Discipline Of The Heart

If any man come to me, hate not his father, mother, wife, children, brethren, sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And who so ever does not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

And Jesus said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For who so ever will save his life shall lose it: but who so ever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

Luke 14:26-27;Luke 9:23-24;Luke 16:13

The Husbandman

The husbandman that labors must be first partaker of the fruits.

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that bears not fruit he takes away: and every branch that bears fruit, he purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now you are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can you, except you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; so shall you be my disciples.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

For your Maker is your husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and your Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.

2 Tim. 2:16;John 15:1;Gal. 5:22-23;Jam. 5:7;Isa. 54:5

If You Do These Things?

According as his divine power has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that has called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence,

Add to your Faith, Virtue;

Add to Virtue, Knowledge;

Add to Knowledge, Temperance;

Add to Temperance, Patience;

Add to Patience, Godliness;

Add to Godliness, Brotherly Kindness;

Add to Brotherly Kindness, Charity.

For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  But he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if you do these things, you shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though you know them, and be established in the present truth.

2 Pet. 1:3-12

God's Holy Spirit

Jesus answered and said unto her, If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that said to you, Give me to drink; you would have asked of him, and he would have given you living water.

Jesus answered and said unto her, Who so ever drink of this water shall thirst again: But who so ever drink of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

You worship you know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seek such to worship him.  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

John 4:10;John 4:13-14;John 4:22-24;Luke 11:13

God And Giving

Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your pearls before swine, unless they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely you have received, freely give.

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you meet withal, it shall be measured to you again.

Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have to give I you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man has, and not according to that he had not.  For I mean not that other men are eased, and you burdened: But by equality that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over, and he that had gathered little had no lack.

Every man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver.

Matt. 7:6;Matt. 10:8;Luke 6:38;Acts 3:6; 1 Cor 2:12;2 Cor. 8:12-15;2 Cor. 9:7

God And Money

Tell us therefore, What think you? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt you me, you hypocrites? Show me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.

And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Do not your master pay tribute?  He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What think you, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?  Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.  Not withstanding, unless we should offend them, go you to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first comes up; and when you have opened his mouth, you shall find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and you.

And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whom so ever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Your money perish with you, because you have thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. You have neither part nor lot in this matter: for your heart is not right in the sight of God.  Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.  For I perceive that you are in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

Matt. 22:17-21;Matt.17:24-17;Acts 8:18-23

God Is My Rock

Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock". When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock (CHRIST) and cover you with my hand until I have passed by.

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

From the ends of the earth, I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Who has believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?

Therefore who so ever hears these sayings of mine, and do them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed are you, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood has not revealed it unto you, but my Father which is in heaven.  Jesus says, That you are Peter, and upon this rock, I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Exo. 33:21-22;Psa. 18:2;Psa. 61:2;Isa. 53:1;Matt. 7:24-25;Matt. 16:17-18

Godliness With Contentment

If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, where of comes envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw yourself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, where unto you are also called, and have professed a good profession before many witnesses.

1 Timothy 6:3-12