James-Jude

    2Pe 1:2 WEB Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,

   We all seek Grace & Peace.  God’s will for us is to receive His grace & peace.  The problem is we seek it, the wrong way.  We rely on others to receive these things.   

This  verse tells us that it’s all  about knowing God and Jesus our Saviour.   Grace comes from Christ Jesus.  It’s freely given to all who believe.  Knowing, believing, and declaring who Jesus is to you. 

    Dear Jesus!   You are the source of life.  You are the source of all grace.  You are the one who makes us righteous.  Thank you for changing us into Your image and likeness.  To God be the glory Amen!    Shalom2u 

Col 1:10 KJV That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

2Pe 1:3-4 WEB3 seeing that his divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and virtue, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and exceedingly great promises; that through these you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust.

HIS Divine power: GOD’s Word, GOD’ s Holy Spirit, GOD’ s Son-Jesus Christ , the name of Jesus.

  We all come to believe that God has infinite power, Divine power.   What we fail to believe is that ” in Christ Jesus ” , Divine power has been given to us.  We act like humans instead of children of God.   Verse 4 says that we are to be partakers of the Divine nature.  

   Dear Jesus!   It’s all about You and it’s all about who we are in You.  You have given us Your Divine nature but we keep looking at our human nature.  Those exceedingly great precious promises are hard to believe and receive.   Only spending time in Your and the Holy Spirit’s presence can help us to believe.  To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom2u 

Psa 8:6 KJV Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

2Pe 1:8-9 WEB8 For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to not be idle or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins.

The Holy Spirit talks about living a godly life and then says that we will be fruitful in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. He reminds us that we were cleansed from old sins.  What about new sins?   Just as we were cleansed from old sins by faith in Jesus not our own works.  As we abide in Jesus,  He will cleanse us again.  

    Dear Jesus!   We thank you for never giving up on us.   Your Word tells us that 

  Proverbs 24:16 WEB for a righteous man falls seven times, and rises up again; but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.

 It’s You that picks us up again and again.  To God be the glory Amen!  Shalom2u

    2Pe 2:1 WEB But false prophets also arose among the people, as false teachers will also be among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master who bought them, bringing on themselves swift destruction.

   Apostle Peter is talking about false prophets and teachers in his day and days to follow.   I am amazed how quickly the Gospel can be misinterpreted.  It started out as Good News and all about Grace from faith in Jesus Christ.  The book of Galatians goes into it.  There is no other Gospel but the Gospel of Grace.   For many years following Peter ‘s warning the Gospel of Grace was replaced with the gospel of law and works.  It’s only been 500 years ago that the Gospel of saved by grace through faith was preached.  Martin Luther was persecuted by the church for trying to get the Gospel out to all people.  Isn’t that what Jesus wanted the church to do?  

    Dear Jesus!   We thank you for your Gospel, the Gospel of Grace .  We thank You for raising up preachers and teachers that declare the Gospel of Grace.   As we abide in You, You give us the Grace that changes us from the inside out.  It’s not our work but only your Grace.  To God be the glory Amen!  Shalom2u

        2Pe 2:7-9 WEB 7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was very distressed by the lustful life of the wicked 8 (for that righteous man dwelling among them was tormented in his righteous soul from day to day with seeing and hearing lawless deeds): 9 the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment,

It puzzles me how Lot was considered “just “. But we’re considered ” just, righteous ” not by works but by faith in Jesus Christ.  Like Lot, we live among the ungodly.  Sometimes their influence rubs on us.  It’s only by grace, just like Lot, that we are delivered from the ungodly. 

  Dear Jesus!   We do get tormented and enticed by the ungodly.  They seem at times like they are enjoying life.  Thanks to You, we came to experience life as it is meant to be.  You fulfilled our lives with Your love, peace, and joy.  We pray for those that haven’t yet experienced, Your life.    2 Corinthians 13:14 WEB The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s love, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen.  Shalom2u

   2Peter 3:3 WEB knowing this first, that in the last days mockers will come, walking after their own lusts

   Again we are being warned that mockers- false prophets will come.  They will deny that sin is sinful and claim that their lust is not sinful but love. 

Dear Jesus!  We thank you for giving us eyes to see that our sins are wrong.  That You can circumcise our hearts to love Your word, to love You and others with the love that You have given us.  We pray for those that still haven’t been set free.  In Jesus name: We command the blind to see, deaf to hear, lame walk, lepers cleansed and captives set free. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s love, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen!      Shalom 2 U

1Jn 1:1-3 WEB1 That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we saw, and our hands touched, concerning the Word of life 2 (and the life was revealed, and we have seen, and testify, and declare to you the life, the eternal life, which was with the Father, and was revealed to us); 3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us. Yes, and our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

  The Apostle John is writing to believers and non-believers.  He is Testifying of his personal relationship with Jesus.  This is what we need to experience and declare to others.  It seems that the more we make it personal, the more we are likely to receive and believe. 

