12/31/14 Remember this in 2015
DON'T TREAT ANYBODY LIKE A NOBODY
AND
TREAT EVERYBODY AS A SOMEBODY
Sunday, December 31, 2017
12/31/14 IT IS A NEW YEAR
12/31/14 IT IS A NEW YEAR
(this might be worth reading)
It will be a good year to be a New Creature, walking in Newness of Life, serving God in Newness of Spirit, having put on the New Man, walking in a New and Living Way, aligned with the New Covenant (Testament), fulfilling the New Commandment, having a New Name and singing a New Song, looking for the New Heaven, New Earth and New Jerusalem, where God makes All Things New.
"But," you may ask, "What about me?" Maybe it is time for a New Attitude, or New Dreams and Visions, or a New Desire or New Commitment. Let's face it, not everyone is geared or programmed for success. But God will impart a New Heart and a New Spirit to those who are filled with His Spirit and walk in His way, enabling spiritual success to all of God's children.
Not everyone is visionary, and not every Christian has visionary faith, which dreams the dreams of God. But those who are visionary, are the ones who blaze trails and triumph over adversity, and those Christians who have visionary faith, follow God into the realm of the unimaginable and accomplish the impossible. How fresh is your dream? How clear is your vision? How driven is your desire? Are your dreams coming true or are they fading with the years?
The way to get a dream, a vision from God, is to surrender to His will and let God get hold of your heart, your mind, your life. The way to make a dream come true is to DO IT. But DOING IT includes the sacrificing, the preparation, the risking, the redirection of our lives. It takes vision just to do the will of God. It takes dedicated vision to do the work of God.
Not everyone can be visionary, but every Christian can have visionary faith. It comes with surrender to, and saturation with the Holy Spirit. We have so little vision, we have so little faith we have so little success in our walk with God, because we have so little of God in our walk.
UNLESS...
Unless we take time to be with God, to know God, to love God, to experience God in the deepest recesses of our being, we will not be mightily used by God. Unless our intimate time with God changes us, empowers us, cleanses us, redirects us, humbles us, then our time with God will be a witness against us. Unless we die to self and sin we will not be usable to God. Unless God occupies the throne of our hearts we will be double minded, carnal minded and therefore not fit for the family of God or fit for working in the family business of God.
(this might be worth reading)
It will be a good year to be a New Creature, walking in Newness of Life, serving God in Newness of Spirit, having put on the New Man, walking in a New and Living Way, aligned with the New Covenant (Testament), fulfilling the New Commandment, having a New Name and singing a New Song, looking for the New Heaven, New Earth and New Jerusalem, where God makes All Things New.
"But," you may ask, "What about me?" Maybe it is time for a New Attitude, or New Dreams and Visions, or a New Desire or New Commitment. Let's face it, not everyone is geared or programmed for success. But God will impart a New Heart and a New Spirit to those who are filled with His Spirit and walk in His way, enabling spiritual success to all of God's children.
Not everyone is visionary, and not every Christian has visionary faith, which dreams the dreams of God. But those who are visionary, are the ones who blaze trails and triumph over adversity, and those Christians who have visionary faith, follow God into the realm of the unimaginable and accomplish the impossible. How fresh is your dream? How clear is your vision? How driven is your desire? Are your dreams coming true or are they fading with the years?
The way to get a dream, a vision from God, is to surrender to His will and let God get hold of your heart, your mind, your life. The way to make a dream come true is to DO IT. But DOING IT includes the sacrificing, the preparation, the risking, the redirection of our lives. It takes vision just to do the will of God. It takes dedicated vision to do the work of God.
Not everyone can be visionary, but every Christian can have visionary faith. It comes with surrender to, and saturation with the Holy Spirit. We have so little vision, we have so little faith we have so little success in our walk with God, because we have so little of God in our walk.
UNLESS...
Unless we take time to be with God, to know God, to love God, to experience God in the deepest recesses of our being, we will not be mightily used by God. Unless our intimate time with God changes us, empowers us, cleanses us, redirects us, humbles us, then our time with God will be a witness against us. Unless we die to self and sin we will not be usable to God. Unless God occupies the throne of our hearts we will be double minded, carnal minded and therefore not fit for the family of God or fit for working in the family business of God.
12/31/14 ACCORDING TO YOUR FAITH AND IF YOU ARE WILLING
12/31/14 ACCORDING TO YOUR FAITH AND IF YOU ARE WILLING
According to your faith, and as you are willing. These are principles in the Christian life. God not only calls many (all) to believe in Him, He also gives the believer the opportunity to set his own course after they come to salvation.
We do not have a choice in how to get saved or a choice in how to grow in grace. We do have a choice in IF we will get saved and IF we will grow in grace. This is why it is important to know that God not only forgives us of our sins, He saves us from our sins, He cleanses us from all sin, He leads us in triumph. If we do not believe these truths, we will not walk in that light; we will not grow in that grace.
Therefore, in keeping with God's provision, and according to your faith, you can rise to higher heights, and also according to your willingness to trust, obey and follow Christ, you can attain to the fullness of the blessing of the gospel and be filled with all the fullness of God.
According to your faith, and as you are willing. These are principles in the Christian life. God not only calls many (all) to believe in Him, He also gives the believer the opportunity to set his own course after they come to salvation.
We do not have a choice in how to get saved or a choice in how to grow in grace. We do have a choice in IF we will get saved and IF we will grow in grace. This is why it is important to know that God not only forgives us of our sins, He saves us from our sins, He cleanses us from all sin, He leads us in triumph. If we do not believe these truths, we will not walk in that light; we will not grow in that grace.
