Hi everyone!

It's been a while since I have been to this forum. Hope all is well.

I have been spending most of my time meditating on Jesus' teachings in the Gospels and because of that God has had me in this place of solitary worship for the past couple of weeks.

I have a new favorite worship song that I wanted to share. I created a little video which has the lyrics for those that are interested. It's a long song. A little over 12 minutes but worth every second.

Enjoy!


Edit: Ok, well, I guess Mingle doesn't like me linking to a FB ac****. My bad. The video is too long for YouTube.

Anyway, the song is called "Saviour King" by Hillsong United from their "All of the Above CD" and it is just awesome.

Sorry it wouldn't link.

What a great tribute to your mother. That was very nice. Thank you.

Thanks 21!

I pray that your idea becomes reality. A thought manifested into the heart of every day life.

Ideas.

Ideas are fresh.

A fresh idea can consume one's thoughts.

A fresh idea came into my life almost two weeks ago.

This idea, as exciting and invogorating as she may be, still remains as of yet at home where ideas belongs, in my thoughts.

I have an idea that this idea may become more than just an idea.

I think I'll thnk on this new idea until this idea becomes tangible.

Ideas were born to become life!

Michael

That which you are holding on to, is really holding on to you.

Nice!

OK, so I am a Jesus freak. I admit that.

God created boobs. And, because I love God, I have been thinking about boobs ever since I read this post.

Boobs remind me of how generous God really is!

I have a feeling I would be spending most of my time scrolling the song list!

That's deep.

Thanks.

Thanks for your comment TBRich.

I have not read that book therefore I am unable to comment. I can see where that kind of thinking could be dangerous ground however. But as I pointed out here, Jesus is the only mediator between God and man now. He is the One interceding with God on our behalf.

As long as we remain in Him, then we know that God hears our prayers.

1 John 5:15
And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

Hi Tanya,

No offense intended but your post reminded me of this:

"“Apple Computers announced today that it has developed a computer chip that can store and play music in women’s breast implants. The iBoob will cost between $499 and $599. This is considered to be a major breakthrough because women are always complaining about men staring at their breasts and not listening to them. Thanks to Apple, everyone is now happy.”

Trapped inside this world so wide
So wide yet so confined
Contained within this little world
This world I call my mind

My mind it tends to wander
Not far yet out of sight
If I could see within myself
My mind just might get right

But this world does not agree
The world is but a theft
My mind it tries to occupy
In hopes I will be left

Left behind it has in mind
The world cares not of me
It lures me in with thoughts of sin
The sin from which I’m free

But I stand strong
The Word’s not wrong
I believe it’s every line
Victory overcomes me now
As I renew my mind

Jesus, The Great Mediator

One of the dictionary definitions of a mediator is "one who intervenes between two disputing parties"

There a several great examples of mediators in scripture. One of the ones that I find amazing is found in the book of Exodus, Chapter 32. The people had resorted to worshipping hand made gods and were offering sacrifices unto them. But Moses stood in as a mediator to negotiate with God against His wrath. Let's look as a short passage of that chapter:

Exodus 32:7-14
32:7 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves: 32:8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. 32:9 And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people:

32:10 Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation. 32:11 And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand? 32:12 Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people.32:13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit [it] for ever. 32:14 And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.

Wow! Look at Moses in verse 12 asking God to repent. And then look at verse 14, And the Lord repented! I would have to say that Moses did a pretty good job of mediating, wouldn't you?


Another famous mediator was Abraham. This is a familiar passage of scripture to most. Abraham was negotiating with God when He was about to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah.

Let's look at a brief passage of that exchange of dialogue.

1 Genesis 18:22-32
8:22 And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD. 18:23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? 18:24 Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?18:25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? 18:26 And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes. 18:27 And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes: 18:28 Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it. 18:29 And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty's sake. 18:30 And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there. 18:31 And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake. 18:32 And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy [it] for ten's sake.

That was pretty bold of Abraham to keep on pushing the limit, wouldn’t you say? Now we all know from further on in the story that not even ten righteous people could be found and God ended up destroying Sodom and Gomorrah. Only Lot and his daughters survived. This is my opinion, and it's the only opinion I have, is that Abraham could have negotiated and got God down to one. I believe God would have agreed to save that city if even one righteous person could be found. But nonetheless, Abraham did a very good job of mediating, don't you agree?

And then, with one last example, I want to speak of an even greater mediator. His name is Jesus!

Hebrews 7:25
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Hebrews 8:6
But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.


Hebrews 9:15
And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

Hebrews 12:24
And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than [that of] Abel.


1 Timothy 2:5
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Jesus is the mediator of the new covenant. He is the greatest mediator of all times! He is the link between us and God!

