Jesus says;

[repentandbelieve]

"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled."

Those who hunger for food and thirst for water cannot be satisfied with gold, silver, or costly dress. None of these things can take the place of bread and water. They must have bread and water or perish.

So those who really hunger and thirst for righteousness can never be satisfied with worldly riches or worldly pleasures. O, no: they want righteousness; something that reaches above the treasures of earth and takes hold of eternal life.

The promise is to those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, "They shall be filled." Blessed promise. We can have righteousness if we hunger and thirst for it; and those who really hunger and thirst will often be found pleading before God. A mere desire will not obtain the blessing. But those who would obtain it must wrestle in prayer, and by faith claim the sweet promise, "They shall be filled."

 

[whatseekye]

Amen!

 

[IKTCA]

Dear friend R&B:

It's been a while since I heard from you. I am delighted to read another brotherly exhortation from you. Please pray for me so that I hunger for righteousness, too.
Rupert

 

[repentandbelieve]

Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? John 14:9.

God cannot be seen in external form by any human being. Jesus Christ represents the Father to humanity. He is the express image of the Father. Christ, the Light of the world came to live as a man among men, that they might become acquainted with their Creator.

Christ came to teach human beings what God desires them to know. In the heavens above, in the earth, in the broad waters of the ocean, we see the handiwork of God. All created things testify to His power, His wisdom, His love. But not from the stars or the ocean can we learn of the personality of God as it is revealed in Christ. Tender, compassionate, sympathetic, ever considerate of others, He represented the character of God, and was constantly engaged in service for God and man.

As Jesus was in human nature, so God means His followers to be. In His strength we are to live the life of purity and nobility which the Saviour lived.

 

[woman.at.the.well]

JOHN 17:1After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

 

[repentandbelieve]

JOHN 17:1After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

Here Jesus authenticated the fact that He was a living Saviour. By the sacrifice of Christ, provision has been made for the believer to receive all things that pertain to life and godliness.

When His mission on earth was about to close, He could say, "I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do."

 

[FoundInGrace]

why is it such hard work to obtain even some glimpse of his righteousness in our lives? its fine that it is, as you said that we need to wrestle etc, just wish i could get some stuff right by God sooner rather than later. we're all in the same boat aye i'm glad he's as patient as he is and merciful too.

 

[repentandbelieve]

why is it such hard work to obtain even some glimpse of his righteousness in our lives?

Perhaps it's the work of the enemy. Satan knows that if people obtain even a glimpse of the righteousness of Christ in their own lives that they will become armed with it and have taken hold of Gods strength.

It is our privilege to carry with us the credentials of our faith and Satan seeks evey way he can to take that privilege.

 

[FoundInGrace]

wise post, given me much to think on...

 

[brotherjim]

why is it such hard work to obtain even some glimpse of his righteousness in our lives? . . .

Whoever,

The Lord has placed throughout His Word, litmus tests. One of these is had by combining such pearls as, "My yoke is easy; My burden is light," and "His Commandments are not grievous," etc. This is to be an indication to us as to whether we are going about the Christian life the correct Way.

Recall, please, Paul's rhetorical question to the Galatians: "Why having been started in the Spirit, are you now attempting to be made perfect through so-called "well-meaning," but actually self-righteous, works of the flesh?" (Ampl. and para.)

Everything about our Christian life must center around the basic Kingdom principle, "[ONLY] by Grace . . . so that no man can boast." Otherwise, we quickly become the forgetful man of James Chap. One, and our Christian pride and the arrogance it produces, because such is so greatly hated by God (Prov. 6:16-17a), makes us null and void for carrying on the race set before us.

The only wrestling intended by God for us to be engaged in, is the one that keeps us from falling on our knees as a child, in a heap of failure and nothingness and total dependant need, at the foot of the Cross time after time after time. "Humble yourself before the Sight of the Lord. . . ."

The Good News: He gives more Grace, and "Grace for Grace."

Give up, let Him, brother jim

brotherjim at mail dot com

 

[FoundInGrace]

Whoever,

The Lord has placed throughout His Word, litmus tests. One of these is had by combining such pearls as, "My yoke is easy; My burden is light," and "His Commandments are not grievous," etc. This is to be an indication to us as to whether we are going about the Christian life the correct Way.

Recall, please, Paul's rhetorical question to the Galatians: "Why having been started in the Spirit, are you now attempting to be made perfect through so-called "well-meaning," but actually self-righteous, works of the flesh?" (Ampl. and para.)

