HsSrvt

According to this verse what should you do with your fears? What reason is given why you should do this? In what manner should you do it. How will you apply this verse's instruction in your own life? Is there anything good that comes from us harboring fear within our heart, spirit or soul. It is only when we cast or as I like to say, "Throw them all upon Jesus' lap and then curl up into his arms and feel them melt away", that God's love can be manifested and felt by and within us. Love is letting go of fear and allowing God to wrap His loving arms around us. Do we hold onto our fears amd worries and give the old ugly one a foothold to put doubt, self-centerness and loss of control be planted into our minds? Is it so hard to let go of fear because we live so much of our lives in it? And is it because we have come to believe the lie that fear can keep us from doing the wrong thing that may end up hurting us? I say with a resounding "STOP IT". It is a lie from the father of lies. Fear is a lack of faith in Him whom we call Sovereign and Almighty. His love and His faithfulness will drive out all fear. LOVE:His for us...ours for Him and each other. Many many times Christ tells us to fear not for He tells us the truth. Hey another weapon against fear...Truth. Think about that... When I find myself relagating the faith that I have in Christ to be crippled by fear of something that I am not sure of, I ask for rememberance of His promises. Are we ever alone in anything? I have the Great Comforter, Mighty Counselor, The One who leads me into all truth with me always. When I find that paralyzer of my soul trying to get me to subject my spirit to doubt and worry and block from my heart and mind from the love and truth of Him who is trust-worthy and in whom I have given my trust in, Spoken clearly and with gentle authority these words spill out; "Get in the gutter Satan, I want only the things of Christ for my life and it is in Him whom you must bow to", and it is His Spirit that I must relenquish control and faith too.

Our position as employees we are not only serving our employees but also serving those who use or buy the service that we provide. Our witness is not only to our 'bosses' but our 'customers' as well. We should look at our position as one that helps others. When we look at our jobs as God given then we of course should work it as such, giving God glory and no matter what we do we are representitives of HIM. He made us in His image, His spiritual image is what should shine forth. What was Jesus' job? What was His attitude when asked for something? "And I wil do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father" John 14:13 Our attitude should be of our Savior. Our attitude and our deeds should reflect God's glory and truth. If it becomes difficult to work for your employer because they may abuse us, then let us look to those who use our services, they appreciate what we do and expect us to do it to the best of our ability. WHen our attitude is of that nature then others will see the God in it. When we have a heart of subjection even in times of abuse or misconduct by our employers, God will reward us. Did Christ seek seek revenge when he was wronged? When the Jewish leaders of His time sought to kill and ruffle His feathers, did not Jesus continue about His Father's business with zeal and without complaint? Who are we to not apprecaite our jobs and employment. Did God do things halfway? He gave His all. He knew that man was destined to fail but still imprinted His image on and in us. He came to give His all even yet while we were still sinners. Does God only give us a partial part of His Spirit? He went all out for us. How can we not do the same for Him?

Q1. (2:15-16) In what way is God's glory dependent upon us living submissive, obedient lives? How is God hurt when we get rebellious? Most laws, rules, and regulations that have been established are for the most part to keep barbarious actions and anarchary from running rampant in this world. Yes there are those who will never submit, but we as children (and as children need to be guarded), and as ambassadors (and as ambassodors are still subject to the laws of the lands), and as images (and as images are a reflection of that which it is supposed to resemble) of a Faithful and Just God, must submit. As was said it is easy for us to submit when there is no pain or difficulty in it for us to do so and so it is with those who do not know God. It is in the pain and agony of doing what we do not find easy or enjoyable to do, that He will receive the Glory that can be attributed only to Him, for it is in this type of submission that we find the strength of Jesus that allows us to come through with joy and peace for we know who really has the last say. To have compassion on those who know not what they do and to have mercy on those who do not fully understand what they do is to find strength in Him who has shown us what a fully submissive and fully obedient life style can lead to. Bringing glory to His Father is what Christ's life was all about, as should ours be. To be obedient we need to have a willingness and to submit we must have humilty, two traits of Jesus' that brought glory to the Father. Rebellion is a lack of faith in that which has been established. It is born out of a desire to do your own thing your own way. With rebellion also comes a desire to lead some others to that place, to try to get others to believe in that way. If we believe what Romans 13:1-2 says then rebellion/ rebellious attitude is a lack of faith in what God has promised to us. Without faith it is impossible to please GOD and that I believe brings tears to His eyes and breaks His heart, to see those whom He has called and freed, to not trust in Him and Him alone.

