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flickeringflame216 · 1 month

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@sliverswords i didn't wanna hijack Gracie's post because this might be somewhat of a long answer!

So, when I was in middle and high school I went to an all-girls Christian summer camp a few years in a row--the same camp I now counsel at. My cabin the year I was going into 9th grade was mostly church kids and we all wanted to do more for morning devotions than the little booklet they hand out, so our counselor told us "read through 1 Peter." At the same time, in our group Bible lessons, she was teaching us how to study the Bible in a way that I had never really done before. I remember realizing how much she loved the Bible, and how passionate she was about it, and at that point I didn't really know anyone like that and it shifted my perspective. Man, I wish I had my notes from that first really thorough read-through of 1 Peter! You know how people say the Bible jumps off the page at you? Yeah, that was the first time I had any clue what they meant. I was a pretty lost kid at the time, and dealing with some rough things at home, and the amount of hope in that little epistle was so foreign to me and so lovely. It told me that it was okay to go through hard things, and that it was even possible to rejoice in the midst of them--not because the pain went away, but because my joy doesn't come from a life free of pain. It comes from faith in Christ and from the living hope I have of growing more like Him on earth and being with Him in heaven. 1 Peter told me I had purpose, was part of "a chosen people," and to a kid who felt aimless, unwanted, and alone, being chosen by God seemed almost too good to be true. It told me there were expectations for how God wants us to live--structure and order were comforting too--but that He gives boundless mercy as well. Chapter 3 is one of those husband and wife passages that I still really don't like, if I'm honest with myself and with God. Let's just say I don't enjoy the idea of submission, to Him or to other people. But that passage taught me to wrestle with God, and that it was okay to dislike something and bring it before Him, as long as His will remained above my own. Cliche as it may be, the verse about casting your anxiety on Him because He cares for you hit extra hard, and I began to ask God to help lift my worries. Finally, it ended on hope again--the hope that God wouldnt leave me in pain, that He would restore life to me and make me "strong, firm, and steadfast." He is keeping that promise.

It's been awhile since then, and life got worse before it got better. But 1 Peter was a refuge I returned to over and over, and a reminder that hope persists always. The ability to hope--not a wish, not an emotion, but a choice and an action--is quite literally why I'm alive today. And I don't think I'd have that ability without a camp counselor who taught me how to study and a God who knew right when I needed His words.

Terribly long answer to a terribly short question! But, that's why it's my favorite book of the Bible.

#living hope #<- this is also the reason for that tag and why hope is so important to me in general #anyway I bared my soul more than I intended answering this question but. It was good to do that methinks.#silver thank you for asking <3 #1 peter #the bible

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kemetic-dreams · 1 year

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An entire Manhattan village owned by African people, was destroyed to build Central Park.

When Reverend Christopher Rush laid the cornerstone of the First African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in 1853, he placed in it a time capsule, a box that contained a bible, a hymn book, and copies of two New York papers, The Tribune and The Sun. These were mementos for future New Yorkers. Rush, who escaped slavery and became the second ordained bishop of the AME Zion Church, also delivered the church’s first sermon. He read in part from the First Epistle of Peter, an address to the oppressed and persecuted, assuring the congregation that “although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials,” salvation would reward those who kept the faith. But even as he counseled hope, the church was doomed. What Rush didn’t know was that the land where the Church would stand, part of a thriving African American community, had been condemned two weeks before as part of the plan to create New York’s Central Park.

Most landowners at the time refused to sell to African Americans. A white couple who lived in what was then a distant northern outpost of Manhattan was an exception, subdividing and selling off their land first to Epiphany Davis and Andrew Williams, two prominent members of the The New York African Society for Mutual Relief, and then to the AME Zion Church. More members of the African Society, whose purpose was in part to build black communities, followed suit and purchased land too. Slowly, houses were built. Some of them were rather grand, two-story affairs, with barns and stables, and some were modest shacks. The area was eventually anchored by three churches and a school.