Therefore, in keeping with God's provision, and according to your faith, you can rise to higher heights, and also according to your willingness to trust, obey and follow Christ, you can attain to the fullness of the blessing of the gospel and be filled with all the fullness of God.
12/30/14 CONSIDER THIS PRINCIPLE OF CHURCH GROWTH
12/30/14 CONSIDER THIS PRINCIPLE OF CHURCH GROWTH
After the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, the out-of-town people who were in Jerusalem for Passover and Pentecost celebrations were running out of money, but wanted to stay, so that they might hear more about the resurrected Christ and learn from the Apostles. The Christians responded by reaching into their own resources to feed and house those Jews who were away from home. It was an important and Herculean ministry, which encountered some logistics and personnel problems (Ac. 6:1). The church needed to address this problem in order to reach the people.
However, the Apostles needed to be preaching and teaching, and therefore they could not take time to "serve tables," though it was a very important service. Instead, they looked for men who were fitted for this work. This required spiritual men, spiritually gifted (Ac. 6:2). This is when "deacons" (helpers) were appointed. Notice that the men chosen were highly esteemed and capable men of the gospel (Ac. 6:3-6). No job in the church should be given to those who are not following Jesus fully. "Serving Tables" in the church is more than just serving tables. But the Apostles needed to focus on preaching the word.
As a result of each one doing what he could, and should and would do, in obedience to God, the church grew (Ac. 6:7). Serving tables in the church is an honor. Today it is almost impossible to get people to do the glamorous jobs. Some pastors have a hard time finding people who will help them publish the Good News; a hard time finding "armor bearers" in the spiritual battle.
A lack of dedicated people today (dedication to God, holiness, service, humility, self denial) explains the lack of growth in the local church. Until we find men who are totally sold out to God in their beliefs, their faith, their worldview, their relationships, we will not see churches reaching their full potential.
Ask yourself if you are the Table Server you should be, the Armor Bearer you should be. Ask yourself if your church is not growing because you are not serving in the capacity that God wants you to serve.
I realize we are living in the Laodicean period of the Church. However, it is the lukewarmness of the church people that sickens God (Re. 3:16). No wonder the world is not coming to Jesus. God wants a "church afire."
After the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, the out-of-town people who were in Jerusalem for Passover and Pentecost celebrations were running out of money, but wanted to stay, so that they might hear more about the resurrected Christ and learn from the Apostles. The Christians responded by reaching into their own resources to feed and house those Jews who were away from home. It was an important and Herculean ministry, which encountered some logistics and personnel problems (Ac. 6:1). The church needed to address this problem in order to reach the people.
However, the Apostles needed to be preaching and teaching, and therefore they could not take time to "serve tables," though it was a very important service. Instead, they looked for men who were fitted for this work. This required spiritual men, spiritually gifted (Ac. 6:2). This is when "deacons" (helpers) were appointed. Notice that the men chosen were highly esteemed and capable men of the gospel (Ac. 6:3-6). No job in the church should be given to those who are not following Jesus fully. "Serving Tables" in the church is more than just serving tables. But the Apostles needed to focus on preaching the word.
As a result of each one doing what he could, and should and would do, in obedience to God, the church grew (Ac. 6:7). Serving tables in the church is an honor. Today it is almost impossible to get people to do the glamorous jobs. Some pastors have a hard time finding people who will help them publish the Good News; a hard time finding "armor bearers" in the spiritual battle.
A lack of dedicated people today (dedication to God, holiness, service, humility, self denial) explains the lack of growth in the local church. Until we find men who are totally sold out to God in their beliefs, their faith, their worldview, their relationships, we will not see churches reaching their full potential.
Ask yourself if you are the Table Server you should be, the Armor Bearer you should be. Ask yourself if your church is not growing because you are not serving in the capacity that God wants you to serve.
I realize we are living in the Laodicean period of the Church. However, it is the lukewarmness of the church people that sickens God (Re. 3:16). No wonder the world is not coming to Jesus. God wants a "church afire."
12/30/14 Kumbayah
12/30/14 Kumbayah
This word from Gullah, the Creole language of the former slaves who lived on the barrier islands of South Carolina and Georgia means, "Come By Here," and was part of a spiritual song, invoking the presence of God. It was taken to Africa by missionaries and found its way back here, to become a popular campfire song with youth groups. Today the word is used to ridicule sensitivity.
What a shame. Great numbers of young people sang, Kumbayah My Lord, Kumbayah, as they surrendered their lives to Christ, as they turned from drugs, promiscuity, anger. The three verses to the song were, "Someone's Crying, Lord," "Someone's Praying, Lord," and "Someone's Singing, Lord," indicating deliverance from bondage and sin.
Satan hates for people to call on God, to find deliverance, to follow Christ. Therefore Satan moved a skeptical society to ridicule the simplicity of faith and the power of God.
Well, we can see where our sophistication and skepticism have gotten us. Too bad that the youth of today are too advanced for Kumbayah.
An interesting addendum is that the liberal element of our society wants the simplicity and success of the Gospel but does not want the message or the God of the Gospel. They claim to love their enemies, while they choose reject God's Son, God's Word and God's people. Obama wants us to think that he loves his enemies, but then he takes drastic steps to kill babies and oppress Christians. Smoke and mirrors.
What a shame. Great numbers of young people sang, Kumbayah My Lord, Kumbayah, as they surrendered their lives to Christ, as they turned from drugs, promiscuity, anger. The three verses to the song were, "Someone's Crying, Lord," "Someone's Praying, Lord," and "Someone's Singing, Lord," indicating deliverance from bondage and sin.
