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Daily Devotions Archive
August, 2000
By
Bernie Parsons - Aug 1, 2000
But
Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. Galatians 4:26 KJV
Hello, Family & Friends,
With many Bible teachers, preachers and church members focused on the city of Jerusalem in
what is now Israel, it is easy to lose sight of another basic Bible truth.
The capital city for Christians is not in Israel, but in heaven.
Galatians 4:22-26 "For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a
bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the
flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are
the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is
Agar.
For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in
bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us
all."
Our hearts should be focused on the heavenly Jerusalem, where Jesus sits at the right hand
of God.
Romans 8:34 "Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is
risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for
us."
Our citizenship is in the heavenly kingdom, not in this world.
Hebrews 11:10 "For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and
maker is God."
Hebrews 11:13-16 "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but
having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed
that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare
plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from
whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they
desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called
their God: for he hath prepared for them a city."
Our king is in heaven, and we Christians are citizens of the kingdom of heaven. We need to
bow before our king, give Him our allegiance and obey His instructions and commandments.
God bless all!
Love, in Christ,
Bernie
By
Bernie Parsons - Aug 2, 2000
And when
all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him
that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. 1 Corinthians 15:28 KJV
Hello, Family & Friends,
We often forget why Jesus died for us on the cross. It can be truthfully stated that His
death accomplished many things. One underlying and central reason was to restore God's
people back to Him so that He might rightly be king of all.
1 Corinthians 15:26-28 "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath
put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is
manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things
shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put
all things under him, that God may be all in all."
Hebrews 8:10 "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in
their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:"
Acts 15:14 "Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take
out of them a people for his name."
Ephesians 2:12-16 "That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the
commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and
without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made
nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken
down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity,
even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one
new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the
cross, having slain the enmity thereby:"
Jew and Gentile are united in one body to worship God Almighty as Creator and King. That
body is the church of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Man rejected God as king, but Jesus brought man back (reconciled, redeemed, purchased,
bought us) into service to God, King of All!
1 Samuel 8:4-7 "Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came
to Samuel unto Ramah, And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in
thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.
But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel
prayed unto the LORD. And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people
in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected
me, that I should not reign over them."
Colossians 1:13 "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath
translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:"
So we come full circle, from rejecting God as our king, to being restored as His faithful
subjects through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
God bless all!
Love, in Christ,
Bernie
By
Bernie Parsons - Aug 3, 2000
There is
one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one
faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in
you all. Ephesians 4:4-6 KJV
Hello, Family & Friends,
Many modern religionists take a short-sighted and troubling view of the relationship
between Jew and Gentile today. Preachers and Bible teachers are promoting the differences
between the two bodies known as Judaism and Christianity. By doing so they relegate Jesus
to a lower status than He actually holds.
Jesus died to tear down the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile.
Ephesians 2:4-7 "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved
us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye
are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in
Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in
his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus."
Ephesians 2:13-19 "But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made
nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken
down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity,
even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one
new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the
cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar
off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto
the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with
the saints, and of the household of God;"
The one body is the church of Christ.
Matthew 16:18 "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I
will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
Colossians 1:12-24 "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be
partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power
of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have
redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the
invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and
invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things
were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things
consist.
"And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the
dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in
him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by
him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth,
or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by
wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to
present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the
faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye
have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul
am made a minister; Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is
behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the
church:"
Today there is only the one church, created by God through Jesus Christ, a single body to
contain both Jew and Gentile. We are called Christians.
Acts 11:26 "And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to
pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people.
And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch."
God bless all!
Love, in Christ,
Bernie
By
Bernie Parsons - Aug 4, 2000
That at
the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and
things under the earth; Philippians 2:10 KJV
Hello, Family & Friends,
We sometimes forget the great plan of God that put Jesus on the cross and thrust Him to
the forefront of our lives. Jesus is Lord and Savior, deserving of honor and praise.
1 Corinthians 8:6 "But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all
things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by
him."
