Carl Jackson

Pray Without Ceasing

Good evening my God, Faith, Grace and dachshund family, I trust that everyone has had a sanctified Saturday. I’m learning that I have to be more consistent writing post. It’s easy to let other things get you away of what we are called to do. Sometime for me it just boil down to time management and planning.  It’s no different in the kingdom of God.

Consistency is a powerful quality that is highly valued in the Bible. From the Old Testament to the New Testament, the Bible emphasizes the importance of consistency in various aspects of our lives, including our faith, behavior, and relationships.

One of the most notable examples of consistency in the Bible is found in the life of Abraham. Abraham was known for his unwavering faith in God, despite the many challenges he faced. In Genesis 12:1-3, God called Abraham to leave his home and go to a land that God would show him, and Abraham obeyed without hesitation. Abraham’s faith was tested many times throughout his life, but he remained steadfast and consistent in his obedience to God.

Another example of consistency in the Bible is found in the life of Joshua, who succeeded Moses as the leader of the Israelites. After Moses’ death, God chose Joshua to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. Joshua was instructed by God to be strong and courageous, and to consistently follow the laws and commands that God had given to the Israelites. Through his unwavering obedience and consistency, Joshua was able to successfully lead the Israelites into the Promised Land.

In the New Testament, the apostle Paul also speaks about the importance of consistency. In Philippians 4:9, Paul writes, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” This verse highlights the importance of consistency in our faith, as we are called to put into practice what we have learned and received from the teachings of Jesus and the apostles.

1 Thessalonians 5:15-18 (ETRV)
¹⁵ Be sure that no one pays back wrong for wrong. But always try to do what is good for each other and for all people.
¹⁶ Always be full of joy.
¹⁷ Never stop praying.
¹⁸ Whatever happens, always be thankful. This is how God wants you to live in Christ Jesus.

Consistency is also important in our relationships with others. In Colossians 4:2, Paul writes, “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.” This verse emphasizes the importance of consistency in prayer and in our relationships with others. We are called to be watchful and thankful, and to consistently pray for others and share the message of the gospel.

In conclusion, the Bible emphasizes the power of consistency in our lives. Whether it is in our faith, behavior, or relationships, we are called to be consistent in our obedience to God and in our efforts to serve Him. By consistently following God’s commands and putting His teachings into practice, we can experience the peace and blessings that come from a life lived in obedience to Him.

Taking thoughts captive

Good morning my God, Faith, Grace, and , dachshund family. I trust that everyone has had a great weekend, if you are reading this message, you have had a great weekend despite how bad you might think it was. When I started this group it was my hope that I could use an analogy everyday to relate the Bible and dachshunds to make my points, and for the most part I think I have. As I read some of the replies, I have taken note that as Christians some of us are being defeated.  Today I want to dive a little deeper into protecting our minds, heart, and thought life. Some of the members expressed problems they were having in this area.

I’m not a physiologist or doctor of any kind, so I want to attempt to explain this from a Biblical prospective. Some you might ask where ,how why do I have theses thoughts and how do I stop them. Most of us have five senses , touch, smell, hearing , sight, taste. Our senses can be and are gateways for the enemy to attack us. What we listen to, read ,smell , taste or touch can bring about a negative thought. Matthew 6:22 (KJV) ²²  The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. Matthew 6:23 (KJV) ²³  But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! Colossians 2:21-23 (KJV) ²¹  (Touch not; taste not; handle not; ²²  Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? ²³  Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

Our five senses has a lot to do with our thought life, Job 31:1 (NIV) ¹  “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl. Job knew the dangers of looking a woman lustfully, he knew that once he allowed what his eyes saw to enter his mind and he meditated on it that it would bring about sin. This is what happened to David when he was watching Bathsheba bathe on her balcony. David allowed what he saw to become a stronghold so much so that he slept with Bathsheba and had her husband killed in battle so he could be with her even though she was married. 2 Samuel 11:1-5 (ETRV)
¹ In the spring, when kings go out to war, David sent Joab, his officers, and all the Israelites out to destroy the Ammonites. Joab’s army surrounded their capital city, Rabbah. David stayed in Jerusalem. ² One evening he got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of his house. From there he saw a woman bathing. She was very beautiful, ³ so David sent for his officers and asked them who she was. An officer answered, “That is Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam. She is the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” ⁴ David sent messengers to go and bring Bathsheba to him. She had just purified herself after her monthly time of bleeding. She went to David, he had sexual relations with her, and then she went back to her house. ⁵ Later, Bathsheba became pregnant. She sent word to him saying, “I am pregnant.”

The sin that David committed began because he looked and lusted after another woman, he thought about how to get her for himself, then he slept with her, and tried to blame it on her husband and when that didn’t work he had her husband sent to the front line of the battle where he knew he would be killed. We have four other senses that we use to collect information in the world around us. They are called gates we have to guard these gates by being critical what we allow into our minds and hearts. We have to be very careful what we listen to and watch, these are the two main entry points into our hearts and mind.