  Dear Jesus!  You are the one that has given us the fullness of life.  Every day, every moment that we focus on you, that we fellowship with you, brings life to our souls.   When things aren’t going well, when we are under attack, Your peace in us is a testimony to others of You living in us.  You are worthy of all praise and thanksgiving.  To God be the glory Amen!  Shalom2u 

      1 Jn 1:7-9 WEB 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

     Too often we try to expel the darkness,  the sin in our lives.  The world needs to know the Good News.  It doesn’t say here for us to expel the darkness, the sin in our lives.  It says walk in the light. As we fellowship with Jesus, He will expel our darkness. 

     Dear Jesus!  You are the Light of the world.  It’s Your presence in our lives that expelled the darkness.  It’s Your blood that cleansed us from all our sins.   There is too much darkness in this world.   You have all power and authority so in the name of Jesus: ” LIGHT BE “.  To God be the glory Amen!  Shalom2u 

1Th 5:5 WEB You are all children of light and children of the day. We don’t belong to the night, nor to darkness,

1Jn 2:1-3 WEB1 My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. If anyone sins, we have a Counselor with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous. 2 And he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world. 3 This is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commandments.

  Strong’s Definition: An intercessor, consoler: – advocate, comforter.

summoned, called to one’s side, especially called to one’s aid

one who pleads another’s cause before a judge, a pleader, counsel for defense, legal assistant, an advocate

one who pleads another’s cause with one, an intercessor

of Christ in his exaltation at God’s right hand, pleading with God the Father for the pardon of our sins

in the widest sense, a helper, succourer, aider, assistant

of the Holy Spirit destined to take the place of Christ with the apostles (after his ascension to the Father), to lead them to a deeper knowledge of the gospel truth, and give them divine strength needed to enable them to undergo trials and persecutions on behalf of the divine kingdom

  Above is a list of the meanings of Counselor.   As we abide in Jesus, He gives us the Grace not to sin. But if we do sin, Jesus: our Intercessor, intercedes for us.  The more we love Jesus and our fellow man, the less we will sin.

   Dear Jesus!   You always had the love of the Father and the love of mankind in Your heart.  Your love in us brings our life and purpose to a higher level.  To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom2u 

  1Jn 2:12-14 WEB 12 I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. 13 I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, little children, because you know the Father. 14 I have written to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God remains in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

Children: immature in the faith.

   We all are children of God but we are called to grow in Christ.   Little children are like babies.  They need special care and food that is easy to digest. I  see this as a major problem in the church.  We keep getting fed milk and very little meat.   The next stage of growth is young men.  Here they are feeding on meat. Meat in the Bible refers to the hidden meaning of scripture that is only revealed by Meditating on the word.  Here again is a big problem in the body of Christ.  We aren’t taught to meditate.  I read the Bible for 30 years and did very little Meditation on it.   Thus I was still a little child in the faith.   The next phase of Christian growth is to become Father’s.  Male and female believers that have grown from young Christian to fully mature Christian.   This is one that has been through many battles but came through them by fighting the good fight of faith : knowing, believing, and declaring God’s great and precious promises in Christ Jesus. 

  Dear Jesus!   We are who we are, only by abiding in You.  You are the author of our faith.  In You we live.  In You we are more than conquerors.  All praise, honor, and glory to You, Lord Jesus Amen!   Shalom2u 

1Jn 2:15-16 WEB15 Don’t love the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father’s love isn’t in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, isn’t the Father’s, but is the world’s.

1ST. Love : an earthly love, basic not heavenly,  lust full.

2nd. Love:  GOD’S type of love.  Unselfish,  heavenly 

The first love is a selfish, lustful type of love, very narrow and basic.  We are called to not lust after things but first seek the Kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you.  God wants us to have good things but He must come first. 

 Dear Jesus!   You gave up all the things that one can desire for us.  You were up there in Your Kingdom enjoying everything.  Yet for us,  You left it all for us.  You really showed us what love and not lust is all about.  In You we can love with the love of God.  To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom2u

     1Jn 2:27 WEB As for you, the anointing which you received from him remains in you, and you don’t need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is no lie, and even as it taught you, you will remain in him.

2Co 1:21 KJV Now he which established us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;

Every Christian is anointed.  Christ means Anointed One.  Christians must believe that they are ” in Christ “.  The more we believe and abide in Him,  the more we will live like Him.  We can’t go by sight or feelings, only by faith.   

It says here that you don’t need anyone to teach you .  Some will take this verse and ignore other verses.  We need to know what else the New Testament says like: 

 1 Corinthians 12:28 WEB  God has set some in the assembly: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various kinds of languages.   There has to be balance here.  If we rely only on what we hear teachers say, we can be led into false teaching.  If we only go by what we believe that the Holy Spirit is teaching us, we can believe falsely.   I have found that if I get a teaching from the Holy Spirit,  I will get confirmation from a minister of God.  We don’t always agree, so I keep looking.  Usually I will hear someone saying the same thing and I will have an inner witness that it is true. 