Ephesians 1:20-23 "Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and
set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and
power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but
also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be
the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth
all in all."
Philippians 2:9-11 "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name
which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in
heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should
confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Colossians 3:17 "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."
This earth and its inhabitants have but one Lord, the Son of the Almighty God. We must
show Him the respect that He deserves. He was an obedient son, and set the example of
obedience for us. We must walk where He walked, say what He said and do as He did.
Praise the holy name of Jesus daily, He who died for our sins upon the cross of Calvary.
He was shamed, ridiculed, abused and executed for a crime He did not commit. We need to
bow to our Lord, yield to His will and honor His name in all we say and do.
God bless all!
Love, in Christ,
Bernie
By
Bernie Parsons - Aug 7, 2000
Saying
with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and
wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. Revelation 5:12 KJV
Hello, Family & Friends,
Jesus is the sacrificial Lamb of God, offered for all time for the sins of the world.
Because of this He is worthy of all power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and
blessing.
Revelation 5:5-9 "And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of
the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the
seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four
beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven
horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
"And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down
before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which
are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the
book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by
thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;"
John 1:29 "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb
of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."
1 Peter 1:18-21 "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible
things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without
spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in
these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead,
and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God."
Hebrews 10:10-14 "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the
body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and
offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man,
after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he
hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified."
Luke 9:35 "And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son:
hear him."
2 Peter 1:17 "For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came
such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased."
Indeed, if God honors and glorifies Jesus, should not we do so all the more? It was for
our sins that he died, to reconcile us to God!
God bless all!
Love, in Christ,
Bernie
By Bernie Parsons - Aug 8, 2000
Neither is there
salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby
we must be saved. Acts 4:12 KJV
Hello, Family & Friends,
The world is full of religions. Some of the ones we have heard of include Christianity,
Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism--to name a few. There are thousands of others. Of those
named above, three--Christianity, Judaism and Islam--look to one Almighty God, the same
God, the God of Abraham.
This is the true and living God, not a man-made god of the imagination. He presented His
power on numerous occasions to prove who He was. The problem is that His audience often
forgets what He has done.
1 Corinthians 8:4-7 "As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are
offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that
there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in
heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one
Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol
unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is
defiled."
Ephesians 4:4-6 "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope
of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above
all, and through all, and in you all."
1 Timothy 2:3-6 "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who
will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave
himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time."
Hebrews 10:10-12 "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the
body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and
offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man,
after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of
God;"
Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, died one time for all time, one man for all men. He
died to unite us all before that one God, Creator of the universe and everything in it.
God bless all!
Love, in Christ,
Bernie
By Bernie Parsons - Aug
9, 2000
That
they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one
in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me John 17:21 KJV
Hello, Family & Friends,
With so many religions in the world and so many denominations within
"Christianity", it would seem that we have forgotten why Jesus died for us.
He died that we all might be one.
As believers in God, we need to drop all the denominational church names and man-made
doctrines and simply cling to the truth of God's word, as revealed in the Holy Bible.
These are the words of His son Jesus, and the chosen Apostles and disciples of Jesus
Christ.
Matthew 17:5 "While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and
behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased; hear ye him."
John 8:26 "I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is
true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him."
John 15:15 "Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his
lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I
have made known unto you."
Matthew 28:19-20 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the
world. Amen."
John 17:20-23 "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe
on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in
thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are
one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world
may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me."
It is this oneness that proves that Jesus is the Son of the true and living God. Let us
all be one in Christ Jesus, in His body, His church. Let us put aside the man-made
doctrines that create differences, disagreement, and distrust.
God bless all!
Love, in Christ,
Bernie
By
Bernie Parsons - Aug 10, 2000
And
other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall
hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. John 10:16 KJV
Hello, Family & Friends,
Jesus died that we all might be one, united under His leadership, under His name,
reconciled to God in Him.
John 17:11 "And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come
to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they
may be one, as we are."