The music we listen to is extremely important because it was created by God for God to give Him worship. We have to be vigilant what , and who we listen to. Because satan was the worship leader before he was cast out of heaven he seeks worship through as much as God does. He want us to worship him through song , praise and worship. Ezekiel 28:12-17 (KJV)
¹²  Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.
¹³  Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.
¹⁴  Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
¹⁵  Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
¹⁶  By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
¹⁷  Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.

In conclusion Paul instructs us to take our thoughts captive to the word of God. 2 Corinthians 10:2-5 (KJV) ²  But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
³  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
⁴  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) ⁵  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

The Importance of Salvation

The plan of biblical salvation is a central concept in Christianity and refers to the belief that God has provided a way for humanity to be saved from sin and death and to have eternal life. This plan of salvation is rooted in the belief that humanity has fallen from a state of grace and is in need of redemption and restoration.

According to Christian theology, the plan of salvation was put into motion by God through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christians believe that Jesus, who is the son of God, came to earth as a human being to sacrifice himself for the sins of humanity. Through his death on the cross, Christians believe that Jesus took upon himself the punishment that humanity deserves for its sins, thereby making it possible for individuals to be forgiven and reconciled with God.

The key to participating in the plan of salvation is faith in Jesus Christ. Christians believe that by placing their faith in Jesus and confessing their sins, they are able to receive forgiveness and to be reconciled with God. Through this process of reconciliation, Christians believe that they are able to receive the gift of eternal life, which is the ultimate goal of salvation.

In addition to faith in Jesus, the plan of salvation also involves living a life that is in accordance with the teachings of Jesus and the principles of the Bible. Christians believe that by following Jesus’ teachings and striving to live a life that is pleasing to God, they are able to deepen their relationship with God and to grow in their spiritual journey.

In conclusion, the plan of biblical salvation is a central concept in Christianity and refers to the belief that God has provided a way for humanity to be saved from sin and death and to have eternal life. This plan of salvation is rooted in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and is accessible through faith in him and a life lived in accordance with his teachings. By participating in the plan of salvation, individuals are able to experience the forgiveness of their sins, the reconciliation with God, and the gift of eternal life.

Good morning my God Faith, Grace , and dachshund family, I pray the everyone is having a wonderful Wednesday. The helmet of salvation is the armor that we put on today to extinguish all the fiery darts that the enemy is going to throw at us. The mind is one of the first places that the enemy will attack. Why, because if he can get you to thinking and believing the wrong way, then you will probably end up doing something you should not do. The battle ground is for the mind, the war is for your heart. Wearing your helmet will determine if you are a casualty of war. [KJV] 2CO 4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

In the world of Christianity, the helmet of salvation is often seen as a symbol of protection and hope. This helmet represents the protection that believers have through their faith in Jesus Christ and the hope that comes with the knowledge that they are saved from eternal punishment.

The helmet of salvation is often mentioned in the New Testament, specifically in the book of Ephesians. In this letter, the apostle Paul encourages Christians to put on the full armor of God, which includes the helmet of salvation. This armor is necessary to stand against the evil one and to hold firm to the truth of the gospel. [KJV] EPH 6:17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

To put this in the natural, what does a helmet do? I’m glad you asked. I helmet protect your head from injury during battle, play, or any unforeseen injuries. So in the spiritual realm the helmet protect us from thoughts that the enemy tries to plant a seed in our mind. Once a seed has been planted in your mind it can grow and bring forth undesirable result

[KJV] ROM 7:23  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

[KJV] ROM 7:24  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

[KJV] ROM 7:25  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. Paul remind us to renew our minds daily, because he knows the attack of the enemy is relentless. [KJV] ROM 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

The helmet of salvation is also a reminder that the power to overcome sin and death is not in our own strength, but in the strength of God. It is a symbol of our reliance on Him for protection and the hope that we have in His saving grace. The helmet of salvation is a symbol of the ultimate protection that we have in Christ, and it is a reminder that we can stand firm in the face of spiritual attacks because of the hope that we have in Him.

In conclusion, the helmet of salvation is an important symbol for Christians and it represents the protection and hope that we have in Jesus Christ. It is a reminder of the power of God to overcome sin and death, and it encourages us to stand firm in our faith and to rely on Him for protection and hope. Whether we are facing spiritual battles or just navigating the challenges of daily life, the helmet of salvation is a reminder that we have the ultimate protection and hope in Christ. ~The New Life

[KJV] EPH 4:17  This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

[KJV] EPH 4:18  Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

Good Salvation Sunday to my Faith, Grace, God, and Dachshund family. I pray that everyone is having a great Sunday, I know you are having a great Sunday if you are reading this post because God woke you up this morning. As I meditated on what I would say to this group today I had two things on my heart, one was provision and the other was salvation, I believe Holy Spirit wants me to share salvation with the group today.

