Kind words can change a person’s day & whole outlook. Point out the good you see in others. They deserve to feel special, because they are.
Be careful of what & how you speak to others. Your words have the power to encourage & build others up, or your words can leave scars that may never heal. Think before you speak. Remember what your momma use to say, if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.
Proverbs 13:3 Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those that speak rashly will come to ruin.
Proverbs 12:18 The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Proverbs 16:24 Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul & health to the body.
Proverbs 25:11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.
Revelation 3:1 “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this:
Who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars? Well, that would be Jesus. We know this from the letter to the church at Ephesus from Revelation 2:1. Jesus is giving us a reminder and a review plus some additional information. The review is regarding the seven stars.
Revelation 2:1a“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand…
The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand…What are stars? The answer is given in Revelation 1:20b …the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches… Stars are angels of the churches.
The new information is regarding the seven Spirits of God.
In the New Testament, the Greek word for “Spirit” is πνεῦμα/pneuma. Per Strong’s Concordance, pneuma is defined in this context as: the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son; sometimes referred to in a way which emphasizes his personality and character as the Holy Spirit; sometimes referred to in a way which emphasizes his work and power as the Spirit of Truth; never referred to as a depersonalized force.
This is not Star Wars. The Spirit is not the Force…The Spirit is a person of the Trinity.
Four times in the book of Revelation, the seven Spirits of God are referenced. See Revelation 1:4, 3:1, 4:5, and 5:6.
Scripture informs the seven Spirits of God are before the throne in Revelation 1:4 and 4:5.
Revelation 4:5b defines the issue of the seven Spirits of God. Lamps equal seven Spirits.
Revelation 4:5b And there wereseven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God;
Revelation 5:6 reveals more information regarding the seven Spirits of God.
Revelation 5:6 And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.
The number “seven (7)” in the Bible indicates completeness, fullness, and perfection. This is not in reference to seven individual Spirits. The Bible is clear. The grammar and syntax in the verse below in reference to the “Spirit” are singular. There is one Spirit of God.
1 Corinthians 12:11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.
Other verses indicate the singular nature of the Spirit. Another example is noted below.
1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
Amos 5:13 Therefore he who is prudent will keep silent in such a time, for it is an evil time.
June 17, 2017: It is now illegal in Canada to use the wrong gender pronoun in reference to another person. This vote passed 67-11 in the Canadian Senate. The bill needs to pass the House of Commons to become law. A person in violation of the law can be jailed, fined, or charged with a hate crime. If necessary, one must take a class regarding anti-bias training.
While you’re busy focusing on what we think is wrong with someone, we are missing out on all that is beautiful about them. Focus on the good, the positive, the beauty in others & we will no longer see flaws. When they see & feel you lifting them up for all that is good, you help them change their focus & opinion of themselves as well. Always point out good & beauty.
Song of Songs 4:7 You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you.
Observations by Phil Kulis from the Hagman and Hagman Show
1 Corinthians 6:20 For you were BOUGHT at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Acts 20:28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He PURCHASED with His own blood.
Matthew 20:28 “…just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a RANSOM for many.”
1 Timothy 2:5-6 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a RANSOM for all, to be testified in due time…
1 Peter 1:18-19 knowing that you were not REDEEMED with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
These are all terms used to describe a financial transaction.
When you complete a transaction at the store the cashier gives you a piece of paper that describes the details of the price paid.
It’s called a ‘receipt’.
That is what the Shroud of Turin is.
The Shroud is the receipt of the transaction describing the price paid where you were bought, purchased, ransomed, and redeemed.
Romans 2:4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?
A real application of NOT loving our enemy is: to lash out when we are wronged, defend yourself, yell, or be aggressive in some way. Then go talk about it to people and justify our innocence and their guilt. Speaking trash to the hearer causes more hate to spread.
A real application of loving our enemy would be to let them do or say whatever, then immediately give them a response they do not expect, such as “I can see how you might feel that way, and I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong impression. Sometimes I’m terrible with communication but let me try again please.”
Then we should almost always use OURSELVES as the example in the situation: of where we have been weak and how God made us stronger. This will allow that person to let down their guard and their anger will dissipate. It disarms them. They may not admit to guilt right away or ever. But they will think about it later and not feel judged. Possibly it opens up their hearts to a loving God who isn’t trying to judge them.
Defending ourselves and trying to prove ourselves right or justify our actions is a defense mechanism that we all struggle with. But choosing to do good and be kind in response to an assassination on our character will disallow the root of bitterness and anger to take hold.
Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
Diplomacy… ⚡️ “Dennis Rodman expected to arrive in North Korea on Tuesday”https://t.co/D7O0Zfb3Ib
Zechariah 12:2a “Behold, I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that causes reeling to all the peoples around…
On June 1, 2017, President Donald Trump signed the successive six-month waiver to delay moving the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
However, the US Senate recently passed a resolution 90-0 to encourage President Trump to move the embassy. The bill was introduced by Majority Leader Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky). The Senate demonstrated unanimous bipartisan support for the resolution…unbelievable.
The resolution urges the “president and all United States officials to abide by the 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Act.”
The Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 is a public law of the United States. The law was passed by the 104th Congress on October 23, 1995. The law states the United States Embassy in Israel should be moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The law states Jerusalem is to be an undivided city. Jerusalem is recognized as the capital of Israel. Presidents Clinton, Bush, and Obama have opposed the law because of national security concerns. This law was to be enacted by May 31, 1999.
If you keep looking back, you’ll keep yourself from moving forward to the great things God has planned for you. In order to get to where you’re supposed to be, you have to leave where you’ve been. Do not stay stuck in what is holding you back. Most often, that’s something on the inside. The windshield is bigger than the rear view mirror for a reason. Step out in faith…
Isaiah 43:18 Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
Isaiah 65:17 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.”
Revelation 3:1a “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write:
Sardis is the fifth church addressed in the book of Revelation. In the Greek, Sardis means “red ones” per Strong’s Concordance.
Sardis located in modern day western Turkey. The city of the fifth church is about 60 miles northeast of Smyrna. Sardis is on the northern slope of Mt. Tmolus. The Pactolus River is further down range and functioned as a moat. Sardis was well protected by its geography.
Sardis was a very wealthy city and the capital of the region of Lydia. The city was a significant market in the region. The area was rich in produce and fruits. Dyed wool is believed to be invented in Sardis. Gold was discovered in the sands of the Pactolus River. Ornaments, utensils, mirrors, and precious stones were manufactured in the area. The Romans were noted to create a series of coins during their time of rule over the area.
During the rule of King Croesus (560 – 546 BC), metallurgists from Sardis figured out how to separate gold and silver. This was the first time in history pure gold and pure silver were noted. This allowed pure gold and pure silver coins to be minted. The coins were trusted across the known world for their purity. Wealth and prosperity were synonymous with Sardis and King Croesus. This is where we get the phrase “Richer than Croesus”. Sardis is known as the birthplace of modern currency.
A temple was built in honor of the goddess Cybele. She was similar to Diana in Ephesus.
In the 21st century, Sardis is a ruin named Sert-Kalessi.