I hear people speak about how God is going to judge America, or that God is about to pour out His wrath on us because we have drifted so far away from Him. While I completely agree that we have drifted away, and that we are self-destructing, I disagree that God's judgment and His wrath are about to be poured out on us.

If Moses can beg God to repent from His wrath and spare the people and because of this, God repented. And Abraham can negotiate with God to spare the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, and nearly succeed. Don't you think that Jesus can do at least that good of a job mediating with God on our behalf?

Believing that God is about to judge America is a great big slap in the face of Jesus. It's like saying, "thanks, for all you've done, but it wasn't quite enough" Ouch!

Friends, God's wrath was poured out on Jesus, Every bit of it. He is well pleased. Not with us or because of our own good deeds. But because His Son took the punishment that we deserved. All of it!

Isaiah 53:10-11
Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

God is not angry!
God loves you!
God is Love!
Praise Him for that!
Worship Him for that!
Exalt His Holy Name!

1 Thessalonians 1:10
1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

1 Thessalonians 5:9
5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,


Jesus, I thank you and praise you for what you have done, are doing, and will continue to do for us and in us. Thank you for not giving us what we deserve. You are my King!

Amen!

Thanks Mirror!

This was by far my best post yet. I'm kinda shocked that it didn't receive more comments.

Very nice MorningSong.

Bless your heart!

Hello Mirror. Thanks!





Wow PropheticServant. That was awesome! It almost made my eyes leak!

Thank you!

Jesus was not operating in His divinity here on the earth. He came as a man because only a man could take back from satan the authority that was originally given to man. Jesus drew upon and was completely full of the grace of God. The bible defines grace, as God's ability working in our lives enabling us to do that which we cannot accomplish on our own.



Jesus death on the cross was neccesary so that not only could he take back authority on the earth, but also so he could go into hell and take the authority over death as well.

Prior to Jesus' death the enemy was operating in the power that was originally intended for man. But Jesus took back that power and now not only has power in heaven, but also power on earth and under the eart.



Again, Jesus was not operating while here on this earth in His divinity. The power He was using was a god-given power and that same power is available to those of us who house His Spirit. 1 John 4:17 says: "As He is, so are we, in this world"

That's why Jesus told us that the same works He does, so shall we do, and greater.



Exactly. It was for the joy that was set before Him that He endured the cross. Which is why we too can now live free from a fear of death and of hell.




Precisely!



Grace I say, Grace!



Those of us who are aborn again, can indeed be like Jesus as He was on this earth. The same Spirit that raised Christ Jesus from the dead now dwells within us. Again, Grace!



Spiritual things can only be spiritually discerned.



You are so right. There is only one way. Jesus, said I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.



Jesus grew in knowledge and in stature. He did't come out of the womb speaking Arabic and knowing Scripture. He went to the Father consitently for instructions. He said, I can only do that which I see the Father do. Everything Jesus did served a very powerful putpose. Far, far from meaningless.



He knew He was sent by God. He knew He had an assignment. He knew that He would have to forego His divinely power temporarily so that as a man, He could take back what was meant for man all along.



True Christianity is not a religion. It's a relationship. One definition of religion means "to seek". Those of who know who we are in Christ are no longer seeking for the truth. We know it. Some however seem to be searching and studying every religion on the planet in an attempt to fill a void that only the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob can fill.

If There Were No Hell

So many people have been tainted by an overwhelming viewpoint that God is an angry God. They see God from the perspective that He is just watching and waiting for an opportunity to punish us. They seem to think the only reason why we even choose to serve the Lord is for the mere purpose of avoiding hell and being eternally damned. That's sad.

Many of you know that I am a grace teacher, or at least I desire to be. We serve a graceful and merciful God. Not an angry, mean God who wants to punish us. I honesty, truly, and experientially believe that it is the goodness of God that leads a man to repentance.

Romans 2:4
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Of course, I am not deceived. I do most definitely believe there is a wrath to come. I don't however believe that 9/11 was a sign of God's wrath. Neither do I believe was the flooding in New Orleans, nor the tsunamis, or the tornadoes, or hurricanes, or any other irregular weather related or terrorist event. I believe that when the wrath of God is released, we won’t have to guess whether it is from God or not, we’ll know.

Revelation 14:20
And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.

But I also believe that we that have been born-again will not be experiencing any of that wrath. We have been already saved from the wrath that is to come.

Romans 5:9
Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

But here's my point. I have come to this place in my walk that I would continue to seek and serve God, and study the word, and follow the Spirit, and just love on the Lord even if there were no such thing as hell, or even heaven for that matter.

I wouldn't trade this relationship I have with Jesus for anything that this world has to offer. This love, and peace, and joy, and hope, and contentment, this entire new life is so much better, much, much better that the life I had before He found me. There are so many rewards right here, right now, in this life that make this Christian walk far greater living without Him.

