Raised Up With Him
God You are so everthing good. My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for the Mighty One has done great things for me- holy is his name.
Ephesians 2:1AND YOU [He made alive], when you were dead (slain) by [your] trespasses and sins 2In which at one time you walked [habitually]. You were following the course and fashion of this world [were under the sway of the tendency of this present age], following the prince of the power of the air. [You were obedient to and under the control of] the [demon] spirit that still constantly works in the sons of disobedience [the careless, the rebellious, and the unbelieving, who go against the purposes of God]. 3Among these we as well as you once lived and conducted ourselves in the passions of our flesh [our behavior governed by our corrupt and sensual nature], obeying the impulses of the flesh and the thoughts of the mind [our cravings dictated by our senses and our dark imaginings]. We were then by nature children of [God's] wrath and heirs of [His] indignation, like the rest of mankind. 4But God--so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us, 5Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved ([a]delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation). 6And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us [b]joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One). 7He did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor) in [His] kindness and goodness of heart toward us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by free grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved ([c]delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God; 9Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law's demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.] 10For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), [d]recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]. 11Therefore, remember that at one time you were Gentiles (heathens) in the flesh, called Uncircumcision by those who called themselves Circumcision, [itself a [e]mere mark] in the flesh made by human hands. 12[Remember] that you were at that time separated (living apart) from Christ [excluded from all part in Him], utterly estranged and outlawed from the rights of Israel as a nation, and strangers with no share in the sacred compacts of the [Messianic] promise [with no knowledge of or right in God's agreements, His covenants]. And you had no hope (no promise); you were in the world without God. 13But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were [so] far away, through (by, in) the blood of Christ have been brought near. 14For He is [Himself] our peace (our bond of unity and harmony). He has made us both [Jew and Gentile] one [body], and has broken down (destroyed, abolished) the hostile dividing wall between us, 15By abolishing in His [own crucified] flesh the enmity [caused by] the Law with its decrees and ordinances [which He annulled]; that He from the two might create in Himself one new man [one new quality of humanity out of the two], so making peace. 16And [He designed] to reconcile to God both [Jew and Gentile, united] in a single body by means of His cross, thereby killing the mutual enmity and bringing the feud to an end. 17And He came and preached the glad tidings of peace to you who were afar off and [peace] to those who were near.(A) 18For it is through Him that we both [whether far off or near] now have an introduction (access) by one [Holy] Spirit to the Father [so that we are able to approach Him]. 19Therefore you are no longer outsiders (exiles, migrants, and aliens, excluded from the rights of citizens), but you now share citizenship with the saints (God's own people, consecrated and set apart for Himself); and you belong to God's [own] household. 20You are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus Himself the chief Cornerstone. 21In Him the whole structure is joined (bound, welded) together harmoniously, and it continues to rise (grow, increase) into a holy temple in the Lord [a sanctuary dedicated, consecrated, and sacred to the presence of the Lord]. 22In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you yourselves also are being built up [into this structure] with the rest, to form a fixed abode (dwelling place) of God in (by, through) the Spirit.
As I read this scripture I kept thinking about those who are claimed homosexuals. I went down some of those path's in my past. I don't believe I understand every single person about it, but I do have some understanding about this area. I know that for obvious reasons we as Christians somehow think that they are worse sinners and that we can not relate with them. Well, hello! We are all sinners and we all fall short of His glory. Without Jesus we are all condemned to hell. Who are we to point our bloody little fingers at someone else. Who are we? I just believe that it is not our job to be the Holy Spirit and convict one another of sin. Now the Bible does talk about times when to give reproof and such. Well, we better make darn sure that God is guiding us to do anything remotely like that. We better be reallll careful before putting ourselves in the judgment seat. So now I have to ask myself, "What am I doing to share the gospel with ALL people?" As I ask this question I keep in rememberance that nothing I have done will earn my way to eternity with the Father. It was a free gift. It was a free gift. Did I change after I believed in Him? Yes. Does it gain me any closer? Well, actually, He did all the changing so I can not claim credit for anything other than yielding my will to His. And even that I asked Him to give me the strength.
I can taste the fruit of Eve. I'm aware of sickness, death, and disease. The results of her choices are fast. Eve was the first, but she wasnt the last. And if I were honest with myself, if I had been standing at that tree, my mouth and hands would be covered with fruit, things I shouldn't know, and things I shouldn't see. Remind of this with every decision. Generations will reap what I sew. I can pass on a curse or a blessing to those I may never know. She taught me to fear the serpant. I'm learning to fear myself. And all of the things I am capable of in my search for wisdom and acceptance and wealth. To say that the devil made me do it is a cop out and a live. The devil can make me do anything when I am calling on Jesus Christ. Remind of this with every decision. Generations will reap what I sew. I can pass on a curse or a blessing to those I may never know. To my great, great granddaughter live in peace. To my great, great grandson live in peace. To my great, great granddaughter live in peace. To my great, great grandson live in peace.
O live in peace! Remind of this with every decision. Generations will reap what I sew. I can pass on a curse or a blessing to those I may never know. Generations will reap what I saw. O remind me! O I may never know. O I may never know. Eve was the first but she wasn't the last.
One day we will be held accountable for every idle word that we speak. One day we will be held accountable for every stumbling block we create. One day we will be held accountable for our belief... Read the Word. Read the Word. Read the Word. Not learning at your fellowship anymore? It might have nothing to do with your pastor. Read the Word. Not feeling God's presence? It might have nothing to do with spirituality. Read the word. Read the Word. Don't understand why bad things happen in the world? Read the Word. Read the word. Why O why are you going around that same old mountain? Read the Word. Read the Word. Believe the Word. Live it. Love it. Wear it. Walk it. Read the Word. Read the Word. Don't know why this is happening to you right now? Don't know why it seems like the whole world doesn't care about you. Don't get all the disasters and wars and rumors and politics? Read the Word. Read the Word. Don't know where God wants you or why you are here. Read the Word. Read the Word. And while you read the Word ask Him for wisdom, understanding and enlightenment. Then you know what to do next? Read the Word...
Father, You know my heart. You know where I follow and where I depart. Father forgive my wicked ways, and shine on me. Give me wisdom and strength to walk it all out. Show me the love and give me Your heart. Amen.