Q2. (2:5) If your praise is primarily for God's benefit, not your own, how should you be offering praise? "I will praise (Yadah) you, O Lord, with all my heart; before the "gods" I will sing your praise (Zamar)." Psalm 138:1..Yadah, to rever or worship with extended hands, to use or hold out the hand, to confess, praise and thank...Zamar, "to touch the strings", to play a musical instrument, to celebrate in song and music. "In the fourth year all its fruit will be holy, an offering of praise (Hilluwl) to the LORD" Lev. 19:24...Hilluwl, to rejoice, a celebration of thanksgiving. "When the princes in Israel take the lead, when the people willingly offer themselves--praise (Barak) the LORD" Judges 5:2...Barak, to kneel, to bless God as an act of adoration. "The poor will eat and be satisfied; they who seek the LORD will praise (Halal) him--may your hearts live forever." Psalm 22:26...Halal, to shine, to make a boast, thus be clamorously foolish, to rave, to celebrate. "Shout (Towdah) for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Psalm 100:1...Towdah, and extension of the hand, a choir or worshippers. "Praise (Shaback) the LORD, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples."...Shaback, to address in aloud tone, loud praise. "Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise (sheback) and exalt and glorify the King of Heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just." Daniel 4:37...Sheback, to idolize or adore. "He says, "I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises (humneo)." Hebrews 2:12...Humneo, to sing a hymn, to celebrate God in song. Praise is all about HIM. It should be directed to Him and bring Him glory and honor. Humilty, confidence and boldness and in the Spirit and by the Spirit shall we praise Him. Give Him praise for what He has done, Give Him praise for who He is. Give Him praise for He is God. What is life without the Bread that sustains the innermost depths of my soul? How dry is my cistern and how my days just wilt away without the Water, that flows freely from the cup that is your heart O

Q1. (2.5) Christians often look at their relation to God as consumers, delighting in what God does for them. What is the mindset of a priest towards God? What actions does this mindset inspire in you? Consume means to use, to eat, to devour. We as Christians all too often do look to our Heavenly Father for things to use for our own benefit. We take the blessings He bestows upon us and forget Who made it all possible and Who owned the blessing in the first place. We all too often relish and embellish the things that He has provided for us, and we in turn use it for selfish reasonings. We use them for our own edification and encouragment. We even go so far as to take the glory for it. Priests were the only ones to go before God and offer up sacrifices and thanksgivings for the people. They were the only ones allowed by God to enter into the Holy place, to go into the presence of God. To be the mediator between man and God. I am sadened that there is still such a mindset even today. A priestly mindset is one of intercessary, a mindset that desires and longs to go before a Holy God on the behalf of others before themselves. A mindset to serve where they are called to serve. God endowed Aaron and his descendants such a task and for centuries that was the way it was. Even in Christ's time the priests were still going into the temple, the Most Holy Place on behalf of those who needed it. Still burning sacrifices on the alter and burning incense and making a profit from it all. With the death of Christ came the tearing of the curtain in half. If you know the details then this was a mighty feat. I believe that this was done to show the people that Gods presence did not dwell there any longer. His presence left that place a long time before. The curtain was rent in two to show us and allow us, his additional chosen ones, to enter into the place where previously only the priests were allowed. He was no longer there and everyone could now go straight to the Mercy Seat. Priestly mindset? Take a look at our High Priest:"For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest, in sevice to God and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people." Heb. 2:17 "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin." Heb 4:15 Priestly mindset towards God? One of mercy, faith and faithfulness, sacrifically, servanthood, weak, humble, broken, contrite, selfless. Chrsit was all these and so are we, but now because of the One Medaitor, The Great High Priest, our Heavenly Father allows us, think about that for moment, us as frail as we are, to now approach the throne of grace with confidence and boldness. "For there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men..." 1st Tim. 2:5 Why then would we want/need to go to anyone else as mediator? "but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them." Heb. 7:24-25 Actions? to pray...pray for open hearts and minds. Pray for those who do not know this truth. God has provided all that we need. My mindset now is one that promts me to pray continually for the saints as well as the sinners. To share truth of the one who sacrificed once for all. To pray for the weaker brethren to gain strength. Not to pray for God's blessings but to pray that God uses me as a blessing. Mindset? intercession...intercession...intercession with the love of Christ and for the love for others

Christians often look at their relation to God as consumers, delighting in what God does for them. What is the mindset of a priest towards God? What actions does this mindset inspire in you?

