The Bible speaks repeatedly of two realms—the realm of Spirit and the realm of flesh.
Understanding Scripture
When the lawyer came to Jesus asking what he must do to inherit eternal life, Jesus responded, “What is written in the law? how readest thou?” We have to ask ourselves the same question, “How are we going to read what is written in Scripture?”
Denying Christ
There are two Greek words for “deny” in the New Testament.
720. ἀρνέομαι arneomai, ar-neh´-om-ahee; perhaps from 1 (as a negative particle) and the middle voice of 4483; to contradict, i.e. disavow, reject, abnegate: — deny, refuse.
and
533. ἀπαρνέομαι aparneomai, ap-ar-neh´-om-ahee; from 575 and 720; to deny utterly, i.e. disown, abstain: — deny.
Double-Mindedness or Stability
As I have already written in so many of these contemplations, I grew up in a very orthodox Church and family and took upon myself a concept of a God of wrath and judgment that struck terror in my soul. I spent over 50 years attempting to love this God and feel loved by Him. I didn’t dare question anything I had been taught because I was so frightened of being deceived.
Leaving This World of Flesh
Jesus had been with His disciples for three years. In His last talk with them before His arrest and crucifixion, He was telling them that He was about to leave them and return to His Father from whence He came:
Being Thankful
September 18, 2017
As I was complaining to a friend yesterday afternoon about my feelings of depression and despair because the truth that I believed has been revealed to me has not set me free from the mental torment that I’ve suffered from for a lifetime, she reminded me of all the positive things that have occurred in my life as a direct result of the truth that I’ve embraced. She was able to show me that my mental torment comes not from lack of fruit in my life but rather from my lack of appreciation for that fruit.
Relax and Receive
Yesterday I hosted my first Bible study since 1999. Since that time, I feel that God has given me many revelations that I have articulated in writing and posted on this website. Just recently I have been doing even more writing as I feel God is opening my spiritual eyes and ears to better understand how we are to read and interpret Scripture. I have been working on many contemplations at once as I was attempting to write down everything God was showing me.
Calling Those Things that Be not as Though They Were
When reading the story of King Asa (2Chronicles 14-16), I was led to read Paul’s account of Abraham’s faith where he says that God “calleth those things which be not as though they were” (Romans 4:17).
Continue reading “Calling Those Things that Be not as Though They Were”
A Perfect Heart
I awakened early this morning with 2Chronicles 16:9 running through my head:
For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.
Out of Darkness into the Light
After writing the contemplation Mercy upon All, I continued to read and meditate upon the book of Jeremiah. I quickly saw that that what I had written there was confirmed over and over again—that this book is not merely a historical record of how and why the children of Israel were driven by God from the “Promised Land” to go into Babylonian captivity at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar. It is rather the story of the prodigal son all over again, the story of man departing from his origin in God (symbolized here by the “Promised Land”) and the repeated assurance that he will return. It is a parable of everyone’s journey out of darkness into light (which I believe God has revealed the entire Bible to be).