Apel la rugaciune pentru Pastorul Lazar Gog

Pastorul Lazar Gog 2014

UPDATE : 2 februarie 2015

Pace si binecuvantari. Va multumesc in numele Domnului Isus Hristos si al meu personal si al familiei pentru rugaciunile dvs. si pentru rabdarea care o aveti cu mine si cu casa mea. As vrea sa va spun doua, trei lucruri,  despre starea in care m-am aflat si in care inca sunt partial. CITESTE in intregime aici – Update de la Pastorul Lazar Gog – 2 Februarie 2015

Am asteptat cu nerabdare sa ascultam „Perspectiva Profetica 2015”, asa cum Pastorul Lazar Gog obisnuieste sa o pregateasca si sa o prezinte la inceput de fiecare an. Am aflat insa cu mahnire ca fratele Lazar Gog este bolnav si nu a putut sa fie prezent la biserica pentru prezentarea acestei predici. Nu stim starea in care dansul se afla, dar stim ca Biserica Emanuel din Anaheim (unde serveste ca Pastor), s-a rugat pentru el ca Domnul sa-l insanatoseasca.

Dorim ca sa ne alaturam si noi cu totii si sa ne rugam Domnului pentru el, asa cum si el s-a rugat pentru multi din noi atunci cand am avut si noi nevoie de rugaciune, ca Domnul Isus sa lucreze. Va rugam asadar pe toti cei care cititi aceste randuri sa-l aduceti in rugaciune pe Pastorul Lazar Gog, ca Domnul sa-i dea izbavirea.  Vom reveni cu amanunte atunci cand le vom obtine. God Bless You!

Avram

Update, Ianuarie 2015, 11:15 PM. CT

Am aflat din surse de incredere ca fratele Lazar Gog a suferit miercuri, un mini stroke(accident vascular), si este sub ingrijire medicala la un spital din Anaheim. Doctorii nu recomanda vizitatii, dar acum in aceste momente este mare nevoie de rugaciunile sfintilor, ca Domnul Isus sa se atinga de el si sa-l vindece. Rugati-va pentru fratele nostru Pastorul Lazar Gog…

Update, Ianuarie 3-2015, 7:21 PM. CT

Avem vesti bune despre fratele Lazar Gog din mai multe surse. Dansul se simte tot mai bine. Iata ce ne transmite un frate Pastor: ,,Fratele Lazar a avut un mini stroke. Nu a fost in pericol, dar l-au internat pentru analize. Este bine. Am vorbit ieri cu el.”

Va rugam sa va rugati in continuare pentru dansul. Rugaciunea sfintilor are o mare trecere inaintea Domnului. God bless you all!

Update, Ianuarie 8-2015, 9.47 PM. CT

Fratele Lazar Gog a fost externat din spital astazi. Sa continuam sa ne rugam Domnului pentru dansul pentru insanatosirea sa completa.

Pana Domnul il va insanatosi pe fratele Gog, avem predica dansului din 24 decembrie 2014, aici –

Update, Ianuarie 11-2015, 12:45

Un update de la Pastorul Dorin Druhora, Biserica Emanuel Anaheim:

Vineri, [cand] l-am vizitat pe Pastorul Lazar Gog, am luat masa impreuna si ne-am rugat impreuna. Starea sa merge din ce in ce mai bine. Continuam si ne rugam mai departe si speram sa-l avem in  mijlocul nostru cat de curand.

Vezi mai sus, am adaugat linkul catre cel mai recent update, din 2 Februarie 2015

VIDEO by Emanuel Church Anaheim

Citeste si – Lazar Gog – Cum a lucrat Dumnezeu in 2010, după criza în care mi-am pierdut cunoştinţa şi am fost în altă lume, timp de 5 zile

A message for the New Year: David Platt – What is God’s will for my life? From the Book of Proverbs

Pentru traducere automata, fa click aici – Romanian

david-platt-itickets-com.

Proverbs is the most prominent wisdom book in Scripture and amidst all the wisdom that is contained in Proverbs there is also a good bit of confusion. Confusion as to how to understand individual proverbs and then confusion how this book, as a whole is to be understood. We live in a day when the most common question, not only constantly ask, but, almost anxiously ask:

What is God’s will for my life?

We are talking here about things that are not directly spelled out in Scripture. Scripture says specific things about specific circumstances. But, there are so many circumstances we face, some of them small, some of them big, on a daily basis, that the Word doesn’t speak directly to- whether it’s what we eat, or what we wear today, small decisions like that. Big decisions like who to marry, what career paths to choose, where to live. How do we know God’s will in these areas of our lives? Obviously, Scripture speaks to all of those things in some way. The Scripture talks about taking care of our body; that’s gonna inform the way that we eat, or honoring God in the way we dress. Or, Scripture is going to speak in to whom we marry. Scripture tells us not to marry an unbeliever, or what career path to choose, immoral career paths that you should not choose according to Scripture. But, when it comes down to the details of what this looks like, we want to know what God’s will is. Our hearts desire  God’s will, but we have a hard time transitioning from our hearts to our minds, and making decisions.

We are afraid, almost constantly afraid that we’re gonna do the wrong thing, and that we’re gonna make the wrong decisions with different situations we face. We just wish we would have it spelled out in front of us. It would make it a lot easier. But, if that were the case, it would miss the whole point. And so, what I want to show us today in Proverbs, in this book as a whole is a picture of incredible comfort, and incredible confidence that you can have when you’re walking through the decision making process, when you’re walking through decisions that you make on a daily basis- knowing that you are living out and following the will of God, based on the picture we see in Proverbs. (3:00)

I want us to read the first 7 verses here in Proverbs. They are kind of an introduction to the book, they tell us purpose of the book. Proverbs is divided into two major sections: The first 9 chapter are a kind of preface to the book- talking about wisdom, giving a reason why we need to read the rest of the book- because wisdom is valuable. We need to get wisdom, treasure wisdom, we see that over and over again in these first 9 chapters. Then you get to chapter 10, and from chapter 10 – 31, what you see is different proverbs, different wise sayings. A lot of them 2 liners, 3 liners, maybe 4 liners, that are written to be memorable, to lodge away in your mind and in your heart, that take the Word and apply it to the practical things that we face in our lives. Most of this is written by Solomon. Not all of it, other parts written by different folks, or at least compiled by different folks, but, most of it is written by Solomon.

I want us to look at these first 7 verses that give us a purpose statement for the entire book. And then focus on one particular verse that’s gonna guide us through our times in proverbs today.

