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| I John 3:21-22 |
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I am not allowed to have favorite scriptures and haven't for quite some time now. The Holy Spirit showed me years ago the error in that, but He does give me the wisdom to see the spiritual weight (implication) some have compared to others. One biblical example to what I mean refers to some as "milk" and others as "meat". Similarly, we know some scriptures speak to the lost, while others were written to "His" children. The scripture below, while it is not favored, I do recommend anyone to give great consideration, prayer, and implication.
It's from 1 John, chapter 3 and it' today's bible verses here on MyChurch. I've switched versions to the Amplified so I wouldn't have to capitalize He or Him the way they should be, and also to add clarity.
21. And, beloved, if our consciences (our hearts) do not accuse us [if they do not make us feel guilty and condemn us], we have confidence (complete assurance and boldness) before God, 22. And we receive from Him whatever we ask, because we [watchfully] obey His orders [observe His suggestions and injunctions, follow His plan for us] and [habitually] practice what is pleasing to Him.
If scripture could be compared to components of an engine, there are enough pieces in these two verses to actually power any Christian alive today.
Verse 21 starts out with such an endearing reference to you and I because of so much love. And immediately, we are taken to the center of what His Word is about to speak too. That is your HEART. You can change your mind, in fact we do way too often, if you ask me. But you can't change your heart. You can't change my heart, your husbands, your Moms, or anyone's, and I hope you are not trying to either. Because, only God can do that. Only God can change the heart, and it's just perfect that He jumps right to what He is speaking too, 'first, because He says if THAT (the heart) does not accuse us.
"If our hearts do not make us feel guilty and condemn us".
You see, my friends, It's got to be from the Heart that you receive and accept and operate and NOT from your mind (brain).
Your Flesh has access to the minds thoughts. The devil whispers suggestive lies and deceptions directly into our minds. And the mind is manipulated by what it sees and hears. And so, whether the mind is accused by deception or not accused because of ignorance,... the list goes on,.. It's just not trustworthy. The heart is where God is drawing us too, in this verse. Because, the heart is where God dwells, speaks, stirs us, etc.
And so, He goes on to say that if our hearts do not accuse us, we have confidence before Him. That is a good word, right there. Confidence means that we have complete assurance and boldness before Him. And that confidence is present when our heart does not accuse us. You know this is true. We have all acted out what our mind wanted us to do while something inside kept saying, "no, don't, please, and that's gonna hurt". And so, in verse 22, He tells us what this Confidence,.. this not being accused in the heart brings us. It's the fruit, if-you-will, of that confidence. He says, "And we receive from Him whatever we ask". Hello!,... that's gotta be good, Amen? I gotta alotta stuff I want,... hehe. Hang on, the verse isn't over yet, but it does sound pretty good so far.
Well, it is good. It's Great, in fact, but it's from His point of view and not always what we would think. Because, He goes on to say, "because we [watchfully] obey His orders [observe His suggestions and injunctions, follow His plan for us] and [habitually] practice what is pleasing to Him". It is important to see how this verse has ended here, so lets really look at this.
The Amplified implies that we "watchfully" obey for a very good reason. If you and I were a robot, we could not obey, even though a scientist would disagree. The bible uses the word obey as something we choose and a robot, JUST DOES IT. Robots don't love and God wont have any robots around Him. We watchfully obey, which means, we intentionally obey, and we obey a little more today than we did yesterday, because we are growing up. Our obedience is from a living experience with Him.
We observe His suggestions and injunctions, both, from His word and both, from the heart. We follow His plan for us, which we also find in His word and from our heart. Remember, following "just the letter" leads to death, but following the Spirit (that lives in our Heart) leads to life. You cant open the bible to wherever it falls, and "do that",... hehe. It doesn't work that way, does it.