Owning land in Seneca Village meant more than finding a refuge from the slums and violence of Manhattan proper. Buying property meant voting rights (at least for men), as laws in New York at the time required that all voters own at least $250 worth of real estate. Seneca Village probably had a more radical purpose, too, as a stop on the Underground Railroad. Prominent abolitionists such as Albro Lyons, later recognized as a conductor on the railroad, owned land and lived there. In fact, the African Society so instrumental in founding the village was reputed to have a hidden basement for hiding runaway slaves. And the name of the village itself may have come from a philosophy tract called Seneca’s Morals, a book that was popular with abolitionist activists

#african #african american #kemetic dreams #central park #nyc #new york #manhattan #africans

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avesblues2 · 1 year

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To think the church is failing in terms of being loving is 1. Not true and 2. A very broad generalization. I'd say too many churches are TOO loving and not enough are speaking the TRUTH. You cannot be just loving and you cannot just be truthful, you have to speak the truth in love. For anyone who thinks calling out sinful behavior, telling someone to repent of their sin, stating they are not representing Christ by identifying their sin (which is literally breaking the third commandment) have clearly never read Acts and saw how the early church handled those who were sinning without repentance, those who rejected Christ and Christians who were not representing God the way they should. Take this scripture below for an example:

“Saul, also known as Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he looked the sorcerer in the eye. Then he said, “You son of the devil, full of every sort of deceit and fraud, and enemy of all that is good! Will you never stop perverting the true ways of the Lord? Watch now, for the Lord has laid his hand of punishment upon you, and you will be struck blind. You will not see the sunlight for some time.” Instantly mist and darkness came over the man’s eyes, and he began groping around begging for someone to take his hand and lead him.” - Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭13‬:‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭

Or about when Peter boldly speaks to the Jewish council in Jerusalem.

“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead.” - Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭

Seriously just read Acts and look at how Paul, Peter and others who journeyed with them handled a culture against God and Christians who were not properly representing Christ and HOW they preached the gospel with BOLDNESS.

Now onto addressing the part about sexual immorality:

While sexual sin is no worse than any other sin because sin is sin and sin = death, it can be a more dangerous sin because “Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body.”- 1 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬ - NOT to mention in our current culture people believe they cannot overcome this sin, they identify with the sin instead of Christ. If you claim to be a christian but are living in sin, we as Christian's are TOLD to call one another out. We see Paul do this in ALL of his epistles, like hello!? Now the way we treat unbelievers SHOULD BE different than believers, for believers are said to not be blinded but in the light but unbelievers are blinded and in the dark and we must first pray for unbelievers and their blinders are removed and their ears are open or else all that is said to them was said in vain. But even then, Paul is a GREAT example of being bold in faith and speaking truth with having a heart of love and genuinely wanting people to know Christ. Before you correct someone, check your own heart first. If it's coming from a place of superiority you are better off not saying anything at all.

#christian

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astrum-medeis · 1 year

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Stella matutina. Lucifer the fallen angel's big 3.

How Lucifer’s big 3 could look like?

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(˶ᵔ ᵔ˶ )

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Sagittarius Sun

Lucifer is an uncontrollable soul. He is the teacher who does teach other angels the independence of thought. Lucifer figure kind of makes up a paradox. His name means „Light Bringer”, however not many of people associate him with light. We rather perceive him as a fallen god’s favourite absorbed in absolute darkness. Lucifer brings light to our minds, he brings enlightment as he brought it to his brothers’ minds. His desire for freedom and equality is untamed. It is everything he wished for and it was all what he has got punished for. I personally believe christian god is the one who is full of haughtiness, not the Morningstar. God is absolutely terrified of thought he could lost control, of him not being the highest being, meanwhile his greatest creation and favourite turned out to be everything the god hates and is afraid of. Therefore he threw his son into the hell to punish him for his own fears. Lucifer has got punished for his father’s own fears. Furthermore, as the Sun represents the father, God’s attributes can be associated with Sagittarius archetype.

Aries Moon

We talk a lot about an Aquarius in context of being rebelliant, however Aries is the truest rebelliant to my mind. In the world that takes no place for individualism, having your own mind and having your own moral compass – Lunar Arieans are bold enough to separate themselves from a crowd. They have strength to follow their own path. They are faithful to their beliefs and values. Lucifer fought for what he believed in and never backed down.

