ALL it TOOK

 

Hebrews 12:1

King James Version

12 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about 

with so great a cloud of witnesses, 

let us lay aside every weight,

and the sin which doth so easily beset us, 

and let us run with patience 

the race that is set before us,

I don't know how GOD will show up for you.

Only GOD knows our hearts.

What I do know is my life changed.

When I made a simple declaration.

And really meant it.

"To sin no more."

Turned out, that's all GOD was waiting for.

To humble ourselves, and not want to sin anymore.

Proverbs 28:13

King James Version

13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: 

but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them 

shall have mercy.

All that stands between GOD and us is sin.

I didn't want to sin anymore.

I wanted to be FREE of sin.

That's all it took for GOD to show up.

Did something miraculous happen right away?

Not right away.

My prayers were answered five months after.

GOD probably wanted to be sure I could stay on track.

For there would be no turning back.

It took me a long time to come around.

It'd be a waste if it came to nothing.

Well, my resolve remained.

I didn't want to sin anymore.

And started dropping sin from my life.

I knew the changes I needed to make.

And I took it.

Seeing my resolve was real, GOD led me to the Bible.

He made me read the four gospels.

Then He let me read Genesis.

I took tons of notes.

I wanted to know everything about GOD.

On that fifth month, He made me born again.

And led me to Bible prophecy right away.

Something many Christians try to avoid.

The miracle is that I seemed to understand Scripture easily.

SPIRIT led me to the appropriate, and precise verses.

The Bible offered all the answers to my questions.

My life was changed immeasurably.

Now, I know GOD's laws, versus man's laws.

Now, I know what to believe in.

Now, I know how loved we all are.

Dear friends, that's all it took:

To refuse to sin any longer.

Makes all the difference in the world.

Your life will change radically.

When you let go of sin, you seek GOD.

It's always been either GOD, or sin.

It's really that simple.

Psalm 14:2

King James Version

2 The Lord looked down from heaven 

upon the children of men, 

to see if there were any that did understand, 

and seek God.

SPIRIT helped me shed the weight of my sins.

By knowing about GOD's laws.

Now, I carry a different load.

JESUS asked I carry my cross.

Matthew 16:24-26

King James Version

24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, 

If any man will come after me, 

let him deny himself, 

and take up his cross, 

and follow me.

25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: 

and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited, 

if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 

or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Deny myself.

Take up my cross.

Follow JESUS.

So it's been.

The past 44 months.

Related posts:

What GOD Looks For

SINS of the FLESH

Sin AWARENESS

REPENTANCE

BORN AGAIN classics

Image: Clipart Library

BORN AGAIN list

 

Ephesians 5:9-10

King James Version

9 (For the fruit of the Spirit 

is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

There is the laundry list.

The grocery list.

The shopping list.

The bucket list.

But do you know there's a more important list?

Of things to do, on the road to righteousness?

SPIRIT guided me to gather it this morning.

Just from one chapter written by apostle Paul.

Here's how we can honor GOD, self, and others.

Through a BORN AGAIN list:

Ephesians 5:1

King James Version

5 Be ye therefore followers of God, 

as dear children;

Ephesians 5:2

King James Version

2 And walk in love, 

as Christ also hath loved us, 

and hath given himself for us 

an offering and a sacrifice to God 

for a sweetsmelling savour.

Ephesians 5:3

King James Version

3 But fornication, 

and all uncleanness, 

or covetousness, 

let it not be once named among you, 

as becometh saints;

Ephesians 5:4

King James Version

4 Neither filthiness, 

nor foolish talking, 

nor jesting, 

which are not convenient: 

but rather giving of thanks.

Ephesians 5:6-7

King James Version

6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: 

for because of these things cometh the wrath of God 

upon the children of disobedience.

7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

Ephesians 5:8

King James Version

8 For ye were sometimes darkness, 

but now are ye light in the Lord: 

walk as children of light:

Ephesians 5:11-12

King James Version

11 And have no fellowship 

with the unfruitful works of darkness, 

but rather reprove them.

12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things 

which are done of them in secret.

Ephesians 5:14-16

King James Version

14 Wherefore he saith, 

Awake thou that sleepest, 

and arise from the dead, 

and Christ shall give thee light.

15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, 

not as fools, but as wise,

16 Redeeming the time, 

because the days are evil.

