Commandment and Permission

GOD commands us to do His will.

GOD permits us to do our will.

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

 Nor are your ways My ways,"

 says the LORD. 

"For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

 So are My ways higher than your ways,

 And My thoughts than your thoughts.

 Isaiah 55:8-9 

DIVORCE

DIVORCE

Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these sayings,

 that He departed from Galilee

 and came to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.

 And great multitudes followed Him,

 and He healed them there. 

The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him,

 "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?"

 And He answered and said to them,

 "Have you not read

 that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female,'

 "and said,

 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother

 and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? 

"So then, they are no longer two but one flesh.

 Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."

 They said to Him,

 "Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce,

 and to put her away?" 

He said to them,

 "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts,

 permitted you to divorce your wives,

 but from the beginning it was not so.

 "And I say to you,

 whoever divorces his wife, 

except for sexual immorality,

 and marries another, commits adultery;

 and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery."

 Matthew 19:1-9 

TRUST

You will keep him in perfect peace,

 Whose mind is stayed on You,

 Because he trusts in You.

 Trust in the LORD forever,

 For in YAH,

 the LORD,

 is everlasting strength.

 Isaiah 26:3-4 

In YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.

Therefore we can safely put our trust in Him.

He is strong enough to carry us together with all the burdens we carry.

When we put our trust in Him, we will experience peace.

When we learn to keep our mind stayed on the LORD,

 we will enjoy perfect peace!

If you are not sure that the chair that you are sitting on is 

strong enough to hold your weight,

you cannot relax on it.

Your muscles would be tensed, trying to hold yourself up.

Are you stressed and are your muscles tensed?

Are you running around for massages

and all kinds of therapies?

These might temporarily relieve your symptoms, 

but the problems are not solved.

You need someone whom you can trust -

On whom you can cast all your burdens.

You have to be sure

 that the One you are placing your trust in, is truly strong!

Today come to YAH, the LORD

in Whom is everlasting strength.

You will find peace!

Learn to keep your thoughts on Him.

You will experience perfect peace!!

Bearing Fruit

But also

 for this very reason,

 giving all diligence,

 add to your faith virtue,

 to virtue knowledge,

 to knowledge self-control,

 to self-control perseverance,

 to perseverance godliness,

 to godliness brotherly kindness,

 and to brotherly kindness love.

 For if these things are yours and abound,

you will be neither barren nor unfruitful

 in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

For he who lacks these things is shortsighted,

 even to blindness,

 and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

 Therefore, brethren,

 be even more diligent to make your call and election sure,

 for if you do these things you will never stumble;

 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly

 into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 2 Peter 1:5-11 

Overcoming Hindrances to bearing fruit:

When we receive the LORD JESUS into our lives, the seed of faith is sown in our hearts.

This is the first step to salvation. We need to progress from here right up to bearing the fruit of love.

The Progression from Faith to Virtue is the Cross

The LORD JESUS through His Holy Spirit starts working in and through us when we deny our self take up our cross and follow His promptings. Thus the seed of faith in us starts working and becomes alive. 

"When anyone hears the word of the kingdom,

 and does not understand it,

 then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.

 This is he who received seed by the wayside. 

Matthew 13:19 

"And he who does not take his cross

 and follow after Me 

is not worthy of Me.

Matthew 10:38 

For you died,

 and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Colossians 3:3 

"Most assuredly, I say to you,

 unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies,

 it remains alone;

 but if it dies,

 it produces much grain.

John 12:24 

Thus also faith by itself,

 if it does not have works, is dead.

 James 2:17

The Progression from Virtue to Knowledge is the Word of GOD

Just as the seed draws its nutrition from the ground, diligent study of the Word of GOD is necessary for the growth of our faith.

So then faith comes by hearing, 

and hearing by the word of God.