Scorpio Rising

Many of people would give him a Leo Rising, however I can not see him being an opposite for Aquarius. I believe he’s just perceived by people as a Leo archetype, as Lucifer is described to be charismatic, prideful, arrogant and blinded of his own splendor. He also is described as a lion seeking for victims in the First Epistle of Peter. Therefore he could be a Leo MC, since Medium Coeli is how we are perceived by others. As Mars and Pluto ruled, Lucifer is driven by passion and purpose. He is determined to achieve what he’s going for. He has got an indomitable character. Beside that, I think Mars and Pluto themes suit Lucifer’s existence well.

#astro observations #astrology #astro community #astro notes #astroblr #astroworld

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orthodoxadventure · 6 months

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Praying the Bible in the Liturgy

Orthodox Christians are not merely to read the Bible; we are also to pray the Bible. This takes place most clearly and completely in the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom on a Sunday to Sunday basis. Yes, there are two readings from the New Testament during the Liturgy -- an Epistle reading from one of the Letters of the apostles, Paul, Peter, James and John or other apostolic writings; and a Gospel reading from one of the four evangelists -- but we pray the Lord's prayer and also sing verses from the Book of Psalms. In the priest's blessing, "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God the Father and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all," we hear St. Paul's final farewell to the Church in Corinth (2 Corinthians 13:13); and in the choir's singing of "Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of Sabaoth, Heaven and Earth are full of Your glory," we hear the song of the angelic cherubim first heard by the Old Testament prophet Isaiah in the Temple in Jerusalem (Isaiah 6:1-5). The prayers of the Liturgy are full of biblical imagery and shot through with hundreds of Biblical quotes. In fact, the late French Orthodox theologian, Paul Evdokimov (1902-1970), once calculated that there are 98 quotations from the Old Testament and 114 quotations from the New Testament woven into the prayers of the Liturgy. The language of the Liturgy is the language of the Bible! To come to Liturgy attentively is to learn to pray the Bible!

But more than this: the priesthood, the vestments, the altar, the tabernacle, the oil lamps, the incense, and so much else of the Church's structures for worship are taken from the Old Testament Scriptures, particularly Exodus, Leviticus and the Book of Psalms, and are seen as the Christological fulfillment of the worship of the people of ancient Israel in both the synagogue and the Temple as described in the New Testament's Letter to the Hebrews. Every aspect of the Old Testament Passover/Exodus has been fulfilled in the death and resurrection of Christ and this is what we celebrate at each Divine Liturgy!

[Source of text: The Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom (with Commentary and Notes)]

#Divine Liturgy #Bible #Orthodox Christianity #Christianity #Religion

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pastortomsteers · 14 days

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The Third Sunday of Easter

April 14, 2024

Pastor Tom Steers

Christ the Saviour Lutheran Church, Toronto

Lutheran Service Book

Divine Service III – Pages 184-202

OPENING HYMNN: 475 “Good Christian Friends, Rejoice and Sing”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwrOot61ETc

Pastor: Halleluiah, Christ is risen!

Congregation: He is risen indeed. Halleluiah!

The Introit:

Psalm 133

Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! 2 It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes!

3 It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.

The Salutation – Pastor: The Lord be with you. Congregation: And also with you.

Collect Prayer:

O God, through the sacrifice of Your Son

You raised up the fallen world.

Through His death and resurrection,

He has earned us eternal life.

Grant that on our walk through this life we bear witness to our Saviour;

through Jesus Christ, our Lord,

who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Our Bible Readings:

First Reading – Acts 2:14a, 36-42

Psalm 116, verses 1-14

Epistle Reading – 1st Peter 1:17-25

(This week we use the text from Luke on the Emmaus disciples. The three-year lectionary Gospel passage today is Luke’s account of Jesus’ appearance to the disciples, which we read of last week in John 20:19-31. The one-year lectionary text for today is the three-year lectionary Gospel passage for next Sunday, which we will have as our reading on April 21st.)