Of course, it's not merely the rewards I seek, but the truth is that rewards are available. In fact, we are even commanded to believe that rewards are available, commanded to.

Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Many of you also know that I wasn't raised in church. Granted, the 40 years that I lived before Christ found me was quite the roller coaster ride. One that quite frankly, I am glad is over. It is truly by the love and grace of God that I am alive today. But I am kind of glad that I was never subjected to the hell, fire, and brimstone messages. I am thankful that wasn't drilled into my head throughout my childhood. I consider myself very fortunate to have been introduced to, and taught by some people who really understood this whole "relationship" principle.

I am beginning to see more and more preachers and teachers teach this today though, and I think that's important. It's important that we teach others that there is great benefit to knowing God and His Son here, now, here, in this lifetime. Life eternal is a personal and intimate relationship with God. It's that relationship that causes a person to want to live for God. A clean and holy lifestyle is a result of knowing God, not fearing His wrath.

Take John 3:16 for example. Almost every believer and a majority of the non-believers can quote this verse. But too many times the meaning, or the intent, at least the way I see it, has been misrepresented.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Too often this verse has been taught that the reason God gave His Son is so that whoever believes on Him will have their sin forgiven and not perish, period. It has been taught that the reason we accept Jesus is so that we won't go to hell, and we will live forever. While I agree that our sin has been forgiven and we will not go to hell, and that's a tremendous benefit, being saved doesn't only mean that we are going to live forever.

Everybody is going to live forever, even the unbelievers. Even the most evil people who ever lived or are living, are going to live forever. The axe murderers, the rapists, abortionists, even Hitler is going to live forever. Our spirits don't just die when our bodies do, no matter who you are or what you believe. Granted, they will not ever be living in heaven, or on the new earth, but they are going to be living forever.

God's ultimate desire and the reason He gave His only begotten Son, is so that we could have a deep, personal, and intimate relationship with Him, forever! It just so happens that our sin was the obstacle that was standing in the way of that happening.

Everlasting life is not something that is to come. Everlasting life is right now for the believer.

John 6:47
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

So what then is this everlasting life? Well, the bible gives us a very clear definition of this. Jesus said:

John 17:2-4
As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

Life eternal is knowing God and His Son. And this isn't talking about just knowing of Him. This is speaking of knowing Him on an intimate level. As in Abraham knew his wife Sarah, and she conceived. Eternal life is having a deep and passionate relationship, and knowing God on a very intimate level. Escaping hell is just one of the many benefits we gain as a result of that.

So let's go plug Jesus’ own definition of eternal life back into John 3:16

My Paraphrase
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have a deep, passionate and everlasting intimate relationship with God the Father, and Jesus His Son!


Friends, I realize that for many of you reading this, this is not any great revelation, it's just foundational. And in my eyes, this is what we should be teaching to the lost. Teaching them how very much God loves them and how much He longs in His heart of hearts to just have time with them.

The bible tells us to “Bless the Lord.” We bless the Lord not by merely saying those words, but we bless the Lord by desiring to be with Him and fellowship with Him. We can actually minister to God in this way. Anyone who loves the way He loves desires for Himself to be loved in return. God is a good God!

Psalm 103:1-5
Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

I am going to bring this to a close, but I just have to say that lately God continues to bring me to so many verses that speak simply about Him just desiring our love. The bible says over and over again that grace and peace is multiplied to us. Not through fighting off carnality, or by paying tithes, or even by living holy. And it certainly doesn't come from a fear of being eternally tormented. Grace and peace is multiplied unto us through the knowledge of God.

2 Peter 1:2
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

It’s through a relationship. A victorious life, not living carnally, paying tithes, and living holy are the by product, or the fruit of that relationship, not the root. This is what unbelievers need to hear.

Matthew 11:28-30
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.

I said it earlier, and I'll say it again, I have come to this place in my walk that I would continue to seek and serve God, and study the word, and follow the Spirit, and just love on the Lord even if there were no such thing as hell, or even heaven for that matter.

I wouldn't trade this relationship I have with Jesus for anything that this world has to offer. This love, and peace, and joy, and hope, and contentment, this entire new life is so much better, much, much better that the life I had before He found me. There are so many rewards right here, right now, in this life that make this Christian walk far greater living without Him. Amen.

What sayeth ye my friend?

In love,
Michael

God's View Of Those Who Gossip

How does God feel about people who gossip? Ephesians 4:29 says:

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Ephesians 4:29

And then the following verse says:

And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God........
Ephesians 4:30

The implication is that when "corrupt communication” comes out of a believer's mouth, it causes the Holy Spirit to be grieved.