 Romans 10:17 

but grow in the grace and

 knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

 2 Peter 3:18 

Self-Control enables us to progress the knowledge to the Wisdom of the Holy Spirit

When we acquire knowledge we are tempted to release that information to others immediately. It is important first to teach ourselves and let the seed take deep root in our hearts. Just like water to the seed in the ground is the Holy Spirit to the word in the heart. The Holy Spirit teaches us to use our knowledge aright. Then we can effectively impart into others.

"But he who received the seed on stony places, 

this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 

"yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while.

 For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.  Matthew 13:20-21 

The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly,
 But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.
 Proverbs 15:2 

You, therefore, who teach another, 

do you not teach yourself? 

You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? 

Romans 2:21  

Now concerning things offered to idols:

 We know that we all have knowledge.

 Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.

1 Corinthians 8:1 

Without self-control, we would be like seed that fall on rocky ground that don't progress to bearing the fruit of love.

The Progression from Self-Control to Breakthrough is Perseverance

This is when the growth of the living seed breaks through the surface of the ground and is visible! The change in our lives is visible to others.

Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord.

 See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth,

 waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. 

You also be patient. 

Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

James 5:7-8 

Persevere in Godliness

"Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word,

 and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word,

 and he becomes unfruitful. 

 Matthew 13:22 

Even as the little plant sprouts upwards, the root of Godliness needs to grow downward and be strengthened.

"I am the vine, you are the branches.

 He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; 

for without Me you can do nothing. 

 John 15:5 

The dainty little sprout can cope with the adverse conditions of the environment and continue to grow only if it draws its sustenance from the ground through its roots.

Progress from Godliness to Brotherly Kindness

Godliness has to manifest in loving others. Good roots are useless if the plant does not bear fruit.

"This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

 John 15:12 

But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, 

and does not know where he is going, 

because the darkness has blinded his eyes. 

 1 John 2:11  

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; 

and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

 1 John 4:7

Let Brotherly Kindness continue to be the fruit of GOD'S Love

GOD'S love is the eternal and perfect love that never fails.

 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

 1 John 4:8 

We love because he first loved us.

 1 John 4:19 

Love never fails. 

But whether there are prophecies, they will fail;

 whether there are tongues, they will cease;

 whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

 1 Corinthians 13:8 

May we so receive the seed of faith, that is GOD'S word and be diligent to overcome every hindrance so that the precious seed may grow and bear much fruit - the eternal fruit of GOD'S Love for His glory!

"But he who received seed on the good ground

 is he who hears the word and understands it,

 who indeed bears fruit and produces:

 some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."

 Matthew 13:23 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, 

longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,

 faith, Meekness, temperance:

 against such there is no law.

 Galatians 5:22-23 

Faith, meekness and self-control in ourselves
Love, joy and peace with GOD
Patience, gentleness and goodness in our relationships with others

Be Blessed and Be Fruitful!!

The Fruit

The Fruit 

But the fruit of the Spirit is

 love, joy, peace,

 longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,

 faith, Meekness, temperance:

 against such there is no law.

 Galatians 5:22-23 

The gist of the Gospel message and and GOD'S commandment is,

FAITH working through LOVE.

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything,

 but faith working through love. 

 Galatians 5:6 

Love is the expression of desiring the very best for the person you love.

Loving GOD means:

Listen

Obey

Value

Express

Loving others means:

Listen

Overlook shortcomings

Value

Express

Faith has to progress to Fruit.

Faithfulness will manifest in Fruitfulness.

The fruit of the Spirit is the various aspects of GOD'S love.

This describes my relationship with GOD

and my relationship with others.

Faith, Meekness and Self-Control

Deepen my fruit-bearing relationship with GOD.

Love, Joy and Peace

Flow out of my relationship with GOD.

The outcome of my relationship with GOD

 is my fruitful relationship with others in

Patience, Gentleness and Goodness.

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ADOPTION

And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary,

 of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.

 Matthew 1:16 

Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli, 

Luke 3:23  

So when they saw Him, they were amazed;

 and His mother said to Him,

 "Son, why have You done this to us?

 Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously."

 And He said to them,

 "Why did you seek Me?

 Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?"

 But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them. Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth,

 and was subject to them,

 but His mother kept all these things in her heart.