Satan hates for people to call on God, to find deliverance, to follow Christ. Therefore Satan moved a skeptical society to ridicule the simplicity of faith and the power of God.
Well, we can see where our sophistication and skepticism have gotten us. Too bad that the youth of today are too advanced for Kumbayah.
An interesting addendum is that the liberal element of our society wants the simplicity and success of the Gospel but does not want the message or the God of the Gospel. They claim to love their enemies, while they choose reject God's Son, God's Word and God's people. Obama wants us to think that he loves his enemies, but then he takes drastic steps to kill babies and oppress Christians. Smoke and mirrors.
12/29/14 Authority And Peace As Well As Resistance and Upheaval.
12/29/14 Authority And Peace As Well As Resistance and Upheaval.
Some Thoughts On Authority And Peace As Well As Resistance and Upheaval.
(Personal, Family, Church, National)
There is legitimate authority and there is legitimate resistance.
However, I have noticed that resistance to authority is not guided by Divine principles as much as by personal desires.
If there is resistance to authority in the home, there will be resistance to other legitimate authority, even the authority of God Himself.
Where there is resistance to legitimate authority, there is upheaval externally and internally, with others and with self and with God.
Peace attends submission to legitimate authority. Personal angst attends a spirit of resistance, a spirit of disobedience.
When a person compromises submission to God in order to be at peace with those who resist the authority of God, there is anarchy, even if it is mutually agreed anarchy, under the banner of "unity".
Any resistance to God, regardless of origin or motives or end result is condemned by God.
Some Thoughts On Authority And Peace As Well As Resistance and Upheaval.
(Personal, Family, Church, National)
There is legitimate authority and there is legitimate resistance.
However, I have noticed that resistance to authority is not guided by Divine principles as much as by personal desires.
If there is resistance to authority in the home, there will be resistance to other legitimate authority, even the authority of God Himself.
Where there is resistance to legitimate authority, there is upheaval externally and internally, with others and with self and with God.
Peace attends submission to legitimate authority. Personal angst attends a spirit of resistance, a spirit of disobedience.
When a person compromises submission to God in order to be at peace with those who resist the authority of God, there is anarchy, even if it is mutually agreed anarchy, under the banner of "unity".
Any resistance to God, regardless of origin or motives or end result is condemned by God.
12/29/14 MY STRATEGY
12/29/14 MY STRATEGY
I consider my audience. Of course I do not change my message to pacify or crucify anyone. I am a shepherd, not an hireling (Jn. 10:11-13).
I preach the truth, in season, and out of season (2 Tm. 4:2).
I speak the truth in love (Ep. 4:15).
Though I do not preach AT ANYONE, I adapt my message FOR EVERYONE present. I consider their ages, their Biblical and religious backgrounds. I "shotgun" rather than "rifle." I do not use the pulpit to attack individuals (which is cowardly). I honor the pulpit by attacking sin, and exalting God and His righteousness.
I preach with the intent of leading people into light, grace, transformation and growth.
I have followed Solomon's guide for preaching,
Ecclesiastes 12:9-11
(9) And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.
(10) The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
(11) The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
I DO preach to the children.
They can be reached while they are young.
They can be more easily reached while they are still coming to church services.
They need it, just like anyone else.
They will heed it, more quickly than most people.
They can be saved from future sinning as well as be forgiven for past sins.
Older church people are either walking in the light they have, and will be blessed by the message I bring, or they have quit walking in the light and they need to hear the gospel in simple terms, so that they might come back to their first love (Re. 2:4-5).
I do not make the message weak, for the weak, instead I feed and lead the lambs and sheep to make them strong (Jn. 21:15-17).
I feed them milk (1 Co. 3:1-3; He. 5:12-13; 1 Pe. 2:2), and meat (He. 5:14).
PASSAGES...
John 10:11-13
(11) I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
(12) But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
(13) The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
2 Timothy 4:2
(2) Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
Ephesians 4:15
(15) But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Revelation 2:4-5
(4) Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
(5) Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
John 21:15-17
(15) So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
(16) He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
(17) He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
1 Corinthians 3:1-3
(1) And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
(2) I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
(3) For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
Hebrews 5:12-13
(12) For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
(13) For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
1 Peter 2:2
(2) As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
Hebrews 5:14
(14) But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
I consider my audience. Of course I do not change my message to pacify or crucify anyone. I am a shepherd, not an hireling (Jn. 10:11-13).
I preach the truth, in season, and out of season (2 Tm. 4:2).
I speak the truth in love (Ep. 4:15).
Though I do not preach AT ANYONE, I adapt my message FOR EVERYONE present. I consider their ages, their Biblical and religious backgrounds. I "shotgun" rather than "rifle." I do not use the pulpit to attack individuals (which is cowardly). I honor the pulpit by attacking sin, and exalting God and His righteousness.
I preach with the intent of leading people into light, grace, transformation and growth.
I have followed Solomon's guide for preaching,
Ecclesiastes 12:9-11
(9) And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.
(10) The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
(11) The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
I DO preach to the children.
They can be reached while they are young.
They can be more easily reached while they are still coming to church services.
They need it, just like anyone else.
They will heed it, more quickly than most people.
They can be saved from future sinning as well as be forgiven for past sins.
Older church people are either walking in the light they have, and will be blessed by the message I bring, or they have quit walking in the light and they need to hear the gospel in simple terms, so that they might come back to their first love (Re. 2:4-5).
I do not make the message weak, for the weak, instead I feed and lead the lambs and sheep to make them strong (Jn. 21:15-17).