1 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: ² To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, ³ to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; ⁴ to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth— ⁵ Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, ⁶ to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. ⁷ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;  fools despise wisdom and instruction.

I want you to underline that last line. All throughout these first 7 verses we see these words used almost interchangeably- wisdom, and instruction, insight, prudence, knowledge, discretion. And then you get to verse 7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” some translations say “the beginning of wisdom,  fools despise wisdom and instruction“. In fact, you turn to chapter 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” This is the verse I want you to etch in your mind this morning, I want us to think about the relationship between fear of the Lord, between worship of the Lord and wisdom. 

Wisdom is the fruit of  a right relationship with God.

Wisdom spring from , results out of a right relationship with God. When we walk in the fear of the Lord, when we worship the Lord, we will walk in wisdom. Our wisdom in daily decisions is dependent on out relationship with God and having a right relationship with God. And, this makes total sense. Go back to creation, think about Genesis 1 & 2. We saw man in complete harmony with the Creator. Genesis 1 & 2, before sin entered into the world, Adam and Eve were in complete harmony with God, perfectly relating to God, and as a result of that we saw man in complete harmony with the creation, in complete harmony with each other- Adam & Eve. That was the picture. They were not wandering around wondering, “What is Your will for our life?” God had made it clear: Don’t eat from this tree, enjoy one another, enjoy me, be fruitful and multiply. So, they were living in harmony with God and with each other. So, there wasn’t a worry, “Am I gonna make the wrong decision?” It was clear.

You know what happened. They take the command of God and they disregard it and results in the fall. The result of the fall is twofold:

1. man’s relationship with the creator is destroyed (were it not for the grace of God, they would have been dead on the spot) and man’s relationship with God, since that day has never been the same. Never. But, not just man’s relationship with the Creator destroyed, but
2. man’s relationship with creation is distorted. Their relationship with each other was immediately affected. And their relationship with the world, the creation around them was immediately affected. And it makes sense, once they were disconnected in their relationship with God, it had a huge effect on everything around them.

I want you to notice that there’s a vertical component and a horizontal component here. There’s a vertical component- our relationship to God that has a direct effect to our horizontal component- our lives in this world, our relationships with other people in this world, our decisions that we make on a daily basis, living in this world. All of that flows from what is going on in our relationship with God. A vertical component that affects the horizontal component. We see that.

So, in order to have a right relationship with the world around us, and to walk with wisdom in the world around us, making wise decisions, we need a right relationship with God. Wisdom is the fruit of a right relationship with God. So, now we come to Solomon. This is what I love on how we are reading the Bible this year. Because we have a tendency to take a book like proverbs and kind of picture it that it’s just kind of flowing out there as it’s own book, with all these random sayings. But, what we’re doing is we’re seeing where Proverbs fits in to the story of redemption, fits into this story of redemptive history that we’re walking through.

The background & history of the Book of Proverbs

A couple of weeks ago, we got to 1 Kings chapter 4, and we stopped. Over the last two weeks we’ve been reading Song of Songs and Proverbs. So, I want to take us back to where we stopped in redemptive history. Turn back with me to 1 Kings chapter 3 & 4, to remind ourselves what is going on when we come to the book of Proverbs. What is the background, what is the history on this, this book didn’t just appear out of nowhere. Look at 1 Kings 3:5,7-12

“ At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” 7 And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not knowhow to go out or come in. ⁸ And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. ⁹ Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” ¹⁰ It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. ¹¹ And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, ¹² behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.   (the parallel version of this is 2 Chronicles 1) (12:30)

In other words He says, “I am going to make you wiser than any before you and anyone to come in the picture in the Old Testament. You are going to be the wisest.” And that’s exactly what we see. Go to 1 Kings 4:29-33:

And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mindlike the sand on the seashore, ³⁰ so that Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt. ³¹ For he was wiser than all other men, wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol, and his fame was in all the surrounding nations. ³² He also spoke 3,000 proverbs, and his songs were 1,005.³³ He spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of the wall. He spoke also of beasts, and of birds, and of reptiles, and of fish. ³⁴ And people of all nations came to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and from all the kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom.

Now it makes sense why we stopped to read Proverbs at this point. Verse 32 says he spoke 3,000 proverbs. That begs the question, “What do they say?” And so, that’s why we’re stopping to read Proverbs now. I want us to take the Book of Proverbs right here and put it in this context of redemptive history. Because what’s happened is Solomon has become king, he has asked for wisdom, God has given him wisdom beyond that of anyone else. And right after this, what we’re gonna read in the week to come, starting in verse 5, what Solomon does is he starts to build the temple. He makes preparations to build the temple, in chapter 6 he builds the temple, in chapter 8 he dedicates the temple.

Redemption anticipated in Solomon

What I want you to see is the relationship , here in the context of redemptive history between wisdom and worship. Because, at this point of redemptive history, we are at the height, at the apex of wisdom and worship in Israel’s history. The wisest man, the wisest king ever. The temple being completed, that’s what David longed to do, but, God reserved for Solomon to do, to get it completed so the glory of God can dwell upon His people. This is at a point in redemptive history in the Old Testament where wisdom and worship are coming together like they’ve never come together before and like they will never come together again in the Old Testament. This is the apex of the mountain.

In the reign of Solomon we’re seeing two things. The wisdom of Solomon is tied to the worship of Solomon. His relationship with God affecting his relationship with other people and creation around them. So when you look in Proverbs you realize this is not just a book about wisdom, this is most definitely a book about worship as well.

The wisdom of Solomon is tied to the worship of Solomon.

• We revere His person. You see exhortations all over Proverbs to revere the person of God. At least 18 different times we see the fear of the Lord mentioned. This is where wisdom starts.

1. The Lord is the almighty Creator of all things– Revere Him as almighty Creator of all things. Proverbs 3:19-20; 14:31; This is where wisdom starts, with an acknowledgment of God as our Creator. This is why you can take the most brilliant atheist in the world today, with all kinds of intellectual knowledge and Proverbs, and Psalms, and the rest of Scripture would label Him a fool. And it’s not because he doesn’t know anything. He has tons of knowledge. There are a lot of smart atheists. But, the reason he is a fool is because all of his knowledge is viewed through a perspective that is Godless, that denies the existence and the truth and the reality of God. And as a result, the lens through which he views everything in the world is ultimately empty. That’s foolishness. It may look like wisdom to the world, but that’s foolishness compared to the wisdom of God. Wisdom springs from an acknowledgment of reverence: For the Lord is the almighty Creator of all things. Wisdom starts with the worship of God.