Dear Jesus!   You keep on telling us to abide in You.    John 15:7 WEB If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you.    You are our ultimate teacher and will lead us into all truth as we abide in You.  To God be the glory Amen!  Shalom2u 

1Jn 3:12 WEB unlike Cain, who was of the evil one, and killed his brother. Why did he kill him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

You see here the difference between two twin brothers. One is declared evil while the other righteous. One didn’t have reverence for God’s word while the other did. When we just casually read God’s word, we are not really showing God how much it means to us. We get it in our minds but not into our souls. It has to be in our souls to bring forth the fruit of righteousness.

Dear Jesus! You said that if we would abide in You, we would bear much fruit. Thank You for doing what we couldn’t do on our own. You give us life and life more abundantly. To God be the glory Amen!     Shalom2u

  1Jn 3:23 WEB This is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, even as he commanded.

John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also must love one another. V35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.“

  We see here that John is saying the same thing that Jesus said.   John first declares that we believe in Jesus.  Some people are naturally loving people but that isn’t all that is needed to be saved.  Believing in Jesus, really getting to know Him.  This causes us to receive His love and be able to love God and love one another. 

 Dear Jesus!   There is no greater love than Your love for us.  Even while we were sinners- unrighteous,  You the righteous one died for us.   Thank you Jesus!   To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom2u 

1Jn 4:4 WEB You are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world.

1Jn 4:9 WEB By this God’s love was revealed in us, that God has sent his only born Son into the world that we might live through him.

  1Jn 4:17 WEB In this, love has been made perfect among us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, because as he is, even so we are in this world.

  When we put all 3 verses together, we get more revelation of what the Holy Spirit is saying.   We are called ” overcomers” ; not by our own strength but because Jesus lives in us.  We get everything we need: wisdom, peace, joy, righteousness, self control,  love etc by declaring Jesus living in us. 

  Dear Jesus!  Thank you for making us a New Creation; made in Your image and likeness.   You living through us, doing exceedingly abundantly above all that we can think or imagine.  To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom2u 

Here are some more verses to meditate on.

 1Co 1:30 NHEBAnd because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption,

Eph 5:30 KJV For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

1Co 6:15 KJV Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.

2Co 3:18 KJV But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

2Co 1:21 KJV Now he which established us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;

1Jn 4:9 KJV In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

THAT WE MIGHT LIVE THROUGH HIM.      THIS IS WHAT MOST CHRISTIAN ARE FAILING TO BELIEVE.       WE ARE NOT TAUGHT TO BELIEVE THIS.      WE ARE TAUGHT TO OBEY THE LAW. WHERE DOES JESUS. WHO CAME TO SAVE US, COME IN ?      WHERE DOES FAITH AND GRACE COME IN ?     IT DOESN’T !    BECAUSE WE ARE WALKING AFTER THE FLESH TRYING TO LIVE RIGHT.      IT’S WALKING IN THE SPIRIT, DECLARING JESUS IN YOU, THAT EMPOWERS YOU TO LIVE RIGHTEOUSLY.     MEDITATE ON THE FOLLOWING VERSES UNTIL YOU GET THE REVELATION, AS TO HOW JESUS SAVES YOU.

Phm 1:6 NHEB that the fellowship of your faith may become effective, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ.

Phi 2:13 KJV For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Gal 2:20 NHEB I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.

Eph 2:10 WEB For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.

DEAR JESUS !    HELP US HAVE EYES TO SEE, EARS TO HEAR. AND A HEART TO BELIEVE THE GOOD NEWS.      IT’S ALL ABOUT    JESUS ÷ GRACE ÷ FAITH = SHALOM/PEACE ; BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE  ” IN US ”  AND WE ARE  ” IN YOU ”       GLORY BE TO GOD. AMEN. SHALOM2U

    1Jn 5:1-3 WEB 1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God. Whoever loves the Father also loves the child who is born of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep his commandments. 3 For this is loving God, that we keep his commandments. His commandments are not grievous.

    It starts off here declaring that we are “Born Again ” by faith in Jesus Christ.  One can not go by the flesh: outward appearances.  It’s in the inside of every believer.   The problem is that we fail to mature in the Spirit.  Meditating on the Word of God, will help one mature in the Spirit.   This New Creation spirit is full of God’s love  As we grow in the Spirit, we will grow in love.   Now the commandment of God is love.   His commandments are not grievous when we are filled with the love of God. 