I feed them milk (1 Co. 3:1-3; He. 5:12-13; 1 Pe. 2:2), and meat (He. 5:14).
PASSAGES...
John 10:11-13
(11) I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
(12) But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
(13) The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
2 Timothy 4:2
(2) Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
Ephesians 4:15
(15) But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Revelation 2:4-5
(4) Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
(5) Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
John 21:15-17
(15) So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
(16) He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
(17) He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
1 Corinthians 3:1-3
(1) And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
(2) I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
(3) For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
Hebrews 5:12-13
(12) For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
(13) For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
1 Peter 2:2
(2) As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
Hebrews 5:14
(14) But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
12/28/14 IN YOUR PROPER COURSE
12/28/14 IN YOUR PROPER COURSE
A good question to ask ourselves...
EVERYONE WILL BE RAISED FROM THE DEAD, BUT WHEN WILL IT BE MY TURN?
Everyone (the saved and the unsaved) will be raised from the dead in two different resurrections. The First Resurrection is for the saved (the righteous), and Second Resurrection is for the unsaved (the unrighteous). Jesus said,
John 5:28-29
(28) Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
(29) And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
A. THE FIRST RESURRECTION
The First Resurrection has Three Phases, depicted in an agricultural model; the First Fruits (the early portion), the Harvest (the main portion), and the Gleanings (the last portion).
1) THE FIRST FRUITS
(Jesus and others raised on the third day).
Matthew 27:52-53
(52) And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
(53) And came out of the graves after his (Jesus) resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
2) THE HARVEST
(Resurrection and Glorification of the dead and living believers at time of rapture).
1 Corinthians 15:50-54
(50) Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
(51) Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
(52) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
(53) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
(54) So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
1 Thessalonians 4:14-17
(14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
(15) For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (precede) them which are asleep.
(16) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
(17) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
3) THE GLEANINGS
(those who will die for their faith during the Tribulation).
Revelation 7:13-14
(13) And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
(14) And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Revelation 20:4-6
(4) And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
(5) But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
(6) Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
B. THE SECOND RESURRECTION
The Second Resurrection, the resurrection of the unsaved, who are called "the rest of the dead.".
Revelation 20:5-6
(5) But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.
Paul wanted to be raised from among the dead. He wanted to be in the First Resurrection, and he was willing to make whatever sacrifice necessary, so that he might attain to the resurrection of the dead.
Philippians 3:8-14
(8) Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
(9) And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
(10) That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
(11) If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
(12) Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
(13) Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
(14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Addendum...
The righteous, "those who have done good," according to God, are those who are saved from sin by faith in Christ.
Ephesians 2:8-10
(8) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
(9) Not of works, lest any man should boast.
(10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
A good question to ask ourselves...
EVERYONE WILL BE RAISED FROM THE DEAD, BUT WHEN WILL IT BE MY TURN?
Everyone (the saved and the unsaved) will be raised from the dead in two different resurrections. The First Resurrection is for the saved (the righteous), and Second Resurrection is for the unsaved (the unrighteous). Jesus said,
John 5:28-29
(28) Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
(29) And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
A. THE FIRST RESURRECTION
The First Resurrection has Three Phases, depicted in an agricultural model; the First Fruits (the early portion), the Harvest (the main portion), and the Gleanings (the last portion).
1) THE FIRST FRUITS
(Jesus and others raised on the third day).
Matthew 27:52-53
(52) And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
(53) And came out of the graves after his (Jesus) resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
2) THE HARVEST
(Resurrection and Glorification of the dead and living believers at time of rapture).
1 Corinthians 15:50-54
(50) Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
(51) Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
(52) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
(53) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
(54) So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
1 Thessalonians 4:14-17
(14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
(15) For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (precede) them which are asleep.
(16) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
(17) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
3) THE GLEANINGS
(those who will die for their faith during the Tribulation).
Revelation 7:13-14
(13) And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
(14) And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Revelation 20:4-6
(4) And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
(5) But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
(6) Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
B. THE SECOND RESURRECTION
The Second Resurrection, the resurrection of the unsaved, who are called "the rest of the dead.".
Revelation 20:5-6
(5) But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.
Paul wanted to be raised from among the dead. He wanted to be in the First Resurrection, and he was willing to make whatever sacrifice necessary, so that he might attain to the resurrection of the dead.
Philippians 3:8-14
(8) Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
(9) And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
(10) That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
(11) If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
(12) Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
(13) Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
(14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Addendum...
The righteous, "those who have done good," according to God, are those who are saved from sin by faith in Christ.
Ephesians 2:8-10
(8) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
(9) Not of works, lest any man should boast.
(10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
12/28/14 I WOULD LIKE TO...
12/28/14 I WOULD LIKE TO...
I love y'all, and hope y'all had a wonderful Christmas time.
Y'all would not believe how many of my FB friends I think of while I enjoying a good meal along the beach and looking at the ocean. I can see some of you sitting at the table with us or paddling along the beach with us. Then I think of some of you, because I know there is no way in this world you would be on a kayak, much less in the ocean. Some of you I communicate with regularly, some of you I hardly ever hear from.
I wish I had a ministry complex or campus. I would have y'all come in for fun, fellowship, family and friendship getaways. We could play some yard games, throw some oysters on the fire, sing some songs, go for a sail, catch some fish, play some Pickleball, talk about old times, talk about old friends, laugh, cry, eat some more and laugh some more. Maybe it will happen some day, but if not, it is not because I don't want it to happen.
But most of all, here is my prayer for you (and me).
