MY FRIEND JOANN

    

   

    
Today would be the 78th birthday of my dear friend, JoAnn, who passed away one month ago. She has graduated into Eternity, and is now enjoying the glorious presence of our Savior, Jesus.  I met JoAnn and her husband when we became neighbors---- I was 12 years old.  That was 50 years ago!  I always called her my second MAMA.  So today I want to share the poem I wrote for her 3 days before her death. She enjoyed hearing me read it to her twice before she stepped into Eternity.  I miss you Jo.

[By the way, the photo above, I call  "JoAnn's Sky".  I took the picture on my way home from the hospital 14 days before her death, knowing that she was enjoying the same sunset from her hospital room window.  We had just been talking about her nice view of the setting sun.  What I did not know was that this would be the last sunset that she would see during her life on earth, as we know it. The ski was so beautiful that day.  Now I imagine, with joy and wonder, about the views she is having these days.  Eternity is a long, long time and we have so much to look forward to!]

I hope you enjoy the poem....


My Friend, JoAnn




Do you know my friend, JoAnn? Yes, she’s the one who’ll lend a hand.


If you’ve got dishes in your sink--- She’ll wash ‘em quicker than you think.




Communion time at church today? She’ll have it ready right away.


Church dinner coming up next week? Her part, she’ll do---- No honor seek.




My silver in that cabinet there, all sparkles now from her tender care.


“I like to do it.” she would say. Now take that grandchild out to play.




She’ll bring you fudge at Christmas time. And Phillip*, she tries to keep in line.


“Now Phillip, don’t you touch my stuff!” To keep him straight, she must get tough.




And Molly, how she loves her so. Her precious kitty, I’m sure you know.




So many loved ones she’s held dear. And faced each trial not showing fear.




So Jo, is it really time to say ---farewell and wipe our tears away?




God sent you to us---- His priceless gem. And now you want to go to Him.


Jesus greets you with open arms. To hold you back would just do harm.





I have to tell you right now, Jo.  I love you more ‘an you ever know.




[You’re almost there. We have so much to look forward to! Love, Connie ~~ March 15, 2012]

*Phillip was her boss, for whom she did bookkeeping. :)

Part 4. The Regenerating Power of God’s Word-- [If you have not read Parts 1, 2, & 3 of this blog, I recommend that you do so prior to reading Part 4.]

Part 4. The Regenerating Power of God’s Word

Peter extolled the regenerating power of God’s Word in I Peter 1: 22-25: “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,” (“corruptible,” meaning perishable and “incorruptible,” meaning nonperishable) “because ‘All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever.’ Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.”

Peter is declaring that the regeneration of the human spirit, that comes with being born again, and occurs when the believer obeys the Truth. Again, how does one know the “Truth,” but by The Word. We must remember that the Word of God is the ultimate “Truth” --- the ultimate reality! This obedience purifies the soul and is manifested in “sincere love of the brethren” and the ability to “love one another fervently with a pure heart.” By no other means can the human heart love in this manner! Without the transformation through the Word of God, the heart of man is so corrupted by human motives, self centered desires and deceits, imposed on it from within as well as from without. Our capacity to love is so bombarded and colored day to day by corrupt media and other people that, without daily washing with the Word, even any serious, well meaning Christian will fall prey to unrighteous thought patterns and thus worldly attitudes toward people both inside and outside of the body of Christ. Many Christians attest to the fact that after being born again, they have the capacity to love others with depth and purity that they never had before. How else can one offer selfless love or even love his or her enemies? It is compassion that can come only from the indwelling Spirit of Christ Jesus, infusing the believer’s own spirit, which is then washed and nurtured by the Word of God. And it is the believer’s responsibility to nurture him or herself with the Word. One who is not born again cannot even comprehend this kind of love, which is one reason we cannot expect non-Christians to understand Christians.