• The Lord is the sovereign sustainer of all things– God is not only Creator, but, He’s the sovereign sustainer of all things. This is all over chapter 16. vv. 1,3,9,33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.Chance does not rule, God rules everything. He is guiding, leading all things, all times are in His hands.

• The Lord is the eternal judge of all peoples– Proverbs 16:11 “A just balance and scales are the Lord’s; all the weights in the bag are his work. Proverbs 11:21 Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered. All throughout this book we see different things that the Lord hates, that are an abomination to the world and the reality that God will judge all peoples ultimately. This is cause for fear. You, right where you are sitting, were fashioned and created by the infinitely wise, all powerful Lord and King of all of creation. And He holds your days in His hands. You may make plans, but He guides. And one day He is going to judge you. That brings us pause, that brings about a holy fear for the Lord. And this is the spring form which wisdom flows. (21:00)

• We rejoice in His grace. Proverbs 3:3-6 talks about the steadfast love and faithfulness that God gives, in the verses that are most common to us: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.Proverbs 28:13 Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. Proverbs 3:11-12  My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, ¹² for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights. Even His discipline is evidence of His love for us.

• We receive His Word  Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself, but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded. We receive His Word. It’s part of wisdom. Wisdom springs from His Word.

• We remember His purpose. And we remember His purpose. The picture throughout Proverbs is we see how God acts and the way God displays His character. God reveals His glory. And that’s what the temple was all about. The whole worship life of the people of Israel is about revering Him, rejoicing in the grace, receiving His word, remembering His purpose to make His glory known throughout the world. All of that is known throughout Proverbs. (22:30)

So what we see, at the time this is being written is God centered worship, which leads to the second:

God given wisdom for the king

The height of wisdom is displayed here in all of these proverbs we have written down. Now, how do we understand these proverbs? What we have to understand first and foremost is that proverbs are guidelines for living, not guarantees in life. These sayings, particularly chapters 10-31, they’re guidelines for living, not guarantees in life. Here’s what I mean by that. You look at chap. 3:2 where it says, “If you obey the commandments of the Lord, then you will have long days in this life. That’s a good guideline for living, but the reality is that when you look at David Brainers, Robert Murray McCheyenne, all of these brothers who were giving their lives in radical abandonment to the commands of Christ died in their early 30’s. So, it’s not like, “If you’re gonna obey the Lord, you’re gonna live past your 30’s.” In the same way that you see in Proverbs 11:8, is says, “The righteous man will be delivered out of trouble.” That’s a general guideline. But, we know, we have persecuted brothers and sisters around the world, who are pursuing righteousness right now, who are not being delivered out of trouble.

It doesn’t mean that Proverbs aren’t true, that they’re false. What it means is that’s not how they’re supposed to be interpreted. It is not promises to claim. That is not how Proverbs is intended to be interpreted. Instead, what we’ve got is general guidelines for living, for our lives, which are very helpful. We need to remember these kinds of things. They are patterns, but they are not promises that we claim in every single circumstance that we face in life.

I want to give you an overview of some of the recurrent themes. This is by no means exhaustive.

• In the Family – Proverbs puts focus on the family.

1. Love your spouse loyally. The husband and wife are encouraged to share one another sexually and emotionally, in love with one another. Proverbs 5:15-19 Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well. Should your springs be scattered abroad, streams of water in the streets? Let them be for yourself alone, and not for strangers with you. Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; You see in Proverbs 6, at one point, a husband’s jealousy for the affections of his wife looked at as natural and good. Obviously, we have in Proverbs 31, a picture of a Godly wife, a Godly woman. Some of the most intense passages in Proverbs come in this area with warnings against adultery. Chapters 2, 5, 6, 7, and 9, all have stern warnings, the kind of warnings that, I think, we would be wise to meditate on regularly, more important than even reading marriage books in our culture. Proverbs 7:6-27 “For at the window of my house I have looked out through my lattice,⁷ and I have seen among the simple, I have perceived among the youths, a young man lacking sense, ⁸ passing along the street near her corner, taking the road to her house ⁹ in the twilight, in the evening, at the time of night and darkness. ¹⁰ And behold, the woman meets him, dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart. ¹¹ She is loud and wayward; her feet do not stay at home; ¹² now in the street, now in the market, and at every corner she lies in wait. ¹³ She seizes him and kisses him, and with bold face she says to him, ¹⁴ “I had to offer sacrifices, and today I have paid my vows; ¹⁵ so now I have come out to meet you, to seek you eagerly, and I have found you. ¹⁶ I have spread my couch with coverings, colored linens from Egyptian linen; ¹⁷ I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. ¹⁸ Come, let us take our fill of love till morning; let us delight ourselves with love. ¹⁹ For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey; ²⁰ he took a bag of money with him; at full moon he will come home.” ²¹ With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him. ²² All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast ²³ till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life ²⁴ And now, O sons, listen to me    and be attentive to the words of my mouth. ²⁵ Let not your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths, ²⁶ for many a victim has she laid low, and all her slain are a mighty throng. ²⁷ Her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the chambers of death.Men, if there is any inkling in you, wandering toward, in thought or deed toward another woman, meditate on Proverbs 7. And see yourself as an ox, walking willingly to a slaughter. And let it soak in that you do not know what you are doing and it will cost you your life. Obviously, this is written from Solomon’s perspective, the whole picture throughout Proverbs is through a man’s perspective. But, the picture, obviously, even to look at from a woman’s perspective, to encourage sisters across this room to stay close to your husband. To not be found wandering far away from your husband. Stay close to your husband. Do not let your life or your house be a way of death. These are wise words. (29:00)
2. Instruct your children intentionally.Proverbs 23:13-14- Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die. ¹⁴ If you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol.

Among friends

1. Avoid evil company. We imitate our friends. Proverbs 24:1 Be not envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them, ² for their hearts devise violence, and their lips talk of trouble. I would just say to every high school and college student, I mean this is across the board, but, some of the greatest counsel I received in high school and college is to be wise with the friends that I surrounded myself with, cause that has every effect of how our life ends up looking.
2. Promote good companionship. We see positive pictures of selfless, sensible friends, honest friends all throughout Proverbs. “A friends loves at all times.” Proverbs 17:17.

With words

Proverbs talks about words: Guard what you say. Don’t speak in haste. How many words do you regret because they were spoken in haste? Proverbs says, “Be quiet. Think first.” It says, the tongue has the power of life and death; it has the power to heal and destroy. The tongue has the power of reward and damage.

