nations, never again be divided into two kingdoms." (Ezekiel 37: 22)

One Nation, one Prince, one Church, one Faith, one Baptism.

"striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace:
 one body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call;
one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." (Ephesians 4: 3 - 6)

“I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me."  (John 17: 20 - 21)

Righteousness and freedom

"He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed." (1 Peter 2: 24)

One thing I have learned about freedom this week is that freedom from the point of view of the kingdom is freedom from sin.  We pray usually for freedom from the spirit of fear, freedom from anxieties, freedom from debt and so on.  I am beginning to perceive that at the root of every type of enslavement or lack of freedom is sin.  This is a difficult admission to make for one who suffers from anxieties and at the same time is not conscious of any serious sin.

How do we explain this?  Perhaps the scripture below may offer some light:
"If we say, “We are without sin,” we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing.
If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."  (1 John 1: 8 - 10)

Jesus Christ who bore our sins in His body upon the cross is both willing and able to free us from sin and the consequences of sin which is complete lack of freedom.  Living in righteousness is living in complete freedom.   "By his wounds you are healed."  (1 Peter 2: 24)

Jesus Christ is the Gift of all gifts

"He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8:32)

God will give you everything that is best for you. Jesus Christ is the Gift of gifts, the Mother of all gifts. The Father freely and spontaneously bestowed His Son to us. What will He refuse us? Nothing!

True freedom comes from Jesus

"So if a son frees you, then you will truly be free."  (John 8: 36)

Lord Jesus, free me from the spirit of fear.  Free me to from enslavement to debt.

I found a good commentary on John 8: 36 from John Gills Exposition.  It is reproduced below:

"Men are home born slaves; the chosen people of God are such by nature; they are born in sin, and are the servants of it; Christ the Son makes them free; and then they are no more foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God. This suggests, that true freedom is by Jesus Christ, the Son of God; see ( Galatians 5:1 ) . He it is that makes the saints free from sin; not from the being of it in this life, but from the bondage and servitude of it, from its power and dominion, and from its guilt and liableness to punishment for it, by procuring the pardon of their sins through his blood, and justifying their persons by his righteousness: he also makes them free, or delivers them from the captivity of Satan, by ransoming them out of his hands, taking the prey from the mighty, binding the strong man armed, and delivering them from him, and from the power of darkness, and putting them into his own kingdom; he does not indeed free them altogether from his temptations, but he preserves them by his power from being hurt and destroyed by him: he likewise makes his people free from the law, not only the ceremonial law, which is abolished by him, but from the moral law; not from obedience to it, as it is in his hands, and a rule of walk and conversation to them, but as in the hands of Moses, and as a covenant of works, and from the rigorous exaction of it, and from seeking justification and life by it, and from its curse and condemnation: and he gives them freedom of access to God, as their Father, through his blood and by his Spirit; and admits them to all the privileges and immunities of the church below; and gives them a right to, faith in, and an expectation of the glorious liberty of the children of God hereafter; and such are truly Christ's freemen:"  (John Gills Exposition on John 8: 36)

Power of faith

"The Promise Realized Through Faith 13 For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith."  (Romans 4:13)

Through the law, I fail woefully. But through the Holy Spirit who lives in me, I can do all things.

Feast of St Joseph

http://www.pray-as-you-go.org/mp3/PAYG_130319.mp3

My grace is sufficient

"He gives me work so that I may seek His rest. He gives me strength to meet the hardest test; and as I walk in providential grace, I find that joy goes with me, at God's pace." Gustafson (Daily Bread)

Shine on me and set me free

"Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  (John 8: 12)

Lord Jesus, I want your light to shine brightly in my life.  I want it especially to shine on my family, health, finances, job, tools, food and future.  I want to know your truth on all of these areas.  Let your truth set me free from worry, fear and doubt as you promised.  Thank you Lord for your promises.  I believe everyone of them.  As I appropriate your promises this afternoon, I ask you to strengthen my faith.