Look at this same passage in God’s Word for the Nations: “Love each other with a warm love that comes from the heart. After all, you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth. As a result you have a sincere love for each other. You have been born again, not from a seed that can be destroyed, but through God's everlasting word that can't be destroyed. That's why Scripture says, ‘All people are like grass, and all their beauty is like a flower of the field. The grass dries up and the flower drops off, but the word of the Lord lasts forever.’ This word is the Good News that was told to you.”

This passage speaks volumes about the regenerating power of God’s Word. How else could a mere human love so purely and completely? Let’s examine the meaning of “regenerate.” Strong’s #G1080, γεννάω, gennaō ghen-nah'-o: “From a variation of G1085; to procreate (properly of the father, but by extension of the mother); figuratively to regenerate: - bear, beget, be born, bring forth, conceive, be delivered of, gender, make, spring.” Also, #G3501, νέος, νεώτερος, neos neōteros, neh'-os, neh-o'-ter-os: A primary word, including the comparative (second form); ‘new’, that is, (of persons) youthful, or (of things) fresh; figuratively regenerate: - new, young.” From E-Sword Strong’s Dictionary. So, the knowing and obeying the instructions of God brings a transformation--- a regeneration. Look, also, at Webster’s New World Dictionary: “spiritually reborn. 2. renewed; restored; reformed. 1. to cause to be completely reformed or improved. 3. to bring into existence again; re-establish. 4. in electricity and radio, to amplify by feeding energy back from the output into the input circuit. 5. in biology, to grow (a part) anew, as a replacement for one hurt or lost. 1. to form again; be made anew. 2. to regenerate.” Did you catch that first definition, “to procreate (properly of the father…)”? The source of the begetting of the regenerated spirit is our Heavenly Father. I believe that my personal favorite of all these is from Webster--- “be made new.”

This is Huge! Are we capable of comprehending what I Peter 1:22-23 means to us? Only with God’s help! Let’s put these instructions on purity in love into a better context and read the preceding verses: “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’ And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believed in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.” 1 Peter 1:13-21.  In these passages, Peter sets up the foundation that enables the brethren to love one another purely.

Matthew Henry’s comments on this passage, beginning at verse 13, are lengthy but extremely valuable. Let’s look --- in his own words and vintage spelling: “1Pe 1:13-23 - Here the apostle begins his exhortations to those whose glorious state he had before described, thereby instructing us that Christianity is a doctrine according to godliness, designed to make us not only wiser, but better.

I. He exhorts them to sobriety and holiness.

1. Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, etc., 1Pe_1:13. As if he had said, ‘Wherefore, since you are so honoured and distinguished, as above, Gird up the loins of your mind. You have a journey to go, a race to run, a warfare to accomplish, and a great work to do; as the traveler, the racer, the warrior, and the labourer, gather in, and gird up, their long and loose garments, that they may be more ready, prompt, and expeditious in their business, so do you by your minds, your inner man, and affections seated there: gird them, gather them in, let them not hang loose and neglected about you; restrain their extravagances, and let the loins or strength and vigour of your minds be exerted in your duty; disengage yourselves from all that would hinder you, and go on resolutely in your obedience. Be sober, be vigilant against all your spiritual dangers and enemies, and be temperate and modest in eating, drinking, apparel, recreation, business, and in the whole of your behaviour. Be sober-mined also in opinion, as well as in practice, and humble in your judgment of yourselves.’ And hope to the end, for the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Some refer this to the last judgment, as if the apostle directed their hope to the final revelation of Jesus Christ; but it seems more natural to take it, as it might be rendered, ‘Hope perfectly, or thoroughly, for the grace that is brought to you in or by the revelation of Jesus Christ; that is, by the gospel, which brings life and immortality to light. Hope perfectly, trust without doubting to that grace which is now offered to you by the gospel.’ Learn, (1.) The main work of a Christian lies in the right management of his heart and mind; the apostle's first direction is to gird up the loins of the mind. (2.) The best Christians have need to be exhorted to sobriety. These excellent Christians are put in mind of it; it is required of a bishop (1Ti_3:2), of aged men (Tit_2:2), the young women are to be taught it, and the young men are directed to be sober-minded, Tit_2:4, Tit_2:6. (3.) A Christian's work is not over as soon as he has got into a state of grace; he must still hope and strive for more grace. When he has entered the strait gate, he must still walk in the narrow way, and gird up the loins of his mind for that purpose. (4.) A strong and perfect trust in God's grace is very consistent with our best endeavors in our duty; we must hope perfectly, and yet gird up our loins, and address ourselves vigorously to the work we have to do, encouraging ourselves from the grace of Jesus Christ.