Gospel Reading – Luke 24:13-35

THE APOSTLES’ CREED – Page 192

HYMN OF THE DAY: 476 “Who Are You Who Walk in Sorrow”

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THE SERMON –

This road we call life is, at times, a difficult one.

We can feel alone, and even be led to despair, over hardship, disappointment, and loss.

The things we face in this world can cloud our vision, especially of the things of God.

We can become blind and forgetful of what God has said to us, and promised.

It was this way with two disciples of Jesus on the afternoon of the first Easter.

They were walking towards a town called Emmaus.

For some Christians, the Easter Gospel could very well begin with the words, “A long time ago in a place far away.”

Or in other words they’ve lost a personal connection to the resurrection.

For them it only has a past and future significance, but no present, every day value.

When life takes a downward turn, as it does from time to time, they don’t feel the presence of their Saviour, but are lost in the griefs of the day.

And they may try to fill this perceived void, what they feel is an absence of God, with a personal ‘works righteousness.’

Not seeing their Lord, not seeing the Gospel, they try to fill the emptiness with the Law of God.

What they say in effect is that while Christ is gone and we’re left to our own devices here’s what you need to do.

And it’s an attempt to fill the empty tomb of Jesus with a false belief that we must be perfect before Christ will reappear to us.

But this is what makes us as a Church, as Biblical Lutheran followers of Christ, different.

Because we not only celebrate a past event – the resurrection.

We don’t just say, ‘Christ is Risen,’ and gone back to heaven, and one day we’ll see Him again.

No, we celebrate the living, triumphant Jesus Christ.

As the Church we celebrate the marriage feast of the Bridegroom who laid down His life for us and in a very real and present way, is with us today: in Spirit, in His Holy Word, and in His Body and Blood in the Lord’s Supper.

Consider the Gospel account in today’s reading.

The two disciples on the road to Emmaus knew the Scriptures.

But they hadn’t really taken them in, they hadn’t truly understood them.

Because they didn’t see Jesus in them from start to finish.

And at first, they don’t see Christ in front of them on that road.

Physical sight alone, is not enough to recognize who Christ is.

Human reason is not sufficient to recognize Jesus as the Risen Saviour.

Christ had directly told the disciples He would die and rise again on the third day.

But until He appeared to them, they didn’t believe.

No, our eyes and ears must be opened by God Himself.

It took God’s only Son, Jesus to reveal His presence.

The hearts of the Emmaus disciples burned with joy as they understood the Scriptures when explained by Christ.

Here is one of many places where Jesus tells us how to interpret the Bible correctly.

Jesus tells us that if you do not see the Bible as God’s Word and see Him throughout it you get lost on the road; you won’t see Christ even when He’s right in front of you.

As Lutherans we believe that from the very first verses of Moses through to the prophets and all Scripture, God’s Holy Word is about Jesus.

He’s there in the Garden of Eden in God’s promise that a Saviour would come.

He’s present throughout the Old Testament, as well as the New.

It’s all about our Saviour, for us.

When Jesus is the key to scripture the Bible is not a tangled dead-end road.

When Jesus is the key to scripture, we understand God’s Law is a mirror that shows us our sin and a guide for us, but not the means of salvation.

Jesus used the scriptures to reassure the grieving, despairing Emmaus disciples.

They thought they’d been left alone.

But Christ shows them the crucifixion was not the end of the dreams and hopes of His followers.

The cross was part of the plan of redemption, of real freedom for every nation, every human being.

Christ explained that the cross was the instrument of salvation in paying our sin debt.

If there was no crucifixion, there would be no resurrection, for Jesus, or us.

Perhaps one of the best statements on this comes from the end of last week’s Gospel reading, in John, Chapter 20 (verses 30-31), when the Apostle wrote:

“Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, but these things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.”

But for the Emmaus disciples until Christ took the bread and blessed it, as He did on the night of the Last Supper, that their eyes of faith were opened.

It took Christ Himself to open their eyes and minds, to accept that their living Saviour was there with them.

It’s the same for us.