Have you ever felt you were of no worth or of no value? What does 1 Peter 1:18-19 say about your worth? What does it say about God's love for you? What does it indicate about the long-term value of your balance sheet and financial assets? What are your true long-term investments? Why? Worth...Did I cost something? Depends who you ask. My mother would tell you I was woth enough to go through 18 hours of labor and so it goes with others in my life. I was worth enough that people spent time and effort on me and I have recognized that from an early age. I alwasy felt some sense of worth. Value...Did I feel valuable enough to be good at soemthing or used in some way to get something for myself or others. Most all people would find some type of value of you. See value to get what they wanted from you. So yes I new I had value, whether it be good or bad. Precious..I believe that my mother was the only one who consider me precious. God's words here tell me that there is nothing in His sight that is of more worth, of more value then me. That because of who He is and for what I was created for, He paid a great ransom for me. A ransom that could only be paid by HIM. He knew before hand that the life that was waiting for me here at this time and place was one of emptiness and sorrow, lonliness and despair, pain and suffering, want and deprivation and the lists goes on and on. He wanted to do away with all these lists in my life and He did it for me by calling me by name and making a way for me to be His and His alone through Christ's death on the cross. He wanted so much to share with me all that He has to share and to bestow upon me, His List of blessings and that I might be called a son of God, a friend of of the One(John 15:15), the One who God made to be sin so that in Him I might become the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21). Because of my sinful nature, my desire and chasing after things of no worth or value in His Kingdom, God saw me as only He can see me. A prodigal that did not know his way, a lost sheep that had no shepherd, a man without purpose or home. HE showed me HIS love by the taking the beatings I deserved, the shedding of the only blood that was not tainted and the giving of His life. "Greater love has no one then this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13) Part of this greater love is in that He has allowed us to live so that he can show it to us daily. Amen and Amen. Part 4 of this question reminds me of a joke that gives us a glimpse of this. A man died very unexpectedly and was standing before St. Peter. He started complaining about his unexpected death and was begging St. Peter to let him go back to earth to bring his most valuable posession to heaven with him. St. Peter told him that there would be no earthly thing allowed in heaven. The man was very upset and kept beggin and whinning to St. Peter until Peter could no longer stand it. He told the gentleman that he would allow one thing and let him go back to his earthly home and retrieve what he so badly wanted. After a short while the man returned and was dragging behind him a large knapsack full of gold and jewels. Some other saints had joined St. Peter in his absence. Curious, St. Peter ask to have a look inside and the man allowed him a quick and short peek. Smiling, St. Peter allowed him into heaven and after he was out of sight, started laughing and his fellow saints asked him what was so funny? "After all that fussing, beggin and whinning that man went through to bring with him, what he held so dearly, it turns out to be only street pavement." I will not say more. My long term 'investments' now are in the inheritance that has been given to me and that is the people of this world. To share the gospel and the love, mercy and grace of our Heavenly Father that was shared with me. My long term investments are now in Him and for Him. I know that the only jewel I want now is to be the jewel of HIS eye. This lasting, long term investment is the only one that assures me of the greatest return that I look for, The RETURN OF our LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST... Hallelujah.

In your own words, how would you define "holiness"? In what sense are you (by definition) holy now? In what sense must you be obedient in order to become holy? What is your biggest struggle with holiness? Holiness...that which has been imparted to us through redemption. It is that quality of our Heavenly Father that was first shown us through the Perfect, Moral, Sinless and Pure life that Christ lived while making His dwelling among us. Christ knew He was special and set apart for His Father's will. No, we can not conjure up holiness that pleases Him. Even when our holiness seems to be good and pure to the world, God does count it as " fiilthy rags" if our motives or motivation is wrong. Are we doing it to be good because we are told to be 'nice' or doing it to bring glory and honor to HIM and His Name? Those of us who have been re-born can now share in the Holiness of God. We have been called to a higher standard of living. To live as Sons of God. We have been given," A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so must you love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34... WOW, talk about being different then those of the world. As the song goes,"They will know us by our love." I love because I first was loved. Also we have been given new duties, a different 'job description, a commission, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations...and I am surely with you always, to the very end of the age." Matt. 28:19-20...I minister to those who struggle with an addictive personality, and many of those do not know Christ and to have the priviledge of sharing Jesus with them just overwhelms me. God has set me apart for this mission field and without His love, His Holiness, I am a failure. God has given us His Holy Spirit to guide, teach and comfort us in times of doubt. I have to go that next step, further then what the world expects or says I should go. Christ, in the Sermon on the Mount, gives us clues as to what true obedience to what God calls us to be is. The world may tell us to cook a meal and share it with a friend. God says invite your enemy over, cook them a meal and then serve it to them on your best china. Trust and real faith in God's Spirit and to be dependent upon Him. to not only commit our lives but to surrender it to His will and plans, will allow us to hear and feel the work of the Spirit changing us from glory to glory. Hallelujah!!!! Struggles. Dying to self daily. I admit that I have to carry a cross with to remind me that it is no longer I that lives, but Christ that lives in me that gives grace and mercy, new every morning, to enable me to live a life, holy and pleasing to God. May I share this with you, lest we forget. " We, servants of Christ Jesus, called to be amdassadors and set apart for the gospel of God--the gospel He promised beforehand through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding His SON, who as to His human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of Holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by His resurrection from the dead: Christ Jesus our Lord. Through Him and for His name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ." Rom. 1:1-6...emphasise and translation mine.