Ephesians 5:17

King James Version

17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, 

but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

Ephesians 5:18

King James Version

18 And be not drunk with wine, 

wherein is excess; 

but be filled with the Spirit;

Ephesians 5:19

King James Version

19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms 

and hymns 

and spiritual songs, 

singing and making melody in your heart 

to the Lord;

Ephesians 5:20

King James Version

20 Giving thanks always 

for all things unto God and the Father 

in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Ephesians 5:21

King James Version

21 Submitting yourselves one to another 

in the fear of God.

Ephesians 5:22-24

King James Version

22 Wives, 

submit yourselves unto your own husbands, 

as unto the Lord.

23 For the husband is the head of the wife, 

even as Christ is the head of the church: 

and he is the saviour of the body.

24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, 

so let the wives be to their own husbands 

in every thing.

Ephesians 5:25-29

King James Version

25 Husbands, 

love your wives, 

even as Christ also loved the church, 

and gave himself for it;

26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it 

with the washing of water by the word,

27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, 

not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; 

but that it should be holy and without blemish.

28 So ought men to love their wives 

as their own bodies. 

He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; 

but nourisheth and cherisheth it, 

even as the Lord the church:

Ephesians 5:30-31

King James Version

30 For we are members of his body, 

of his flesh, 

and of his bones.

31 For this cause shall a man 

leave his father and mother, 

and shall be joined unto his wife, 

and they two shall be one flesh.

Ephesians 5:33

King James Version

33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular 

so love his wife even as himself; 

and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Related post:

The GOD things

FRUIT of the SPIRIT

BORN AGAIN classics

Sin AWARENESS

GOD's PLAN of SALVATION

It's all PREPARATION now

REVITALIZING churches

Image: Clipart Library

When GOD turns away from us

 

Isaiah 64:7

King James Version

7 And there is none that calleth upon thy name, 

that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: 

for thou hast hid thy face from us, 

and hast consumed us, 

because of our iniquities.

Man is sinful, by nature.

Many don't turn to GOD anymore.

What happens when GOD turns away from us?

These Bible versions tell us more:

Isaiah 64:7

Amplified Bible

7 

There is no one who calls on Your name,

Who awakens and causes himself to take hold of You;

For You have hidden Your face from us

And have handed us over to the [consuming and destructive] power of our wickedness [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing].

Isaiah 64:7

Easy-to-Read Version

7 We don’t call to you for help.

We aren’t excited about following you,

    so you have turned away from us.

We are helpless before you,

    because we are full of sin.

Isaiah 64:7

Evangelical Heritage Version

7 There is no one who calls on your name,

who rouses himself to take hold of you.

So you hid your face from us.

You made us melt by the power of our guilt.

Isaiah 64:7

GOD’S WORD Translation

7 No one calls on your name

or tries to hold on to you.

You have hidden your face from us.

You have let us be ruined by our sins.

Isaiah 64:7

Good News Translation

7 No one turns to you in prayer; no one goes to you for help. You have hidden yourself from us and have abandoned[a] us because of our sins.

Isaiah 64:7

International Children’s Bible

7 No one worships you.

    No one even asks you to help us.

So you have turned away from us.

    And we are destroyed because of our sins.

Isaiah 64:7

Living Bible

7 Yet no one calls upon your name or pleads with you for mercy. Therefore, you have turned away from us and turned us over to our sins.

Isaiah 64:7

The Message

No one prays to you

    or makes the effort to reach out to you

Because you’ve turned away from us,

    left us to stew in our sins.

Isaiah 64:7

New American Standard Bible

7 There is no one who calls on Your name,

Who stirs himself to take hold of You;

For You have hidden Your face from us

And have [a]surrendered us to the power of our wrongdoings.

Isaiah 64:7

New Catholic Bible

7 There is no one who invokes your name

    or attempts to hold fast to you.

For you have hidden your face from us

    and have delivered us up because of our sins.

Isaiah 64:7

New Century Version

7 No one worships you

    or even asks you to help us.

That is because you have turned away from us

    and have let our sins destroy us.

Isaiah 64:7

New International Reader's Version

7 No one prays to you.

    No one asks you for help.

You have turned your face away from us.

    You have let us feel the effects of our sins.

Isaiah 64:7

New Life Version

7 There is no one who calls on Your name, who stirs himself up to take hold of You. For You have hidden Your face from us, and have given us over to the power of our sins.

