Amplified Bible John 3:18
Whoever believes and has decided to trust in Him [as personal Savior and Lord] is not judged [for this one, there is no judgment, no rejection, no condemnation]; but the one who does not believe [and has decided to reject Him as personal Savior and Lord] is judged already [that one has been convicted and sentenced], because he has not believed and trusted in the name of the [One and] only begotten Son of God [the One who is truly unique, the only One of His kind, the One who alone can save him].
Category: Daily Word from Above
cherish these thoughts with Paul
Mature believers cherish these thoughts, said Paul. Imitate him, forget the past, with eyes now fixed on Jesus, stretching to reach the goal ahead.
Philippians 3
Weymouth New Testament
Righteousness through Faith
1In conclusion, my brethren, be joyful in the Lord. For me to give you the same warnings as before is not irksome to me, while so far as you are concerned it is a safe precaution.
2Beware of ‘the dogs,’ the bad workmen, the self-mutilators. 3For we are the true circumcision—we who render to God a spiritual worship and make our boast in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in outward ceremonies: 4although I myself might have some excuse for confidence in outward ceremonies. If any one else claims a right to trust in them, far more may I: 5circumcised, as I was, on the eighth day, a member of the race of Israel and of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew sprung from Hebrews; as to the Law a Pharisee; 6as to zeal, a persecutor of the Church; as to the righteousness which comes through Law, blameless.
Knowing Christ is Above All
7Yet all that was gain to me—for Christ’s sake I have reckoned it loss. 8Nay, I even reckon all things as pure loss because of the priceless privilege of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. And for His sake I have suffered the loss of everything, and reckon it all as mere refuse, in order that I may win Christ and be found in union with Him, 9not having a righteousness of my own, derived from the Law, but that which arises from faith in Christ—the righteousness which comes from God through faith. 10I long to know Christ and the power which is in His resurrection, and to share in His sufferings and die even as He died; 11in the hope that I may attain to the resurrection from among the dead.
Press on Toward the Goal
12I do not say that I have already won the race or have already reached perfection. But I am pressing on, striving to lay hold of the prize for which also Christ has laid hold of me. 13Brethren, I do not imagine that I have yet laid hold of it. But this one thing I do—forgetting everything which is past and stretching forward to what lies in front of me, 14with my eyes fixed on the goal I push on to secure the prize of God’s heavenward call in Christ Jesus. 15Therefore let all of us who are mature believers cherish these thoughts; and if in any respect you think differently, that also God will make clear to you. 16But whatever be the point that we have already reached, let us persevere in the same course.
Citizenship in Heaven
17Brethren, vie with one another in imitating me, and carefully observe those who follow the example which we have set you. 18For there are many whom I have often described to you, and I now even with tears describe them, as being enemies to the Cross of Christ. 19Their end is destruction, their bellies are their God, their glory is in their shame, and their minds are devoted to earthly things. 20We, however, are free citizens of Heaven, and we are waiting with longing expectation for the coming from Heaven of a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who, in the exercise of the power which He has even to subject all things to Himself, will transform this body of our humiliation until it resembles His own glorious body.
2024-03-15
how may I talk to you, God?
God, O God, I am choking in pain beyond words
How may I talk to you, Abba Father in heaven?
In shock and disbelief, turning into flight
Knowing that whatever utterance could not and would not be right
choked by a thousand and more “NO”s and “WHY”s moans and sighs
as days turned nights and nights turned utterly nightmarish guise
remaining deaf and dumb and blind as in a vacated shell
Defaulted to frozen the moment he knew she had left
God, O God, I am choking in pain beyond words
Can earth accept ever separating from the sun?
Can a half ever make itself whole?
Sounds and sights no longer mattered
Who is worthy to reverse time?
Who by faith can call back time?
Can I say, time, come back, back to the time we first met?
Why is she so free to depart and I am caught?
Is there anything I can give to exchange time?
Is there any way I may begin afresh?
Denial and bargain denied,
Time replied,
Begin.