1. Guard what you say and
2. Guard what you hear. Proverbs talks about how to receive words. Words of criticism and words of flattery that are not always good.

With wealth

1. Hard work is valuable. Proverbs, over and over again tells us that hard work is valuable. There is profit in work and it says over and over again, “Don’t be lazy.” Get up and do something. That’s wise. There is a high value on work here, but, it’s not work to gain more and more barns for ourselves.
2. Helping the needy. Proverbs also talks about helping the needy. It’s vital. Proverbs makes very harsh statements about those who neglect the poor. Proverbs 29:7 “A righteous man knows the rights of the poor, while a wicked man does not understand such knowledge.” It seems to be an overarching truth that extreme wealth and extreme poverty  are both undesirable. It’s interesting, when you look into it, in the book of Proverbs we see people who are righteous and are wealthy, and who are righteous and are poor. And we see people who are evil and are wealthy, and evil that are poor. So, there’s no ground to say, “Well. if you’re righteous, then you’re rich, or, if you’re evil you’ll be poor, and vice versa. Instead, what we see if Proverbs 30:8-9- give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. ⁹ Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.” So, there’s an emphasis of wisdom that is found and contentment in the Lord.

So, we see all of these kind of different truths coming together. We could talk for days about all of these different things. There’s so much to saturate there, but, instead of thinking about all these specific proverbs, I want us to come back to this overarching picture of worship and wisdom, and how the two go together.

Worship & Wisdom and how they go together

Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Worship is the beginning of wisdom. A right relationship with God brings about a right relationship with the world around us. That’s the picture we see at this point in Solomon’s life. If we read anymore in the Old Testament, we know what’s coming. It’s not gonna be long until Solomon turns his heart away from the worship of God, and he actually turns his heart towards the very things he has warned us not to turn our hearts toward: To wealth and women. And, as a result of his worship life being misdirected completely, then his wisdom wanes. And, Solomon’s life ends no where close to how it looks here in 1 Kings chapter 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, which shows us a mirror of ourselves. Don’t miss this: Left to ourselves, we are prone to worship the things of this world, and to follow after the wisdom of this world.

What we see in Solomon is possible and present in every single one of our sinful hearts in this room. Which means, we need someone else besides Solomon to help us. And that’s where we see that Solomon was only anticipating redemption in this life, and setting the stage. Now I want you to see how Proverbs fits into redemptive history and how reading the book of Proverbs, although it does not mention the name of Jesus once, it leads us to love Christ, to lean on Christ because this is redemption that will be achieved  in Christ. Turn to Luke 2:41. This is where my study in Proverbs just came alive, as I saw these truths we talked about , this relationship in redemptive history between worship and wisdom, and those coming together- God given worship, God given wisdom.

Redemption achieved in Christ

We don’t have a lot of material about Jesus’s boyhood, about His growing up, His teenage years. But this is one of the glimpses that we do have in Luke 2:41 “⁴¹ Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. ⁴² When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. ⁴³ After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. ⁴⁴ Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. ⁴⁵ When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. ⁴⁶ After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷ Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.⁴⁸ When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

⁴⁹ “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” ⁵⁰ But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

⁵¹ Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. ⁵² And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

Vertical and horizontal. Do you see the picture here? This glimpse we have of JesusHe is sitting at the temple, at the place where the glory of God dwells. He makes a startling statement. He asks the question: Do you not know I must be at my Father’s house? He is saying that this, the temple, where the glory of God dwells, this is where I belong. It’s a bold statement. It is only heightened even more when you get to John 2, when He’s outside the temple , He’s beginning His ministry and the picture we have in John 2 and He identifies Himself with the temple. It’s what John chapter 1 set the stage for: “We beheld His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” We have seen the glory of God in Jesus, Jesus identifies Himself as the temple in John 2. You want to encounter the presence of God? You want to behold the glory of God? Here I am. And from this picture we see Him teaching others wisdom, growing in wisdom. So, don’t miss what we’re seeing here in the New Testament. The whole picture we’re gonna see in the Gospel:

1. Jesus is the true temple. He is where the presence of God and the glory of God dwells. This is the reality of  the incarnation. Do you want to see the glory of God, do you want to experience the presence of God? You come to Jesus. He is the true temple, and in this way- Jesus enables the worship of God. Don’t miss it. New Testament Gospel truth: Man will not meet God in a building to worship Him. Man will come to Christ to worship God. Man will encounter the glory of God in the person of Christ. He is the one who makes true worship possible. On the cross, He died to reconcile man to God. The curtain of the temple was torn in two and man is now able to relate to God, to worship God truly   as a result of Christ.
2. He is the perfect king. – that Israel has been waiting for. David failed. Solomon failed. So on, and so on, and so on, which is why we see in Matthew 12:42, Jesus is speaking to religious leaders and He says, “One with greater wisdom than Solomon is here. Solomon, who was the wisest you know in Israel’s history, has nothing on the wisdom of Christ. But, here’s the question I want you to ask: Why? Why was Jesus’s wisdom greater than Solomon’s wisdom? Because wisdom is the fruit of a right relationship with God. Solomon was not in a perfect relationship with God. He was in an imperfect relationship with God, and, as a result, it flowed into an imperfect wisdom and a life that failed. Jesus, however, was in perfect relationship with God. Perfectly and fully relating to God, identified as the temple, with the Father. And, as a result, wisdom flowing from Him, the very wisdom of God flowing from Him.
3. Jesus embodies the wisdom of God. He is wise, exactly as the Father is wise, because of His unity with the Father. That’s why Colossians 2:3 tells us that “in Christ are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” In Christ. Don’t miss this: What Solomon anticipated, Christ achieved. The picture in Solomon- his heart was stained by sin. Jesus comes on the scene perfect, without sin, in perfect relationship to God, in perfect wisdom, and in His relationship with the world around Him. True temple and the perfect king. Which means, to every single person in history and to every single person in this room: If you want to walk in wisdom, and not waste your life in folly, then there is only one path to take. And it is the path of faith and trust in and surrender to Jesus Christ.

Just like Proverbs presents us over and over again with the way of folly and the way of wisdom. The Gospel presents us with the same choice. A way of folly- follow after this world, be wise, be smart according to the standards of this world, indulging in this world, out of right relationship with God, and lose your life. Or, the way of Christ- To trust in Christ and what He has done on the cross to reconcile you to God, to be united in relationship to God, and from that relationship to have wisdom flow. And, as if that’s not good enough, this is where it gets just breathtaking.

