Sunday, December 21, 2014
Prayer For Ephesus
Rev 2:1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
Rev 2:2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
Rev 2:3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
Rev 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
Rev 2:6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
Rev 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
Lord Jesus,
Help us to seek you out as children, new and fresh in our love and desire for You. Father God refresh our hearts and our minds according to Your Merciful Will and Word, refilling us with the hopes and desires for the pure and perfect things that may come from Your Hand Alone. Father make right our hearts and our minds, Lord call back Your Lost, Your Hurting, Your Widowed, and Your Broken lambs; remind us through Your Holy Spirit Lord of how to perform the first works and repent of our own selfish and wicked ways and desires. Help us lay claim to Your Salvation Adonai, strengthen and encourage us Lord that we may never lose sight of the prize that You Promise and the Salvation that only You May afford us. In Your Holy and Precious Name we pray! AMEN!
Mat 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
LOVE
The First Love John 3 : 16 – 21
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!
For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but so that the world through Him might be saved.
He that believeth in Him is not condemned but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the Only Begotten Son of God.
And this is the condemnation, that light has come into the world and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
For everyone that doeth evil, hateth the light, neither cometh to the light; lest his deeds should be reproved.
But he that doeth truth, cometh to the light; that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Remember being a child newly introduced to the idea of God and Jesus?
Remember walking around talking to Jesus all the time?
If you do not, then it is a joy that you may meet Him now! Remember how innocent and pure your conversations were with Our Savior and Eternal Lord? No boundaries, no questions that were bridled or hindered by rules and subjugation. Do you remember that sense of overwhelming love and compassion you would feel whenever His Presence was near? The love of Sunday School, not just because you were around your friends and Sunday School Teachers but also because you loved the stories and lessons and loved learning them? If you do not remember these things then try to recall them, or ask in prayer that these fires be rekindled within your heart and mind. The Holy Spirit moves on behalf of a willing heart, it is the bridled heart that hinders the flow. While looking into the “First Works” it has been a pleasure to be brought back to the beginning, that youthful sense of love and adoration that swells up in an innocent heart for its maker and redeemer. That first love, so deep, so precious; all consuming and so desirous of purity and holiness.
Where to begin was the question, “Seek Ye First” was the answer.
How to seek the next quandary, “For God So Loved” the reply.
In praying and studying the revelation message to the church of Ephesus I was lead to the first Beatitude, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” What is a poor spirit? It is a spirit broken and destitute , beyond the means of self sufficiency; seeking and searching for support from a giving hand. When we reach the depths of despair, we cry out for help and if that cry comes from the depths of our hearts and is directed at the True Light of Salvation; then He Who Overcomes is sure and faithful in answering and delivering from poverty.
In seeking the “First Love” through prayer and meditations, I was lead to the first spiritual fruit; LOVE. Not some twisted perverse sense of love as the world would express, but pure true, and righteous love as only God may manifest. John 3:16 tells us that God gave His Only Begotten Son to die that all who believe in Him should live. Christ Our Lord stated plainly “There is no greater love than this, that one would lay down his life for his brother.”, we are instructed to “Love the Lord Our God with all of our hearts, all of our souls, all of our bodies, and all of our strength; this being the first commandment, and the second is like such, that we should love our neighbors as our selves.”
But what is this First Love?
It comes down to a simple explanation, and simple exercise.
Bow your head and pray, even if you have prayed and asked Jesus into your heart before; pray the sinner's prayer.
Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner; and my sins separate me from You. Please forgive me of my sins Lord, and help me to know You. Let Your Holy Spirit work in me Lord, remaking and reshaping my heart and mind. Renew me Heavenly Father according to the promise of Your Word. Jesus thank You for taking my punishment and dying for my sins, thank You for coming into my heart and living within me so that I may learn to live in You; help me to accept You as my Savior and Lead me in Your Everlasting Way in Your Holy Name I pray. AMEN!
This after all is the “First Work”, to say “Lord, I know that I am wretched and horrid, covered in sin and iniquity. Help me Lord to repent I plead.” for in this is the work that begins all meaningful works. It is the acknowledgment of brokenness and destitution of spirit. The relinquishing of self that God may have control. The giving of one's heart to the Savior, truly the first and greatest work; an all too often unacknowledged task that opens the door to the first step towards a repentant life. Many consider their labor by the visions the world lays out and the examples set by society, yet they forget that true labor in the Lord is exercising the act of seeking His Word and striving towards a better mind and heart. The truest labor of the Lord is in studying His Scriptures and making them a part of who you are as a person.