Paul prayed,
Ephesians 3:14-21
(14) For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
(15) Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
(16) That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
(17) That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
(18) May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
(19) And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
(20) Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
(21) Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
I love y'all, and hope y'all had a wonderful Christmas time.
Y'all would not believe how many of my FB friends I think of while I enjoying a good meal along the beach and looking at the ocean. I can see some of you sitting at the table with us or paddling along the beach with us. Then I think of some of you, because I know there is no way in this world you would be on a kayak, much less in the ocean. Some of you I communicate with regularly, some of you I hardly ever hear from.
I wish I had a ministry complex or campus. I would have y'all come in for fun, fellowship, family and friendship getaways. We could play some yard games, throw some oysters on the fire, sing some songs, go for a sail, catch some fish, play some Pickleball, talk about old times, talk about old friends, laugh, cry, eat some more and laugh some more. Maybe it will happen some day, but if not, it is not because I don't want it to happen.
But most of all, here is my prayer for you (and me).
Paul prayed,
Ephesians 3:14-21
(14) For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
(15) Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
(16) That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
(17) That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
(18) May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
(19) And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
(20) Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
(21) Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
12/27/14 Redemption and Reward...
12/27/14 Redemption and Reward...
I was thinking about GRACE and GREAT GRACE (as I often do). All grace is great, but not all grace is great grace. God's grace saves us from sin. In our walk with Him, we sometimes encounter especially difficult terrain and violent attacks of Satan. We need not fear. God's grace is always sufficient and in special times, He provides Great Grace. Great Grace is also needed to do great works for God.
Acts 4:33
(33) And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
Redemption and Reward...
We receive REDEMPTION as a gift from God. We do not earn it, we do not do works of supererogation to add to it. It is a gift of grace that can only be received by faith.
We receive REWARDS based on the service we render to God. Good deeds, righteous acts are the result of a current and vital faith. We are responsible for what we do with the grace God gives us.
I was thinking about GRACE and GREAT GRACE (as I often do). All grace is great, but not all grace is great grace. God's grace saves us from sin. In our walk with Him, we sometimes encounter especially difficult terrain and violent attacks of Satan. We need not fear. God's grace is always sufficient and in special times, He provides Great Grace. Great Grace is also needed to do great works for God.
Acts 4:33
(33) And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
Redemption and Reward...
We receive REDEMPTION as a gift from God. We do not earn it, we do not do works of supererogation to add to it. It is a gift of grace that can only be received by faith.
We receive REWARDS based on the service we render to God. Good deeds, righteous acts are the result of a current and vital faith. We are responsible for what we do with the grace God gives us.
12/27/14 "GREAT" IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
12/27/14 "GREAT" IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
As I was looking up verses that address the concepts of "Grace" and "Great Grace," I saw that the word GREAT is used with so many other issues. I decided to make a list of the many ways GREAT is used in the New Testament (KJV) and post it. Great is used in conjunction with positive and negative ideas.
This list can be a good resource for study or for meditation. The Titles are just for basic designations, they are not intended to be authoritative and definitive. This is done without comment (other than the Titles), which allows for a personal reflection on God's word. I share 106 passages in the New Testament, without the book of Revelation, and 62 passages in the Book of Revelation. This is not an exhaustive list. I did not include the several passages that refer to great "multitude (s)" and I did not include passages, such as "great deal."
I hope to catalogue the various applications, but I did not want to delay posting this list. In fact, I hope to use the word Great in Revelation as a simple outline for the book. It will just be a simple tool to retell the main events of the Revelation. I will correct typo and formatting errors when I find them. I do not like the book abbreviations, therefore I hope to fix that later.
As I was looking up verses that address the concepts of "Grace" and "Great Grace," I saw that the word GREAT is used with so many other issues. I decided to make a list of the many ways GREAT is used in the New Testament (KJV) and post it. Great is used in conjunction with positive and negative ideas.
This list can be a good resource for study or for meditation. The Titles are just for basic designations, they are not intended to be authoritative and definitive. This is done without comment (other than the Titles), which allows for a personal reflection on God's word. I share 106 passages in the New Testament, without the book of Revelation, and 62 passages in the Book of Revelation. This is not an exhaustive list. I did not include the several passages that refer to great "multitude (s)" and I did not include passages, such as "great deal."
I hope to catalogue the various applications, but I did not want to delay posting this list. In fact, I hope to use the word Great in Revelation as a simple outline for the book. It will just be a simple tool to retell the main events of the Revelation. I will correct typo and formatting errors when I find them. I do not like the book abbreviations, therefore I hope to fix that later.
There are just over 100 categories. Some are very similar to others, but I could have also put some verses in two different categories.
I like the way they line up. Some deal with
Great Light and others deal with Great Darkness;
Great Joy and Great Mourning;
Great Mercy and Great Affliction;
Great Grace and Great Curse;
Great Possessions and Great Famine;
Great Calm and Great Violence;
the Great Holy City and the Great Sin City;
the Great King and the Great Beast;
the Great Shepherd and the Great Dragon.
GREAT IN NT (106)
Great Joy (7)
Mat_2:10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
Mat_28:8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
Luk_2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
Luk_24:52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:
Act_8:8 And there was great joy in that city.
Act_15:3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
Phm_1:7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
Great Mourning
Mat_2:18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
Great Light (2)
Mat_4:16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.
Act_22:6 And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.
Great Multitudes
Mat_4:25 And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.
Great Reward (4)
Mat_5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Luk_6:23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
Luk_6:35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
Heb_10:35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
Great in the Kingdom of Heaven (2)
Mat_5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Luk_9:48 And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.