Redemption applied in us. 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 says that Christ is our wisdom. We were the foolish things of the world, Paul says. And God called us in Christ, and he says, “In Christ, He has become your wisdom, He has become wisdom to you.” This is mind boggling, breathtaking, and overwhelming. Think about this: When you trust in Christ, and your life is united with Christ:

1. In Christ we live in continual worship. Paul says later, in 1 Corinthians 6:18 that our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit, that we walk in the presence of God, we enjoy the presence of God. We enjoy the glory of God by His Spirit’s presence in us. He houses His presence in our bodies. He is in us. This is glorious truth. In Christ, we live in continual worship, which means, of all people we
2. Revere His person humbly. We walk in reverence of God. 1 Peter 1 We walk with reverent fear. He’s our Creator, our sustainer, our judge, and our Savior. And we live in His presence, so on a moment by moment basis there is never a moment where there is not reverence involved.
3. Rejoice in His grace wholeheartedly. We know the truth of Proverbs 28:30 seen in an entirely new way. Those who confess their sins receive mercy. Praise God we know that in its fulness.
4. Receive His Word consistently. We have the word of Christ. He says to us in Matthew 7 ““Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Hear my word, put it into practice, you will be wise. Guaranteed.
5. Remember His purposes daily. In Ephesians 1, we see the wisdom of God in Christ linked to the glory of God in getting a people for Himself in human history. The picture is God redeeming for Himself a people  in all His glory.
6. In Christ, we walk with continual wisdom. And all of this is what we walk in– the purpose of God, the Word of God, the grace of God, revering God, we live in continual worship as those who have the Spirit of Christ in us, which means, because through Christ, we have been reconciled to God, to walk with Him in worship. What flows from that? The fruit of a right relationship with God is WISDOM. And so, now we live, we walk in continual wisdom. That’s the point, it’s what we see: Wisdom is the fruit of a right relationship with God. This means wisdom is flowing here. Jesus is our wisdom. What does that mean, how is Jesus our wisdom?

• (1) He gives us wisdom whenever we ask. The New Testament makes that clear: If anyone lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all without finding fault, and it will be given to Him. Brothers and sisters, every single time you will ask for wisdom, the Father will never answer NO. He will give it freely, when ever we ask. But, heres the beauty. Not only does He gives it through Christ, but

• (2) He guides us in wisdom wherever we go. He says, “Here’s what you need to do and I’m going to live in you, and I’m going to lead you, and I’m going to guide you, and I’m putting that into practice. You are in Christ, and in Christ are all the treasures of knowledge and wisdom, which means, in every single decision you face this week, you have Christ who has all the treasures of knowledge and wisdom in His Spirit, living in you, guiding you through everything, and walking through.

You have no reason to be worried. You have no reason to be anxious. And you have no reason to wander if you’re gonna make the wrong decision, if you are trusting in Christ, abiding in Christ. He is good. He will lead you and guide you. He’s not even gonna leave you to find the most subjective feeling that feels the most right to you, or to flip the coin, or to tell God, “Well, if I do this, , you do this, and I’ll do this.” You see nothing like that in Scripture. Leave behind that and trust in Christ, who has wisdom from God and for you. Abide in Him. And here we come back to his question that we so anxiously asked: What is God’s will for my life?

And the answer we gladly receive: God desires for me to know and follow His will so much, that He lives in me, and leads me to accomplish it. That is Good News. I am not saying that it’s easy. I’m not saying that there isn’t work involved here. I’m not saying: Close your eyes and it pops right in front of you, as to what you are supposed to do. There’s still agonizing, there’s still wrestling, and researching this or that. There’s still all that , but, we’re not doing it alone. We’re doing it with the Spirit of the wisdom of Christ Himself, in us. Him leading, Him guiding, and what we discovered is that the goal is not an answer to our questions. The goal is intimacy with Jesus Christ, Himself. And it’s not about getting to a destination, Christ is the destination. And it’s not as much about knowing His will, it’s about knowing Christ, and trusting in Christ, and leaning on Christ, and walking with Christ, and enjoying Christ as our wisdom, at every step.

Fa-ti timp ….. Nicu Wagner

De Simona Gheorghe

NICU WAGNER: ” Fa-ti timp „

Tu treci in goana ta grabit prin lume,
Robit, de-a ne-mplinirilor osanda,
Visand sa ai din plin comori si nume,
Alergi mereu cu-o inima flamanda.
.
Nu mai ai timp, ca sa privesti o floare,
Si sa admiri frumoasele-i culori,
Sa urmaresti un rasarit de soare,
Si frumusetea clipelor din zori,
.
Nu mai ai timp, sa stai langa izvorul,
Ce curge cristalin prin stanci de munte,
Sa intelegi ca doar pe Creatorul,
Il poti vedea si-n cele mai marunte.
.
Sa vezi ca totu-i numai pentru tine,
Un om trudit, sarman si muritor,
Sa intelegi ca-n mana Lui te tine,
Un Dumnezeu a toate creator.
.
Ce mai presus de toate si-a dat viata,
La Golgota, in locul tau sa moara,
Iar tu, trecand grabit, iti intorci fata,
Sa nu vezi dragostea ce te-nconjoara,
.
Incetineste-ti pasul pe carare,
Uitandu-te o clipa-n jurul tau,
La universul fara de hotare,
Si-n tot ce vezi, sa-l vezi pe Dumnezeu.Versuri compuse de Ilie Belciu via Resurse Crestine

Dumnezeu să vă deschidă toate uşile – Nicolae.Geantă

Uşa e deschizătura prin care poţi să intri, ori să ieşi. Unde nu-i uşă, degeaba sunt ferestre. Pe ferestre ești forțat să te cațeri, să sari. Ușile însă, sunt accesibile oricui. De fapt, Dumnezeu are câte-o ușă pentru oricine. Nu puneți lacăte pe ele!

Uşa deschisă înseamnă o viziune nouă. Viitor. Planuri noi. În 2015 să aveţi visuri mari, 2XL. Visurile mici au în spate oameni cu idealuri mici. Dumneavoastră să fiţi uriaşi! Visați grandios, visați imposibilul! Nu e primejdios. Mai primejdios e să transformați visurile în realitate. Iar dacă vreți ca visurile să se realizeze nu trebuie să dormiți!

Uşa deschisă înseamnă priorităţi noi. Căutaţi să finalizaţi numai ce este imperios necesar. Nu alergați după nimicuri. Ieremia zice că cei ce aleargă după nimicuri ajung oameni de nimic! Aruncaţi balastul, altfel balonul vostru nu va urca la cer. Când cerul vă va fi prioritatea, celelalte lucruri vor veni pe deasupra!