And this work,
my friends,
in this world,
is truly a laborious act of submission and love.
The First Work, The First Love.
Is This Not Truly The First Love?
Is this not truly the First Love,
that in purity of holiness with a complete lack of sin He took the lashes that were due me,
and bore my cross to Calvary.
The one on whom ascended the Holy Spirit in form of dove,
after that fateful walk down the way of suffering,
those gruesome nails held Him to that tree.
In whom the cost of all eternal debts of sin were paid,
My Savior gave His life,
so that I may claim a life.
Three days He laid within that grave,
My God restored His Life,
so that through Him we may claim eternal life.
For if He at first loved us so,
should we not as like love one another also?
Heaven's King who in form of man bore no earthly crown,
save that of thorns that scoffers may scorn as it pierced His brow.
Gave all glory honor and praise to God who alone is Holy,
His life He laid down to be restored that God may receive all glory.
Although all power in heaven and on earth were His to command,
He relinquished all authority to His Father thereby taking the servant's stand.
Should we not too as He did so love,
seek also to be like Him?
Beachem Paul Cockroft November 6, 2013
Ephesus reminds us of self searching, introspection; to look within ourselves and search our hearts for the truth of our servitude. Ephesus reminds us to turn back to the cross, to speak to the One who first spoke us into being. To cling to the light of love that only Our Savior may shine within our hearts. Ephesus beckons to us to remember Christ and that first initial broken heart upon learning the truth of His Sacrifice and what it truly means to us.
There is a story associated with Ephesus of seven young men who refused a decree by the emperor of their day to bow down and worship idols, for they themselves were servants of The Lord Jesus Christ. Their refusal was heard by the emperor and they were marked for death. They removed themselves from the town to a cave on mount Anchilos and began praying in preparation to be martyred. In the course of their prayers they fell asleep. Upon awakening they reaffirmed their resolve in Christ, vowing again to not bow down to idols; they appointed one of their group to return to town for food as they were hungered. When the youth returned to town he saw the sign of the cross about him on all sides in the architectures. He was confused and astonished, thinking that they had slept for merely a night. Upon attempting to purchase bread for he and his fellows, he was called to question as his funds were to the peddlers as an ancient treasure. Thinking the lad refused to give them sufficient information as to his acquisition of this treasure they took him to the head priest of the day. The boy not understanding thought that he was being taken before the tyrant ruler of his day and set his heart to lose his head for Christ. The questioning lead to the realization that the young man was not alone but instead had six others who would be of the like mind to him. So the procession was lead to the cave in which the young men had slept. Many fellow believers in the days that the boys had retreated to the cave had placed letters denoting their faith and their refusal to bow to idols at the mouth of the cave thereby giving account of their time period. Upon finding these things the ruling authorities of the day realized that these young men had slept in this cave for better than one hundred and eighty years. The emperor was called to meet them and blessed them for they were a miracle and the city of Ephesus had come under Catholic rule. As the emperor met them, he blessed them for the faith in the resurrection of Christ was renewed through them and their miracle of sleep for nearly two centuries. Upon meeting the emperor and receiving his blessing they laid their heads to the ground and gave up the ghost. Blessed be the name of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Of course the preceding is a rough summary of the story of the seven sleepers of Ephesus, however it is an account of a miracle that is not so widely known. The young men refused to bow and worship false gods, much like Daniel they chose to accept death rather than violate the first commandment and God honored their service. They were from a time wrought with wickedness and false faiths, and they were not well with the environment that they were in. Being set for execution they retired to prayer and supplication that they may make ready their hearts and minds for the coming of their deaths. Ephesus in so many ways marks a return to prayer, earnest and fervent given to wholehearted submission to Christ, repentance of our sins scouring of our spirit and soul that we may be cleansed and prepared to give our all to Christ. One has to wonder if the young men prayed for the city to be redeemed and sanctified unto the Lord, and if God granted their petition and chose to allow them to see their petition granted by means of their long sleep. After all they awakened to a Christian city and culture that they had not known. They gave thanks and praises to the Lord for the miracle and passed on to be with Our Father in Heaven. When reading in God's word there is a book adjoined to this particular church, the book of Ephesians. We see no book for Smyrna, or Thyatira, or Philadelphia, or any of the other churches related to the seven churches of Revelation; not even Pergamos which one would think would need it most. Nope, Ephesus got a book from Paul the Apostle; it is the place of the first works and first love, and reminds us to look within our selves and make ready for death or the return of Our Savior whichever may come first, and always watch the heavens for Our King's return.