When He instituted the Lord’s Supper Christ told us, ‘As often as you do this remember me, remember what I’ve said, remember what it means – He gave them the bread and said, “this is my body.”

He gave them the wine and said, “This is my blood shed for You for the remission of sins.”

Remember that in this Sacrament Christ is saying I remain with you, forgiving you.

And so, on this evening of Easter, three days after the crucifixion, the risen Lord

is with His disciples again.

He reveals Himself in the breaking of the bread, then vanished from their sight.

Notice that John doesn’t write Christ was no longer with them, but just that they could no longer see Him.

He was still, truly with them, in Spirit.

He had told them again, how he would remain to be with us.

Brothers and sisters, today, through the eyes of faith, we see Jesus with us again in His Holy Word, and will see Him in His Sacrament as we come to the altar for Communion.

We are not alone.

We have not been left as orphans.

Christ said, ‘lo I am with you always even unto the end of the world.’

This is the joy of Easter.

It’s not only a commemoration, but a true celebration of His resurrection and current presence with us.

In churches that do not honour the Lord’s Supper, they behave as though only moral perfection will earn you a ticket to see Christ again.

In churches that have gone back to the way of the Pharisees in seeing the Law as a way of self-justification they cannot see the risen, and forgiving Saviour with them.

But Christ came to fulfill the Law in a way we can’t, and promises to be with believing Christians, forgiving us, imperfect though we are.

And although the difficulties on the road of life are still there, the end for us isn’t death.

As the Bible says, ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’

Jesus is with us not only on Ester Sunday but in every ordinary day, in every pain and sorrow, and whenever we gather together in worship.

Our prayers are not long-distance letters but heard instantly by the ever-present God who loves us and wants to hear from us, wants to reassure, and comfort us.

The Emmaus disciples had been on a long walk when they arrived at their destination and sat down with Jesus.

But when they realized He was with them, they forgot their weariness, they forgot the late hour, and got up and walked back to Jerusalem.

They found the other disciples and told them they’d seen Jesus.

May God grant you the opened eyes and ears of faith to always recognize that Your Saviour is with you.

And may that knowledge, joy, and peace, be with you, now, and forever.

Amen.

THE PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH

THE SERVICE OF THE SACRAMENT

P: Blessed are You O Lord, our God, king of the universe, for you have had mercy on us and given Your only-begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

C: We give You thanks Father for the redemption You have prepared for us through Jesus Christ. Grant us Your Holy Spirit that we may faithfully take communion and receive the blessings of forgiveness, life, and salvation that come from the body and blood of Christ.

P: Father, hear us as we pray as Jesus taught us.

LORD’S PRAYER

C: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Preface

P: The Lord be with you.

C: And also with you.

P: Lift up your hearts.

C: We lift them to the Lord.

P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

C: It is right to give Him thanks and praise.

P: It is truly meet, right, and salutary, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks to you, O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty and Everlasting God. For in the mystery of the Word made flesh, You have given us a new revelation of Your glory; that seeing You in the Person of Your Son, we may be drawn to the love of those things which are not seen.

The Words of Our Saviour

Instituting The Lord`s Supper – Page 197

P: The peace of the Lord be with you always.

C: Amen.

Lamb of God (Agnus Dei)

P: Lamb of God You take away the sin of the world,

C: Have mercy on us.

P: Lamb of God You take away the sin of the world,

C: Have mercy on us.

P: Lamb of God You take away the sin of the world,

C: Grant us peace.

The Distribution

(Our hymn during distribution is 627 “Jesus Christ. Our Blessed Saviour”)

Post Communion Collect (Right-hand column) Page 201 of our Hymnal

Salutation and Benedicamus Page 201

Benediction (stand) Page 202

Our Closing Hymn: 879 “Stay with Us”

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#christian religion #lutheran #christian #faith #jesus #salvation #bible #evangelism #holy spirit #religious art #Youtube

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officialyourdailyinspiration · 27 days

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Marriage and its Challenges

1 In the same way, let me say a word to the women. You should be subject to your husbands, so that if there should be some who disobey the word, they may be won, without a word, through the behavior of their wives, 2 as they notice you conducting yourselves with reverence and purity. 3 The beauty you should strive for ought not to be the external sort—elaborate hairdressing, gold trinkets, fine clothes! 4 Rather, true beauty is the secret beauty of the heart, of a sincere, gentle and quiet spirit. That is very precious to God. 5 That is how the holy women of old, who hoped in God, used to make themselves beautiful in submission to their husbands. 6 Take Sarah, for instance, who obeyed Abraham and called him “Master.” You are her children if you do good and have no fear of intimidation.