While religious entities (churches) battle one another for membership and dominance, the
mission of the Lord's church goes largely unfulfilled: taking the gospel into all the
world, and bringing the lost back to God.
We need to unite in spirit and purpose, and in the truth of the will and word of God.
Jesus died to unite us--why should we struggle so hard to maintain division?
Romans 15:5-7 "Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one
toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify
God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ
also received us to the glory of God."
Philippians 2:1-4 "If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of
love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that
ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem
other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on
the things of others."
John 17:22 "And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be
one, even as we are one:"
2 Corinthians 13:11 "Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be
of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you."
Let us work together within the framework of the truth of God's word to carry out our
mission of taking the gospel into all the world.
God bless all!
Love, in Christ,
Bernie
The Word Was Made Flesh
Hello, Family & Friends,
John refers to Jesus as the Word made flesh because Jesus brought us the word of God.
Therefore, He is the authority to whom we should listen. He died upon the cross to draw us
back to God.
John 12:28-32 "Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying,
I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
"The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An
angel spake to him. Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for
your sakes. Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast
out.
"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me."
John 15:15 "Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his
lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I
have made known unto you."
John 8:38 "I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye
have seen with your father."
Jesus is the final authority for us, because He only told us what God would have us know.
Therefore, He is indeed the Word of God made flesh.
1 John 1:1-3 "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have
seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of
life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto
you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which
we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and
truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ."
John 1:1-3 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without
him was not any thing made that was made."
No wonder that God spoke from heaven to say that we should listen to His son, Jesus--He
has the words of eternal life for us!
John 6:68 "Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the
words of eternal life."
God bless all!
Love, in Christ,
Bernie
By
Bernie Parsons - Aug 14, 2000
Hello, Family & Friends,
Some folks are under the mistaken notion that Jesus did not exist until born into this
world in flesh and blood. That is a false assumption.
Jesus was with the Almighty God when our earth and heavens were created. The plan for
Jesus to come and die for us was formulated before ever our universe was constructed.
John 17:24 "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where
I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before
the foundation of the world."
Ephesians 1:3-4 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath
blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath
chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without
blame before him in love:"
1 Peter 1:18-21 "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible
things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your
fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without
spot:
Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these
last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and
gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God."
Ephesians 3:9-11 "And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery,
which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by
Jesus Christ:
To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be
known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he
purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:"
Jesus is no "Johnny-come-lately" as is often suggested by unbelievers. He was
with God when plans were laid for the making of our universe, and that plan included Jesus
dying on the cross to take away the sins of the world.
When Jesus said that He had been with the Father, He spoke the truth. Who better to inform
us as to what saves our souls, and how we should live our lives before God?
God bless all!
Love, in Christ,
Bernie
By Bernie Parsons - Aug 15, 2000
To the intent that now unto the
principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold
wisdom of God, Ephesians 3:10 KJV
Hello, Family & Friends,
The church of Christ is often marginalized and underrated in our society. More than a mere
social gathering place, God intended it to be the bedrock for our society on the earth.
These plans were made before the world was created.
Ephesians 3:9-11 "And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery,
which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by
Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places
might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose
which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:"
The church was created to convey God's truth to the whole world. This embraces not only
preaching the gospel to all the world, but living in a way that the church of Christ is a
source of light to the dark world of sin and ignorance.
Matthew 5:14 "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be
hid"
We are to dispense the wisdom of God in our preaching and in the manner in which we live.
The result is to be the branching out of the church into all the world.
Matthew 13:31-33 "Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of
heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Which
indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs,
and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.
"Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a
woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened."
These parables clearly indicate that the church was designed to improve the quality of the
whole human race. We must boldly live a godly life in the face of adversity and
ridicule, to be salt and light to the world.
Matthew 5:15-16 "Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a
candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine
before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in
heaven."
God bless all!
Love, in Christ,
Bernie
Whoso Keepeth His Word
By
Bernie Parsons - Aug 16, 2000
But
whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we
are in him. 1 John 2:5
Hello,
Family & Friends,
John
wrote that the love of God is perfected in those who keep the words of Jesus. The context
is below:
1
John 2:1-5 "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And
if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is
the propitiation for our sins: and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the whole
world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
"He
that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not
in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby
know we that we are in him."