Take us back to the beginning Oh Lord, lead us to Your Cross Lord Jesus that we may remember how You first loved us and we first loved You that our love may wax hot and never again wain cold. In Your Most Holy and Precious Name Jesus we pray. AMEN!
Hear Oh Israel The Lord Thy God! For The Lord Thy God Is One, Thou Shalt Have No Other gods Before (in front of, you shall no other god first but first ask Him) HIM!
This is the first commandment!
This is the first love!
Thou Shalt Love The Lord Thy God With All Thy Heart All Thy Mind All Thy Body And All Thy Strength!
AMEN!
As we look to assemble and take up our armor piece by piece, we could well consider the message given the church of Ephesus a spiritual key to the first piece of our armor,
THE BELT of TRUTH!
Considering the concept that Christ is the heart of truth, the mind of truth, His life was the very embodiment of God's Truth and Light, the message given being “Repent, And Return Ye Unto Your First Love!” would this love not be the very delight in God's Truth? Thus by returning to our first love we return to the heart of truth, of course we more often tend not to successfully immediately return to this heart of truth but rather through diligently seeking the Holy Spirit of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ we lay claim by perseverance to His Mind, clinging to our love of His Word.
Praise God for His Wonders Never Cease!
When I was a child I was play fishing on the boat parked in the front yard, I do not believe I was even five years old yet. I had a fish stringer (this is a cord with a metal ring on one end, and a metal spike to stick in the ground on the other, the metal spike would be run through the gill of the fish and then through the metal loop so that the fisherman could stick the metal spike into the ground and keep his fish alive because fish spoil quickly if not immediately cleaned for eating and the longer you keep them alive the fresher the taste) and I had a puppy. Well I thought the puppy could be my fish, and well.... So my puppy didn't make it and I was devastated. I cried out to God, “Jesus Please let the puppy live, take me instead.” I was told, that He had plans for me, the devil did also apparently because the whispers of cursed and curses began the same day. However the Holy Spirit always whispered oh so gently “Son I am with you, you will be fine.”. This soft gentle whisper has always led me to the right choices and the right paths, but it has not always been the easiest to discern; as it is a fact that demons do seek to learn to mimic this whisper and mislead the Children of God. The world has filled with gross diversities of false doctrines most invented within the past two decades, as it is written; the bible speaks of demons the internet and society lead us to believe that they are simply psychological disorders, so when it gets down to the dirt it's a one on one calling to the One.
Isaiah 1:18
18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord:
though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red like crimson,
they shall become like wool.”
It was well over a year ago when the Lord called me to begin this research and writing, it has not been an easy venture to say the least; the initial goal was to research the seven churches of revelation and do a writing on each, however the course has dictated one church at a time as this is a path so each stopping point on the path must be achieved before moving forward to the next goal. As I share this first step, I ask that you would pray for my guidance and instruction from the Holy Spirit of Truth from The Living God that no lie may enter in as we continue on our path to the next stop the church of Smyrna through faith in Jesus Who is The One Begotten Son of The Father and Who is The Christ Eternal in His Holy Name! AMEN!
If you are lead to contribute to this ministry please send your gifts to thedressingvineminstries@paypal.com thank you and may God bless you accordingly. Shalom
But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. (NLT) -Matthew 7:14
Eternal life is considered to be narrow because there is only one way, through believing in Christ Jesus. Unfortunately, as the Bible says, only a few will find it. The road is difficult because it may mean we lay down our pride, take the high road, and serve others with love. But, oh how blessed we are that there is a road!
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So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you. (NLT) -1 Peter 4:19
No one likes to suffer but yet we all do at some point in our lives. The question is whether we're suffering with a Godly purpose or suffering from our bad decisions. If you've made a decision such as to purchase unnecessary stuff and find yourself suffering financially, it's probably time to take action and reverse the suffering. However, if you're in an uncomfortable situation because of an inconvenience to your schedule due to helping others, it may just be a suffering with a Godly purpose. What are you suffering for?
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