Yeshayah 64:7

Orthodox Jewish Bible

7 (6) And there is none that calleth upon Thy Shem, that stirreth up himself to take hold of Thee; for Thou hast hid Thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of avoneinu.

Isaiah 64:7

The Voice

7 And it’s so sad because no one calls out to You

    or even bothers to approach You anymore.

You’ve been absent from us too long;

    You left us to dissolve away in the acrid power of our sins.

Isaiah 64:7

Wycliffe Bible

7 None is, that calleth thy name to help, that riseth, and holdeth thee; thou hast hid thy face from us, and thou hast hurtled down us in(to) the hand of our wickedness. (There is no one who calleth on thy name for help, or who riseth up, and taketh hold of thee; and so thou hast hid thy face from us, and thou hast hurtled us down into the hand, or the power, of our own wickedness.)

Isaiah 64:7

Young's Literal Translation

7 And there is none calling in Thy name, Stirring up himself to lay hold on Thee, For Thou hast hid Thy face from us, And thou meltest us away by our iniquities.

In SUMMARY, when GOD turns away from us, here's what happens:

handed us over to the [consuming and destructive] power of our wickedness [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing]

We are helpless before you, because we are full of sin.

You made us melt by the power of our guilt.

You have let us be ruined by our sins.

have abandoned[a] us because of our sins

we are destroyed because of our sins

turned us over to our sins

 left us to stew in our sins

surrendered us to the power of our wrongdoings

delivered us up because of our sins

let our sins destroy us

You have let us feel the effects of our sins.

given us over to the power of our sins

consumed us, because of avoneinu

You left us to dissolve away in the acrid power of our sins.

thou hast hurtled down us in(to) the hand of our wickedness

thou hast hurtled us down into the hand, or the power, of our own wickedness

thou meltest us away by our iniquities

Related material:

BECAUSE of UNBELIEF

GOD's WRATH

The WICKED shall PERISH

AWARENESS of sin

Image: Free Fun Art

INSTRUMENTS of righteousness

 

Romans 6:13

King James Version

13 Neither yield ye your members 

as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: 

but yield yourselves unto God, 

as those that are alive from the dead, 

and your members 

as instruments of righteousness 

unto God.

We are to be used as instruments of righteousness, for GOD's purpose.

But what did apostle Paul mean when he mentioned "members" in this particular verse?

As always, we turn to other Bible versions, for greater clarity.

Romans 6:13

Amplified Bible

13 Do not go on offering members of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness. But offer yourselves to God [in a decisive act] as those alive [raised] from the dead [to a new life], and your members [all of your abilities—sanctified, set apart] as instruments of righteousness [yielded] to God.

Romans 6:13

Amplified Bible, Classic Edition

13 Do not continue offering or yielding your bodily members [and [a]faculties] to sin as instruments (tools) of wickedness. But offer and yield yourselves to God as though you have been raised from the dead to [perpetual] life, and your bodily members [and [b]faculties] to God, presenting them as implements of righteousness.

Romans 6:13

Christian Standard Bible

13 And do not offer any parts[a] of it to sin as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God, and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness.

Romans 6:13

Complete Jewish Bible

13 and do not offer any part of yourselves to sin as an instrument for wickedness. On the contrary, offer yourselves to God as people alive from the dead, and your various parts to God as instruments for righteousness.

Romans 6:13

Contemporary English Version

13 or let any part of it become a slave of evil. Give yourselves to God, as people who have been raised from death to life. Make every part of your body a slave that pleases God.

Romans 6:13

Disciples’ Literal New Testament

13 nor be presenting your body-parts to sin as instruments[a] of unrighteousness. But present yourselves to God as-if [b] being alive from the dead, and your body-parts to God as instruments of righteousness.

Romans 6:13

Expanded Bible

13 Do not offer ·the parts of your body [or any part of yourself; L your parts/members] to serve sin, as ·things to be used in doing [L instruments/weapons of] ·evil [unrighteousness; injustice]. Instead, offer yourselves to God as people who have died and now live. Offer ·the parts of your body [or every part of yourself; L your parts/members] to God ·to be used in doing good [L as instruments/weapons of righteousness/justice].

Romans 6:13

Good News Translation

13 Nor must you surrender any part of yourselves to sin to be used for wicked purposes. Instead, give yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life, and surrender your whole being to him to be used for righteous purposes.