2024-02-01 (soulish as opposite to spiritual, yet human)
As a separate note: Lately I have been pondering over the issue of life and death on earth and what Revelation 12:11 means. Why Revelation? Looking heaven-ward helps us to look up with assurance and hope in times of grief that lingers. This is the first time I read this verse this way (first draft):
The overcomer won the victory over the enemy (spiritual through the use of earth human agents) by two facts and truth: the blood of the Lamb and the word of each individual overcomer’s testimony. Therefore, they were not afraid even to death (not love their lives to the death of their body). The blood of the Lamb and the overcomer’s testimony are two known publicly facts on earth and recorded in heaven. The overcomer’s life witnesses the blood of the Lamb and His complete accomplishment. The salvation victory is a done deal. How do we know who is an overcomer and who is not? Simple. Look at his life. He fits into the group who fearlessly faced death, knowing that he has already won (in soul and spirit) through Jesus, the Lamb of God. The overcomer receives a crown of life in heaven.
“The Crown of Life – (Revelation 2:10) “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” This crown is for all believers, but is especially dear to those who endure sufferings, who bravely confront persecution for Jesus, even to the point of death. In Scripture the word “life” is often used to show a relationship that is right with God. It was Jesus who said, “I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). “
Behold the Overcomer
Today’s word from above is “overcome”. But first we need to behold!
Jesus is an Overcomer. So was the apostle John, who in his 90s boldly stated, “For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.” And he went on further, “And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.” (5:15) ~John the Apostle
John fully qualifies to say this. He was the only apostle among the original twelve remaining alive up to a hundred years old. He followed and witnessed Jesus, the Son of God, from the beginning of His ministry to His ascension into heaven, and remained alive and active to witness and experience the supernatural birth and powerful multiplication of the early Spirit-filled churches with many miracles, signs and wonders, despite extreme persecution. In the tumultuous first century John personally experienced and testified the truthfulness and faithfulness of God’s words, the reality of God and all that He has spoken and eventually written and which constitutes today’s Bible.
He wrote the Gospel of John, the Revelation of Jesus Christ, and the three Epistles I John, II John and III John. He was exiled to the prison island of Patmos for hard labor in his 90s and there he saw and recorded down the vision of Jesus Christ.
What does the word “overcome/defeat” mean? I would quote some Bible verses from the above Scripture. Let us read, meditate and visualize a bigger picture of Christ’s victory and God’s assurance for the people of God.
(In addition to my study notes, I have included below in italics some excerpts from concordances and commentaries.)
Strong’s Concordance: 3528. nikaó : conquer, overcome, prevail, to get the victory.
Usage: I conquer, am victorious, overcome, prevail, subdue.
Christ the Conqueror: “carry off the victory, come off victorious: victorious over all his foes”
Revelation 3:21: AMP He who overcomes [the world through believing that Jesus is the Son of God], I will grant to him [the privilege] to sit beside Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down beside My Father on His throne. Also read Revelation 5:5.
Christ the conqueror of his foes, Revelation 17:14 14 These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.” (“Overcome means to deprive it of power to harm, to subvert its influence”)
Overcoming by Christians, “that hold fast their faith even unto death against the power of their foes, and their temptations and persecutions”: (Addressed by Jesus to the seven churches)
Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26; Revelation 3:5, 12, 21 (Read Revelation 1:10-11, 2:1-3:22)
Revelation 21:7 (read Revelation 21:1-7) 21:1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth…7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
John 16:33 33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
“Christians to conquer and thereby free themselves from the power of the beast“: Revelation 15:2: 2 And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.
Overcome the devil: “in constancy and courage to keep himself unharmed and spotless from his adversary’s devices, solicitations, assaults”: 1 John 2:14 I have written to you, fathers,Because you have known Him who is from the beginning.I have written to you, young men,Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you,And you have overcome the wicked one. (“Having God’s Word abiding in them was the reason they were strong and had overcome the wicked one.”)
Revelation 12:11: 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
1 John 4:4 4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 1 John 5:4 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. （”The spirit part of us always overcomes. If we aren’t overcoming, it’s because we are not walking after the spirit.”)
