Praia de Taipus de Fora, Maraú, Bahia by FlaviaC

Good afternoon, friends,

Sipping my iced coffee from my home brew, yum-o, and looking around for some ideas and surfing the web, as it has been said. Yet, my study calls me back. I’m not very far in reading the Journals of Jim Elliot, one idea that calls to me, this passion for studying the Word. I love Jim’s passion for the Word. He writes frequently of His love of the Word and I’m wishing he would give me context for his ideas that he gathers from his study. He comes up with (listen to me as if he is in the same room with me) these very intriguing thoughts about Abraham and others but come back to the Hebrew, come back to the context, can you support what you are saying, Mr. Elliot?

I am getting out my Bible and my blb.org to read along in my next time with his journals. 😉  Friends, when we read books, listen to messages, hear ideas, however great they sound, bring it back to the Bible, to the context of the verses surrounding and the original words in Hebrew and Greek. Now, I’m in no way suggesting Mr. Elliot was off base, he was learning and I just am very careful to use filters. I want to encourage you to do the same.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XZarrFpjg8

I’d like to finish my day in my study, so join me, won’t you? We were at a splash park today with our friends today. MELTING. So , now, air conditioning and with the aforementioned drink in hand, lets dive in.  Please read this morning’s post first and then join us if you haven’t already.

Matthew 5:

¹⁰ Blessed and happy and enviably fortunate and spiritually prosperous (in the state in which the born-again child of God enjoys and finds satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of his outward conditions) are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake (for being and doing right), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!

¹¹ Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of your outward conditions) are you when people revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely on My account.

¹² Be glad and supremely joyful, for your reward in heaven is great (strong and intense), for in this same way people persecuted the prophets who were before you.

The reasons for this persecution are:

1. for righteousness’ sake (for being and doing right)
2. also saying false things against you on MY account
3. being a prophet who was before you

The persecution upon Christians is a blinded, angry attack fueled by the roaring lion satan. None of the persecution is justified, it is because you are a child of the King, yet you should not be surprised by these persecutions. Jesus says what to those who are persecuted:

1. Blessed are you
2. Enviably fortunate and spiritually prosperous
3. Happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of your outward conditions
4. Be glad
5. Supremely joyful
6. For your reward in heaven is great and this, friends, jumped out at me: STRONG AND INTENSE!!

Wow! Strong and intense, your reward? It’s not just great but its so amazing, the words are…strong and intense.

Check out these next truths with me:

Philippians 1: 

²⁷ Only be sure as citizens so to conduct yourselves [that] your manner of life [will be] worthy of the good news (the Gospel) of Christ, so that whether I [do] come and see you or am absent, I may hear this of you: that you are standing firm in united spirit and purpose, striving side by side and contending with a single mind for the faith of the glad tidings (the Gospel).

²⁸ And do not [for a moment] be frightened or intimidated in anything by your opponentsand adversaries, for such [constancy and fearlessness] will be a clear sign (proof and seal) to them of [their impending] destruction, but [a sure token and evidence] of your deliverance and salvation, and that from God.

²⁹ For you have been granted [the privilege] for Christ’s sake not only to believe in (adhere to, rely on, and trust in) Him, but also to suffer in His behalf.

³⁰ So you are engaged in the same conflict which you saw me [wage] and which you now hear to be mine [still].

John 15: 

¹⁸ If the world hates you, know that it hated Me before it hated you.

¹⁹ If you belonged to the world, the world would treat you with affection and would love you as its own. But because you are not of the world [no longer one with it], but I have chosen (selected) you out of the world, the world hates (detests) you.

²⁰ Remember that I told you, A servant is not greater than his master [is not superior to him]. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word and obeyed My teachings, they will also keep and obey yours.

2 Timothy 3

¹² Indeed all who delight in piety and are determined to live a devoted and godly life in Christ Jesus will meet with persecution [will be made to suffer because of their religious stand]

2 Timothy 1

⁸ Do not blush or be ashamed then, to testify to and for our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for His sake, but [with me] take your share of the suffering [to which the preaching] of the Gospel [may expose you, and do it] in the power of God.

Pray on, beloved. Pray on.