Transformed – Directed – Blessed

Psalm 1:1-2 NKJV … Blessed is the one who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful{scoffers}; 2 But his delight is in the law{commands} of the Lord, and in His law{commands} he meditates day and night.

There is a way that seems right –Pro 14:12
The wisdom of this world
Right in its own eyes –Pro 12:15
But it’s foolishness in God’s eyes. –1Co 3:19

Do not be conformed to this world
Instead yield to the Spirit of the Lord –Rom 6:16
And be transformed –Rom 12:2
Trust wholeheartedly in the Lord
Lean not on your own understanding –Pro 3:5
Nor be wise in your own eyes
Fear the LORD and turn away from evil –Pro 3:7
Acknowledge Him in all your ways
And He will direct your paths –Pro 3:6
Walk in His ways and be pleasing in His sight!

Image from Pinterest

When we walk with the Lord, we’ll be out of step with the world.

Psalm 128:1 NKJV … Blessed is every one who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways.

Hebrews 13:20-21 NKJV … Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

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@Khollandsblog . Tweets: When we walk with the Lord-We’ll be out of step with the world=>Do NOT conform-Let God TRANSFORM!“Worship is no longer worship when it reflects the culture around us more than the Christ within us.” ― A.W. Tozer If we live by the Spirit&Keep in step-We’ll be out of step with the world! bible.com/bible/111/gal.5.25 #ScripturePrayer Jesus-Help me to keep in step-Be transformed&Live by Ur Spirit alone! https://khollandsblog.wordpress.com/2016/05/30/transformed-directed-blessed/

The Lord Makes Us Steadfast!

It is the Lord who makes us steadfast, confirms and establishes us!

Psalm 40:2 NASB … He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.

Psalm 37:23-24 NIV … If the LORD delights in a man’s way, He makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with His hand.

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 AMPC  … But it is God Who confirms and makes us steadfast and establishes us [in joint fellowship] with you in Christ, and has consecrated and anointed us [enduing us with the gifts of the Holy Spirit]; 22[He has also appropriated and acknowledged us as His by] putting His seal upon us and giving us His [Holy] Spirit in our hearts as the security deposit and guarantee [of the fulfillment of His promise].

From NetBible 2Cor 1:21

• establish[950]= to make firm, establish, confirm, make sure
  *from [949]= stable, fast, firm, sure, trusty
  *from [939]= a stepping, walking with the foot

Lord Jesus, teach me Your way.  Help me to walk in way that brings You delight.

Until Your Heart Sings

Psalm 27:13-14 AMPC …  [What, what would have become of me] had I not believed that I would see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living! 14 Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.

From NetBible Ps 27:13-14

v13 … I would have lost heart{despaired,given up hope, lost heart,fainted} [What, what would have become of me]  , unless I had believed that I would see{ experience} the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living.

v14 … Wait and hope for and expect{rely on} the Lord; be brave{strong} and of good courage and let your heart be stout{strengthened} and enduring{firm}. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect{rely on} the Lord.

Wait, hope, expect, rely on the Lord
Wholeheartedly trust Him
Let your heart be steadfast
Fixed on Him
Be strengthened there
Held in His perfect peace, perfect rest –Is 26:3
In the shadow of His wings –Ps 91:1
Be held there
Cling to Him –Ps 63:8
Until you are helped{experience His goodness} …

… Until your heart greatly rejoices and sings! –Ps 63:7

Psalm 28:7 AMPC … The Lord is my Strength and my [impenetrable] Shield; my heart trusts in, relies on, and confidently leans on Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song will I praise Him.

Psalm 57:7-8 AMPC … My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is steadfast and confident! I will sing and make melody. 8 Awake, my glory (my inner self); awake, harp and lyre! I will awake right early [I will awaken the dawn]!

From NetBible Ps 57:8

• * “Dawn” is used metaphorically for the time of deliverance and vindication the psalmist anticipates. When salvation “dawns,” the psalmist will “wake up” in praise.
  =>I will awake the dawn = I will see the deliverance/vindication{goodness} of the Lord

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Related:
Steadfast Heart{prayer}

My Shield – Sword & Reward!

Psalm 73:26 AMPC … My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the Rock and firm Strength of my heart and my Portion{award,inheritance} forever.

Genesis 15:1 AMPC … After these things, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram, I am your [a]Shield, your abundant compensation, and your reward shall be exceedingly great.