Romans 6:13

International Children’s Bible

13 Do not offer the parts of your body to serve sin. Do not use your bodies as things to do evil with, but offer yourselves to God. Be like people who have died and now live. Offer the parts of your body to God to be used for doing good.

Romans 6:13-14

J.B. Phillips New Testament

12-14 Do not, then, allow sin to establish any power over your mortal bodies in making you give way to your lusts. Nor hand over your organs to be, as it were, weapons of evil for the devil’s purposes. But, like men rescued from certain death, put yourselves in God’s hands as weapons of good for his own purposes. For sin is not meant to be your master—you are no longer living under the Law, but under grace.

Romans 6:13

Living Bible

13 Do not let any part of your bodies become tools of wickedness, to be used for sinning; but give yourselves completely to God—every part of you—for you are back from death and you want to be tools in the hands of God, to be used for his good purposes.

Romans 6:13

Modern English Version

13 Do not yield your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but yield yourselves to God, as those who are alive from the dead, and your bodies to God as instruments of righteousness.

Romans 6:13

Names of God Bible

13 Never offer any part of your body to sin’s power. No part of your body should ever be used to do any ungodly thing. Instead, offer yourselves to God as people who have come back from death and are now alive. Offer all the parts of your body to God. Use them to do everything that God approves of.

Romans 6:13

New International Version

13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.

Romans 6:13

New Living Translation

13 Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.

Romans 6:13

New Testament for Everyone

13 Nor should you present your limbs and organs to sin to be used for its wicked purposes. Rather, present yourselves to God, as people alive from the dead, and your limbs and organs to God, to be used for the righteous purposes of his covenant.

Kehillah in Rome 6:13

Orthodox Jewish Bible

13 And do not give Chet (sin) control of your natural capacities as neshek (weapons) of peysha (unrighteousness, transgression), but present yourselves to Hashem as ones alive from the Mesim and present to Hashem your natural capacities as neshek (weapons) of Tzedek Olamim.

In SUMMARY, "members" mean:

all of your abilities—sanctified, set apart

bodily members [and [b]faculties]

all the parts of yourselves

your various parts

every part of your body

your body-parts

the parts of your body [or every part of yourself; L your parts/members

your whole being

the parts of your body

your mortal bodies, your organs, yourselves

yourselves

bodies

all the parts of your body

every part of yourself

your whole body

your limbs and organs

your natural capacities

Related material:

The TEMPLE of the HOLY SPIRIT

Image: Elina Sazonova

On walking CIRCUMSPECTLY

 

Ephesians 5:15

King James Version

15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, 

not as fools, but as wise,

What does it mean to walk "circumspectly"?

As born again, I have an idea.

But I'd rather explore what other Bible versions say:

Ephesians 5:15

American Standard Version

15 Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise;

Ephesians 5:15

Amplified Bible

15 Therefore see that you walk carefully [living life with honor, purpose, and courage; shunning those who tolerate and enable evil], not as the unwise, but as wise [sensible, intelligent, discerning people],

Ephesians 5:15

Amplified Bible, Classic Edition

15 Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people),

Ephesians 5:15

Christian Standard Bible

Consistency in the Christian Life

15 Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise—

Ephesians 5:15

Common English Bible

Be filled with the Spirit

15 So be careful to live your life wisely, not foolishly.

Ephesians 5:15

Complete Jewish Bible

15 Therefore, pay careful attention to how you conduct your life — live wisely, not unwisely.

Ephesians 5:15

Contemporary English Version

15 Act like people with good sense and not like fools.

Ephesians 5:15

Disciples’ Literal New Testament

So Walk Wisely, Redeeming The Time. Be Filled With The Spirit, And Subject To One Another

15 Therefore be watching carefully how you walk— not as unwise, but as wise,

Ephesians 5:15

Evangelical Heritage Version

15 Consider carefully, then, how you walk, not as unwise people, but as wise people.

Ephesians 5:15

International Children’s Bible

15 So be very careful how you live. Do not live like those who are not wise. Live wisely.

Ephesians 5:15

J.B. Phillips New Testament

You know the truth—let your life show it!

15 Live life, then, with a due sense of responsibility, not as men who do not know the meaning and purpose of life but as those who do. 