   Dear Jesus!   In Your presence is the fullness of love, peace, and joy.  Your love in us, makes us love You and others more.  Your love makes it easy not grievous to love.   To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom2u 

1Jn 3:23 KJV And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

1Jn 5:14 KJV And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

” ACCORDING TO HIS WILL ” !        WE MUST KNOW GOD’S WILL TO HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT HE HEARS AND WILL ANSWER OUR PRAYERS.     WE MUST ALSO ASK: GOD KNOWS AND HIS WILL IS FOR ALL TO BE SAVED; BUT WE MUST ASK IN ORDER TO BE SAVED.      WE MUST KNOW, BELIEVE AND DECLARE HIS WILL FOR IT TO COME TO PASS.      KNOWING ALL THAT JESUS DID FOR US; HELPS US TO ASK IN FAITH.     THAT’S WHY WE NEED A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS.  2Co 1:20 KJV   For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
We must know His promises to know His will.       God has many promises for us in the Old and New testament.      I’m not talking about the law.    The law is not a promise of God.      A promise of God is like:Joh 3:16 KJV For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. This is the main promise of God; that He would give a Savior .
DEAR JESUS !   THANK YOU FOR REVEALING THE LOVE OF THE FATHER AND YOUR LOVE ; HIS WILL AND YOUR WILL.     WE ASK AND BELIEVE THAT YOU SAVE US TOTALLY;  BODY, SOUL AND SPIRIT FOR THAT IS WHAT YOUR SALVATION IS ALL ABOUT.     THANK YOU FOR YOUR SHALOM/PEACE.  AMEN.         SHALOM2U

1Jn 5:13 WEB These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

We are called to believe in the name of Jesus. It’s more than just believing that His name is Jesus. It’s about believing all that His name represents. Jesus:

Joshua or Jehoshua = ” Jehovah is salvation”

In Hebrew Jesus name represents Jehovah is salvation, Jehovah saves. We are called to believe that Jesus saves us and not ourselves. He saves totally: body, soul, and spirit. The word ” salvation ” and “save” in Hebrew is ” sozo”.  to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction,   one (from injury or peril),  to save a suffering one (from perishing), i.e. one suffering from disease, to make well, heal, restore to health,  to preserve one who is in danger of destruction, to save or rescue, to save in the technical biblical sense,  negatively : to deliver from the penalties of the Messianic judgment

  Jesus saves us completely and that is what we are called to believe.   First He makes us ” Born Again ” which saves us from eternal domination because we must be ” Born Again “.  Saving our souls and bodies is a continuous process as we abide in Him.   Our souls, our minds, our hearts will be renewed as we grow in Him.  As our souls are renewed, it will affect our bodies.  We will live more Christ-like.  We  can even experience physical healing, if we continue to believe.  It’s not easy, I know.  I have been waiting a long time but I am not giving up. 

  Dear Jesus!  You have done exceedingly and abundantly above all that we can think or ask.  Yet there is no end to what you have done for us by Your sacrifice.  We pray that You would continue to increase our faith in You.  With You nothing is impossible!   To God be the glory Amen!    Shalom2u 

1Jn 5:18 WEB We know that whoever is born of God doesn’t sin, but he who was born of God keeps himself, and the evil one doesn’t touch him.

There probably isn’t any Born Again believer that doesn’t sin. How can JOHN say that one doesn’t sin?  We must realize that the Born Again believer has 2 identities.  The New Man, the New Creation in Christ Jesus and the Old Man,  the flesh, the sinful nature.  The Bible tells us that the believer’s  sinful nature, the Old Man died with Jesus and was buried.  So we must reckon ourselves dead to sin but alive ” in Christ “.  

Rom 6:11 KJV Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Rom 8:10 KJV And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

  Dear Jesus!  We thank you for living inside us.  The more we acknowledge our New Creation in You, the more we will live like You and not sin.  Help us to put to death that Old Man and only declare the New Man that we are in You.  To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom2u

    2Jn 1:3 WEB Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

    I get excited every time I read these words.  Grace, mercy, shalom/peace is ours by faith not works, through Jesus Christ.   When we believe that our “righteousness ” is a gift received by faith through Jesus Christ; then we will experience God’s grace, mercy, and shalom/peace.  

    Dear Jesus!  We know that in ourselves, we are not righteous.  No matter how much we try to keep the Law, we always fail. That’s why You came to save us.  We rejoice in the work of Your hands,  Your sacrifice.  You truly are the only way to the Father to receive eternal life.   To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom2u  

2Jn 1:9-11 WEB9 Whoever transgresses and doesn’t remain in the teaching of Christ, doesn’t have God. He who remains in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you, and doesn’t bring this teaching, don’t receive him into your house, and don’t welcome him, 11 for he who welcomes him participates in his evil deeds.

One would think that this verse is talking about the law; as in the Ten Commandments.  It is not talking about “the Law ” as the Ten Commandments but the higher law of loving God with your whole heart and soul; and your neighbor as yourself.   When we fulfill the Law of love, we are fulfilling the teaching of Christ.   There are many loving people, doing a lot of good works but if they aren’t loving God, then they are not following Christ.   Verses 10 & 11 tell us to have no part of them.   

  The only way that we can fulfill the teaching of Christ is by first knowing and believing in Him.   This takes time and fellowship with Him.  