Q1. (1:13) What about Christ's coming should get our undivided attention? Why should it inspire hope? Why should it inspire self-control and soberness? What happens in our lives when we don't really expect Christ to come soon? Since he is Author of our salvation, He is also the Finisher. Do we go through this life as if we wrote the book of our salvation? By no means; we ought to be living as if this wonderful story ends tomorrow, for He can finish this tale by two means: Taking us home before His arrival or by His Glorious return. Do we all not wnat to hear those words, "Well done my good and faithful servant." We were re-born into a family of those whom love our Heavenly Father and have full confidence that He has a new life for us." We were therefore buried with Him through baptism......just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." Because of the grace that has been given us, that enableing power that allows us to live that holy life, that unmerited favor that has been bestowed upon us while yet still here in this world, yet we will see the culminantion of that grace when we are known as He is known. The grace that is enabled by His Holy Spirit for us to live with humility and soundness of mind and judgement that brings Him and His Name glory and honor. On which side will we be separated into? I chose to be a sheep and to be on the right side. For without this confidence and the knowledge of this, we shall live as they who have no hope. Those who ask themselves, " What now, who shall I turn to?". Those who live by the truth the world has to offer. Those who worry about death and what they shall wear today. Jordache or Tommy? What shall we watch, Survivor or The Bachorlette? What shall we eat, steak and shrimp or lobster? Do we read People Magazine or God's Word? Do fall asleep watching TV or praying to a Loving Heavenly Father? Do we spend that extra money on something for us that we really don't need or take an undesirable out to lunch? Do we see only the bad in people or look for the good in them? We can sit here and think of much more; "...but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD" With the love of Christ, because my own can be tainted....Your Friend James

Our Heavenly Father has bought,secured, and locked our salvation into place by the willing sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ and has implanted the hope that now lives within us because of the resurrection of Christ. He now has given us the Holy Spirit to guide, encourage, strengthen and protect/comfort us. God's part is only partially completed because of His promise of a revelation of still yet a the best part of our salvation that will come when we stand before Him face to face. We have that security becuase of the promise of Christ in John 14. " Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going" John 14:1-4. He says we know the way, FAITH and OBEDIENCE, that is our part. Believing and living that fatih out while we are yet still in this world. He has not given a spirit of cowardice, but one of power, love and self discipline. These are fruits of His Holy Spirit. It would do us well to remember that same Spirit now resides in us. I love you all with the Love of Christ, because my own can be tainted. James

There are those of us who seem to fret and worry about what is happening and what may happen. Charactistics like this in a person reveals a lack of 'total' faith and belief in who God is. There will be carnal instincts that will prevail over faith in action. These people tend to choose to follow "the flesh" in aspects of their lives that have, can or will cause pain, discomfort, trouble or/and unhappiness. They forget who's child they are. They forget the warm, loving and strong arms that wants to embrace them in these times. They run to "other remedies/fixes" that the world has to offer. Then they are learned to indentify themselves with what the world has to offer or teach them to be. I am an ex-addict of many things and I remember going to meetings and introducing myself as an alcoholic or drug addict and falling into this worldly thinking. After learning the truth from Galatians 5:17, I stopped that practice and started indentifying myself with what God calls me in His Word. There are still times that I find myself indentifying my being with things like my job, my wife, my friends. I know that they will someday disappoint me, let me down. I now realize this and have memorized what God has chosen to call me to;sonship, co-heir, friend of Christ, saint. to just name a few. Much more positive indentity. I realized that I has to orphanate myself to be adopted into His family. To find my identity in Christ and God's Family.

Blessing to all. My name is James and I live in the N.E.corner of Indiana. Brrrr it's cold here right now. I am so looking forward to inter-acting with you all and am sure that God's Hand will always be present, though that is not what I am seeking here. I am seeking His Wonderful face and Heart. Blessed to meet you all.