Part 3: That I Might Not Sin ~ Conclusion

Let’s look more at the Holy Spirit’s role in our capacity to resist the temptation to sin. This is a huge component in the equation. Read Ezekiel 36: 26-27 – “Then I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.”

Once we are born again, without the work of the Spirit of God dwelling in us, we are pretty much doomed to a life of continued sin, along with its frustration in our faith fight. Try as we may, our best efforts apart from the supernatural work of God’s Spirit, we might just barely hang in there, wanting to live righteous but lacking the internal power to do so. It looks like Ezekiel is saying that the main purpose of the Holy Spirit coming to reside in God’s child is to cause us to walk in God’s ways and keep His commandments. In other words, “He gives us the power to resist sin,” as Pastor Hal put it.

In his sermon on June 22, 2008, Pastor Hal addressed this beautifully, using the passage from Ezekiel 36. Up till that point I had not thought much about the main purpose of the Holy Spirit’s residence in us. I was just grateful that He was there! In addressing our need for a changed heart and God’s supernatural ability to do that, Pastor discussed the fact that we each have a moral compass. According to my note taking, he said, “This is the main reason God gave us His Holy Spirit --- to give us the power to resist sin! When we resist the truth, we weaken the conscience, resulting in sinful actions and rebellion --- a weakened conscience. We all have moral radar. It can be strengthened and can be weakened. It should be based on moral truth. If you don’t have truth in you, your moral radar will be weak. Hebrews 10:22 – ‘Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.’ As we strengthen God in our life, our moral compass is more sensitive. We have moral truth.”

He went on to give these statistics: “In 1952, 6% of children in the US did not have religious training. In 1993, 35% did not. In 2008, 4% do have religious training. Today 96% of children in the US do not have religious training!” This should explain many things about the moral code of so many children and young adults of today. Most of them have no Word in them and certainly not the presence of the Holy Spirit. We cannot expect these people to have a Christian world view and live according to God’s principles.

Pastor Hal sited Hebrews 5: 14 – “But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” He went on to say, “The more solid we become, the more we grow, mature and build our lives on absolutes. ... Martin Luther said, ‘My conscience is captive to the Word of God.’ ” Quoted from Pastor Hal Adams, Radford Worship Center, Radford, VA.

Armed with a redeemed spirit, knowledge of the Truth of God’s Word, love and gratitude toward God, and having the will to serve and honor God and His Spirit residing in us, every believer really can live above sin. I have to note here that none of us will at all times live sinless lives ---- because of our human weaknesses. But the fact remains that we can overcome sin’s draw more times than not. This fact gives hope and encouragement, helping us overcome greater hurdles as we mature in the Word and in faith. This truth should take a worrisome burden off of every believer.

Jesus is the perfect example for us in every situation so let’s look at how He handled temptation. Naturally, Satan wanted Jesus to fail in His mission to restore mankind back to God, our Creator. As recorded in the Gospels--- Matthew, Mark and Luke--- Satan tempted Jesus. The ways in which our Lord was tempted represent our own human desires and weaknesses. In like manner as we are tempted, Jesus was tempted and He overcame by applying God’s Word in each situation. Every time our Lord responded with, “It is written...” or “It has been said ... .” Jesus knew His Father and He knew the things that His Father had said. After these days of great temptation, Luke 4: 14 – 15 tells us: “Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.”

