Tag: soul

Real Talk – Word on the Streets

The word on the streets is the weight of the world.

Malice vs. forgiveness. Below is a comparison between Old and New Testament themes—Deuteronomy 19:21 vs. Matthew 5:38, 39 and Leviticus 24:20 vs. Matthew 7:1-5. And closing is Jesus’ answer to the Pharisees on the greatest commandments of all—Matthew 22:37-40.

Deuteronomy 19:21 NKJV

21 “Your eye shall not pity: life shall be for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

Vs.:

Matthew 5:38, 39 NKJV

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other to him also.

And:

Leviticus 24:20 NKJV

20 ‘Fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he has caused disfigurement of a man, so shall it be done to him.

Vs.:

Matthew 7:1-5 NKJV

“Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 “For with what judgement you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 “And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 “Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Closing:

Matthew 22: 37-40 NKJV

37 Jesus said to him, ‘”You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 “This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 “And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 “On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.

Personal Note

This blog aims to be a written life application of what I have studied in my Bible. I pray that you will relate to it and choose to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

Disclaimer: I am not an ordained evangelist or teacher (Ephesians 4:11 KJV).

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Thanksgiving

1 Corinthians 1:4 KJV

I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;

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Real Talk – If the Son Sets You Free

John 8:36 ESV

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

What if you found out that a spirit of divination (Acts 16:16-18 ESV) had been cast over your life? And over a period of roughly six months you pieced each spell or incantation together like a puzzle. At the expense of others who suffered from the decisions you made.

Would you have the faith to overcome it? Would faith the size of a mustard seed (Matthew 17:20) be large enough overcome it? Would legalism or dogma be necessary? Ritualism? Or would shoot from the hip Christianity, the opposite, be sufficient?

What if you were off on your game? What if it had been while since you stepped on the court?

In Real Talk- A Series of Unfortunate Events, I spoke about being exhausted and not knowing what to do or where to go back in October. I guess what I am asking is, do I have the strength to continue?

I do not trust a single soul; the devil is a liar (John 8:44). Can I win the race the Lord has given me? And what is the prize? Is it a crown (1 Corinthians 9:24, 25)? New Jerusalem (Revelation 21)? A gold city (Revelation 21:18)? Paul said that we “glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produce perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:3, 4 NKJV).

However, if you have made the inward and outward (spiritual, emotional, and verbal) expressions of accepting Christ (Romans 10:9-10), can we believe that faith in Christ is sufficient—therefore, if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Personal Note

This blog aims to be a written life application of what I have studied in my Bible. I pray that you will relate to it and choose to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

Disclaimer: I am not an ordained evangelist or teacher (Ephesians 4:11 KJV).

Mobile Menu

Use the hamburger menu (three lines) opposite the logo in any mobile browser to access the menu!

Thanksgiving

1 Corinthians 1:4 KJV

I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;

Disclaimer: I am not a nonprofit 501(c)(3)organization.

Your contribution is appreciated.

Donate

Real Talk – Stay Prayed Up

Matthew 26:36-46 NIV

36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”

43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

Disclaimer: I speak in the second person (you) because a lot of times I am speaking to myself. David used to speak to himself (Psalm 42:5) and found strength in the LORD his God (1 Samuel 30:6). And I give myself “pep talks” similarly. Just a few words spoken out loud, like “Let’s go”. It helps get through the day.

In summary, I do not have a license to preach the gospel, but I could pursue one. I think an exam may be available with the state or I could be sponsored by a church if I continued to go seriously once again.

Why is it important to stay prayed up? Gospel swag? Perhaps a way to make worshiping Jesus cool?

Because there really is a spiritual threat in the atmosphere. It is what you may have been taught at some churches. You may not agree, and spiritually fall asleep, similar to what is mentioned in these verses. Only to be faced with the same problem (potentially) years later. Was the training you received in vain? How long did it take to bring yourself back up to par? Are you the dry bones in Ezekiel 37:1-14 that need the breath of God to come alive and reassemble, piece by piece, becoming an army for the Lord’s purpose once again?

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Designed as a Disciple

Psalm 139:14-18 KJV

14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

Real Talk – Formula for Answered Prayer

John 14:13-15 KJV

13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Is John 14:13-15 a magical formula to get anything we want? The answer is no.

God has a will or desire for all of our lives. He has one for your life and my life.

Think of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-46). He said to Peter, James, and John, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death” (Matthew 26:38 KJV). He then “went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” (Matthew 26:39 KJV) And “went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.” (Matthew 26:42 KJV)

Formula for Answered Prayer

When Jesus says that we can ask for anything in His name, it means according to God’s character and will. One of God’s characteristics is His goodness. His goodness works together in all things for the believer (Romans 8:28). God is also omniscient—His understanding is infinite (Psalm 147:5). Could the reason we think our prayers are unanswered be because they are contrary to God’s nature and will?

For example, I could pray for a million dollars 💵 every night. But if God knows having a million dollars is not the best thing for me right now, is He going to grant that prayer request?

In other situations, a loved one or we may be going through something difficult. And we must ask ourselves—what is God’s will? Could God be bringing forth something in our lives that will bring us closer to Him or bring glory to His name, providing us with an opportunity to testify of His goodness? I encourage you to read the book of Job!

What becomes interesting is as we learn and grow in our faith, sincerely seeking God and His will, our prayers will align. And He will answer them because He is sovereign (Job 37:23)!

Interesting Fact: Something else that blew my mind is when we don’t have the words to pray, the Holy Spirit wordlessly groans for us (Romans 8:26)! And while Satan is accusing us before God day and night (Revelation 12:10), Jesus is our advocate, interceding for us at God’s right hand (Romans 8:34)!

Image by Diana Simumpande via Freely Photos

None Greater than These

Matthew 22:37-38 KJV

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

Mark 12:31 KJV

31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

  • Love the Lord Your God
  • Love Your Neighbor As Yourself

Images by Samuel Martins via Unsplash and Nina Strehl via Freely Photos