(10/29/2013) All Flesh is Grass?

Today, continuing the Scriptures on Scripture format, focus is upon human frailty, the brevity of life, and new birth through the Gospel.  At some point in their growth as a Christian, every believer will use Scriptures on Scripture (also identified as “concordance study” and “chain referencing”).  It is a basic tool for learning and sharing that should be helpful even to readers who are not familiar with the Bible and other holy writings.

SOME THOUGHTS ON

6 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:

7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth:  because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it:  surely the people is grass.

8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth:  but the word of our God shall stand for ever.  (Isaiah 40:  6-8, KJV)



Job 14:  1-3  (KJV)  1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.  2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down:  he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.  3 And doth thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee?

Isaiah 24:  3-5 (KJV)  3 The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled:  for the LORD hath spoken this word.  4 The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish.  5 The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.

Isaiah 64:  4-9 (KJV)  4 For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.  5 Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways:  behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned:  in those is continuance, and we shall be saved.  6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.  7 And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee:  for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.  8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.  9 Be not wroth very sore, O LORD, neither remember iniquity for ever:  behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all thy people.

Jeremiah 8:  12-15 (KJV)  12 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush:  therefore shall they fall among them that fall:  in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.  13 I will surely consume them, saith the LORD:  there shall be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree, and the leaf shall fade; and the things that I have given them shall pass away from them.  14 Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the defenced cities, and let us be silent there:  for the LORD our God hath put us to silence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD.  15 We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of health, and behold trouble!

John 3:  1-12 (KJV)  3 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:  2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God:  for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.  3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?  5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.  8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.  9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?  10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?  11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.  12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

Titus 3:  3-7 (KJV)  3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.  4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,  5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;  6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;  7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

1st Peter 1:  22-25 (KJV)  22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:  23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.  24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass.  The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:  25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever.  And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

John 6:  53-55 (KJV)  53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.  54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.  55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.  56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.  57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father:  so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.  58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead:  he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.



There is far more to be said, correctly shared, and spiritually understood.  Again, I ask readers to share Scriptures they feel should be added in the Comments area (see example, below).  I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.  Jesus is coming.


THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(07/12/2013) Prayer not Enough?

Changing circumstances, feelings, and the sufficiency of prayer are topics, today, along with more on turning to Christ as a “guilt trip.”  A “Yahoo! Answers” writer using the ID “Sheiola” (Level 2 with 262 points, a member since May 28, 2013) posted the following:


Have you ever been in such situation that you felt that praying to God is not enough?

Have you ever been in such situation that you felt that praying to God is not enough to protect you from all evil and you started wondering why some music industries pray to Satan?


THE BATTLE AXE:  A Guilt Trip? (07/11/2013)—In the same way many indulge alcohol, cursing, swearing, fighting, gambling, or sex as their addiction, others embrace fear, guilt and shame as compulsion, dependency, and a continuing unhealthy habit.  Through the ministry of Jesus Christ, ones behavior and conduct increasingly are centered in sacred operations such as giving, forbearance, forgiveness, praise, preaching, sharing, and worship.  The Spirit matter received in new birth introduces continual change.  For the believer duty, growth, learning, heartfelt love and correct spiritual understanding (we say, newness of life) replace operating on the basis of appetite, cravings, emotions, and feelings.   A person chooses Christ only after their own divine potential is released and firmly established through hearing of the truth.  In this sense, only the free come to Jesus.  None are beat down, bullied, coerced, driven and forced.  See Isaiah 55:  1-13, Romans 6:  16-23, Romans 8:  1-9, James 3:  13-18 and Revelation 22:  17, King James Version.


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities:  for we know not what we should pray for as we ought:  but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.  (Romans 8: 26-27, KJV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Feeling Loved By GOD? (06/16/2013); Quoting Scripture to GOD? (04/24/2013); Illusion? (04/25/2013); Outgrowing Childhood Prayers? (04/07/2013); Confessing Only to GOD? (04/08/2013); When Prayer Works (10/11/2012); Double Standard? (10/12/2012); When You Pray (09/12/2012); Unanswered Prayers? (09/11/2012)


“Sheiola”, here are some points important to Christian believers that may help you to continue your spiritual growth:

(1)  Believers must learn to “walk by faith, not by sight.”  Saying this another way, Believers must continually look beyond the changing circumstances and scenarios of our material, mental, physical, and social world.  Rather than being guided by emotions, feelings and thoughts that repeatedly shift, believers become grounded and rooted in faith through practice and study that supply necessary spiritual focus.

(2)  Often a believer’s need is for a different aspect of prayer than the one they are pursuing.  Thus, importuning, praise or surrender may be more needed than petitioning.  The need may be for group prayer rather than private prayer alone.  Often, change and new courses of action must be joined to prayer.  Even so, for many the most important need is that the believer change nothing, and simply continue reverent behavior and conduct (some say, staying the course, or faithfulness).  Their sense of certainty and trust must be changed, rather than peculiar conditions.

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (3) because they are “reborn” from divine DNA through baptism, believers encourage one another to make choices that agree with their purpose of showing reverence to GOD.  Many aspects of their lifestyle are re-examined including amusements and entertainments, diet and foods, dress and fashion, familiar friends and associates.  Believers continue to live in the same world, and meet many of the same challenges and difficulties, nevertheless, through Christ they may account themselves as changed persons.)   Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.


THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC