1 corinthians 3

1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?

5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 

9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 

16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”; 20 and again, “The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” 21 Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours. 23 And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s

 

This is good to follow. Because so many times I try to help and push my guys and they don’t move. Only God can make then grow. I can’t. I like how he says in vs 10-13 about foundation. I can lay a foundation of my own. Christ has already made one and that as strong as it gets. vs 16-17 this verse was what my conviction on my own body was. Why do we as church people get to ok eating crap food and not exercise and think God is gonna be satisfied with our other works we do. That is why I eat way healthier and exercise on a regular basis. So I can keep my temple clean and health. Then when I seek him and read and pray with him, then my temple is healthy and being in him makes it even more so pure. I love how he finishes of this chapter with worldly wisdom. It is tough because now that america is seeing a major down time in the country the only jobs I can find need some kind of degrees. I have nothing, all I have done is work my tail off to survive to get where I am at. And the only way I can get a job or new career is by the grace of GOd to open up those doors. Because I am his child. And even greater thing is I don’t need the things of the wise to inherit the kingdom of God, or even bring people to the Lord. And I can’t think of the vs but he says he uses the things of this world that are foolish to bring his name. So… thanks Lord that I am not worldly wise, so use me in any and all ways you may. THanks I love you

1 Corinthians 2

 1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

   

6 However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 

9 But as it is written: 

      “ Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,

      Nor have entered into the heart of man

      The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

 

I this is real interesting because it falls inline with what we were going over in group Wednesday. We were reading Isaiah 40 and Galatians 6. Do not get weary and to keep on. If God is God and we know that he is gonna take care of us. He is worth giving our all and keep fighting. Doing his will even when everything else in life it tough, to keep pressing on. Keep preaching the gospel keep reaching the lost stop taking what our own problems are and just soaking in our sorrow. But doing the will of the father. This chapter ties into that because if we are spiritual and walk with him, only the spirit. vs 11 know one knows the things of God except the spirit of God. So my flesh and desires have to focus on God. ANd if I focus just on my mess then I am way off course. And then continuing on in the chapter, this is foolish to a man that is not in the spirit, he can’t understand the things of the spirit. So I just need to remember when it looks completely crazy in my life, Jesus has control, and though I may not understand it in my flesh, my spirit tells me to not worry Jesus is all under control. Thank you Jesus for you wisdom. I hope I didn’t pull the chapter out of context. I will go check some foot notes and see. I love you Jesus you are truly amazing.

1 Corinthians 1

Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, 5 that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, 6 even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, 7 so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. 16 Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:
“ I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”
20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence. 30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— 31 that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.”

I love how Paul just rips it. I can totally understand his frustration in the beginning of this chapter. About how many people are trying to be better than one another. Bragging on their position or who baptized them. And I still even see that today in the church. Its frustration (or should I say just annoying) but God will deal with that selfish pride in them on his timing. It is just that I had read this verse a long time ago then just resonantly there has been someone puffing their chest on there position then I get annoyed, then a few days later I read this. And it just gets me back to focus on just making sure I don’t get distracted and keep preaching Christ crucified. Like vs 17 he sent me to preach the Gospel not with wisdom of word, just Christ. vs 18 This is one of my favorite verses to remember when I am talking to someone about Christ. I have to be careful I don’t talk giberous church talk. But just the truth. Because it said the cross is foolish to those who are perishing. So that’s why I never yell out Jesus loves you and died for your sins. Cause if they don’t have a revelation of sin. This is completely foolish. vs 27 lol God has chosen the foolish things of this world to put to shame the wise (which I put myself in this cat. lol) then he puts the weak things to put to shame the mighty. THat is powerful and super encouraging for anybody in the church body to go out and teach the gospel. But we are called to glorify his name, and seek for righteousness in him, redemption, and sanctification. YEAAA that is awesome. I love you Jesus and all you have done in my life. I will serve you and teach and the gospel and Christ crucified.

sorry for anybody reading these. I was out of town lastweek then I was just slacking off this week. But know I am running through 1 cory

later

Romans 15

I didn’t post the whole chapter cause it is summed up in a few words. Discipleship is awesome. It was good to see discipleship at its heart. Lift each other up, hold each other accountable and pray for each other to keep pressing on. Praying for the lost and to help each other pray for what is on their heart. Thanks Jesus for such a great example.