7 You men, in the same way, think out how to live with your wives. Yes, they are physically weaker than you, but they deserve full respect. They are heirs of the grace of life, just the same as you. That way nothing will obstruct your prayers.

The New Way of Life

8 The aim of this is for you all to be like-minded, sympathetic and loving to one another, tender-hearted and humble. 9 Don’t repay evil for evil, or slander for slander, but rather say a blessing. This is what you were called to, so that you may inherit a blessing.

10 For the one who wants to love life and see good days should guard the tongue from evil, and the lips from speaking deceit; 11 should turn away from evil and do good; should seek peace, and follow after it. 12 For the Lord’s eyes are upon the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.

13 Who is there, then, to harm you if you are eager to do what is right? 14 But if you do suffer because of your righteous behavior, God’s blessing is upon you! “Don’t fear what they fear; don’t be disturbed.” 15 Sanctify the Messiah as Lord in your hearts, and always be ready to make a reply to anyone who asks you to explain the hope that is in you. 16 Do it, though, with gentleness and respect. Hold on to a good conscience, so that when people revile your good behavior in the Messiah they may be ashamed.

Suffering for Doing Right

17 It’s better to suffer for good conduct (if God so wills it) than for bad. 18 For the Messiah, too, suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, so that he might bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the spirit. 19 In the spirit, too, he went and made the proclamation to the spirits in prison 20 who had earlier on been disobedient during the days of Noah, when God waited in patience. Noah built the ark, in which a few people, eight in fact, were rescued through water. 21 That functions as a signpost for you, pointing to baptism, which now rescues you—not by washing away fleshly pollution, but by the appeal to God of a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus the Messiah. 22 He has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand, with angels, authorities and powers subject to him. — 1 Peter 3 | New Testament for Everyone (NTFE) Scripture quotations from The New Testament for Everyone are copyright © Nicholas Thomas Wright 2011, 2018, 2019. Cross References: Genesis 6:3; Genesis 18:12; Genesis 42:25; Psalm 33:18; Psalm 34:12,13 and 14; Proverbs 3:25; Proverbs 12:21; Proverbs 15:28; Isaiah 3:18; Daniel 6:4; Matthew 5:5; Matthew 28:18; John 16:10; Acts 18:21; Romans 12:16; 1 Corinthians 7:16; Ephesians 5:25; Ephesians 5:33; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:3

#wives #husbands #marriage #suffering #struggles #1 Peter 3 #The Epistle of First Peter #NTFE #New Testament for Everyone #Holy Bible

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biblebloodhound · 1 year

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Spiritual Growth (1 Peter 2:1-3)

If we deny our spirituality, whether in thought or in practice, we will inevitably become confused and set ourselves up for failure.

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. (New International Version) Spiritual growth is of vital importance. God made humanity in the divine image and likeness – which means we were created as…

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#1 peter 2 #christian life #first peter #god&039;s goodness #god&039;s grace #god&039;s word #grace #petrine epistles #salvation #spiritual growth #spiritual knowledge #spiritual life #spiritual maturity #spiritual truth #word of god

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shammah8 · 8 months

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"For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, 'All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.'"

1 Peter 1:23-25

SATAN'S ATTACK ON THE BIBLE

Brother Andrew continues his teaching on Satan’s strategic attacks:

The second prong of Satan’s attack is on the written word of God. He has historically tried to prevent Christians from having access to the Bible.