God will never call us to anything that is not possible for us to attain – certainly holiness is one of them. And He knows that it will not be accomplished without Him. Yes, it’s true: Thy Word I can hide in my heart so that I will not sin against God. We must remember that the only way to take advantage of this amazing provision is to abide in the truths of God’s Word on a daily basis. Jesus said: “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, You will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” John 15: 1-11 NKJV

The word, “abide” in this passage is translated “to remain.” That is to “continuously be in.” We need to continuously be in Christ Jesus and His words. When we abide in Him, our prayers are effective (v.7), we bear much fruit which glorifies the Father (v.8), we will abide in Christ’s love (v.10) and our joy will be made complete (v.11). And oh, the troubles and heartaches believers could avoid if we would do John 15 and Psalm 119! Risikili!

My next post will begin Part 4: The Regeneratig Power of God's Word

PART 3: That I Might Not Sin ~ Continued...

      Look again at being sanctified. The lexicon says it means “to purify internally by reformation of soul.” Our soul is our mind, will and emotions. That’s some pretty internal stuff. This says that our soul undergoes a reformation. According to Webster, “reform” means: “to make better by removing faults; correct. … to form again.” (Webster’s New world Dictionary of the American Language, page 624) So when our soul is reformed, it is made better “by removing faults”. Notice that it says faults are removed, not simply hidden or covered over. The soul is formed again or made new. Hallelujah, the knowledge of the Truth has the capability make us free from the baggage of sins, past and present, as well as old hurts and habits! Our spirit was saved when we were born again and now our soul can be reborn, as well! When instructing born again believers, James said, “Therefore, lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” James 1:21. Please don’t think that I am saying that if we read, study and know what the Bible says, we are automatically made holy or righteous. It’s not that simple. It is at that point where we make a choice. Will we do the right thing which we have learned in God’s Word or will we fall back into doing what our flesh desires? Note James’ words again, “Therefore, lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”

 

      These were fellow Christians James was addressing. They had already been “saved” but James refers to the need for their souls to also be saved as well. The mind, will and emotions need to be redeemed – that is restored back to their original state before the fall in the Garden of Eden. Let’s face it – When we are born again, our mind, our will and our emotions do not automatically line up with God’s righteousness. We do not suddenly have all thoughts that are completely pure. We do not suddenly have all desires that are righteous. And we do not suddenly express all holy emotions that exhibit no anger, no fear, no worry--- but instead all pure love, joy and peace. Purity of mind, righteous desires and constant peace comes by way of continuous study and application of scriptures, communing with the Father, subjecting ourselves to sound biblical teaching, and listening to and heeding the directions of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Granted, no one does this all of the time, but God’s Word is there for us and we must choose to receive it and allow it to be implanted into our souls and spirits. When we do these things we are accomplishing this instruction from James: “lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” Until our souls are redeemed, we are not capable of living above sin and being in position to receive the blessings that God greatly desires to give us. Likewise, we are not in position to live the life of purpose, fulfillment and super abundance that God planned for us before we were even born. Jesus said we must be born again and now James says our soul also needs to be saved.

 

      So knowledge of and life application of the Truth of Gods’ Word will sanctify us, help us remove sin and give us the power to sin no more. I did not say that we will never sin again. I said we will have the power in us to sin no more. God created us and knows us better than we know ourselves. He called us to be holy and knows exactly what it takes for us to accomplish that high goal. We have to want to do this. The study of God’s Word can help put the want to into us and then it will also instruct us in the how to. How does it help to put the want to in us? By helping us to better know our Heavenly Father and His son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus. Using a cliché --- “to know Him is to love Him,” has never held truer. While all this is taking place, the Holy Spirit, indwelling us, will strengthen and empower us to get it right more and more as we grow in knowledge, wisdom and understanding. “It” being our thoughts, motives, intents of our hearts, our words and deeds.

      Let’s look more at the Holy Spirit’s role in our capacity to resist the temptation to . . .  ~~ To be continued in my next post. 