You see, gossip is a sin that grieves the Holy Spirit. Did you notice that Paul calls it "corrupt communication"? This phrase comes from the Greek word phaulos, which refers to something that stinks or to something that is rotting, such as meat that is full of maggots. This kind of communication is dead, decaying, and it stinks. It is offensive to the Spirit of God and it grieves Him.

Gossip is so destructive and offensive that Paul forbids gossip in Second Corinthians 12:20. In this verse Paul says:

For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:
2 Corinthians 12:20

Did you see the word "whisperings"? This is the Greek word psithurimos, which means gossip! To make sure we know how evil gossip is, Paul lists it side by side with several other horrible attitudes and actions. Gossip is right smack dab in the middle of that list. So what does that tell you about what God thinks of gossip and those who are involved in the act of gossiping?

Let's be sure we understand what the word "gossip" describes. It describes a person who habitually reveals personal or sensational facts, rumors, or reports of an intimate nature that are none of his business.

For instance, gossip would include:

- Talking about other people's business and things that do not concern you.

- Repeating what someone else said, even though you don't know whether or not it's true.

- Talking to others as if you were an authority about matters that are other people's business, when in reality you don't know what you are taking about.

In a certain sense, gossip is like a deadly poison. It hurts people; it kills relationships; and it destroys trust. In the workplace, "gossip" usually happens between two employees who have become friends and feel like they can truly "share" with each other. They are often people who have been offended or hurt by the one who is the subject of their gossip. Therefore, every rumor they hear becomes a "choice morsel" to share with the other offended party. This is what Proverbs 18:8 is talking about when it says:

The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts.
Proverbs 18:8 NIV

Gossip is usually based on hearsay; it is usually inaccurate; it creates suspicion; and it divides people. It is so evil that we, the body of believers, should absolutely forbid it in our lives.

It is interesting to note that the Greek word for gossip means to whisper. This means that gossip almost always takes place in secret. Just think about it - where does gossip usually take place? If you have engaged in gossip in the past, you probably listened to someone tell you the information or hearsay about other people, which you then whispered to someone else:

- In the women's or men's bathroom at the office.

- In your office when the doors were closed and no one was watching or listening.

- In the lunch-break room when it was only you and the person to whom you were talking.

- In a prayer meeting, where people often whisper about others under the camouflage of "prayer".

- In a corner where the boss, director, pastor, or subject of your gossip couldn't hear what you were saying.

- Or maybe even right here on Mingle2 in private messages to others.


You need to know that gossipers usually attract to each other like magnets. When they get together, they see things alike and therefore begin to think they are right. Thus, they form a little faction right inside the office or church, often concluding that they are doing God's business as they meet together to discuss all the problems going on in other people's lives, even though it isn't their business to discuss or solve these problems or to meddle in other people's affairs.

Since the word gossip really means to whisper, it would be good when you are about to tell something you've heard to first ask yourself: Would I say these things publicly? Would I say this in front of the person I am talking about? If your answer is no, you can conclude that you shouldn't say it privately either.

So I urge you not to allow the devil to snag you and drag you into the sin of gossip. James 3:8 tells us:

But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
James 3:8

But you can refuse to be the source of gossip or to participate in it when it takes place. If you really love Jesus, why would you want to participate in something that will poison people's opinions and ultimately divide and hurt others? Think of it - if it were you whom people were talking about, wouldn't it be hurtful to you to discover that they were talking this way behind your back?

It's too hurtful to get into this business! If you have to whisper it, then you probably shouldn't be saying it at all. In fact, this is a good rule to live by: If you can't say it publicly, don't say it at all! Make that decision today to refrain from gossip and to stay away from those who practice it!

My Prayer For Today

Lord, I admit that I'm guilty of occasionally talking behind other peoples backs, and I'm wrong for doing it. I ask You to please forgive me for allowing the devil to use me in this way. I am asking You to help me keep a tight reign on my tongue and to refrain from gossiping about other people. When I find myself in a situation where the conversation turns to gossip, help me know how to graciously dismiss myself from the conversation so I can avoid participating in this sin and falling back into this trap. I repent for my activity in gossip, and I turn from it in Jesus name!

Questions For You To Consider:

1. Do you find that you are tempted to repeat information about other people, even though what you are repeating has nothing to do with you and is none of your business? Be honest in your answer, because God has already observed your behavior and knows the truth!

2. Sometimes gossip happens during prayer meetings. Have you ever witnessed a moment when a prayer request turned into a gossip session, and you felt guilty for talking so badly about that person before you prayed for him or her?

3. If you've been involved in gossip, have you sensed the conviction of the Holy Spirit trying to tell you to stop this activity?

In love,
Michael


Note: This message was taken in part from Sparkling Gems From The Greek by Rick Renner

Some of the best times of my life have come about because I finished last!