Romans 14

 1 Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. 2 For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. 3 Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. 4 Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.

5 One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. 10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.11 For it is written: 

      “ As I live, says the LORD,

      Every knee shall bow to Me,

      And every tongue shall confess to God.”

12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.   

14 I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves Christ in these thingsis acceptable to God and approved by men. 

19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. 21 It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. 22 Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

 

This is a great chapter in so many ways. The first part of it I really love but know I do have a hard time with it. I guess I put Catholics in this situation. I fully respect a honor a man if he does not eat meats on fridays, for a sacrifice for Jesus. I think that is awesome. I little religious for me but that’s not my call. I guess I do have a judge-mental attitude sometimes that I have to ask for forgiveness for because when the rest of their life doesn’t line up then to me I get frustrated. But I can do that because God doesn’t do that to me, wow I never had this conviction until just this second that I am typing it. Wow. Sorry Lord. I know this passage is a lot deeper then that also. I guess if the world lived like this and not cause stumbling blocks for others the we would be in a way better place in our country. (world) I need to check anything in my life that may be hindering anybody. Lord put conviction on my heart in this area. Thanks I love you Jesus

Romans 13 this is funny

 1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. 

8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.   

11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

 

lol I really love how this follows chapter 12. Right when you start to get mad at someone who may of jacked you, he puts me in check and just to make sure I am right with them and I am not the crazy one jacking things up. And Lord I would Love to pay my taxes believe me. I just need to get paid. And I need work. I know you are my provider and your promised to take care of me. Thank you

Then it goes into the greatest commandment to love them as myself. I guess that’s why it hurts so much. I did and I do, and when I get burned it hurt so bad. But I just pray that his (there) heart will change and get right before God. So they don’t have to pay for the wrath to come. vs11-14 I really love these verses. It is always so encouraging to stir up the passion for evangelism which we (jose and I) will be training our guys so street evangelism so we can go out and talk to people, cause the time is now and I need to get off my buns and spread his word. Thank you Jesus for being such a encouraging God, a fearful God, but a merciful God. I love you

Romans 12

9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

 14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

 17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”says the Lord. 20On the contrary:
   ”If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
      if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
   In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

 

 

This is a very encouraging part of chapter 12 but also convicting. When in vs 17 say don’t repay evil, which I wouldn’t, but it is comforting knowing God will have his wrath. Because I do truly try to be kind and help when I can help whole heartily. And when I get burned by so called christian folks drives me crazy, but knowing God will take care of it, makes it ok to walk away. Then to finish it off in vs 20-21 and pay back evil with kindness. That is so hard, I know that because I am going through this right now in my life. I get ripped of by someone and once he starts yelling over nothing, and accusing me of stuff I never did. I just have to not argue and try to smooth the conversation enough to just get off the phone and not resort to my flesh and want to whoop his ask. But kill them with kindness is where that may have come from. God will clear this up. Thanks Jesus for the freedom to rely on you and gaining your heart and helping me with dealing with this situation.

Romans 11

 1 I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, 3 “LORD, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life”? 4 But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.

7 What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded. 8 Just as it is written: 

      “ God has given them a spirit of stupor,

       Eyes that they should not see

      And ears that they should not hear,

      To this very day.”

9 And David says: 

      “ Let their table become a snare and a trap,

      A stumbling block and a recompense to them.

       10 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see,

       And bow down their back always.”

11 I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. 12 Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness! 

13 For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them. 15 For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 

16 For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17 And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, 18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. 

19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” 20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? 

25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved,as it is written: 

      “ The Deliverer will come out of Zion,

      And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;

       27 For this is My covenant with them,

      When I take away their sins.”

28 Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, 31 even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all. 

33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! 

       34 “ For who has known the mind of the LORD?

      Or who has become His counselor?”

       35 “ Or who has first given to Him

      And it shall be repaid to him?”