  Dear Jesus!   You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  You also are the Bread of Life.   As we abide in You, we are able to love you more and our neighbors as ourselves.  We are even able to love those who seem to be unlovable.  Just like you, we pray for all and wish that none would perish.   To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom2u 

Doctrine of Christ: John 3:16-17

Saved by grace not works

Love God & neighbor

John 1:12 KJV But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

3 Jn 1:2 WEB Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be healthy, even as your soul prospers.

PROPER : 1. grant a prosperous and expeditious journey, to lead by a direct and easy way 2. to grant a successful issue, to cause to prosper 3. to prosper, be successful

SOUL : the seat of the feelings, desires, affections, aversions (our heart, soul etc.) MIND, WILL,EMOTIONS

There are many that are not sure what God’s will is. Here John is telling us as well as in many other places in the Bible; that the will of God is for us to prosper. Jesus began poor so that we may become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9 WEB For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.   Isa 53:5 WEB But he was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought our peace was on him; and by his wounds we are healed.

Our problem is that we have to see it, before we can believe it. God’s way is to believe first and then it will come to pass. I’m going through the same fight of faith as you. God says it’s His will. I believe that it is His will and all I can do is keep fighting the good fight of faith.

Dear Jesus! We believe in Your great love for us. We believe that You sacrificed all that we would prosper and be in good health. You waited patiently for us to believe in You. We will wait patiently for Your word not to return void. We praise and thank you now for making us prosperous in all things. To God be the glory Amen! Shalom2u

3Jn 1:3-4 WEB 3 For I rejoiced greatly when brothers came and testified about your truth, even as you walk in truth. 4 I have no greater joy than this: to hear about my children walking in truth.

      Truth!   What is the truth?   The truth is that the Gospel is good news.  The Truth is that Jesus came to save us because we could not save ourselves. The Truth is that we needed a Savior.  Jesus came to save us body, soul, and spirit.  His name is Jesus: Joshua saves!     Isaiah 53:4‭-‬5 web  Surely he has borne our sickness, and carried our suffering; yet we considered him plagued, struck by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought our peace was on him; and by his wounds we are healed.

  Dear Jesus!   You came to save us, redeem us, heal us, to make us whole.  There is no life without You.  We pray for those who haven’t received You yet.  In Jesus name, we command the blind to see, the deaf to hear, lame walk,the captive: you are set free!   To God be the glory Amen!        SHALOM  2 U 

Jude 1:3 WEB Beloved, while I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I was constrained to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

   Jude is telling us to contend, to fight the good fight of faith. Too often we ask God to do it, instead of using our faith.

   1Ti 6:12 KJV Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

    2Ti 4:7 KJV I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

Too often we fight against flesh and blood, instead of the evil spirit behind the person. Ephesians 6:12 WEB For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Dear Jesus! As we abide in You, You give us life given words to defeat the enemy. John 6:63 WEB It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life. We use Your Spirit filled, live given words now. We come against the spirit of darkness and declare ” LIGHT BE “. We come against the spirit of fear and strive and declare Peace/ Shalom in Jesus name Amen! To God be the glory Amen! Shalom2u

Jud 1:4 WEB For there are certain men who crept in secretly, even those who were long ago written about for this condemnation: ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into indecency, and denying our only Master, God, and Lord, Jesus Christ.

    Jude is talking about the grace of God.  We can go from one extreme to another.   I find that grace is largely ignored in the church.  It seems to emphasize yourself,  doing the right thing.  This sounds good but it is not grace but more self righteousness.   The other extreme that Jude refers to is that we can do whatever we want because we are under grace.  Both are not the true Gospel of Grace. 

  Dear Jesus!  You are the source of all grace.  Titus 2:11 WEB For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,

Only by believing and abiding in You can we receive the grace needed to change our souls.   When we abide in You, You breathe life, Your grace into our souls.  Surely we are saved not by works but by Your grace.   To God be the glory Amen!

   Jude 1:5 WEB Now I desire to remind you, though you already know this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who didn’t believe.

   We all are born into the slavery of sin.  When we receive Jesus as our Savior, we are set free.  It’s like the children of Israel being delivered out of bandage in Egypt.  They were supposed to continue their journey by faith.  Many didn’t make it because of unbelief.   It is the same today.  The Lord saves us.  He delivered us but we continued in unbelief.  Instead of confessing our New Creation man,  we confess who we are in the flesh: the Old Man.   Romans 6:6 WEB knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be in bondage to sin.

   Dear Jesus!   We believe in what You have done for us.  The old man was crucified with You and You made us a New Creation in Your image and likeness.  We give You praise and thanksgiving for doing such marvelous work in us.  We are alive in You.  We are righteous in You.  In You we have overcome the bondage of sin and live unto righteousness.   To God be the glory Amen!

     Jude 1:7 EasyEnglish Also, remember the cities called Sodom and Gomorrah, and the other cities that were near them. The people who lived in those cities were doing bad things also, like those bad angels. They were having sex with people who were not their husbands or their wives. They were wanting very much to have sex in ways that are not right. God is punishing those people. He has put them into the fire that never stops burning. And that shows us what will happen to bad people like them.