Part 3: That I Might Not Sin - continued

[Before reading today's post, please go back to the previous post and read the prayer that Jesus prayed for his followers.]

 

Jesus said He gave God’s Word to us so that we can be set apart and holy – so that we can be saints! Yes, we will all be tempted and Satan will set traps to snare us, but God’s Word gives us the power to say, “No,” when unrighteous opportunities come our way. Note that in verse 17 of Jesus’ prayer, the King James and New King James versions use the word, “sanctify”. “Sanctify them by your truth. Your word is truth.” The American Standard Version says, “Use the truth to make them holy. Your words are truth.” ----Do you just love the comparison!? To know Truth, know The Word!

 

Be blessed and encouraged by Joseph H. Thayer’s Greek – English Lexicon of the New Testament, (page 6), explanation of the word “sanctify”: “… to make, render or declare sacred or holy, consecrate. Hence it denotes 1. to render or acknowledge to be venerable, to hallow: … . Since the stamp of sacredness passes over from the holiness of God to whatever has any connection with God, dyiejeiv denotes, 2. to separate from things profane and dedicate to God, to consecrate and so render inviolable; a. things … b. persons. So Christ is said by undergoing death to consecrate himself to God, whose will in that way fulfils; God is said dyiacrai Christ, i.e. to have selected him for service … by having committed to him the office of Messiah. … Since only what is perfect and without blemish can be offered to God… 3. to purify …; and a. to cleanse eternally … , to purify levitically … b. to purity by expiation, free from the guilt of sin. … c. to purify internally by reformation of soul; Jn. xvii. 17, 19 (through knowledge of the truth, cf. Jn. viii, 32): … . In general, Christians are called nyiaouiroi [cf. Deut. xxxiii.3], as those who, freed from the impurity of wickedness, have been brought near to God by their faith and sanctity, Acts xx. 32; xxvi.18.”

 

I am lovin this! Oh, that we will see what John 17 is saying to the church! Christ, Himself, was speaking about us in this prayer. It says so, right there in verse 20: “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;” That’s me and that’s you, if you are a believer in Christ.

 

In obedience to God the Father, Jesus the Son, gave us God’s Word (v. 14). He then asked God to, sanctify us by His truth and then proclaimed, “Your word is Truth.” So here Jesus is saying that God’s Word is Truth and it is by that Truth of God’s Word that we are sanctified. Then we see, from the lexicon, that being sanctified means to be made holy – to be consecrated and set apart for service to God. What God redeems, He purifies and what He purifies, He uses!

In the definition, we also see that “sanctify” means “to purify internally by reformation of soul” and according to John 8: 31-32, this takes place through knowledge of the truth. “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed, And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’ ” This truth needs to be revelation understanding in our spirits that then bears righteous fruit. We can and should be changed by God’s Word! And as a result, we will be made pure------- or cleaned up, from the inside out! Also, this passage is a great example of the “If -- Then Principle.” If you do one thing, then a specific something else results. If you abide in God’s Word, then you are His disciple and you will know the truth and be set free by it. Note also that this principle is qualified by believing Jesus. One must be a believer in order for the promise to manifest.

To “abide” means “to stand fast; to remain; go on being … to stay; reside (with, in or at).” Webster’s New world Dictionary of the American Language, page 3. The place where we abide is our abode, or dwelling place. In the natural, our home is our dwelling place. It is the place we come home to, in order to find our rest, security and nourishment daily. When we abide in God’s Word, we dwell in it on a daily basis, obtaining its life giving rest, security and nourishment. It is the place we come home to.

Part 3. “That I Might Not Sin”

      Psalm 119: 11 states: “Your word have I hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” God has made this provision available to those who are His own. Every believer, who has a Bible, has the opportunity to walk in the light of His Word and has the promise that it will help him or her not to sin against God. We can walk sure footed on the rough ground.