I will assume most people in this group know Jesus and have a personal relationship with him if not I will leave a few scriptures that will guide you through repentance and confession. There is more to salvation than having fire insurance, yes it does keep us from going to hell, but it includes much more. I remember the day and time I gave my life to Jesus right to the minute because it was such a life changing experience for me. It was like the weight of the world being lifted off my shoulders. At that point I knew I wasn’t going to hell, but I didn’t know what else came with salvation. Below is the Greek biblical definition for salvation.

sozo {sode’-zo}

from a primary sos (contraction for obsolete saoz, “safe”)

(1) to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction

(1.a) one (from injury or peril)

(1.a.1) to save a suffering one (from perishing), i.e. one suffering from disease, to make well, heal, restore to health

(1.b.1) to preserve one who is in danger of destruction, to save or rescue

In the Bible, salvation is a deliverance from a state of danger or sickness to a state of wholeness, safety, or prosperity. In the ot, it is often identified with military victory (e.g., Psa 20:7). In the ot, God saved (יָשַׁע, yāšaʿ) the Israelites from Egypt (Exod 14:30). Salvation also may involve prosperity, safety, and the reversal of negative circumstances (e.g., 1 Sam 2:1). The nouns related to Hebrew yāšaʿ have a wide range of meanings, such as deliverance and vindication^[1]

When we confess Jesus and give our life to Him, He gives us much more in return. I know some of you in this group have rescued a dachshund from an animal shelter that was going to put the dog down if no one rescued the fur baby in thirty days. It was like that with us, Jesus not only saved us but He rescued us from certain death and destruction. You saved your fur baby you took him or her home gave them a bath, feed them, love them. You took him or her to the vet when they were sick, you help them in your arms when they felt unloved, you protected them from anything you thought might harm them. In return the puppy loved you unconditionally.

The same way you rescued the puppy form the pound Jesus did the same thing for us with one exception, when Jesus saved us, he set us free from the enemy, He took us out of darkness and brought us into the light, and He gave us the free will to choose. We have to make a choice everyday who we are going to serve. Salvation encompass healing, protection, deliverance, victory in our battles and soundness of mind. Salvation is not just about not going to hell, but God wants you to live on earth a life of victory in Jesus. Everything that Adam lost in the garden, Jesus died and gave it back to through His death on the cross and resurrection from the grave.

1 Thessalonians 5:9
For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:24
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

Acts 4:12
And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

Romans 10:9
Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

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^[1] Joel T. Hamme, “Salvation,” ed. Douglas Mangum et al., Lexham Theological Wordbook, Lexham Bible Reference Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014).

Good afternoon my God Faith, Grace, and dachshund family, I trust that everyone is doing well on this thankful rainy Thursday. Sorry for that late post, but I had a doctor’s appointment this morning. Today is the last piece of armor that Paul instructs us to put on to defend ourselves and advance the kingdom of God. You will notice the Sword of the Spirit is the only offensive weapon in the list of armor that we are told to put on.

The Sword of the Spirit is a weapon that is mentioned in the Bible, specifically Ephesians 6:17 (NIV)
17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. It is not a physical sword but rather a spiritual weapon that represents the power of the Word of God. It is said to be the only offensive weapon that Christians have in their arsenal to protect themselves against the attacks of the devil. This sword is often seen as a symbol of the power and protection that is available to all Christians who use the Word of God as a tool to fight against evil and to bring peace to their lives.

The Sword of the Spirit is part of the armor of God mentioned in Ephesians 6, which includes other defensive weapons such as the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, and the shield of faith. These weapons are designed to protect Christians from the attacks of the devil, who is described as a roaring lion seeking to devour and deceive us. By using the Sword of the Spirit, we have a powerful tool to resist the devil and his lies, and to find peace and truth in our lives.

The Sword of the Spirit is also a powerful weapon in spiritual warfare. The devil is always trying to deceive us and lead us away from God, but the Word of God is a powerful defense against his lies. When we memorize scripture, we are equipping ourselves with the truth and the power to resist temptation and the attacks of the devil. The Bible says that the devil is like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, but we have nothing to fear because the Sword of the Spirit gives us the power to resist him. We have the power over the devil according to this verse Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)
12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12 (ETRV)
12 God’s word is alive and working. It is sharper than the sharpest sword and cuts all the way into us. It cuts deep to the place where the soul and the spirit are joined. God’s word cuts to the center of our joints and our bones. It judges the thoughts and feelings in our hearts.

Notice what the writer of Hebrews said it cuts into us, meaning it cut out the things that don’t belong in us, but at the same time the sword is offensive in nature. You should notice the Spirit is Holy Spirit not our spirit. So, the sword is the word of God. All of our battles will be fought with words. God created everything with words. This is why we should be careful what we say as Christians. Proverbs 18:21 (ETRV)
21 The tongue can speak words that bring life or death. Those who love to talk must be ready to accept what it brings.

Proverbs 18:21 (KJV)
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

The Word of God is the source of all truth and wisdom, and by reading and studying the Bible, we gain a deeper understanding of God’s plan for our lives and how to live in a way that pleases Him. The Bible provides guidance on how to live a life filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are the fruits of the Spirit, and they are what make us strong in the face of evil.

The Sword of the Spirit is also a powerful tool in spiritual warfare. The devil is constantly trying to lead us away from God and to deceive us, but by using the Word of God, we have the power to resist temptation and the devil’s attacks. When we memorize scripture, we are equipping ourselves with the truth and power to stand against evil. This allows us to have confidence and peace in the face of any challenge that comes our way.