Everything about our Christian life must center around the basic Kingdom principle, "[ONLY] by Grace . . . so that no man can boast." Otherwise, we quickly become the forgetful man of James Chap. One, and our Christian pride and the arrogance it produces, because such is so greatly hated by God (Prov. 6:16-17a), makes us null and void for carrying on the race set before us.

The only wrestling intended by God for us to be engaged in, is the one that keeps us from falling on our knees as a child, in a heap of failure and nothingness and total dependant need, at the foot of the Cross time after time after time. "Humble yourself before the Sight of the Lord. . . ."

The Good News: He gives more Grace, and "Grace for Grace."

Give up, let Him, brother jim

brotherjim at mail dot com

whoever,
nevermind

 

[IKTCA]

why is it such hard work to obtain even some glimpse of his righteousness in our lives? its fine that it is, as you said that we need to wrestle etc, just wish i could get some stuff right by God sooner rather than later. we're all in the same boat aye i'm glad he's as patient as he is and merciful too.

Brother FIG:
If you find the way to live in the Lord's righteousness, please let me know, for I have the same lamentation.

 

[brotherjim]

Whoever,

Our responsibility, once we have received the New Birth, is "simply" commit in the Law of our mind (Rom. 7:22, 25) to obeying the NT's Commandments of Love and Faith, at any and all costs (like the "price" God paid for us), turning to God for more Grace each and every time we fail (as compared to self-justifying our sins and hardening our heart), and then receiving those Graces one after another until we are perfected in God's Love (that which is required for eternal salvation--1 Jn. 2:3-5; 1 Jn. 4:16-18; Luke 10:25-28; Rev. 22:14; etc.).

(Explained more completely under "Nazarene Doctrines and Beliefs?" on the "Wesley Parish" denominational sub-group--although I myself am not a Nazarene [not that there's anything wrong with that], but the above is really all of it in a nutshell.)

"For by Grace are ye saved. . . ." (The word Grace is both singular and plural.)

b j

 

[FoundInGrace]

Brother FIG:
If you find the way to live in the Lord's righteousness, please let me know, for I have the same lamentation.

its sister fig do i sound like a man? lol thats cool.

to what you said, it is a grief, heavy on my heart at the moment, you are in my thoughts about it that you share this, it is only He who can work it in me and that is my grief that i will never be humble enough to receive his righteousness, a righteousness not of my own, to let him work it in me. sigh don't know if that makes any sense. what are your thoughts on it?

 

[IKTCA]

Sister FIG,

If one has no grief, how can he weep for righteousness day and night as commanded by the Lord (Luke 18)? To rejoice is a command and we must be so. But the same Lord said,

Blessed are those who mourn,
for they shall be comforted.

What shall be mourn about? Is it not lack of righteousness in me and you and our brothers and sisters?

There is a time for joyful praise. But there is also a time for grief. Therefore, Sister FIG, let the grief bring you to the throne of our Lord Jesus, just as the spirit of joy leads you to praise and worship.

Thank you for keeping me in your prayer. So will I.

 

[FoundInGrace]

your words mean a lot, thank you

 

[FoundInGrace]

Whoever,

The Lord has placed throughout His Word, litmus tests. One of these is had by combining such pearls as, "My yoke is easy; My burden is light," and "His Commandments are not grievous," etc. This is to be an indication to us as to whether we are going about the Christian life the correct Way.

Recall, please, Paul's rhetorical question to the Galatians: "Why having been started in the Spirit, are you now attempting to be made perfect through so-called "well-meaning," but actually self-righteous, works of the flesh?" (Ampl. and para.)

Everything about our Christian life must center around the basic Kingdom principle, "[ONLY] by Grace . . . so that no man can boast." Otherwise, we quickly become the forgetful man of James Chap. One, and our Christian pride and the arrogance it produces, because such is so greatly hated by God (Prov. 6:16-17a), makes us null and void for carrying on the race set before us.

The only wrestling intended by God for us to be engaged in, is the one that keeps us from falling on our knees as a child, in a heap of failure and nothingness and total dependant need, at the foot of the Cross time after time after time. "Humble yourself before the Sight of the Lord. . . ."

The Good News: He gives more Grace, and "Grace for Grace."

Give up, let Him, brother jim

brotherjim at mail dot com

just wanted to say thank you for these words also, truth hurts sometimes so couldn't respond properly to this post earlier.

 

[brotherjim]

just wanted to say thank you for these words also, . . .

PtL. (2 Cor. 9:12)

. . . truth hurts sometimes . . .

Tell me about it: I too have to listen to and heed my "own" words.

But those brief moments of sorrow in our walk have the chance to yield an eternity of Joy with Him.

"Grace and Peace be multiplied onto you."

jim