Jesus
said that we are to observe all the things that He commanded, because God has given Him
all power in the universe.
Matthew
28:18-20 "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in
heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the
world. Amen."
We
need to search out the will of God, and keep it.
Colossians
4:12 "Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always
labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the
will of God."
There
is a reward for those who learn and keep the will of God.
Hebrews
10:36 "For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye
might receive the promise."
1
Timothy 4:8 "For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto
all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come."
1
John 2:25 "And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life."
John
5:39 "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are
they which testify of me."
Matthew
7:7-8 "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall
be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and
to him that knocketh it shall be opened."
God
bless all!
Love,
In Christ,
Bernie
By
Bernie Parsons - Aug 17, 2000
Hello,
Family & Friends,
The
world operates through deceit, while God operates through truth. Society promises us all
that we could ever want, ours for the taking. Sound familiar? That was what Satan promised
Eve in the garden of Eden--you know where that got the human race!
The
same sins that overwhelmed Eve are the ones that corrupt us today.
Genesis
3:6 "And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant
to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and
did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.'
"Good
for food" is a lust of the flesh, "pleasant to the eyes" is a lust of the
eyes, while "to make one wise" is a pride of life. John warned against these
sins in 1 John 2:16 "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the
lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."
As
always, the Bible is correct--all sin can be classified as one of the three mentioned by
John. None of it comes from God, but comes from this world and its inhabitants.
Jas
1:14-15 "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and
enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is
finished, bringeth forth death."
James
3:14-16 "But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie
not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual,
devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work."
Romans
7:11 "For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew
me."
Galatians
6:7-8 "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he
also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that
soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting."
Sin
is deceitful. It appeals to our baser, fleshly instincts and attempts to override our
spirituality. God has made us dual beings--flesh and spirit. The flesh is temporary
(corruptible--subject to decay and death) while the spirit is eternal.
As
did mother Eve, we might find sin appealing. Remember that the reward for sin is eternal
death and the reward for righteousness is eternal life.
God
bless all!
Love,
in Christ,
Bernie
Servants Of Corruption
By Bernie Parsons - Aug
18, 2000
Hello,
Family & Friends,
The
world promises freedom but gives imprisonment. Especially in our country freedom is touted
as the ultimate goal--freedom to be anything that we want to be, do anything that we want
to do. However, there is a dark side to total freedom.
One
man's freedom is another man's bondage. If I am free to be anything I want, what if I
choose to be a serial killer, or a rapist? My freedom becomes another person's bondage. If
I choose to lie, cheat, steal, commit fornication, adultery, or homosexuality, kill the
unborn in the womb, or divorce my spouse--my freedom to choose these activties results in
the victimization of others.
With
freedom comes responsibility.
1
Corinthians 8:9 "But take heed lest by any means this liberty of your's become a
stumblingblock to them that are weak."
Galatians
5:13-4 "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an
occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one
word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."
James
1:25 "But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he
being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his
deed."
2
Corinthians 3:17-18 "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord
is, there is liberty.
But
we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the
same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."
Galatians
5:1 "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be
not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."
Romans
8:21 "Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of
corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God."
The
world teaches that freedom is my right to walk all over everyone else in order to get what
I want. True freedom comes from the Lord. It is the freedom to serve one another, to look
to the needs of others, to be selfless.
1
Peter 2:16 "As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as
the servants of God. 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."
2
Peter 2:18-19 "While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of
corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage."
Beware
those who promise freedom only to ensnare you in bondage to drugs, sex, materialism, or
other "choices".
God
bless all!
Love,
in Christ,
Bernie
Hello,
Family & Friends,
Liberty
is freedom. The Bible teaches that true freedom is in Christ Jesus. Does that mean that we
can do anything we want to do? Yes. Does it mean that we should do anything that we can
do? No.