    This is a very touchy subject and I pray that I can present it in a positive way.   All sexual sins are wrong.  It can be adultery, fornication, or homosexuality.  It’s all sin.   To say to anyone that it is not sin, is not helping.  To condemn someone for committing one of these sins, is not helping.  We are called to pray for them and it’s the Holy Spirit’s job to convict them.  John 16:8 NKJV And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

Note:  If one is made to believe that it is not sin,  one will not see the need to repent. 

Repentance is not a herculean task as it seems.   Jesus makes it easy: Matthew 11:28 NKJV  Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

   We make repentance into a heavy task when it is not meant to be.   We are ” saved by Grace ” not works.   When a sinner repents,  they are coming to Jesus to save them.  They are saying that they have sin in their lives and need a Savior.   Our part is to pray for them and bring them to Jesus, bring them to Grace and not the Law.   

  Dear Jesus!   Your desire is for all to be saved.   You died on the cross so that all that came to You for salvation, would be saved.   Thank You for giving us eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to believe in You.   We  pray now that the Holy Spirit will do His part as we pray for those that need Your Grace and salvation.   In Jesus name,  we command the blind to see, deaf hear, lame walk, unclean clean, and the captives set free.   To God be the glory Amen!    Shalom2u

     Jude 1:20 WEB But you, beloved, keep building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.

    There are many interpretations of what it means to pray in the Spirit.  Many believe that it is praying to God from our hearts.  This sounds good but it doesn’t completely agree with what God’s word says.   The following are several verses that talk about it.  To me it is pretty clear that one doesn’t know what they are saying at first because they are praying in another unknown language.   

Rom 8:26. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Act 2:4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.

1 Corinthians 14:2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.

1Co 14:4* He who speaks in another language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.

Isa 28:11-12 NHEB 11 But he will speak to this nation with stammering lips and a strange language; 12 to whom he said, “This is the resting place. Give rest to weary;” and “This is the refreshing;” but they would not listen.

2Ti 1:6 KJV Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

1 Corinthians 14:18 I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all;

There are many good churches but my own personal experience is that those who really praise the Lord and pray “in the Spirit” experience more salvation, more deliverance, more healings, more signs and wonders.   I believe that we will see these things happen throughout all Christian churches.  

   Dear Jesus!   The gift of praying in tongues is very hard for us to understand and believe.  The important thing is that we believe in You and give You The Praise And Worship that You alone deserve.  It does seem that this gift could help us pray as we should.  We ask You now for this gift to be used for Your honor and glory.  To God be the glory Amen!  Shalom2u 

     Jude 1:21-23 EasyEnglish 21 Always remember that God loves you. So you should love and obey him always. And you should love other people. Love like this while you wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to come. He will cause you to live with him always, because he is so very kind. 22 Some people are not completely sure whether God’s message is really true. You must be kind to those people and you must try to help them. 23 Some people are turning away from God and they are doing bad things. If they turn away completely, God will punish them in the fire. So you must try to stop those people. Then you will save them, because you will pull them out of the fire. There are other people that you must try to help also. They are like people with very dirty clothes, because of all the bad, dirty things that they do. But you must be very careful, so that they do not lead you away from God. You must be careful like someone who will not even touch those people’s dirty clothes.

    Jude is first telling us of God’s love for us and so we should love  others.   God wants us to show His love to others because many find it hard to believe.  As we share Jesus and His grace to others, we can be used by God to bring them into His Kingdom.  Remember it’s sharing the Good News that will bring the lost to Jesus. 

   Dear Jesus!  It’s only by Your grace and love that we are saved.  We pray for the lost. Help us to bring them to you where they can find the love and grace to live in Your light instead of the kingdom of darkness. May the blind see,deaf hear,lame walk, unclean be made clean, and the captives set free.  2 Corinthians 13:14 WEB The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s love, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be  with you all. Amen.    Shalom2u

  Jude 1:24-25 EasyEnglish 24 God is able to keep you safe so that you do not go the wrong way. He is able to make you completely good and clean inside yourselves. And so he can bring you near to himself. You will come near to the beautiful light that shines from him. You will stand in front of God, who is so very great and good. And you will be very, very happy. 25 He is the only God. He saves us by our Lord Jesus Christ. So everyone should thank him always! Everyone should say how great he is always! He has had all power and authority and he has ruled since time began, until now. And he will have all the power and authority! This is true.

  What a beautiful message that Jude is revealing here.  It surely is one that has to be believed.  It’s exceedingly abundantly above all that we can think or ask.   God is able to save!  There is even a song that sings those words.  This is surely Good News.  Not only is God able but this is His will and promise to all that believe in Jesus.  This is why Jesus came: to save and not condemn. He is able to make us clean inside ourselves.  We can not do it on our own.   Our part is to know, believe and declare our righteousness in Him.  This is “faith in Christ” and He gets all the glory.