 Luke 2:48-51 

The Son of GOD was willing to be adopted

 by an earthly father

 so that the sons of men could be adopted

 by the Heavenly Father.

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear,

 but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out,

 "Abba, Father."

 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit

 that we are children of God,

 and if children, then heirs-

-heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ,

 if indeed we suffer with Him,

 that we may also be glorified together.

 Romans 8:15-17 

The Spirit of adoption is the Holy Spirit, 

Who is the Spirit of GOD,

 Who is the Spirit of JESUS.

Invite Him now by asking Him to come into your heart.

As you receive this Spirit of adoption,

 you will become a child of the Most High GOD!!

Welcome to the Family!!

With Love,

Your brother and sister in CHRIST.

Giving Gifts

Two important aspects of Christmas celebration are lights and gifts.

We may give for the sake of keeping tradition 

or because of love.

Love gives.

We give gifts to the one who celebrates the birthday showing that person is special and is loved.

At Christmas time we exchange gifts indicating that all of us are special and that we love one another.

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This tradition did not originate from man but from GOD. He set the example for giving.

"For God so loved the world

 that He gave His only begotten Son,

 that whoever believes in Him

 should not perish but have everlasting life.

 John 3:16 

When purchasing gifts we do our best to find the most suitable gift for each individual.

GOD gave the gift most suited for mankind.

A life for the lives of people.

A Saviour for the sinner!

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Traditionally, gifts are wrapped with colourful paper and placed under the Christmas tree.

GOD’S gift was a precious little baby from heaven

wrapped in swaddling clothes 

laid in a manger - the feeding trough for cattle!

Gifts come in varying sizes and shapes.

Our 3 year old granddaughter Shannah was modest when we asked her how big her gift should be! 

But we do understand that the size of the gift does not determine the value of it.

A tiny box with a piece of jewelry could be the most expensive of the lot!

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Shannah loves to receive ‘Pregents’! Who doesn’t? 

Although Shannah knew that she was getting a ‘pregent’,

she had to wait patiently until Christmas to receive it.

But when the fullness of the time had come,

God sent forth His Son, born of a woman,

born under the law,

to redeem those who were under the law,

that we might receive the adoption as sons. 

Galatians 4:4-5

This is the core, the centre of the true meaning of Christmas.

Although it may not be that exact day on the Jewish calendar that JESUS was born, 

people all over the world celebrate Christmas
on the 25th of December.

It is the day of the Saviour’s birth.

Christ - mas meaning CHRIST for the masses!

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Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields,

keeping watch over their flock by night.

And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them,

and the glory of the Lord shone around them,

and they were greatly afraid.

Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid,

for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy

which will be to all people.

"For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior,

who is Christ the Lord.

"And this will be the sign to you: 

You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." 

Luke 2:8-12

GOD’S special gift was accessible to the humble shepherds

and they received the gift with joy and gratitude.

Don’t we say ‘Thank You’ when we receive gifts?

Then the shepherds returned,

glorifying and praising God

for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

Luke 2:20

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Some gifts don’t last long for example a box of chocolates, while others do!

Imagine receiving one gift. 

Then as you open up the wrapping you find a gift and also find another layer of wrapping.

You open it up eagerly and find another gift,

even more precious than the first.

Imagine this goes on for eternity! 

This is the nature of the gift GOD has given to us!

Psalm 104:24

O LORD, how manifold are Your works! 

In wisdom You have made them all. 

The earth is full of Your possessions--

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In the process of exchanging gifts, 

we like to in some way match the value of the gift we give with the value of the gift given to us.

GOD gave His gift of love and He expects us to give all of our love and all of ourselves to Him.

In giving to the LORD, we give ourselves in serving one another in love.

As each one has received a gift,

minister it to one another, 

as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

1 Peter 4:10

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Gifts are a token of GOD’S great love for you.

Even as you open your hand to receive your gift this Christmas,

make sure that you open your heart to receive GOD’S special love for you with thanks.

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

2 Corinthians 9:15