“The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things…” Jer. 17

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Extreme negative emotions are very often a sign of imbalance, immaturity, and deception.

Men are designed with the highest level of intellect which is our highest form of communication. When a person chooses emotions as the highest form of communication they are likely demonstrating immaturity at the least and likely deception.

The reason is as stated above, and also because emotions are easily influenced by things like, hunger, alcohol, medication, stress, etc.

TWO EXAMPLES:

Judas hang himself in response to remorse and regret. Peter was very sad for the same reason , but soon recovered and corrected his behavior. Judas’s emotional response was extreme and destructive. Peter allowed himself to peacefully be restored, John 21.

OUR HEART FELT EMOTIONS ARE UNTRUSTWORTHY. (wise parents and teachers know this and are not deceived by clever children). What we KNOW and BELIEVE should be based on TRUTH not excessive, misleading, emotions:

“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.  And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.  For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.–1 John 3:18‭-‬20 KJV
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
Psalms 42:5 KJVFor God hath not given us the SPIRIT OF FEAR; but of power, and of love, and of a SOUND MIND.–2 Timothy 1:7 KJV

The adult narcissist is a skilled clever child looking to control others with tears in this video. Don’t be misled.
Matt. 11:12

The Kingdom of Heaven Suffers Violence, Matt. 11:12

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John the Baptist was the herald, “EXTRA, EXTRA, Read All About It. The Message is here and has begun his CONQUEST! He is going to destroy Sin, Death, and Hell. Stamp your ticket here at the Jordan river, I’m baptizing sinners for entrance into Messiah’s kingdom.”
 
“Multitudes” according to the context were “pressing” to get in. But, the religious leaders were skeptical. They already had a good thing going right where they were. Certainly not going to listen to some homeless dude quoting scripture.
 
Pick up the rest of the story in Matthew and see what Jesus has to say about this situation. One man’s (“oh when the saints come marching in…”) marching band is another man’s noise.
 
Is it worth the (effort) violent force? Why is violence (literal spiritually) necessary? Can’t we all just chill?

The Math that Equals Fellowship with God, Philippians 4:8,9

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Here we find more complex math in God’s word to exercise the frontal cortex of those endowed with “the image of God.” Us creatures who can think!

Like every manufactured machine, there are no unnecessary parts; each part has a specific contribution/contributions. In this passage the Holy Spirit inspires Paul to highlight several of our body components working together for spiritual growth.

Php 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

“Think” in this verse means to add up; it’s an accounting word. Add these things up. The sum total you will arrive at is “the peace of God will be with you.”

Paul says: he has lived “these things” in front of them in such as way that they have been taught through all of there senses. They have “received” them to themselves, They have heard them with their ears, they have seen them with their eyes. You might say that they have “tasted the purity and cleanness” of them. And being persuaded of their value they are encouraged to do them and receive the final benefit: fellowship with the God of peace.

These things + learning + doing = FELLOWSHIP WITH THE GOD OF PEACE.

In contrast with the anxious mindset described in the previous verses, we are to select out “every thing” that is beneficial and praiseworthy to study for the purpose of directing our way of life.

The Law of Harvest/ Coming of Age

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The Law of the harvest runs throughout the Bible. The time for fruit and the inspection of its quality. The bad fruit is separated out from the good fruit.

Peter is inspired to teach this coming of age process from another perspective to Jews suffering persecution from their countrymen.

“Therefore, those who are ill-treated and suffer in accordance with the will of God must [continue to] do right and commit their souls [for safe-keeping] to the faithful Creator.
1 PETER 4:12‭-‬13‭, ‬17‭-‬19 AMP

It’s like the bad apples identify you as good fruit by persecuting you for doing good–they identify you with Christ and persecute him through you–REJOICE!! Your identity is confirmed by others!

CONVERSELY,

“Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.Luke 6:26 KJV

A Law of Harvest, coming of age on planet earth.

Study 1Peter!

The Good Life!

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What’s wrong with “the good life?” Isn’t God glorified in my success?

This would mean that the seed He plants is designed produce material wealth. The truth is: what we call “the good life” is really a slow death with decaying things. The real “good life” begins with seed that produces everlasting things, which don’t decay. (Once we forget Genesis 3 our thinking has erred.)

“And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.
Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. –Luke 8:7‭, ‬10‭-‬11‭, ‬14 KJV

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
1 John 2:15‭-‬17 KJV

 

Pray For Me

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Everybody needs prayer, as a matter of fact we should always pray for each other.
 
But, some ministries put their disciples in a constant posture of needing prayer for the wrong things. It’s like always being hungry for fulfillment and never, never being satisfied.
 
With these ministries focusing on fleshly needs every week, they are feeding the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, “which are not of the father but of the world.”
 
While Jesus said the quote below: they (the flock) are constantly led to focus on the exact things Jesus said not to give a thought to.
 
“Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. —Matthew 6:31‭-‬34 KJV
 
Because these ministries see it necessary to stir up the fleshly desires the world lusts for, their members become dissatisfied babes, constantly craving more things, and a better life here on earth. Their disciples are spiritually unstable and powerless because they are constantly entangled in worldly cares.
 
(I went to see T.D. Jakes at a church where you can find “your best life now”, and he asks all who are in desperate need to come down close to the alter. Half the church got up (3,000+ ??.) The medicine ain’t working, it’s causing more sickness!)
 
Jesus said, our care, cravings, and affections, should be for heaven–spiritual things. Sounds to me like, mastering, and memorizing the word of God might be one of those things to care about? Thirst and hunger for God’s food and water! DRINK and FEAST! If we need to know what seeking heaven means.
 
There are even promises attached to this task:
 
“Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation. –Psalms 91:14‭-‬16 KJV
 
Chronic sickness is not normal when you know the Great Physician. 
Mat 11:28  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.