1
Corinthians 6:12 "All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient:
all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any."
The
law of Moses was very restrictive and bore dire consequences for breaking that law. Jesus
freed us from that law, and gave us liberty. Just because we can sin and get away with it
(not be tried and executed, or otherwise severely punished) does not mean that we should
sin.
Romans
6:1-2 "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God
forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?"
1
Corinthians 6:9-11 "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of
God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate,
nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor
revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
And
such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in
the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."
We
are not to use our freedom as an occasion to serve our flesh. The flesh is to be under the
control of the spirit. We don't keep God's laws because we will be beaten or executed if
we break them, but because we love God, fear Him and appreciate the gift of His son as our
Savior.
1
Corinthians 9:27 "But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that
by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."
We
have freedom of choice. That includes the freedom to make wrong choices, choices that will
bring disaster in our futures. We need to choose wisely.
Joshua
24:15 "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye
will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the
flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we
will serve the LORD."
Let
us choose to serve one another in love, instead of choosing to devote our time, money and
lives to serving the flesh and its desires.
God
bless all!
Love,
in Christ,
Bernie
By
Bernie Parsons - Aug 22, 2000
Hello,
Family & Friends,
We
hear much spoken about the freedom to choose in our society today, especially when it
comes to a "woman's right to choose". (By the way, this is a diversionary tactic
to switch the topic from "abortion"--murder of the unborn--to an American icon,
that of free choice.)
God
gives us freedom of choice. But He also warns us that the wrong choice leads to
devastation. When we make choices we must first determine that the choice is the one that
God requires. We should never choose something because it is convenient, but should make a
choice because it is right.
This
applies to all choices, but one of the most horrible choices ever made is to murder the
unborn innocent in the womb. I pray to God that every man, woman and child realizes what
an unspeakably cruel and cold decision this is.
Excuses
abound in support of abortion. One frequent excuse is that it is cruel to bring a child
into our modern world with all its vices. First of all, these vices have existed for
thousands for years--they are not new. Remember Sodom and Gomorrah, and other examples
from the Bible? Second, doesn't it make more sense to make the world a better place
through godliness than to succumb to the forces of evil in the world? What are we
saying--it is easier to join them than to resist them?
James
4:7 "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from
you."
We
need to take a stand for righteousness, and speak out against evil.
Ephesians
6:13-14 "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand
in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt
about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;"
Let
us study the word and will of God, learn it, keep it and teach it to our families,
friends, neighbors, co-workers and politicians.
Deut
11:18] Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind
them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes.
Deuteronomy
11:19-21 "And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest
in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou
risest up.
"And
thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates: That your
days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the LORD sware
unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth."
2
Timothy 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to
be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
John
8:32 "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
1
Timothy 4:7 "But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather
unto godliness."
If
we exercise ourselves unto godliness, then we can make the correct and difficult choices
in life. When it comes to the unborn, choose life. When it comes to homosexuality, choose
the one man and one woman marriage sanctified by God. When it comes to drug use and abuse,
don't do it.
Isaiah
66:4 "I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them;
because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil
before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not."
Once
we are aware of God's will and His plan for us, the right choices are easier to make.
God
bless all!
Love,
in Christ,
Bernie
Hello,
Family & Friends,
Matthew
26:41 "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is
willing, but the flesh is weak."
Why
is it so difficult to do the right thing, and so hard to make the right choices? Jesus
said that our flesh is weak, even when our spirit is willing. The Apostle Paul went deeper
in discussing this truth. He said that sin appeals to our flesh, deceiving us into
thinking that something bad for us is actually good for us!
Romans
7:15 "For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I
hate, that do I."
What
ambivalence! We don't do what we know we should do, but do things that we know that we
should not do!
Romans
7:17-20 "Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know
that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me;
but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but
the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that
do it, but sin that dwelleth in me."
Sound
confusing? It's not, actually. The Apostle Paul is saying that my spirit wants to serve
God and do the right thing, but my body urges me to sin.