*Footnotes:
[a] The reference is to the Lord as Abram’s King.

Jesus my King
My shield
My sword –Dt 33:29
My glorious reward
You go before
You go behind –Is 52:12
Forever You are my joy –Ps 16:11
My refuge –Dt 33:27
My portion in the land of the living –Ps 142:5
I am Yours
And You are mine. –Is 43:1

Psalm 27:13-14 AMPC … [What, what would have become of me] had I not believed that I would see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living! 14 Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.

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@Khollandsblog . Tweets: Jesus my King-My shield-My sword-My glorious reward-MyJoy-My refuge-My portion in the land of the living! #PraiseHim If Jesus Christ is Ur King=>He Himself is Ur Shield&Sword-Ur GloriousReward-Ur joy-4ever U belong toHim! #PraiseHim https://khollandsblog.wordpress.com/2016/05/25/my-shield-sword-reward/

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Deuteronomy 33:27,29 NIV
The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemy before you, saying, ‘Destroy him!’ …
… Blessed are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD? He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword. Your enemies will cower before you, and you will trample down their high places.

From NetBible Dt 33:29
He is

• NASB … the shield of your help And the sword of your majesty!
• NLT … your protecting shield and your triumphant sword! 
• MSG … The Shield who defends you, the Sword who brings triumph.
• NKJV … The shield of your help And the sword of your majesty!

Be Still and Know

 

From: A Mighty Thunderous Roar {Article}

All will tremble at the roar of the Lion of Judah (Amos 3:8). To those who contend with the Lord, His roar will show His wrath (Prov 19:12, 20:2). They will tremble in terror. But to those who belong to the Lord it will be protection. They will tremble in awe and respect gathered like protected children around Him.

 

God is our refuge and strength
An ever present help in times of trouble   –Ps 46:1
This is the reason we will not fear. –Ps 46:2

Tho the nations rage  –Ps 46:6,  Ps 2:1
Tho the oceans rise and mountains quake –Ps 46:3
Be still and know –Ps 46:10
The Lord in the midst of His children
Can not be moved. –Ps 46:5

The Lord of Hosts –Ps 46:7
Strong and mighty He roars –Ps 24:8
A roar of terror
To those who strive against the King –Ps 46:6
But to those who know His name
A mighty Roar of protection. –Joel 3:16

Lift up your heads and see
The King of Glory –Ps 24:10
From the secret place of thunder  –Ps 81:7
The Lion of Judah ROARS! 

Joel 3:16 AMPC … The Lord will thunder and roar from Zion and utter His voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth shall shake; but the Lord will be a refuge for His people and a stronghold to the children of Israel.

Psalm 46:10-11 AMPC … Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth! 11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our Refuge (our High Tower and Stronghold). Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

From NetBible Ps 46:10

• Be still and know = cease/stop striving and recognize
  • * To the nations who rage against God and His people, this is a rebuke to stop fighting/ striving against the Sovereign Lord
  • * To God’s children this is a call to trust and rest secure in the Sovereign Lord’s protection
• exalted means recognized as Sovereign King => The Lord of Hosts, King of Glory(Ps 24:10) who fights and delivers on behalf of His children(Ps 46:11)

Word of God Faithful & True!

John 1:1-4,14 NASB … In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. …… 14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. 1

Word of God
Ever faithful
Ever true –Rev 19:11-13
The Rock eternal –Is 26:4
Unchanging
Unwavering
The Rock beneath my feet –Ps 40:2
Forever standing firm
Settled, fixed, secure –Ps 119:89
Ever sure
Jesus full of grace and truth
Life and Light
The imperishable seed –Gal 3:29
The living and enduring
Word of God –1Pe 1:23
Backed by all the honor of His Holy name! –Ps 138:2

Psalm 138:2 AMPC … I will worship toward Your holy temple and praise Your name for Your loving-kindness and for Your truth and faithfulness; for You have exalted above all else Your name and Your word and You have magnified Your word above all Your name!

Psalm 138:2 NLT … I bow before your holy Temple as I worship. I will give thanks to your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness, because your promises are backed by all the honor of your name.

Doctrine of the Nicolatians

Ephesus was commended for testing and finding false apostles – the Nicolaitions were an example – they were not tolerated => found among the Ephesus Church.