Uşa deschisă înseamnă slujire nouă. Ştiu, aţi slujit și anul acesta. În 2015 e şi mai mult de muncă. Fiţi gata să luaţi ştergarul, ca Isus Hristos. Un om puternic se vede după numărul celor pe care-i slujeşte! Nu-i frumusețe mai mare ca lumina din ochii celui ajutat. Îmi spuneți și mie de ce vrem decât să primim?

Uşa deschisă înseamnă părtășie. Iubiţi-vă semeni. Empatizaţi cu ei. Purtaţi-vă poverile. Într-o zi veţi auzi:
„Veniţi, cinaţi, masa e gata”. E deviza Gazdei din Ceruri. Ne cheamă la o masă de familie! Gratuită! Avem un Tată generos.

Ușa deschisă ne cheamă la intimitatea lui Dumnezeu. Între patru ochi ne vorbește Cerul. Nu este meserie mai frumoasă decât să dialoghezi cu Dumnezeu. De fapt, El vorbește și tu mai mult taci. Nu-L poți întrerupe! Apoi plecăm cu fețele poleite. Bogați. Schimbați. Asemeni Lui Hristos. Să aveți Cerul în suflet!

Avem o uşă larg deschisă de Dumnezeu pentru anul următor. Să folosim oportunitatea. Într-o zi, toţi vom vedea că Hristos e Cel ce închide şi nimeni nu deschide! Cine va scăpa din mâinile Dumnezeului celui Viu!

Dumnezeu să vă dechidă toate uşile în 2015, prieteni! Şi, să vă închidă uşa bolilor, a accidentelor, a foametei, a incendiului, a disponibilizărilor, a mândriei…

Nu uitați: Isus Hristos e ușa. Nimeni n-ajunge la Tatal decât prin El! Folosiți unica intrare…

Citeste-l pe Nicolae Geanta aici – http://nicolaegeanta.blogspot.com/

o privire in trecut…. 2014

Photo credit alba24.ro

Romani 15:4 Şi tot ce a fost scris mai înainte a fost scris pentru învăţătura noastră, pentru ca, prin răbdarea şi prin mângâierea pe care o dau Scripturile, să avem nădejde.

…e cam greu sa privesc in urma la anul 2014 si sa nu imi sara in ochi faptul ca avem o singura nadejde: Dumnezeu!

Ca in nici un alt an, in anul 2014 am postat asa de multe articole care de-a dreptul mi-au rupt inima.

Photo credit http://versetedeaur.blogspot.com/

Nu imi aduc aminte sa fie vreun an mai sangeros ca si 2014 si nu imi aduca aminte de un an mai crud pentru femeile si copiii, mai ales cei din zonele de persecutie din tarile africane si din orientul mijlociu. Aici,  cateva din acele postari:

• Cel puţin 185 de femei si copii, răpiti de Boko Haram în nord-estul Nigeriei, 32 de persoane omorate 
• Ioel – Copilasul de trei ani, ars la fata cu jar, pentru Biblia lui, de teroristi islamici
• Codul diabolic al Statului Islamic pentru fetele si femeile capturate
• CUTREMURĂTOR: Patru COPII creștini puși de ISIS să ALEAGĂ între Islam și DECAPITARE! Ce au răspuns… (VIDEO)
• Un terorist irakian ISIS a ucis 150 de femei care au refuzat căsătorii cu membri ai grupului Stat Islamic
• Militanţii Statului Islamic au executat (decapitat) 700 de membri ai unui trib din Siria
  
• Gruparea islamista Boko Haram ucide 47 de elevi si raneste 79 la un colegiu in Nigeria
• Peste 5.000 de persoane, omorâte de jihadiști în noiembrie
• Populaţii creştine antice, distruse de valul islamist din Orientul Mijlociu – Unii crestini crucificati
• Irak: Statul Islamic ii avertizează pe creştini – Vă convertiţi, plătiţi taxa, sau muriţi – Decretul e in efect din 19 Iulie
• Un crestin si sotia lui insarcinata, batuti si arsi de vii pentru “blasfemie” in Pakistan; au ramas in urma lor 4 copii
• 2 sinucigaşe au UCIS peste 30 de persoane într-o piaţă aglomerată din Nigeria
• 82 de familii si-au parasit locuintele si orasul, Boko Haram incepe un val de persecutii in Camerun
• Peste 60 de Femei răpite au Scăpat din Mâinile Grupului Terorist Boko Haram
• Nigeria: 60 de crestini impuscati in 5 biserici in luna Iunie 2014 – Boko Haram adauga si mai multa teroare la raidurile mortale in Nordul Nigeriei
• What happened to the 270 kidnapped school girls?
• Masacru în Nigeria, 100 de oameni au fost ucişi in 3 sate – Creştini arşi sau măcelariţi
• Boko Haram’s horrific attack on schoolchildren in Nigeria, 42 killed: burned alive or shot in the back while fleeing (2013)
• Peste 100 de crestini, inclusiv copii, arestati intr-o biserica din China
• VIETNAM: Atacuri contra crestinilor dintr-o biserica si 25 de persoane de etnia Hmong au fost izgoniti din satul lor dupa ce au refuzat sa-L nege pe Hristos
• Ucraina, 4 Penticostali (cei 2 fii ai pastorului si un tată a 8 copii)Răpiţi Din Biserică de Separatişti Mascaţi, in Ziua Cincizecimii Torturaţi si Omorâţi
• 30 de crestini au fost impuscati mortal intr-o Biserica, de rebeli musulmani intr-un atac din Republica Africa Centrala
  
• Scrisoare de la un Pastor din Republica Centrala Africana 2: MOTIVE DE MULTUMIRE SI BUCURIE si apel la rugaciune continua
• Scrisoare de la un Pastor din Republica Centrala Africana: Rebelii au promis ca vor distruge tot orasul nostru (Bangui), dar n-au cum sa ne omoare pe noi toti…
• Scrisoarea pastorului Saeed Abedini de la închisoarea din Iran

Dupa ce inaltam rugaciuni de proslavire si multumire lui Dumnezeu pentru ca ne-a insotit prin lacrimi si prin bucurii in anul 2014, sa nu uitam de cei mai slabi, cei mai neinsemnati, cei mai neprivilegiati si cei pai persecutati dintre noi! Sa cerem Domnului ajutor, sa-i cerem intelepciune si o inima larga si sa ne punem nadejdea in Dumnezeu, totodata rugandu-ne: „Vie Imparatia Ta.”