Ephesians 5:15

Lexham English Bible

15 Therefore, consider carefully how you live, not as unwise but as wise,

Ephesians 5:15

Living Bible

15 So be careful how you act; these are difficult days. Don’t be fools; be wise: make the most of every opportunity you have for doing good.

Ephesians 5:15

The Message

So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times!

Ephesians 5:15

Modern English Version

15 See then that you walk carefully, not as fools, but as wise men,

Ephesians 5:15

New Catholic Bible

15 Therefore, take care to live as intelligent people, and do not be like those who are senseless.

Ephesians 5:15

New International Version

15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,

Ephesians 5:15

New Testament for Everyone

15 So take special care how you conduct yourselves. Don’t be unwise, but be wise.

Kehillah in Ephesus 5:15

Orthodox Jewish Bible

15 Therefore, fier zich (comport oneself) in your derech with a careful walk, not as kesilim (fools) but as chachamim (wise ones),

Ephesians 5:15

Revised Geneva Translation

15 Be mindful, therefore, that you walk carefully - not as fools, but as wise -

Ephesians 5:15

Tree of Life Version

15 So pay close attention to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise.

Ephesians 5:15

The Voice

15 So be careful how you live; be mindful of your steps. Don’t run around like idiots as the rest of the world does. Instead, walk as the wise!

Ephesians 5:15

Worldwide English (New Testament)

15 Take care how you live. Do not live like people who are not wise, but live like people who are wise.

Ephesians 5:15

Wycliffe Bible

15 Therefore, brethren, see ye, how warily ye shall go; not as unwise men, but as wise men,

Ephesians 5:15

Young's Literal Translation

15 See, then, how exactly ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise,

In SUMMARY, "ye walk circumspectly" means:

Look therefore carefully how ye walk

Therefore see that you walk carefully [living life with honor, purpose, and courage; shunning those who tolerate and enable evil]

Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately

Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk

So be careful to live your life

Therefore, pay careful attention to how you conduct your life

Act like people with good sense

Therefore be watching carefully how you walk

Consider carefully, then, how you walk

So be very careful how you live,

Live life, then, with a due sense of responsibility

Therefore, consider carefully how you live

So be careful how you act

So watch your step

See then that you walk carefully

Therefore, take care to live as intelligent peopl

Be very careful, then, how you live

So take special care how you conduct yourselves

Therefore, fier zich (comport oneself) in your derech with a careful walk

Be mindful, therefore, that you walk carefully

So pay close attention to how you walk

So be careful how you live; be mindful of your steps.

Take care how you live.

Therefore, brethren, see ye, how warily ye shall go

See, then, how exactly ye walk

To complete this verse, we include HOW to walk "circumspectly":

Ephesians 5:15-21

King James Version

15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, 

not as fools, but as wise,

16 Redeeming the time, 

because the days are evil.

17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, 

but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

18 And be not drunk with wine, 

wherein is excess; 

but be filled with the Spirit;

19 Speaking to yourselves 

in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, 

singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God 

and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

21 Submitting yourselves one to another 

in the fear of God.

Related material:

WALKING with JESUS

Image: Tom Fisk

LOOKING into Halloween

 

Luke 16:15

King James Version

15 And he said unto them, 

Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; 

but God knoweth your hearts: 

for that which is highly esteemed among men 

is abomination in the sight of God.

It will be Halloween soon.

October 31, in fact.

Celebrated all over the world.

But do we really know what it stands for?

Are children of GOD supposed to celebrate it?

"Aw, c'mon now, don't be a spoilsport," you'd probably say.

Well, I'm born again.

I live by the Bible.

I only follow the LORD's commands.

I only care to know His laws right.

I only aim to share right gospel with you.

Here's what Chuck Missler says about Halloween:

Halloween: Invitation to the Occult? Session 2 

That video shares many verses from the Bible, telling us about God's ways, will, and commands.

It's really time for us to take heed of the LORD's commands.

What is popular in the world, doesn't necessarily mean it's acceptable to GOD.

If anything, it's OFTEN in complete opposition to what GOD wants us to do.

Romans 12:2

King James Version

2 And be not conformed to this world: 

but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, 

that ye may prove what is that good, 

and acceptable, 

and perfect, 

will of God.

Related material:

Chuck Missler books

Patrick Matrisciana (Jeremiah Films)

BORN AGAIN articles

Image: Chuck Missler Halloween video (1:50th minute)