       How can this be – that if I have His Word hidden in my heart, “that I might not sin against God"? 

Psalm 119: 1-16 sheds great light on this concept:  “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart! They also do no iniquity; they walk in His ways. You have commanded us to keep Your precepts diligently. Oh, that my ways were directed to keep your statutes! Then I would not be ashamed, when I look into all Your commandments! I will praise You with uprightness of heart, when I learn Your righteousness judgments. I will keep Your statutes; Oh, do not forsake me utterly!” 

"How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your Word.  With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wonder from Your commandments! Your Word have I hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Blessed are You, o Lord! Teach me Your statutes. With my lips I have declared all the judgments of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much

as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes, I will not forget Your word.”

      As I said, “How can this be” --- that if we have His Word hidden in our hearts, we will not sin against

Him? And on top of not sinning, we get a bonus! We will be blessed! Verse 2 says: “Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with a whole heart! They also do no iniquity; they walk in His ways.” See verses 2 and 3 in The Amplified version: “Blessed, happy, fortunate [to be envied] are they who keep His testimonies, and who seek, inquire for and of Him and crave Him with the whole heart. Yes, they do no unrighteousness --- no willful wandering from His precepts; they walk in His ways.” So --- when we keep His ways, we are better equipped to refrain from doing iniquities or unrighteous things. This is talking about sin. Having His Word established in our hearts and spirits will strengthen us to stand against the temptation to sin. We will recognize temptation when it comes and we will have the desire and strength, or we could say, the grace, to say “No” to it. This is power that comes with having Word wisdom and understanding, as well as having the Holy Spirit living inside of us.

       The psalmist refers to “those who keep His testimonies … .” How does one know the testimonies to keep but by knowing His Word?!

      The Apostle, John, implies this principle in I John 2: 14, where he writes, “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.” It seems here that there is a connection between overcoming Satan and having God’s Word on the inside. This wicked one wants us to fail in our ability to resist evil so he sets traps for us along the way. Having God’s Word inside us means that the appropriate knowledge and understanding, in our spirit, is ready to rise up to give us the where-with-all to overcome any trap the wicked one can put in our path. It will clearly benefit us to have that path illuminated by God’s Word as have ourselves empowered by His Word. “Thank you, Lord, that we do not have to sin! We are no longer compelled to fall in to its snare. Thank You for giving us the capability to live and walk above sin. In Jesus Name, we are grateful. Amen.”

      In prayer to the Father, Jesus Himself, said: “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” John 17: 17. This one verse speaks great victory to the believer as well as substantiates my many declarations that “God’s Word is Truth.” Getting the truths of God, His Word, truly into the soul and spirit, will sanctify the believer, making him holy and giving him the power to live above sin.

      The word “sanctify,” Strongs #37, is the Greek word “hagiazo,” pronounced “hag-ee-ad’-zo,” meaning “to make holy, ie. purify or consecrate; (mentally) to venerate; -- hallow, be holy, sanctify.” “Venerate” describes having feeling of great respect or to revere. In the New Testament the word, “sanctify,” “describes a manifestation of life produced by the indwelling Holy Spirit.” Spirit Filled Life Bible, WW, P. 1595. I love that! ---- “... the word ‘sanctify’ describes a manifestation of life produced by the indwelling Holy Spirit.” Say that in your own words. You might say something like: “One who is sanctified lives like Jesus is in them ----in their real life.”