Satan understands the power of the Word of God. At the temptation of Jesus, he even made a sly attempt to use Scripture (actually misapplying it) to deflect Jesus from His true mission (Luke 4:1-3). Twisting Scripture is still a favourite tactic of Satan, and we believers need to know the Word so we can respond, just as Jesus did, with a well-applied “It is written…”

Peter recognised the significant role the Word has in our salvation. In his epistle to Christians passing through “fiery trials” he gives the words of encouragement in today’s scripture above.

Now you can understand my life’s passion to distribute the Bible, even in places where its importation or distribution is prohibited. Because I’ve gone around the world preaching that message, many people assume that I must have been the first “God’s smuggler.” Nothing could be further from the truth.

I personally believe that the first Bible smuggler probably was Timothy, the man Paul looked upon as his son in the gospel. This young man of delicate health, but of great spirituality and loyalty, was converted in Paul’s first campaign at Lystra.

At the end of his life, when Paul was in prison in Rome, he looked to Timothy for comfort. In a letter to him, Paul asked his friend to bring his books to the prison the next time he visited.

In 2 Timothy 4:13 it becomes clear Paul was requesting that scrolls of Old Testament Scriptures be brought to him for further study. But how could Timothy get them into Rome and into the jail when, by that time, Christians has already become an outlawed sect? The only possible way would have been to smuggle them in with other items.

Billy Graham, in his book Hoofbeats, suggests that John the apostle had to write his Revelation secretly, while closely guarded by the Romans. The parchment manuscript pages would have been smuggled off the island of Patmos and Christian volunteers copy them for the churches…

This world is an enemy-occupied territory filled with souls to whom Christ holds rightful claim. Under Christ’s command, we invade countries by any means that will help us to get in with the Word of God…

Today I want others to have what makes me grow spiritually — the Bible.

Response

Today I will make every effort to ensure that the Bible is available to everyone to read and practice.

Prayer

Pray for many believers around the world still waiting for their first personal Bible.

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portraitsofsaints · 1 year

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Pope St. Clement I of Rome 35-99 Feast Day: November 23 Patronage: stonecutters, marble-workers, mariners, sailors, tanners, sick children

Saint Clement was an early successor to St. Peter, installed as Pope in the year 88 and one of the 5 Apostolic Fathers, who provide a direct link between the Apostles and later generations of the church fathers. He’s a contemporary of St. Paul and is mentioned in Philippians 4:3. St. Clement's First Epistle to the Corinthians, condemned the unauthorized and unjustified division between the laity and clergy, urging charity to heal this riff. It’s said that he was miraculously saved from martyrdom when he was cast in the sea with an anchor bound to him.

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#Pope Clement I #Catholic saint #Catholic Pope #Saint for sailors #artist on tumblr

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bibleversegarden · 11 months

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God’s Anointing and Power in Our Lives

Mankind in a fallen, captive state, is incapable of rising to the high stature, high calling of God. Thanks be to God, for the anointing that removes burdens and breaks the yokes of sin, that keeps us bound.

God anointed Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, with the Holy Ghost and with power, who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him. (See Acts 10:38)

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified." (Isaiah 61:1-3)

At God's appointed time, "The Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil." (1 John 3:8)

Jesus who appeared in the flesh, and was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin, was able to resist the devil, and cast Him out of many, for He was full of the Holy Ghost and power. This Jesus, is calling disciples to Himself, to live holy lives, and to proclaim the good news of salvation in the earth, with signs and wonders following.

All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20)

"Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject to you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven." (Luke 10:19-20)

In order to be effective ambassadors for Christ, we must be sanctified and consecrated vessels, reconciled to God, fruitful in every good work; bringing glory to His name.

"And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live." (Romans 8:10-11)

"Do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit. (Ephesians 5:18)

"Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee." (2 Corinthians 1:21 and 22)

A Prayer:

All thanks and praise to God our Father, for Christ His Son: Prophet, Priest and King; for the blessing of the Holy Spirit, and the anointing that breaks the yokes, and sets us free; for the power to daily walk in the Spirit; for a new and living way; for an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, that doesn't fade away. Amen.

- A Walk In The Garden Devotions