richardwbelcher

Bullets

Quick thoughts on hinderances to maturing in one's walk with God.

• Special revelations about scripture must never contradict to first-line meaning of the scripture.
• Teachings that promote special revelations separate believers into inappropriate classes.
• Leaders in the Body of Christ should be servants to believers not lords over the flock.
• Scriptural truths should apply to the entire chuch age if they are New Testament truths.
• The five-fold ministry should mature believers to be like Jesus NOT build personal kingdoms.
• Personal imperfections have a tendency to leak out and to unknowingly contaminate situations.
• Worship should center ON God (singing to Him) and not just be ABOUT God (singing about the Lord).
• Clouds without water form a paradox: They have nothing to give and technically can't exist.
• In every situation, God knows what is going on SO DO the Godly thing as if your life depends on it.

Manifesting as Sons

Romans 8:19, 21,22  For the earnest expectation of the creature waits for the manifestation of the sons of God. ... Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now.

The KJV of the New Testament uses the words creature and creation for the same Greek word (G2937) when talking about the manifestation of the sons of God.  This week I had an thought that, when I looked at these verses, I had to abandon because the Lord showed me something that I overlooked. 

If creation itself will ALSO be delivered from bondage into liberty, then my definition of the manifested sons must contain that concept!  The manifested sons are those who now walking in liberty and in obedience as God works THROUGH them to minister to the world. Romans 8:14 states,

Coming of the Lord

2Peter 2:16 For we gave not followed cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of the Lord...

In thinking about this verse, I saw something that I haven't linked to this passage before when Peter made known to the believers "the coming of the Lord".  There are two ways of viewing this phrase.  First, Peter was an eyewitness of Jesus' ministry to the Jewish nation as God revealed the Messiah via signs and wonders. [He came unto His own, but they did not receive Him].  Second, Peter passed on the promise of Christ's return to put down evil and to establish His kingdom. [The promise of His return.]

Sometimes I acknowledge Jesus' manifestation and ministry, but do not retain the essence of His impending return.  I see Christ's power and miracles in the gospels, but I miss the awesome, small details that He brings into my life preparing me for the future. 

We are to let peace guard our hearts and minds (Phil. 4:7), to

The Proper Heart of Disobedience

Esther 3:1-3 King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the Agagite...above all the princes... and all the king's servants...bowed and reverenced Haman: as the king commanded. But Mordecai bowed not ...The king's servants said to Mordecai, "Why do you transgress the king's commandment?" Now when Mordecai hearkened not to them, they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for Mordecai had told them that he was a Jew.

When I read this passage on Wednesday, I got a "download" of several thoughts.  I will try to outline what flashed through me.

(a) If we do something good, and it is not fully recognized, do we pout, toot our own horn, sulk; or do we just go about our lives knowing that what we did was the right thing to do? (see Est. 2:22-23)

(b)If the king (of this world) decrees that we bow down and reverence "magnificent" things because they are promoted in the eyes of the