      This passage, in John’s gospel, is part of Jesus’ prayer for His disciples and for all believers. Many

even call this “The Lord’s Prayer.” Keeping in mind that our Lord is our own great and perfect

intercessor, let us read His prayer in it’s entirety: John 17: 1 – 26: “After saying this, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, ‘Father, the time is here. Give your Son glory so that your Son can give you glory. After all, you've given him authority over all humanity so that he can give eternal life to all those you gave to him. This is eternal life: to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent. On earth I have given you glory by finishing the work you gave me to do. Now, Father, give me glory in your presence with

the glory I had with you before the world existed. I made your name known to the people you gave me. They are from this world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me. They did what you told them. Now they know that everything you gave me came from you, because I gave them the message that you gave me. They have accepted this message, and they know for sure that I came from you. They have believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I'm not praying for the world but for those you gave me, because they are yours. Everything I have is yours, and everything you have is mine. I have been given glory by the people you have given me. I won't be in the world much longer, but they are in the world, and I'm coming back to you. Holy Father, keep them safe by the power of your name, the name that you gave me, so that their unity may be like ours. While I was with them, I kept them safe by the power of your name, the name that you gave me. I watched over them, and none of them, except one person, became lost. So Scripture came true. But now, Father, I'm coming back to you. I say these things while I'm still in the world so that they will have the same joy that I have. I have given them your message. But the world has hated them because they don't belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. I'm not asking you to take them out of the world but to protect them from the evil one. They don't belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. Use the truth to make them holy. Your words are truth. I have sent them into the world the same way you sent me into the world. I'm dedicating myself to this holy work I'm doing for them so that they, too, will use the truth to be holy. I'm not praying only for them. I'm also praying for those who will believe in me through their message. I pray that all of these people continue to have unity in the way that you, Father, are in me and I am in you. I pray that they may be united with us so that the world will believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me. I did this so that they are united in the same way we are. I am in them, and you are in me. So they are completely united. In this way the world knows that you have sent me and that you have loved them in the same way you have loved me. Father, I want those you have given to me to be with me, to be where I am. I want them to see my glory, which you gave me because you loved me before the world was made. Righteous Father, the world didn't know you. Yet, I knew you, and these disciples have known that you sent me. I have made your name known to them, and I will make it known so that the love you have for me will be in them and I will be in them.’ ” American Standard Version

I am humbled and so very encouraged to know that my Lord prayed this prayer for me ---- for all of us who are His. “Thank you, wonderful Savior!”

PART 2: A Lamp - Continued -If you're reading my blog for the first time or have never read my previous posts, I recommend starting at the beginning.

      There is great reward in observing God’s statutes and great distress in not doing so.  Let’s see more of Moses’ instructions to God’s people: “But you were loyal to the LORD your God and are still alive today. I have taught you laws and rules as the LORD my God commanded me.  You must obey them when you've entered the land and taken possession of it. Faithfully obey these laws.  This will show the people of the world your wisdom and insight.  When they hear about all these laws, they will say, ‘What wise and insightful people there are in this great nation!’  What great nation ever had their gods as near to them as the LORD our God is near to us whenever we pray to him?  Or what other great nation has such fair laws and rules as all these teachings I am giving you today?  However, be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you don't forget the things which you have seen with your own eyes.  Don't let them fade from your memory as long as you live.  Teach them to your children and grandchildren.  Never forget the day you stood in front of the LORD your God at Mount Horeb.  The LORD had said to me, ‘Assemble the people in front of me, and I will let them hear my words.  Then they will learn to fear me as long as they live on earth, and they will teach their children the same thing.’”   Deuteronomy 4:4-10, God’s Word for the Nations.

      “Today I'm giving you the choice of a blessing or a curse.  You'll be blessed if you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I'm giving you today.  You'll be cursed if you disobey the commands of the LORD your God, if you turn from the way I'm commanding you to live today, and if you worship other gods you never knew.  …  be careful to obey all the laws and rules I'm giving you today.”           Deuteronomy 11: 26 – 28, 32, God’s Word for the Nations.

      It is well established in Scriptures that our Heavenly Father, Creator God, has pre-ordained a specific path for each of us to follow through life.  He will show us the way, illuminate the way, and make provision for that way.  It is our responsibility to learn what it is and then to walk in it.  Keeping in mind that Jesus is God’s Word, made flesh, consider His words as recorded in John 12: 46:  “I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.”

This concludes PART 2.  My next post will begin  PART 3: "That I Might Not Sin"