How did the apostle John become an overcomer? He was an apprentice of Jesus. He beholds the One who really matters. Overcoming requires close relationship with the Lord. He stayed very close to Jesus and even identified himself as the beloved disciple among the twelve. The Bible did not say why but Jesus took with Him only three: Peter, James and John on special assignments: the transfiguration on the mountain, raising Jairus’ daughter from dead, and praying in the Garden of Gethsemane prior His arrest. On the cross Jesus entrusted His mother Mary to John (as her son). Not only that, Jesus revealed to John the final visions and instructed him to record them in the book of Revelation.
“Our eyes behold the triumph of Jesus Christ, the glorious and victorious Son of God, who triumphed over death and hell; who arose triumphant, salvation to obtain; that we might behold gladness and joy, and walk triumphant through Jesus Christ, through the blood that washes “whiter than snow.” ~John G. Lake (The Science of Divine Healing)
Kainotes, 2023-05-24
December 18, 2021 making a choice
“One day, you will be old enough to start reading fairytales again.”― C.S. Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia. Racing against time is the crux of my Christian life. Writing several subjects at the same time, I find myself like drawing a brand new map and adding new discoveries of the locations of cities, boundaries, roads, mountains, rivers, and coastlines and many other things we deem interesting and important and relevant as we walk the terrain in the mind and the spirit.
One of my current assignments is to read the Chronicles of Narnia again. In an ironical way I am pleased that I am old enough now to read fairy tales again. I listen to the audio book and read the printed text at the same time so I would not miss anything. I have finished four out of seven books in the series.
Reading Narnia, in all its brilliant splendor with magnificent richness in depth, breadth, width and height, of both contents and language, I felt like giving up my intention to re-write my five children’s books. It was quite hopeless to carry on with mine in the language (the main ingredients) that I find lacking. How to compare with the world class Chef de Cuisine in my humid backwater damp wood burning kitchen shed with a chipped earthen pot and smoke in the eyes? Yes, you are right, a man’s faculty to dream is subject to the constrains/availabilities of the supplies of words in the formation of his thoughts. And thoughts are the ingredients for books. Language feeds the thoughts. Thoughts feed the writing.
Well, just plod on. My spirit says. So I decide to plod on. Here is a conversation from the Dawn Treader encountering pitch darkness spoken by the Lord Reepicheep in reply to Captain Drinian,
“But what manner of use would it be ploughing through that darkness?’ asked Drinian.
Use?’ replied Reepicheep. ‘Use, Captain?’ If you mean by filling our bellies or our purses, I confess it will be no use at all. So far as I know we did not set sail to look for things useful but to seek honour and adventures. And here is as great an adventure as I have ever heard of, and here, if we turn back, no little impeachment of all our honours.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Voyage of the “Dawn Treader”
A DICTIONARY FOR NAVIGATORS ON SPIRITUAL ROUGH WATERS chapter 4: D for day
Day: A specific time or period. This is the word for today. The word is neutral. But in most cases it comes with other words which bring a sense of foreboding, for example, the terrible day of His, your day of reckoning, in the last day, they will, how terrible that day will be, the great and terrible day of the Lord, watch for the day of the Lord, great and dreadful day of the Lord, that great judgment day of the Lord. However, there are happy and positive ones too:
2 Corinthians 4:16b Our spirits are being renewed everyday.
1 Thessalonians 5:4 My brothers and sisters, it will be different for you. You do not dwell in the darkness, so that day will not surprise you like a thief
Acts 2:16-21
16 No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:
17 ‘In the last days,’ God says,
‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
Your young men will see visions,
and your old men will dream dreams.
18 In those days I will pour out my Spirit
even on my servants—men and women alike—
and they will prophesy.
19 And I will cause wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below—
blood and fire and clouds of smoke.
20 The sun will become dark,
and the moon will turn blood red
before that great and glorious day of the Lord arrives.
21 But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord
will be saved.’[c]
One thing about being a human is that we all have the faculty to choose. making choices in life is an inalienable inborn nature and right, starting from the first man and woman on earth. A man’s choice will impact his life, or a process in space and time of life. Similarly, the choice he makes will determine whether the phrase “the Lords’ day” will mean good or bad when that day finally comes to him. Every one has a day of the Lord. Moses said this in his final speech,
Deuteronomy 30:19
“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!
kainotes, 2021-12-18
AAA watchman 
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