And finally, we habitually practice what is pleasing to Him. Habitually, because you don't do it once, get credit for it, and move on to the next thing that pleases Him. We learn something, try it, make mistakes, remind ourselves what went wrong and go after His ways again. Better, this time, more mature, this time. Closer and closer to Him we come and "become", Amen?
Well, I told you this was a powerful section of His Word. And like pieces of a motor, you can't rearrange it and it work. You can't put verse 22 in front of 21 and have it work.
It's Awesome, and I hope you will let it soak in. Dwell on it and pray with the Holy Spirit on this Word today. Amen?
I Love you. |
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| To add a comment to "I John 3:21-22" |
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| March 21, 2009 |
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| Thank you Preston for reminding us of his word....I am paying it forward today cleaning out clothes for GoodWill. I bless others as I continue to be blessed.
In Him, |
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| March 21, 2009 |
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| I know the Lord is so proud of you Lynne. I sure am, and I love you too. I will not be suprized by what He has planned for you two. Amen? |
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| March 21, 2009 |
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Dear Preston,
Is it ok if I email this to myself? The way you worded it is perfect. The two are separate. I've been trying to explain that...
Joey |
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| March 21, 2009 |
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| That would be awesome Joey. It may not be obvious, but these verses are linked to this issue of love. This Thing Called Love, which I don't like calling it that, now, that's what it was when we (the Lord and I, and now You,.. Amen?) began this journey,.. but it really has to get out to everyone. It is more impotant thing. Be sure to let her know that I love her Joey, and that I am connected to her, now, thru you and that I will pray for her too. |
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| March 21, 2009 |
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You can't change my heart, your husbands, your Moms, or anyone's, and I hope you are not trying to either. Because, only God can do that. This just told me something I am doing in error. It isn't horrible hearing it from you through the Holy Spirit. I will obey this and ask God that if it is His will for us to live in Richmond, He will tell Jim. I will not speak of it to him as MY desire again. I will know it is right if God shows my husband. Thanks brother, I love you. |
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| March 21, 2009 |
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Juanita, I belieive you and I know you really do see it. We both know that having said that, battle plans are already laid to try and break, take down, and stop you from staying confident with what God will do, so let's pray about this. While you are trusting, we will believe in those things which are NOT seen. We know that if we reach over and try to take the wheel, that we BIND Him. it means we Don't trust Him. If we don't trust Him then it speaks to how much we love Him?
I will keep this before the Lord until it has passed. Amen? I Love you.
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| March 21, 2009 |
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| I LOVE this Word, brother. Thank you for sharing it with us. Love to you. |
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| March 21, 2009 |
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| A great read thank you Preston |
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| March 21, 2009 |
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| I love you too, Preston. I will tell her. |
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| March 21, 2009 |
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| Thank you for believing with me. I want to do His will and want to be a strong servant. |
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| March 25, 2009 |
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Powerful blog Preston. So many people want to go straight to verse 22 "and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him" we are all for receiving anything we ask, but neglect the fact that it says first... "if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God." Thank you my friend for reminding us of His word. I love you. |
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| March 25, 2009 |
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| Amen to that my Precious Friend. I look forward to talking with you later. |
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| March 25, 2009 |
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| Preston - tonight I'm in awe of the thoughts you've conveyed in your blog, and also the way you have communicated with the people in your comments section. You are a saint in the truest sense! |
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| March 26, 2009 |
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| Dear Mike, I struggle with comments like yours, but I know from you that it is in love and I recieve it in love. I am no person of position or rank amoung you. A lady refers to me as a pastor here and I don't have the heart to tell her I am just like her. But I will say this: Some days I feel like a horse that the Lord has road hard all day and put away wet, and when I get up, He has given me the strength and courage to get right back to the starting gate again. And I Thank God that He kept after me for soooo long and did not give up on me. This message of love that He has me working on is all I can think of every day. Its got to get into the churches teaching line-up somehow. If it's the most important thing, then it's got to be the most important teaching. Amen? I love you my Friend. |
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