The Great King
Mat_5:35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
Great Darkness
Mat_6:23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
Great Fall (2)
Mat_7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
Luk_6:49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
Great Faith (3)
Mat_8:10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
Mat_15:28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
Luk_7:9 When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
Great Tempest, Storm (2)
Mat_8:24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
Mar_4:37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
Great Calm (2)
Mat_8:26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
Mar_4:39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
Pearl of Great Price
Mat_13:46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
Great Possessions (2)
Mat_19:22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
Mar_10:22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
Great Leaders (3)
Mat_20:25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
Mar_10:42 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.
Act_8:27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
Great Among Disciples (2)
Mat_20:26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
Mar_10:43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
Great Commandment (2)
Mat_22:36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
Mat_22:38 This is the first and great commandment.
Great Tribulation
Mat_24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Great Signs and Wonders (3)
Mat_24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Luk_21:11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven
Act_6:8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
Great Glory
Mat_24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Great Trumpet Sound
Mat_24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Great Stone (2)
Mat_27:60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
Mar_16:4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
Great Earthquake (2)
Mat_28:2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
Act_16:26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
Great Things Jesus Did (5)
Mar_3:8 And from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him.
Mar_5:19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.
Mar_5:20 And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.
Luk_1:49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
Luk_8:39 Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.
Great Astonishment
Mar_5:42 And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.
Great Power and Glory (2)
Mar_13:26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
Luk_21:27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory
Great in Sight of Lord
Luk_1:15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
Jesus is Great
Luk_1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
Great Mercy
Luk_1:58 And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.
Great Prophet
Luk_7:16 And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.
Great Fear (3)
Luk_8:37 Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.
Act_5:5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
Act_5:11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
Great is the Harvest
Luk_10:2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.
Great Gulf Fixed
Luk_16:26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
Great Distress in Land
Luk_21:23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
Great Drops of Blood
Luk_22:44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Great and Notable Day
Act_2:20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
Great Power and Great Grace
Act_4:33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
Great Affliction
Act_7:11 Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.
Great Persecution (2)
Act_8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
Act_9:16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
Great Famine
Act_11:28 And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.
Great Curse
Act_23:14 And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.
Great Violence
Act_24:7 But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands,
Great Reasoning
Act_28:29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.
Great Heaviness
Rom_9:2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.
Great Desire
Rom_15:23 But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you;
Great Door Opened
1Co_16:9 For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.
Great Death
2Co_1:10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;
Great Plainness of Speech
2Co_3:12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:
Great Boldness, Great Glorying
2Co_7:4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
Great Trial of Affliction (2)
2Co_8:2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
Heb_10:32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
Great Confidence
2Co_8:22 And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you.
Great Love
Eph_2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Great Mystery (2)
Eph_5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
1Ti_3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Great Conflict
Col_2:1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
Great Zeal
Col_4:13 For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.
Great Desire
1Th_2:17 But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.
Great Boldness in the Faith
1Ti_3:13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Great Gain
1Ti_6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
Great God
Tit_2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Great Salvation
Heb_2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
Great High Priest
Heb_4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Great Cloud of Witnesses
Heb_12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Great Shepherd
Heb_13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
Great Things from Little Member, the tongue
Jas_3:5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
Great Value
1Pe_3:4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
Great Promises
2Pe_1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Great Emptiness Spoken (2)
2Pe_2:18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
Jud_1:16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.
Great Noise of Destruction
2Pe_3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Great Day of Judgment
Jud_1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
REVELATION (62)
Great Voice (7)
Rev_1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
Rev_11:12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
Rev_14:2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
Rev_16:1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.
Rev_16:17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.
Rev_19:1 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:
Rev_21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
Great Tribulation (2)
Rev_2:22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
Rev_7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Great Sword
Rev_6:4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
Great Earthquake (3)
Rev_6:12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
Rev_11:13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
Rev_16:18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.
Great Men of the Earth
Rev_6:15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
Great Day of Wrath (2)
Rev_6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
Rev_16:14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
Great Multitude (2)
Rev_7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
Rev_19:6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
Great Mountain Burning
Rev_8:8 And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;
Great Star from Heaven
Rev_8:10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;
Great Furnace
Rev_9:2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
Great River Euphrates (2)
Rev_9:14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.
Rev_16:12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.
Great City, Jerusalem
Rev_11:8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
Great City, Babylon (2)
Rev_14:8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
Rev_16:19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
Great Fear
Rev_11:11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
Great Voices in Heaven
Rev_11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
Great Power
Rev_11:17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
Great Hail (2)
Rev_11:19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
Rev_16:21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.
Great Wonder in Heaven
Rev_12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:
Great Dragon (2)
Rev_12:3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
Rev_12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Great Wrath of Satan
Rev_12:12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
Great Eagle
Rev_12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
Great Authority of The Beast
Rev_13:2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
Great Words of The Beast
tRev_13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
Great Wonders of Deception
Rev_13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
Great Winepress of Wrath of God
Rev_14:19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
Great and Marvelous Sign in Heaven (2)
Rev_15:1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.
Rev_15:3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
Great Heat
Rev_16:9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.
Great Whore (3)
Rev_17:1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
Rev_17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
Rev_19:2 For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.
Great Amazement at Evil City (8)
Rev_17:6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
Rev_17:18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
Rev_18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
Rev_18:10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.
Rev_18:16 And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!
Rev_18:17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,
Rev_18:18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!
Rev_18:19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.
Great Angelic Power
Rev_18:1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
Great Millstone
Rev_18:21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.
Great, Evil Men Silenced
Rev_18:23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.