36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

 

Man this is crazy. I guess to read the blessing and calling the Israelites that God wants for them but they walk away from it. All the way down to vs 11 were he says that once the gentiles see God and receive his that it may cause jealousy, so that they may see that and turn back. I really like the part from there unto vs 22 it talked about we are still part of the body, knowing they were the chosen ones but got cut off, someone will be put in their place, but not to get hot headed and prideful or else they will be cut off too. But to understand Gods GREAT mercy and grace and live in that freedom and to not boast about yourself and your position. then from there until the end of the chapter saying, who are we to even try to understand this depth of mercy. Because our hearts build up resentment, frustration or bitterness to those who may fall or walk away. But God wants all his children with him, chosen or not. We as humans can never understand the depth of his mercy, as much as we think we do and as much as I cry out. I can understand his depth, I just pray that I just get a little taste of it and hold on to it for dear life and that would push me to continue my walk and a broken heart for the lost. Thank you Jesus for your Love, Grace, and Mercy!!!

Romans 10

 1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

5 For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.” 6 But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down from above) 7 or, “‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”(that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”

   14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: 

“ How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,

      Who bring glad tidings of good things!”

 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “LORD, who has believed our report?” 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
18 But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed:
 “ Their sound has gone out to all the earth,
      And their words to the ends of the world.”
19 But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says:
      “ I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation,
      I will move you to anger by a foolish nation.”
20 But Isaiah is very bold and says:
      “ I was found by those who did not seek Me;
      I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me.”
21 But to Israel he says:
“ All day long I have stretched out My hands
       To a disobedient and contrary people.”

I really love this chapter in the fact that so many take vs 9 so far out of context, this is the verse that these false converts come to church and clam to be christians by saying a little pray. Because some how they got a prayer out of that verse. I had been convicted once I had thought the same thing. I even tools people this same thing. I have repented for being nieve and not reading the rest of his word. I later understood the true meaning of salvation. Because as it reads in vs13-14 they can call on him, but how can they if they don’t believe?  but even in vs 9 if they believe (accept something as true; feel sure of the truth) and if you truly believe you will truly follow. Which means a whole life change. Not just a prayer. Then to end that chapter off vs 21ALL DAY LONG I have stretched my hands to a disobedient people. my word! If that doesn’t show Gods grace and mercy and passion for us to know him. Thank you Jesus for bringing conviction in my life to get to know you more and more each day. I love you Lord

Romans 9

Romans 9

 1I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit— 2I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, 4the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. 5Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised!Amen. 6It is not as though God’s word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. 7Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” 8In other words, it is not the natural children who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring. 9For this was how the promise was stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”

 10Not only that, but Rebekah’s children had one and the same father, our father Isaac. 11Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: 12not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.14What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! 15For he says to Moses,  ”I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”16It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. 17For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden. 19One of you will say to me: “Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?” 20But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ ” 21Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use? 22What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction? 23What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory— 24even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? 25As he says in Hosea:  ”I will call them ‘my people’ who are not my people; and I will call her ‘my loved one’ who is not my loved one,” 26and, ”It will happen that in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ they will be called ’sons of the living God.’ “27Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: ”Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea,only the remnant will be saved. 28For the Lord will carry out his sentence on earth with speed and finality. 29It is just as Isaiah said previously:”Unless the Lord Almighty had left us descendants, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah.” 30What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; 31but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. 32Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the “stumbling stone.” 33As it is written: ”See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall,and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”

 

Man there is some parts in this chapter that hit me like a ton of bricks. vs 3 what the… he is saying he would rather be cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of his brothers. It was crazy cause last night we were in prayer at the church and God convicted me big time on my passion for the lost and how I have put that on the back burners, I know I have been through a lot the last 4 months but even before that I was slacking, probably because Jesus was pruning me to make me a better evangelist now that I am walking closer to him that I ever had in my life. Crazy doesn’t explain this. Its just nutz as he continues about the blessed ones and they don’t even see it, how sad. vs 18–20 Gods mercy and choice on our life. And until we understand we are at his mercy not our own life I don’t think we are really living.vs 26-27 only the remnant will be saved is so heart breaking and leaves a deep pain in me knowing people will spend eternity with out Jesus is so horrifying it makes me cry just think of all the lost people. vs 30-33 God places the Law there as a stone for a test almost? to see if they will try to act righteous in themselves rather then depend on The almighty Living God. Are you kidding me, I never looked at the law that way before. wow This Chapter has rocked me pretty Hard!!! I love Romans. Jesus you are my one and only God, Love and please burn a passion for the lost and a passion to follow your heart everyday of my life. Thank you