Romans
7:22-25 "For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law
in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the
law of sin which is in my members.
O
wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God
through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but
with the flesh the law of sin."
No
wonder we sometimes feel half-crazy with this tug-of-war going on between our bodies and
our spirits! But as always, Jesus is the answer. He delivers us from being servants to our
flesh--and thereby servants to sin--so that we might become the servants of God.
Correct
choices are easier once we realize the forces at play in our decsion making. When we are
about to make a decision, what is prompting us to make that choice--our body or our
spirit? Let the spirit decide. This body will decay, eternity never ends.
God
bless all!
Love,
in Christ,
Bernie
For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free
from righteousness. Romans 6:20 KJV
Hello, Family & Friends,
The answer to whether or not we are acceptable to God lies with our
decision to serve Him in the spirit, or to serve sin in the flesh. God does not accept us
just because we go to church services. or have been baptized, or have made some kind of
confession of faith. These acts are only pertinent if we have first decided to let God
have control of our lives.
Romans 6:15-16 "What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the
law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants
to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience
unto righteousness?"
If we make the decision to serve God, then we must by all means learn what
He expects of us.
Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for
he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that
diligently seek him."
Matthew 7:7 "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find;
knock, and it shall be opened unto you:"
James 4:8 "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse
your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded."
God does not run from us, He runs toward us--if we are moving in His
direction. We must understand that in God lies our salvation, and that we must yield our
hearts, minds, souls and bodies to Him.
Romans 6:13 "Neither yield ye your members as instruments of
unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the
dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God."
We must give complete control of our lives to God--in return, He will give
us all that we need in this life, and eternal life when this one is behind us!
Matthew 6:31-33 "Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we
eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these
things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all
these things.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these
things shall be added unto you."
Let us not be servants of sin, but servants of righteousness!
God bless all!
Love, in Christ,
Bernie
James 4:4 "Ye
adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with
God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God."
Matthew 6:24 "No
man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he
will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."
Bernie
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He
was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth
in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father
of it. John 8:44 KJV
Hello,
Family & Friends,
There
has long been a warfare between good and evil. Satan means "adversary", and
refers to the enemy of God and God's people. Satan is the creator of lying. With God there
is only truth, and it is impossible for God to lie.
Satan
used lying in the garden of Eden to lure Eve to sin--he deceived her. Sin is deceitful
because it promises a lie--that bad is good, that evil is righteousness.
Isaiah
5:20 "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light,
and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"
The
world tells us that since God made the body, then it must not be sin to pleasure that body
and meet all its desires. This is a lie, and is born of Satan. He fathered the lie, and
all liars.
James
3:14-16 "But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie
not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual,
devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work."
That
which is sensual is that which appeals to the senses of the body, as opposed to that which
is spiritual. Sensual things are of this body, and of this earth, from which our body is
formed, and are opposed to heavenly things.
Jude
1:17 "But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of
our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time,
who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
"These
be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit."
2
Thessalonians 2:10-12 "And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that
perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
"And
for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That
they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in
unrighteousness."
Sin
is deceitful, because it is the brainchild of Satan, the adversary of God. Satan uses lies
and deceit to convince us that serving the flesh is the best imaginable experience, and
worth any cost.
Matthew
16:26 "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own
soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"
Eternity
is a long time to suffer for a few moments of pleasure in the flesh!
God
bless all!
Love,
in Christ,
Bernie
Hello,
Family & Friends,
The
Bible tells us that all liars go to hell. God hates lying so much that He will not
tolerate it in His kingdom. Satan created the art of lying and deceit. He used it to turn
angels in heaven against God. He used lies to seduce Eve in the garden of Eden. He used
lies to accuse God's people continually.
Revelation
22:14-15 " Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the
tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and
sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh
a lie."
Revelation
21:27 "And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither
whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's
book of life."
Some
ask, "What about little lies? What about white lies?" First, there is no such
thing as a "white" lie. It is a matter of man saying that black is white, evil
is good, bitter is sweet.