Great God
Rev_19:17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
Great Chain
Rev_20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
Great White Throne
Rev_20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Great City (2)
Rev_21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Rev_21:12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
I like the way they line up. Some deal with
Great Light and others deal with Great Darkness;
Great Joy and Great Mourning;
Great Mercy and Great Affliction;
Great Grace and Great Curse;
Great Possessions and Great Famine;
Great Calm and Great Violence;
the Great Holy City and the Great Sin City;
the Great King and the Great Beast;
the Great Shepherd and the Great Dragon.
GREAT IN NT (106)
Great Joy (7)
Mat_2:10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
Mat_28:8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
Luk_2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
Luk_24:52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:
Act_8:8 And there was great joy in that city.
Act_15:3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
Phm_1:7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
Great Mourning
Mat_2:18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
Great Light (2)
Mat_4:16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.
Act_22:6 And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.
Great Multitudes
Mat_4:25 And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.
Great Reward (4)
Mat_5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Luk_6:23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
Luk_6:35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
Heb_10:35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
Great in the Kingdom of Heaven (2)
Mat_5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Luk_9:48 And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.
The Great King
Mat_5:35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
Great Darkness
Mat_6:23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
Great Fall (2)
Mat_7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
Luk_6:49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
Great Faith (3)
Mat_8:10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
Mat_15:28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
Luk_7:9 When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
Great Tempest, Storm (2)
Mat_8:24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
Mar_4:37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
Great Calm (2)
Mat_8:26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
Mar_4:39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
Pearl of Great Price
Mat_13:46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
Great Possessions (2)
Mat_19:22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
Mar_10:22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
Great Leaders (3)
Mat_20:25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
Mar_10:42 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.
Act_8:27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
Great Among Disciples (2)
Mat_20:26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
Mar_10:43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
Great Commandment (2)
Mat_22:36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
Mat_22:38 This is the first and great commandment.
Great Tribulation
Mat_24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Great Signs and Wonders (3)
Mat_24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Luk_21:11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven
Act_6:8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
Great Glory
Mat_24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Great Trumpet Sound
Mat_24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Great Stone (2)
Mat_27:60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
Mar_16:4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
Great Earthquake (2)
Mat_28:2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
Act_16:26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
Great Things Jesus Did (5)
Mar_3:8 And from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him.
Mar_5:19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.
Mar_5:20 And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.
Luk_1:49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
Luk_8:39 Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.
Great Astonishment
Mar_5:42 And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.
Great Power and Glory (2)
Mar_13:26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
Luk_21:27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory
Great in Sight of Lord
Luk_1:15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
Jesus is Great
Luk_1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
Great Mercy
Luk_1:58 And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.
Great Prophet
Luk_7:16 And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.
Great Fear (3)
Luk_8:37 Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.
Act_5:5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
Act_5:11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
Great is the Harvest
Luk_10:2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.
Great Gulf Fixed
Luk_16:26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
Great Distress in Land
Luk_21:23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
Great Drops of Blood
Luk_22:44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Great and Notable Day
Act_2:20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
Great Power and Great Grace
Act_4:33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
Great Affliction
Act_7:11 Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.
Great Persecution (2)
Act_8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
Act_9:16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
Great Famine
Act_11:28 And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.
Great Curse
Act_23:14 And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.
Great Violence
Act_24:7 But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands,
Great Reasoning
Act_28:29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.
Great Heaviness
Rom_9:2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.
Great Desire
Rom_15:23 But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you;
Great Door Opened
1Co_16:9 For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.
Great Death
2Co_1:10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;
Great Plainness of Speech
2Co_3:12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:
Great Boldness, Great Glorying
2Co_7:4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
Great Trial of Affliction (2)
2Co_8:2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
Heb_10:32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
Great Confidence
2Co_8:22 And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you.
Great Love
Eph_2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Great Mystery (2)
Eph_5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
1Ti_3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Great Conflict
Col_2:1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
Great Zeal
Col_4:13 For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.
Great Desire
1Th_2:17 But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.
Great Boldness in the Faith
1Ti_3:13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Great Gain
1Ti_6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
Great God
Tit_2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Great Salvation
Heb_2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
Great High Priest
Heb_4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Great Cloud of Witnesses
Heb_12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Great Shepherd
Heb_13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
Great Things from Little Member, the tongue
Jas_3:5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
Great Value
1Pe_3:4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
Great Promises
2Pe_1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Great Emptiness Spoken (2)
2Pe_2:18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
Jud_1:16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.
Great Noise of Destruction
2Pe_3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Great Day of Judgment
Jud_1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
REVELATION (62)
Great Voice (7)
Rev_1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
Rev_11:12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
Rev_14:2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
Rev_16:1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.
Rev_16:17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.
Rev_19:1 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:
Rev_21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
Great Tribulation (2)
Rev_2:22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
Rev_7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Great Sword
Rev_6:4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
Great Earthquake (3)
Rev_6:12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
Rev_11:13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
Rev_16:18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.
Great Men of the Earth
Rev_6:15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
Great Day of Wrath (2)
Rev_6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
Rev_16:14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
Great Multitude (2)
Rev_7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
Rev_19:6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
Great Mountain Burning
Rev_8:8 And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;
Great Star from Heaven
Rev_8:10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;
Great Furnace
Rev_9:2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
Great River Euphrates (2)
Rev_9:14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.
Rev_16:12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.
Great City, Jerusalem
Rev_11:8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
Great City, Babylon (2)
Rev_14:8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
Rev_16:19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
Great Fear
Rev_11:11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
Great Voices in Heaven
Rev_11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
Great Power
Rev_11:17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
Great Hail (2)
Rev_11:19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
Rev_16:21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.