Si mai adaug cateva randuri  dintr-o poza primita:

Photo credit  Suntem Crestini

Celor ce le-am gresit le cer iertare.
Celor ce le-am fost de folos, as fi vrut sa fiu mai mult de folos.
Celor care m-au ajutat, le multumesc.
Fiti binecuvantati de Domnul fiecare in parte.
Multumesc Domnului pentru voi, iar voua pentru prietenie.
Un AN NOU, INSOTIT DE BINECUVANTARI CERESTI si PAMANTESTI!

Poezie Traian Dorz – Anii trec ca norii

Anii trec ca norii

Traian Dorz

Anii trec ca norii, perii-ncărunţesc,
vremurile-s altfel, totul e-n schimbare,
zilnic se preface tot ce-i pământesc
— numai Adevărul este-acelaşi soare.

Iarba se usucă, frunza cade iar
apa-şi face vaduri, altele într-una,
peste toate-n lume plânge-un “în zadar”
— numai în iubire cânt-un “totdeauna”.

Vara arzi în soare, iarna arzi în ger
ce te-ncântă astăzi, mâine ţi-e povară,
toate-apasă duhul, toate-l strâng ca-n fier
— numai conştiinţa sfântă e uşoară.

Toţi sunt ca şi tine: slabi şi schimbători
cei aproape astăzi, ţi-s departe mâne
oamenii, ca anii-s aburi trecători
— numai Domnul singur neschimbat rămâne.

…Nu-ţi lega de nimeni inima acum
ca să nu ţi-o smulgă ruperea ce vine,
leagă-ţi-o de Domnul — lumea-i vis şi fum
singur El rămâne veşnic lângă tine.

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• Doua poezii recitate de Traian Dorz si cintarea  compusa de el – Din tine am venit iubire
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Jonathan Edwards’ Resolutions – Aug. 17, 1723

Photo credit marketingland.com

via A Puritan’s Mind.Scroll down to the bottom of article for a 19 minute audio (in video form) of this list

A list of the resolutions that Edwards read once every week to keep his mind on his duty before God.

Jonathan Edwards’ Resolutions

(written at 19 years of age)

In an effort to be helped spiritually by Edward’s idea in inscribing his resolutions and then reading them each week, I also made a list of my own Maxims, which may also be of help to you – even if they simply spark you to make a list of your own (See my Maxims in the list on The Christian Walk page). Some are very similar to Edwards, some are exactly the same, and some are completely different. In any case, enjoy these Resolutions and Maxims in your daily walk.

Resolutions 1 through 21 were written by in one sitting in New Haven in 1722.

The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards (1722-1723)

Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God’s help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ’s sake.

Remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.

1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriad’s of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great soever.

2. Resolved, to be continually endeavoring to find out some new invention and contrivance to promote the aforementioned things.

3. Resolved, if ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of these Resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again.

4. Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it.

5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.

6. Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.

7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.

8. Resolved, to act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God.

9. Resolved, to think much on all occasions of my own dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death.

10. Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell.

11. Resolved, when I think of any theorem in divinity to be solved, immediately to do what I can towards solving it, if circumstances don’t hinder.

12. Resolved, if I take delight in it as a gratification of pride, or vanity, or on any such account, immediately to throw it by.

13. Resolved, to be endeavoring to find out fit objects of charity and liberality.

14. Resolved, never to do anything out of revenge.

15. Resolved, never to suffer the least motions of anger to irrational beings.

16. Resolved, never to speak evil of anyone, so that it shall tend to his dishonor, more or less, upon no account except for some real good.

17. Resolved, that I will live so as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.

18. Resolved, to live so at all times, as I think is best in my devout frames, and when I have clearest notions of things of the gospel, and another world.

19. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if I expected it would not be above an hour, before I should hear the last trump.

20. Resolved, to maintain the strictest temperance in eating and drinking.

21. Resolved, never to do anything, which if I should see in another, I should count a just occasion to despise him for, or to think any way the more meanly of him.

22. Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness, in the other world, as I possibly can, with all the power; might, vigor, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of.

23. Resolved, frequently to take some deliberate action, which seems most unlikely to be done, for the glory of God, and trace it back to the original intention, designs and ends of it; and if I find it not to be for God’s glory, to repute it as a breach of the 4th Resolution.

24. Resolved, whenever I do any conspicuously evil action, to trace it back, till I come to the original cause; and then both carefully endeavor to do so no more, and to fight and pray with all my might against the original of it.

25. Resolved, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it.

26. Resolved, to cast away such things, as I find do abate my assurance.

27. Resolved, never willfully to omit anything, except the omission be for the glory of God; and frequently to examine my omissions.

28. Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.

29. Resolved, never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession, which I cannot hope God will accept.

30. Resolved, to strive to my utmost every week to be brought higher in religion, and to a higher exercise of grace, than I was the week before.

31. Resolved, never to say anything at all against anybody, but when it is

perfectly agreeable to the highest degree of Christian honor, and of love to mankind, agreeable to the lowest humility, and sense of my own faults and failings, and agreeable to the golden rule; often, when I have said anything against anyone, to bring it to, and try it strictly by the test of this Resolution.

32. Resolved, to be strictly and firmly faithful to my trust, that that in Prov. 20:6, “A faithful man who can find?” may not be partly fulfilled in me.

33. Resolved, always to do what I can towards making, maintaining, establishing and preserving peace, when it can be without over-balancing detriment in other respects. Dec.26, 1722.

34. Resolved, in narration’s never to speak anything but the pure and simple verity.

35. Resolved, whenever I so much question whether I have done my duty, as that my quiet and calm is thereby disturbed, to set it down, and also how the question was resolved. Dec. 18, 1722.

36. Resolved, never to speak evil of any, except I have some particular good call for it. Dec. 19, 1722.

37. Resolved, to inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent, what sin I have committed, and wherein I have denied myself: also at the end of every week, month and year. Dec.22 and 26, 1722.

38. Resolved, never to speak anything that is ridiculous, sportive, or matter of laughter on the Lord’s day. Sabbath evening, Dec. 23, 1722.

39. Resolved, never to do anything that I so much question the lawfulness of, as that I intend, at the same time, to consider and examine afterwards, whether it be lawful or no; except I as much question the lawfulness of the omission.

40. Resolved, to inquire every night, before I go to bed, whether I have acted in the best way I possibly could, with respect to eating and drinking. Jan. 7, 1723.