Revelation 2:2,6 NASB
Message to Ephesus Church
2 ‘I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; …
… 6 Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

The message to the Pergamum Church gives us a clue how these false apostles – like the Nicolaitions operated and were found to be false. It’s by the sword of the Spirit – the word of God(Eph 6:17) that these are tested. There IS an underlying false doctrine that must be exposed and corrected. If ignored it allows the throne of Satan to dwell among them.  Balaam gives us a clue to the spirit behind the false doctrine of the Nicolaitians. Balaam used the mixture of both the spirit of divination and the Spirit of the true God(Num 24:1-3). There is some evidence that the underlying doctrine of the Nicolaitions was the Gnostic doctrine => especially those who teach the heresy that the divine Christ joined the man Jesus at baptism and left Him as He died(Kenosis). This is also true in today’s churches. This heresy denies the “name of Jesus” by denying His deity while on earth before His baptism and as He died.  These false prophets who introduce heresy are “blots and blemishes” that can  not be tolerated and must be removed(2Pe 2:1-3,13-15).

Revelation 2:13-16 NASB
Message to Pergamum Church
13 ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. 15 So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching{doctrine} of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth.

The Philadelphia Church was commended because they kept Jesus’ word and did not deny His name. They held fast to the Truth – the doctrine of Christ.

Revelation 3:8,11 NASB
Message to the Philadelphia Church
8 ‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name. …
… 11 I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown.

John 8:31-32 AMPC … So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples. 32 And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.

2 John 1:9 AMPC … Anyone who runs on ahead [of God] and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ [who is not content with what He taught] does not have God; but he who continues to live in the doctrine (teaching) of Christ [does have God], he has both the Father and the Son.

Titus 1:9 AMPC
Qualifications of Elders
9 He must hold fast to the sure and trustworthy Word of God as he was taught it, so that he may be able both to give stimulating instruction and encouragement in sound (wholesome) doctrine and to refute and convict those who contradict and oppose it [showing the wayward their error].

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Help and Shield

Psalm 115:11 AMPC … You who [reverently] fear the Lord, trust in and lean on the Lord! He is their Help and their Shield.

You who reverently fear the Lord
Trust Him and lean on Him alone –Pro 3:5
He is your ever present Help –Ps 46:1
And Shield! –Ps 3:3

Psalm 103:11 AMPC … For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great are His mercy and loving-kindness toward those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him.

He shelters all who trust in Him beneath His wings
His faithfulness and truth
Your shield and protective wall. –Ps 91:4

The word of the Lord is right and true
He is faithful in all He does. –Ps 33:4

Let your soul wait in hope for the Lord
Only He can help, protecting us like a shield. –Ps 33:20

Psalm 33:20-21 AMPC … Our inner selves wait [earnestly] for the Lord; He is our Help and our Shield. 21 For in Him does our heart rejoice, because we have trusted (relied on and been confident) in His holy name.

Psalm 33:4 NLT For the word of the LORD holds true, and everything He does is worthy of our trust.

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@Khollandsblog . Tweets: Lord-Be merciful to me-I will TRUST beneath Ur wings-For the hope of my soul is in U-U alone are my Help&Shield! https://khollandsblog.wordpress.com/2016/05/15/help-and-shield/

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Related:
Help and Shield{prayer}

Shipwrecked Faith

1 Timothy 1:18-20 AMPC … This charge and admonition I commit in trust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with prophetic intimations which I formerly received concerning you, so that inspired and aided by them you may wage the good warfare{fight the good fight}, 19 Holding fast to faith (that leaning of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence) and having a good (clear) conscience. By rejecting and thrusting from them [their conscience], some individuals have made shipwreck of their faith. 20 Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered to Satan in order that they may be disciplined [by punishment and learn] not to blaspheme.

What shipwrecks faith?

Faith is shipwrecked by not holding fast to the faith in the “doctrine of Christ” and/or not following the Holy Spirit’s conviction. Faith is also shipwrecked by following those spreading false teaching/ doctrine.