Great Wonder in Heaven
Rev_12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:
Great Dragon (2)
Rev_12:3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
Rev_12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Great Wrath of Satan
Rev_12:12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
Great Eagle
Rev_12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
Great Authority of The Beast
Rev_13:2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
Great Words of The Beast
tRev_13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
Great Wonders of Deception
Rev_13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
Great Winepress of Wrath of God
Rev_14:19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
Great and Marvelous Sign in Heaven (2)
Rev_15:1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.
Rev_15:3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
Great Heat
Rev_16:9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.
Great Whore (3)
Rev_17:1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
Rev_17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
Rev_19:2 For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.
Great Amazement at Evil City (8)
Rev_17:6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
Rev_17:18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
Rev_18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
Rev_18:10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.
Rev_18:16 And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!
Rev_18:17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,
Rev_18:18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!
Rev_18:19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.
Great Angelic Power
Rev_18:1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
Great Millstone
Rev_18:21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.
Great, Evil Men Silenced
Rev_18:23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.
Great God
Rev_19:17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
Great Chain
Rev_20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
Great White Throne
Rev_20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Great City (2)
Rev_21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Rev_21:12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
12/26/14 GOD'S TWO INSTITUTIONS
12/26/14 GOD'S TWO INSTITUTIONS
The (local) Church and Marriage
Replacing the (local) Church with various forms of ministry, or para church organizations, or Christian activities, is as pleasing to God as replacing the family (one husband, one wife, as mother and father, with children) with any other form or or configuration or combination that can be imagined.
FORM IS NOT ENOUGH...
God's plan includes more than outward form. For a family and/or (local) Church to,
Enjoy Divine Privileges,
Experience Divine Power,
Exhibit Divine Productivity,
families and (local) Churches must meet Biblical standards and follow God's leading. There are standards, directives, responsibilities, incumbent upon,
husbands,
wives,
pastors,
parents,
children,
parishioners,
which must be followed, rather than substituted for political correctness or denominational correctness.
The vitality of a family and a local church is demonstrated in their love. Love in a family and in a church is active and visible, and submissive to Divine authority.
I have always taught, as a pastor, that the local church is the spiritual extended family. Just as there is a place for each member of an individual family (home), there is a place for the local church in that home. It is not a matter of one or the other, since they are both part of one. Nuclear family should not be sacrificed for corporate, local church family, but nuclear family never reaches its full potential when disconnected from the local church family. And, it is not simply or only formal, it is functional, relational, vital.
The (local) Church and Marriage
Replacing the (local) Church with various forms of ministry, or para church organizations, or Christian activities, is as pleasing to God as replacing the family (one husband, one wife, as mother and father, with children) with any other form or or configuration or combination that can be imagined.
FORM IS NOT ENOUGH...
God's plan includes more than outward form. For a family and/or (local) Church to,
Enjoy Divine Privileges,
Experience Divine Power,
Exhibit Divine Productivity,
families and (local) Churches must meet Biblical standards and follow God's leading. There are standards, directives, responsibilities, incumbent upon,
husbands,
wives,
pastors,
parents,
children,
parishioners,
which must be followed, rather than substituted for political correctness or denominational correctness.
The vitality of a family and a local church is demonstrated in their love. Love in a family and in a church is active and visible, and submissive to Divine authority.
I have always taught, as a pastor, that the local church is the spiritual extended family. Just as there is a place for each member of an individual family (home), there is a place for the local church in that home. It is not a matter of one or the other, since they are both part of one. Nuclear family should not be sacrificed for corporate, local church family, but nuclear family never reaches its full potential when disconnected from the local church family. And, it is not simply or only formal, it is functional, relational, vital.
12/26/14 NOT MUCH TIME LEFT
12/26/14 NOT MUCH TIME LEFT
There are some great needs in your local church that might have gone unmet in 2014, either because you refused to prepare yourself personally for service or because you did not present yourself for duty.
Pretty much, it is too late to do anything about it. But, with careful planning and scheduling, you can make an even less significant impact in 2015. Of course, you may not be able to finish out the year, so you need to be non committal to God's work, right away. Don't worry about someone coming in and doing your job and stealing your thunder, since very few people either see the importance of God's work or they have no desire to do God's work. And who knows, maybe Jesus will catch His bride away soon, ending the presence of the Church in the world.
However, if you sense that God wants to use you in reaching the unreached, and ministering to His people in a more meaningful way this coming year, tell your pastor you are available and ask God to lead you into service.
Don't wait too long, the new year is almost here.
Oh, by the way, the reason I push the ministry of the local church is because the local church is GOD'S PLAN.
There are some great needs in your local church that might have gone unmet in 2014, either because you refused to prepare yourself personally for service or because you did not present yourself for duty.
Pretty much, it is too late to do anything about it. But, with careful planning and scheduling, you can make an even less significant impact in 2015. Of course, you may not be able to finish out the year, so you need to be non committal to God's work, right away. Don't worry about someone coming in and doing your job and stealing your thunder, since very few people either see the importance of God's work or they have no desire to do God's work. And who knows, maybe Jesus will catch His bride away soon, ending the presence of the Church in the world.
However, if you sense that God wants to use you in reaching the unreached, and ministering to His people in a more meaningful way this coming year, tell your pastor you are available and ask God to lead you into service.
Don't wait too long, the new year is almost here.
Oh, by the way, the reason I push the ministry of the local church is because the local church is GOD'S PLAN.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)