  Dear Jesus!  You came to save us and You have all the power to save us.   We  receive this power, this grace as we abide and trust in You.  Believing that we are righteous “in You “. We thank You for giving us Your Divine Power, Your Holy Spirit in us to follow Your commands.   To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom2u

   Rev 1:5 WEB and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us, and washed us from our sins by his blood—

     All throughout the Old Testament there were prophecies of the coming of a Savior.  Jesus was faithful in doing that.  He was faithful in proclaiming the Father’s love.  By His sacrifice,  Jesus was faithful to break down the barriers that kept us from being a child of God.  

 Dear Jesus!   You were the firstborn, raised from the dead.  We are washed by Your blood and are raised with You.  No longer flesh and blood.  No longer in bondage to sin.  You made us in Your image and likeness.   You made us a child of God. As you were faithful in witnessing the Father’s love, help us be faithful witnesses of Your love and grace.  To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom2u 

      Rev 1:6 WEB and he made us to be a Kingdom, priests to his God and Father—to him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

   We fail most of the time seeing ourselves as Kings and Priests.  This is why there is so little power in the church today.  Jesus is  the King of kings and our great High Priest.         Since we are “in Christ Jesus”, we are kings and priests. Again we need to use our God given authority to rule in the Kingdom of God, to come against the kingdom of darkness.  We need to act like Priests and bless one another. 

  Dear Jesus!   You were the faithful witness that took authority over the kingdom of darkness.  You were the faithful High Priest that interceded for the lost, the captive, the blind, the deaf and especially for the unclean.  And so we pray for those in need.     2 Corinthians 13:14 WEB grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s love, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen.  To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom2u 

1Pe 2:9. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

Rom 5:17 NHEB For if by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; so much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ.

Luke 10:19 KJV Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Ecc 8:4 KJV Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?

     Rev 1:10 WEB I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, like a trumpet

When you are really “in the Spirit “,you are not having a casual experience.  Usually it’s when you are alone praising, worshiping, and seeking the Lord.  This is the place where you will receive revelation. 

  Dear Jesus!  You always invite us to come to You, to fellowship with you.  In Your presence is the fullness of life.  In Your presence, You speak to us.  You tell us of Your love for us.  You encourage us during our trials.  You encourage us to walk in love.  With You, we can do that, and all things that You put into our hearts.  You give us abundant life.  To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom2u

 Rev 1:16 WEB He had seven stars in his right hand. Out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest.

   Why does it say ” out of His mouth proceeded a two-edged sword ” ?  When we look at the Armor of God,  the last piece is the sword of the Spirit- the word of God.   When we are faced with battle, we need to use the sword of the Spirit-God’s word.  All the other pieces of armor are defensive.  The sword of the Spirit is the one that destroys the enemy.  

  Dear Jesus!  You are always victorious in all that you do.  Storms, nature, evil men, nothing prevented You from doing the Father’s will.   Thank you for giving us the armor of God.  You have equipped us to be more than conquerors.  We  shall declare Your Word.   Shalom/peace on earth, good will to all in Jesus name.  To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom2u 

    Rev 2:2-4 WEB 2 “I know your works, and your toil and perseverance, and that you can’t tolerate evil men, and have tested those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and found them false. 3 You have perseverance and have endured for my name’s sake, and have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you left your first love. 

   It’s saying here that we should judge what people say and do.  There were false apostles then, as there are today.  If you don’t know the Word yourself , you can be misled.  They were chastised for leaving their first love.  Everyone of us is responsible for our relationship with Jesus.  You can’t rely on the church to do it for you.  The church role is to lead you into a personal relationship with Jesus.  Then and only then will He truly be the love of your life. 

 Dear Jesus!  We  do praise you and thank you for your faithful servants that bring us to You.  It’s in Your presence that we receive grace and love.  Now we can love you more and others as well.   To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom2u 

Our faith produces work, but work doesn’t produce faith. Faith comes from hearing, hearing the word of God. JESUS is the author and finisher of our faith.

    Rev 2:8-10 WEB 8 “To the angel of the assembly in Smyrna write: “The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life says these things: 9 “I know your works, oppression, and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews, and they are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Don’t be afraid of the things which you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested; and you will have oppression for ten days. Be faithful to death, and I will give you the crown of life.

We must identify ourselves in Christ. As He was dead and now alive, so are we.  We are only poor when we deny Jesus.  We are rich when we believe in Him, all that He has done for us and through us. The devil will try to harm us, but it’s not God’s will.  Keep the faith.  Fight the battle and receive the crown of life. 

  Dear Jesus!   We are more than conquerors in You.   As we look to You during our battles, You give us the faith to win.  To God be the glory Amen!   Shalom2u 

Rev 2:12-14 WEB 12 “To the angel of the assembly in Pergamum write: “He who has the sharp two-edged sword says these things: 13 “I know your works and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. You hold firmly to my name, and didn’t deny my faith in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to throw a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.