From NetBible 1Tim 1:19

fight the good fight = don’t become shipwrecked by:

• hold fast to faith[4102]= same word for faith as contend for the faith –Jude 1:3
  =>* The term “faith” has a variety of meanings in the NT. Here, the faith refers to the doctrinal content embraced by believers rather than the act of believing.
  => v2 addresses this letter to Timothy ” my true child in the faith[4102]”
  => v3 urges Timothy to stay in Ephesus to instruct certain people not to spread false teachings/ doctrine
• keep a clear conscience[4893]=follow the conviction of the Holy Spirit

1 Timothy 4:1-2 AMPC …But the [Holy] Spirit distinctly and expressly declares that in latter times some will turn away from the faith[4102], giving attention to deluding and seducing spirits and doctrines that demons teach, 2 Through the hypocrisy and pretensions of liars whose consciences are seared (cauterized) …

1 Timothy 6:20-21 NASB … O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge”— 21 which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith[4102].
Grace be with you.

2 Timothy 3:13 AMPC … But wicked men and imposters will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and leading astray others and being deceived and led astray themselves.

 

Hymenaeus and Alexander are examples of people who are spreading false teaching/ doctrine. They have gone astray from the faith and are leading others astray: shipwrecked.

2 Timothy 2:17-18 AMPC … And their teaching [will devour; it] will eat its way like cancer or spread like gangrene. So it is with Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 Who have missed the mark and swerved from the truth by arguing that the resurrection has already taken place. They are undermining the faith[4102] of some.

2 Timothy 4:14-15 AMPC … Alexander the coppersmith did me great wrongs. The Lord will pay him back for his actions. 15 Beware of him yourself, for he opposed and resisted our message[teaching, words] very strongly and exceedingly.

Jude 1:12-13 AMPC … These are hidden reefs (elements of danger) in your love feasts, where they boldly feast sumptuously [carousing together in your midst], without scruples providing for themselves [alone]. They are clouds without water, swept along by the winds; trees, without fruit at the late autumn gathering time—twice (doubly) dead, [lifeless and] plucked up by the roots; 13 Wild waves of the sea, flinging up the foam of their own shame and disgrace; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of eternal darkness has been reserved forever.

 

Those spreading false teaching/ doctrine inside the church may not be easy to recognize at first – they appear to be pillars of the community but really are hidden reefs waiting to “shipwreck” the faith of the immature => those who do not recognize sound teaching/doctrine. –2 Pe 2:1,14; 2 Pe 3:16;2Co 11:13-15;Mt 22:29

Balancing Truth and Love

God is always Love. God is always Truth.

• God is Love
  

  1 John 4:16 AMPC … And we know (understand, recognize, are conscious of, by observation and by experience) and believe (adhere to and put faith in and rely on) the love God cherishes for us. God is love, and he who dwells and continues in love dwells and continues in God, and God dwells and continues in him.

  Romans 5:8 AMPC … But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us.

• God is Truth
  

  John 14:6 AMPC … Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me.

  John 18:37 AMPC … Pilate said to Him, Then You are a King? Jesus answered, You say it! [You speak correctly!] For I am a King. [Certainly I am a King!] This is why I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the Truth. Everyone who is of the Truth [who is a friend of the Truth, who belongs to the Truth] hears and listens to My voice.

Truth and Love are to be balanced

• Truth aims at Love & shapes how to show Love
  

  Matthew 22:36-40 NASB … “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

  1 Peter 1:21-23 AMPC … Through Him you believe in (adhere to, rely on) God, Who raised Him up from the dead and gave Him honor and glory, so that your faith and hope are [centered and rest] in God. 22 Since by your obedience to the Truth through the [Holy] Spirit you have purified your hearts for the sincere affection of the brethren, [see that you] love one another fervently from a pure heart.  23 You have been regenerated (born again), not from a mortal origin (seed, sperm), but from one that is immortal by the ever living and lasting Word of God.

  1 John 5:2-3 … AMPC … By this we come to know (recognize and understand) that we love the children of God: when we love God and obey His commands (orders, charges)—[when we keep His ordinances and are mindful of His precepts and His teaching].
  3 For the [true] love of God is this: that we do His commands [keep His ordinances and are mindful of His precepts and teaching]. And these orders of His are not irksome (burdensome, oppressive, or grievous).

• Love aims at Truth & shows how to speak Truth
  

  1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NKJV … Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. 5 It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride{puffed up}); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. 6 It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. 7 Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].

  Ephesians 4:15-16 NASB … but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

Problems occur when one is placed “higher”.

• Truth without Love is “puffed up”
  

  1 Corinthians 8:1-3 NKJV … Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. 2 And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.

• Love without Truth is “puffed up”
  

  1 Corinthians 4:6-7 NKJV … Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other. 7 For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?