Isaiah
5:20 "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light,
and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"
God
is true, and every statement that He issues is true. He will not tolerate liars--on this
subject the scriptures are plain.
Proverbs
30:5-6 "Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in
him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar."
Liars
come in many packages. Some may say, "I don't lie", but they will not learn of
God and keep His instructions.
1
John 2:4 "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and
the truth is not in him."
Still
others claim to be honest, yet deny Christ, and even God Himself.
1
John 2:22 "Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is
antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son."
My
good friends, lying is not something that God condones, whatever the reason. Remember, the
scriptures say that "all liars" have their place in the lake that burns with
fire and brimstone. Their place is not in the city of God.
Romans
12:17 "Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all
men."
1
Timothy 2:1-4 "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are
in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to
be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth."
Let
us live truthfully and honestly in all things.
God
bless all!
Love,
in Christ,
Bernie
By
Bernie Parsons - Aug 30, 2000
Howbeit
when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not
speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you
things to come. John 16:13 KJV
Hello,
Family & Friends,
If
Satan is the father of lies, and liars--and Jesus says that he is--then how do we discover
truth? Through God's Holy Spirit, which lives within each child of God.
John
14:16-17 "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that
he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive,
because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you,
and shall be in you."
Becoming
a Christian means more than confessing belief in Jesus as a personal Savior--or Savior of
the world, for that matter--or being baptized, or regularly attending "church
services". It means yielding completely to God's will and ways. Once we do this, the
Holy Spirit of God moves in with our own spirit, to give us guidance.
Romans
8:14-16 "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For
ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit
of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our
spirit, that we are the children of God:"
A
Christian, led by the Holy Spirit, will not knowingly lie.
Ephesians
4:23-25 "And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man,
which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away
lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another."
Don't
let Satan seduce you into being deceitful and untruthful!
2
Corinthians 2:11 "Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant
of his devices."
Part
of winning in any conflict is knowing the enemy's tactics and strategies. We must be aware
that lying is one of Satan's devices. The truth is in God, and if we are in God, the truth
is what we will love and live by.
Romans
3:4 "God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That
thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art
judged."
Anything
that is outside of what God has declared to be true is a lie. Let us learn the truth and
live the truth.
God
bless all!
Love,
in Christ,
Bernie
By
Bernie Parsons - Aug 31, 2000
Hello,
Family & Friends,
Many
people wonder what causes us to sin, and why it seems so hard to overcome sin. Why are we
so easily seduced by the Devil and his devices? Some try to blame God for their troubles,
asking why God puts them through terrible tragedies and losses.
James
says we sin because of our lusts, our overwhelming desires. "The Devil made me do
it" is not a legitimate excuse, nor is the question, "Why did God allow
this?" At some point in our lives we need to take responsibility for our own
decisions and actions.
James
1:13-15 :"Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be
tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn
away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin:
and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."
Temptation
comes from the desires of this flesh-and-blood body. When we follow lust to its fruition,
then we sin. If we focus on heavenly things and spiritual things, rather than earthly and
fleshly ones, we shift focus away from our lusts. Sin starts on the inside, in our hearts,
and in our minds.
Mark
7:20-23 "And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.
For
from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications,
murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy,
pride, foolishness:
All
these evil things come from within, and defile the man."
That
is why Jesus made the statement, "But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a
woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."
Matthew 5:28.
Matthew
6:21 "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
Matthew
12:35 "A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things:
and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things."
James
4:8 "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners;
and purify your hearts, ye double minded."
Galatians
4:6 "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your
hearts, crying, Abba, Father."
If
we have the Holy Spirit of God in our hearts, and focus on things above, we can distance
ourselves from the lusts of the flesh.
Jude
1:18-21 "How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should
walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having
not the Spirit.
But
ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto
eternal life."
Romans
6:12 "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the
lusts thereof."
Colossians
3:1-2 "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where
Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things
on the earth."
God
bless all!
Love,
in Christ,
Bernie