So we see here that the church is receiving good & bad news about their works. First, a good report. They are using the “Two edged sword ” to fight against the enemy. Remember the Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God.  The enemy comes against us and others in many different ways.  Only by knowing, believing, and declaring God’s promises in Jesus’ name can we defeat the enemy. God is raising up an army of warriors. He wants us to be active members as Kings and Priests  and fight the battle. The bad report is that they are not calling sin,sin. We see this a lot today. We are called to be against the sin of homosexuality. There are many that think that we are being unkind, unloving. We are called to love the homosexual but come against the sin. God loves everyone; but everyone is called to repent. If anyone doesn’t repent and ask Jesus to save them; then they won’t be saved.

Dear Jesus! Your Word tells us that all have sin and all need to repent. Thank you for opening our eyes, ears and heart so we would repent. It’s Your grace that changes us from going our own way to Your path of righteousness. We pray for those who still need to repent. We command the blind see, deaf hear, lame walk, unclean clean, and the captives free in Jesus name !  To God be the glory Amen!  Shalom 2 U

Rev 3:1-4 WEB 1 “And to the angel of the assembly in Sardis write: “He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars says these things: “I know your works, that you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up and keep the things that remain, which you were about to throw away, for I have found no works of yours perfected before my God. 3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard. Keep it and repent. If therefore you won’t watch, I will come as a thief, and you won’t know what hour I will come upon you. 4 Nevertheless you have a few names in Sardis that didn’t defile their garments. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.

Unfortunately there are too many churches like this today. They seem to be alive but we’re not. They are doing a lot of work but not saving souls. Not declaring the bind to see, the deaf to ear, unclean clean and the captives free. These are the works that we are called to do. Declaring the Good News of God’s love and Grace ; using the ” sword of the Spirit ” will go a long way in doing the works of God.

Dear Jesus! All Your works were good. All were pleasing to the Father. You did all that You were anointed to do: Luke 4:18 WEB “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim release to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind, to deliver those who are crushed,

You love the sinner but call sin, sin and then you set them free. I know that You are waking us up so that we would be faithful in doing good works. Continue to live in us and work through us we pray. To God be the glory Amen! Shalom2u

Rev 3:7-10 WEB “To the angel of the assembly in Philadelphia write:“He who is holy, he who is true, he who has the key of David, he who opens and no one can shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says these things: 8“I know your works (behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one can shut), that you have a little power, and kept my word, and didn’t deny my name. 9 Behold, I give some of the synagogue of Satan, of those who say they are Jews, and they are not, but lie—behold, I will make them to come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10 Because you kept my command to endure, I also will keep you from the hour of testing which is to come on the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

Jesus is giving great praise to this church. Even though they were surrounded by satanic forces and had little power; they endured and did not deny His name. How do we deny His name? We claim that He is the Son of God and the Savior of the world. It all seems good and true, but it can be all superficial. When we go through testing and trials, do we endure and not deny His name. Many of us seem to give up too easily. We think that it just might be God’s will or that’s life. That’s not enduring. We need to believe that this testing is not from God but the devil. We need to fight the good fight of faith. In these battles,  we need to not deny His name but declare it against all the forces of evil. I believe this is what the church of Philadelphia was doing and it pleased the Lord.  During their trials,  they declared His name.  They declared His Word: the sword of the Spirit. 

Dear Jesus! You told us that we would have trials and tribulations, but be of good cheer for You have overcome the world.  We declare your name:  IN the name of Jesus,  we come against the spirit of darkness and declare ” LIGHT BE “.  We come against fear,doubt, sickness, any force of evil : Shalom/Peace be still in the name of Jesus!   Shalom2u 

Rev 3:18 WEBI counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich; and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see.

Isa 55:1 KJV Ho, everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

We see a mystery here, a riddle. How does one buy from God? How does one buy without money? We see here that God’s ways are above our ways and His thoughts higher than ours. It takes “wisdom ” to understand God’s ways: Proverbs 1:1‭-‬6 WEB The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel: to know wisdom and instruction; to discern the words of understanding; to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young man: that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel: to understand a proverb, and parables, the words and riddles of the wise.

God wants the best for us. He wants us to be saved, to be a child of God, eternal life and on and on! So how do we get all that God wants to give us? How do we buy all these good things? It doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor. God doesn’t want or need our money. God’s currency is “FAITH “.  Remember: without Faith it is  impossible to please God.  I know as a father, my children please me the most when they are believing, trusting in me.  I’m excited to give them whatever I can.  Everything that we want and need, God wants to give it to us and more. Jesus paid the price for it all. It’s only by faith in Jesus, can we receive. It starts with asking Jesus to come into your heart and save you. You then receive the free gift of righteousness. From there keep on knowing, believing, and declaring God’s promises by faith. It’s a battle. The flesh will resist you to believe. But by abiding in Jesus, the source of your faith, you will believe and it will come to pass. 

Dear Jesus! Words can not express our thanksgiving for all that you have done for us. We humbly bow down to You. You truly are God’s Son and the Savior of the world. To God be the glory Amen! Shalom2u