Category Archives: Ephesians

1 Thessalonians, 2020, Deuteronomy, Ephesians, Galatians, James, Proverbs

Cleaning

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I posted this to Facebook today and if I may, I’d like to expound:
Have we considered this crisis among other things to be an imperative opportunity for learning what GOD is offering us like going forward to live CLEANER lives: physically, emotionally, AND SPIRITUALLY?

Let me begin with emotions. Would not GOD want us to live cleaner emotionally? Would He not want us to clean out all the negative junk we are nursing inside? You know like unholy anger, bitterness, unforgiveness – all that stuff that makes us emotionally ill. What does Scripture say?

Proverbs 17:22  (AMP)22 A happy heart is good medicine and a joyful mind causes healing, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.  source

Spiritually. Oh, that one is easy to see! Of course, He wants us to live cleaner spiritually – crucify that old putrid flesh and live in the Spirit.

James 4:8  (NLT) 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. source

Galatians 5:16  (AMP) 16 But I say, walk habitually in the [Holy] Spirit [seek Him and be responsive to His guidance], and then you will certainly not carry out the desire of the sinful nature [which responds impulsively without regard for God and His precepts]. source

Galatians 5:24  (AMP) 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature together with its passions and appetites.  source

Physically. No, you will not find in the Scriptures what you have heard all your life: that cleanliness is next to godliness. But I am confident and certain from the whole counsel of Scripture that GOD sees the benefit of clean bodies. Look, GOD was so concerned about hygiene that He gave the Hebrews instructions on what to do with the product of their morning constitutionals. You don’t believe me?  Check out Deuteronomy 23. Click HERE. My point is this if GOD gives instructions on how to cover your poo, do you really think He would have us overlook our BO?

Look, we live in a dirty world. We have dirtied it up with viruses, infections, excrements, expletives, lust, greed, germs, nasties of every sort and kind, and mostly our sins.

Who of us could not live CLEANER?  Even our mouths – what we put in and what we let out!

Ephesians 4:29  (AMP) 29 Do not let unwholesome [foul, profane, worthless, vulgar] words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others, according to the need and the occasion, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear [you speak].  source

And this one:

1 Thessalonians 5:22  (KJV) 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. source

That’ll get us clean!

A note: If you click the word source following 
each verse of Scripture given in any of my 
posts a new window will open at (Biblegateway) 
to at least three and possibly four different
Translations of the given Text.
2020, Ephesians, Questions, Romans

You Say

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If all of Ephesians 6:11 isn’t true, is any of it?

I say unequivocally it is. What do you say?

Ephesians 6:11 Amplified Bible (AMP)  11 Put on the full armor of God [for His precepts are like the splendid armor of a heavily-armed soldier], so that you may be able to [successfully] stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil.   source

scheme A systematic plan of action (Free Dictionary)

strat·e·gy  A plan of action resulting from strategy or intended to accomplish a specific goal.  (Free Dictionary)

de·ceit The act or practice of deceiving; deception. A stratagem; a trick. The quality of being deceitful; falseness.  (Free Dictionary)

 

Serious stuff, right?  A systematic plan.  A plan of action. The practice of deceiving.
Real serious!

So, what would we do if we knew a person with skin on their face had a systematic plan; a plan of action; and practiced deceiving us?
Would we pass it off without a thought? Would we write them off as harmless? Would we deny they exist?

No? Well . . . then.

So. What’s the Evil One up to in your life? Need help?

Romans 8:37 Amplified Bible (AMP) 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors and gain an overwhelming victory through Him who loved us [so much that He died for us].  source
2019, Ephesians, For What It's Worth To You, Gospel of Luke, Questions

Peering into the Possibility

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Most often when I sit to read the Scriptures I have no agenda but I am purposed to hear whatever I hear and often what I hear (not verbally, of course) is a question and often the answer is oh, could it be.

Like today.

Luke 1 (because I am behind already – should have read Luke 1 yesterday, but catching up is as good as an on-time start). So, Luke 1; visiting the account of John’s (Cousin to Yeshua) birth.
Do you know what verse 15 says?

15 for he will be great and distinguished in the sight of the Lord; and will never drink wine or liquor, and he will be filled with and empowered to act by the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb. source

Does that mean no person who is drunk with wine or liquor (at least at the time of the intoxication) is filled with the Holy Spirit?

Wait!

Ephesians 5:18  (AMP) 18 Do not get drunk with wine, for that is wickedness (corruption, stupidity), but be filled with the [Holy] Spirit and constantly guided by Him. source

Drunk, intoxicated, plastered . . . etc is the definitive description.

Intoxication. Look closely at the word. INTOXICATION. What word do you see right there in the middle? Yep. TOXIC.

How about this definition? 1. The impaired condition caused by use of alcohol or a drug or other chemical substance     source

And this one? 4. (Medicine) poisoning    source

Do we dare peer into the possibility that consuming any substance to the point of TOXIC inhibits us from being filled with the Holy Spirit (at least at that intoxication)?

Reality proves that repeated intoxication is indeed toxic to the body and I’d say obviously even once is toxic to the soul of man (or woman).

Like it or not, I think the answer to our second question is yes.

I just came to hear.