41. Resolved, to ask myself at the end of every day, week, month and year, wherein I could possibly in any respect have done better. Jan. 11, 1723.

42. Resolved, frequently to renew the dedication of myself to God, which was made at my baptism; which I solemnly renewed, when I was received into the communion of the church; and which I have solemnly re-made this twelfth day of January, 1722-23.

43. Resolved, never henceforward, till I die, to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God’s, agreeable to what is to be found in Saturday, January 12. Jan.12, 1723.

44- Resolved, that no other end but religion, shall have any influence at all on any of my actions; and that no action shall be, in the least circumstance, any otherwise than the religious end will carry it. Jan.12, 1723.

45. Resolved, never to allow any pleasure or grief, joy or sorrow, nor any affection at all, nor any degree of affection, nor any circumstance relating to it, but what helps religion. Jan.12 and 13.1723.

46. Resolved, never to allow the least measure of any fretting uneasiness at my father or mother. Resolved to suffer no effects of it, so much as in the least alteration of speech, or motion of my eve: and to be especially careful of it, with respect to any of our family.

47. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to deny whatever is not most agreeable to a good, and universally sweet and benevolent, quiet, peaceable, contented, easy, compassionate, generous, humble, meek, modest, submissive, obliging, diligent and industrious, charitable, even, patient, moderate, forgiving, sincere temper; and to do at all times what such a temper would lead me to. Examine strictly every week, whether I have done so. Sabbath morning. May 5,1723.

48. Resolved, constantly, with the utmost niceness and diligence, and the strictest scrutiny, to be looking into the state of my soul, that I may know whether I have truly an interest in Christ or no; that when I come to die, I may not have any negligence respecting this to repent of. May 26, 1723.

49. Resolved, that this never shall be, if I can help it.

50. Resolved, I will act so as I think I shall judge would have been best, and most prudent, when I come into the future world. July 5, 1723.

51. Resolved, that I will act so, in every respect, as I think I shall wish I had done, if I should at last be damned. July 8, 1723.

52. I frequently hear persons in old age say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age. July 8, 1723.

53. Resolved, to improve every opportunity, when I am in the best and happiest frame of mind, to cast and venture my soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, to trust and confide in him, and consecrate myself wholly to him; that from this I may have assurance of my safety, knowing that I confide in my Redeemer. July 8, 1723.

54. Whenever I hear anything spoken in conversation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, Resolved to endeavor to imitate it. July 8, 1723.

55. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to act as I can think I should do, if I had already seen the happiness of heaven, and hell torments. July 8, 1723.

56. Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.

57. Resolved, when I fear misfortunes and adversities, to examine whether ~ have done my duty, and resolve to do it; and let it be just as providence orders it, I will as far as I can, be concerned about nothing but my duty and my sin. June 9, and July 13 1723.

58. Resolved, not only to refrain from an air of dislike, fretfulness, and anger in conversation, but to exhibit an air of love, cheerfulness and benignity. May27, and July 13, 1723.

59. Resolved, when I am most conscious of provocations to ill nature and anger, that I will strive most to feel and act good-naturedly; yea, at such times, to manifest good nature, though I think that in other respects it would be disadvantageous, and so as would be imprudent at other times. May 12, July ii, and July 13.

60. Resolved, whenever my feelings begin to appear in the least out of order, when I am conscious of the least uneasiness within, or the least irregularity without, I will then subject myself to the strictest examination. July 4, and 13, 1723.

61. Resolved, that I will not give way to that listlessness which I find unbends and relaxes my mind from being fully and fixedly set on religion, whatever excuse I may have for it-that what my listlessness inclines me to do, is best to be done, etc. May 21, and July 13, 1723.

62. Resolved, never to do anything but duty; and then according to Eph. 6:6-8, do it willingly and cheerfully as unto the Lord, and not to man; “knowing that whatever good thing any man doth, the same shall he receive of the Lord.” June 25 and July 13, 1723.

63. On the supposition, that there never was to be but one individual in the world, at any one time, who was properly a complete Christian, in all respects of a right stamp, having Christianity always shining in its true luster, and appearing excellent and lovely, from whatever part and under whatever character viewed: Resolved, to act just as I would do, if I strove with all my might to be that one, who should live in my time. Jan.14′ and July ’3′ 1723.

64. Resolved, when I find those “groanings which cannot be uttered” (Rom. 8:26), of which the Apostle speaks, and those “breakings of soul for the longing it hath,” of which the Psalmist speaks, Psalm 119:20, that I will promote them to the utmost of my power, and that I will not be wear’, of earnestly endeavoring to vent my desires, nor of the repetitions of such earnestness. July 23, and August 10, 1723.

65. Resolved, very much to exercise myself in this all my life long, viz. with the greatest openness I am capable of, to declare my ways to God, and lay open my soul to him: all my sins, temptations, difficulties, sorrows, fears, hopes, desires, and every thing, and every circumstance; according to Dr. Manton’s 27th Sermon on Psalm 119. July 26, and Aug.10 1723.

66. Resolved, that I will endeavor always to keep a benign aspect, and air of acting and speaking in all places, and in all companies, except it should so happen that duty requires otherwise.

67. Resolved, after afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them, what good I have got by them, and what I might have got by them.

68. Resolved, to confess frankly to myself all that which I find in myself, either infirmity or sin; and, if it be what concerns religion, also to confess the whole case to God, and implore needed help. July 23, and August 10, 1723.

69. Resolved, always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it. Aug. 11, 1723.

70. Let there be something of benevolence, in all that I speak.

Aug. 17, 1723

The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards

(1722-1723)

Jonathan Edwards’ Resolutions – Aug. 17, 1723

This video was the list of the resolutions that Jonathan Edwards read once every week to keep his mind on his duty before God.

Jonathan Edwards’ Resolutions
(written at 19 years of age)

In an effort to be helped spiritually by Edward’s idea in inscribing his resolutions and then reading them each week, I also made a list of my own Maxims, which may also be of help to you – even if they simply spark you to make a list of your own (See my Maxims in the list on The Christian Walk page). Some are very similar to Edwards, some are exactly the same, and some are completely different. In any case, enjoy these Resolutions and Maxims in your daily walk.

Resolutions 1 through 21 were written by in one sitting in New Haven in 1722.

VIDEO by turning2jesus

3 minute pe Muntele Templului de Anul Nou

filmat de rabinul Yosef Rabin, astazi, in timp ce musulmanii striga „allahu achbar” – „Allah e mare”. VIDEO by The Temple Institute

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