Be still and trust in Me

15 For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: By waiting and by calm you shall be saved, in quiet and in trust shall be your strength. (Isaiah 30:15) Wait, be calm, be still, just trust Serenity, acceptance = Salvation & Strength. "You shall be saved." = You shall be redeemed, you shall be delivered from your distress, your sins; you shall find contentment... CENTERING Prayer Psalm 46:10 10 “Be still, and know that I am God. Exodus 14:13-14 13 And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Amen! I cannot change my financial and job situation. "Faith that is firm is also patient."

An error in the beginning

"An error in the beginning is an error indeed." - St Thomas Aquinas

Ignorance is the mother of all errors

"Ignorance nourishes vices and is the mother of all errors" St Isidore of Seville

Various manifestations of evil in the hour of darkness

Manifestations of Sin

Don't be afraid - God is with you

Deuteronomy 31:6,  8

6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

8 It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
03/15/13

A good and generous heart

"But as for the seed that fell on rich soil, they are the ones who, when they have heard the word, embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance."  (Luke 8: 15)

Lord, let your word fertilize my soul.  Help me to receive your word with a generous and good heart.  I want to bear large fruit for you.  I need your grace to persevere so that I can accomplish my mission.

Activation of the fruits of Redemption

"In him we have redemption by his blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace."  (Ephesians 1: 7)

Through the cross and blood of Jesus Christ, redemption is made available to all.  The Great Commissions orders the Church to go and preach this redemption to the whole world.  The word of God convicts sinners who come forward to be baptized and confess their sins.  This action triggers the fruits of redemption to be released.

Below are part commentaries on Ephesians 1: 7 from John Gills Exposition and Matthew Henry Commentary

"Redemption supposes captivity and slavery, and is a deliverance out of it; God's elect by nature are in bondage to sin, Satan, and the law; through the grace of Christ, they are redeemed from all iniquity; ransomed out of the hands of him that is stronger than they; and are freed from the law, its bondage, curse, and condemnation, and from every other enemy: and this benefit Christ is the author of; he was called to be the Redeemer of his people from all eternity; and he was sent in the fullness of time, to procure the redemption of them; to which he had a right, being their near kinsman; and for which he was every way fit, being God as well as man; and which he has obtained by his obedience, sufferings, and death: and in whom it resides, as in its proper subject and author; who, by imputation, is made redemption to all the chosen ones; for not angels, but men, share in this redemption; and not all men, but elect men; such as are chosen in Christ, predestinated to the adoption of children by him, and who are accepted in the beloved: and this comes to them through the blood of Christ, which was freely shed on the cross to procure it; and was a sufficient ransom, or redemption price; it being not only the same blood with those who are redeemed, but the blood of an innocent person; and not of a mere man, but of one who is truly and properly God, as well as man; see more of this (See Gill on Colossians 1:14). A branch of this redemption follows, or a blessing that comes by it, and along with it,"
(John Gills Exposition)

"All blessings come from God as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. No good can be expected from a righteous and holy God to sinful creatures, but by his mediation. He hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings. Note, Spiritual blessings are the best blessings with which God blesses us, and for which we are to bless him. He blesses us by bestowing such things upon us as make us really blessed. We cannot thus bless God again; but must do it by praising, and magnifying, and speaking well of him on that account. Those whom God blesses with some he blesses with all spiritual blessings; to whom he gives Christ, he freely gives all these things. It is not so with temporal blessings; some are favoured with health, and not with riches; some with riches, and not with health, etc. But, where God blesses with spiritual blessings, he blesses with all. They are spiritual blessings in heavenly places; that is, say some, in the church, distinguished from the world, and called out of it. Or it may be read, in heavenly things, such as come from heaven, and are designed to prepare men for it, and to secure their reception into it. We should hence learn to mind spiritual and heavenly things as the principal things, spiritual and heavenly blessings as the best blessings, with which we cannot be miserable and without which we cannot but be so. Set not your affections on things on the earth, but on those things which are above. These we are blessed with in Christ; for, as all our services ascend to God through Christ, so all our blessings are conveyed to us in the same way, he being the Mediator between God and us."  (Matthew Henry Commentary)

The Eucharist is the Sign of the New Covenant

"But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days—oracle of the LORD. I will place my law within them, and write it upon their hearts; I will be their God, and they shall be my people."  (Jeremiah 31: 33)

Write your law in my heart, O my God and then I will remember it at all times.

"Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed* for many."  (Mark 14: 23 - 24)

The Eucharist is the everlasting covenant that Jesus Christ has left for us.

Today is the time of favor

"Thus says the LORD:
In a time of favor I answer you,
on the day of salvation I help you;
I form you and set you
as a covenant for the people,
To restore the land
and allot the devastated heritages,
To say to the prisoners: Come out!
To those in darkness: Show yourselves!
Along the roadways they shall find pasture,
on every barren height shall their pastures be."  (Isaiah 49: 8 - 9)

Today is the time of favor.  Today is the acceptable time to come confidently to the throne of grace to ask for strength in my time of need.  Today, I ask the Father to deliver me from the spirit of fear.  The Father has given me a spirit of love, courage and power.  Yet, I notice that my heart is troubled by unnecessary fears, worries and doubts.

"He said to them, “This kind can only come out through prayer.”  (Mark 9: 29)
I got the message Lord.  So I pray and keep praying till I am free.  Thank you Lord.  Help me Jesus to pray and labor for this grace which I ask of you.

Get wine and milk without money

"All you who are thirsty,
come to the water!
You who have no money,
come, buy grain and eat;
Come, buy grain without money,
wine and milk without cost!"  (Isaiah 55: 1)

Lord, I understand what you are talking about.  You are talking about the Eucharist.  You invite us to eat bread in the kingdom.  You offer us your Body and your Blood.  Your Church teaches us that this Meal is the source, center and summit of the Christian life.  Thank you Jesus for this awesome gift.

Everybody is invited to come and eat and drink without money.  But come thirsty.  Come hungry.  Do not forget to put on the proper gown.

"God indeed is my salvation;
I am confident and unafraid.
For the LORD is my strength and my might,
and he has been my salvation.
With joy you will draw water
from the fountains of salvation."  (Isaiah 12: 2-3)

New Heavens and New Earth

"I am creating new heavens
and a new earth;
The former things shall not be remembered
nor come to mind.
Instead, shout for joy and be glad forever
in what I am creating.
Indeed, I am creating Jerusalem to be a joy
and its people to be a delight;
I will rejoice in Jerusalem
and exult in my people.
No longer shall the sound of weeping be heard there,
or the sound of crying;"  (Isaiah 65: 17 19)

The prophet paints the picture of the Church in the fullness of time.  How glorious is the destiny of the Bride of Christ!

"The world is yours if you be Christ's, 1 Corinthians 3:22.  When God is reconciled to us, which gives us a new heaven, the creatures too are reconciled to us, which gives us a new earth."  (Matthew Henry Commentary)

Anyone who is in Christ becomes a new creation: new friends, new clothes, new joys, new entertainments, etc.

Whoever is in Christ is a new creation

" So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come."  (2 Corinthians  5: 17)

Who is in Christ?

• He who believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
• He who is baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Spirit.
• He who is confirmed in the Holy Spirit.
• He in whose heart Jesus Christ reigns as Lord and King.
• He whose life is directed by the Holy Spirit.

Such a one is a new creation.  Anybody that meets such a one a shopping mall, stadium, gas station, school, play ground would sense that something is different about the person.

A new creature cannot be hidden just as a tiger walking down the street is perceived for what it is.   In the case of a tiger, you take cover immediately.  But the new creation in Christ attracts.  He attracts because "the old things have passed away" in him.  New things are perceived.  Holiness attracts.