11:33-46 Christ’s tender sympathy with these afflicted friends, appeared by the troubles of his spirit. In all the afflictions of believers he is afflicted. His concern for them was shown by his kind inquiry after the remains of his deceased friend. Being found in fashion as a man, he acts in the way and manner of the sons of men. It was shown by his tears. He was a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. Tears of compassion resemble those of Christ. But Christ never approved that sensibility of which many are proud, while they weep at mere tales of distress, but are hardened to real woe. He sets us an example to withdraw from scenes of giddy mirth, that we may comfort the afflicted. And we have not a High Priest who cannot be touched with a feeling of our infirmities. It is a good step toward raising a soul to spiritual life, when the stone is taken away, when prejudices are removed, and got over, and way is made for the word to enter the heart. If we take Christ’s word, and rely on his power and faithfulness, we shall see the glory of God, and be happy in the sight. Our Lord Jesus has taught us, by his own example, to call God Father, in prayer, and to draw nigh to him as children to a father, with humble reverence, yet with holy boldness. He openly made this address to God, with uplifted eyes and loud voice, that they might be convinced the Father had sent him as his beloved Son into the world. He could have raised Lazarus by the silent exertion of his power and will, and the unseen working of the Spirit of life; but he did it by a loud call. This was a figure of the gospel call, by which dead souls are brought out of the grave of sin: and of the sound of the archangel’s trumpet at the last day, with which all that sleep in the dust shall be awakened, and summoned before the great tribunal. The grave of sin and this world, is no place for those whom Christ has quickened; they must come forth. Lazarus was thoroughly revived, and returned not only to life, but to health. The sinner cannot quicken his own soul, but he is to use the means of grace; the believer cannot sanctify himself, but he is to lay aside every weight and hinderance. We cannot convert our relatives and friends, but we should instruct, warn, and invite them.
Verse 35. – Jesus wept. The shortest verse, but one of the most suggestive in the entire Scripture. The great wrath against death is subdued now into tears of love, of sympathy, and of deep emotion. Jesus shed tears of sympathetic sorrow. This is in sacred and eternal refutation of the theory which deprives the incarnate Logos of St. John of human heart and spirit. These tears have been for all the ages a grand testimony to the fullness of his humanity, and also a Diving revelation of the very heart of God (see Isaiah 25:8). It was not aκλαυθμός, as the weeping over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41), but profound and wondrous fellow-feeling with human misery in all its forms, then imaged before him in the grave of Lazarus. It is akin to the judicial blindness which has obscured for the Tübingen school so much of the glory of Divine revelation, that Baur should regard this weeping of Jesus as unhistorical.
Jesus wept. As he was going along to the grave, see John 11:28; as he was meditating upon the state of his friend Lazarus, the distress his two sisters were in, and the greater damnation that would befall the Jews then present, who, notwithstanding the miracle, would not believe in him. This shows him to be truly and really man, subject to like passions, only without sin.
35. Jesus wept—This beautifully conveys the sublime brevity of the two original words; else “shed tears” might have better conveyed the difference between the word here used and that twice employed in Joh 11:33, and there properly rendered “weeping,” denoting the loud wail for the dead, while that of Jesus consisted of silent tears. Is it for nothing that the Evangelist, some sixty years after it occurred, holds up to all ages with such touching brevity the sublime spectacle of the Son of God in tears? What a seal of His perfect oneness with us in the most redeeming feature of our stricken humanity! But was there nothing in those tears beyond sorrow for human suffering and death? Could these effects move Him without suggesting the cause? Who can doubt that in His ear every feature of the scene proclaimed that stern law of the Kingdom, “The wages of sin is death” (Ro 6:23), and that this element in His visible emotion underlay all the rest?
Jesus Comforts Martha and Mary
…34and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” 35Jesus wept.36So the Jews were saying, “See how He loved him!”…
Cross References
Luke 19:41
As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it
John 11:33
When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.
John 11:34
“Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied.
Ephesians 3:20-21 (NKJV) ” Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
To all of our WIFI family, Friends, and subscribers, we would personally like to take the time to simply say “Thank You” for being a valued individual of ” World In Focus International Ministries“. I just wanted you all to know that this past 18 month journey I’ve been on with the passing of my Father, and all of the residual drama left behind caused a temporary distraction to my personal and spiritual life, not allowing me to focus on the things of God, and resulting in some of our modalities of our online ministry to be neglected. There were times that we were not able to answer your calls, prayer requests, emails, etc. I make no excuses and want to let you all know that life will throw you some curve balls that you had absolutely nothing to do with or asked for.
The bible only instructed us to honor our PARENTS and love them as instructed in the book of Exodus 20:12, which reads as follow: “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.”
Nevertheless, all I went through and is still going through, I do believe that it’s a part of the plan God has for my life!!! This bible didn’t say to honor our parents if they did everything right or wrong. It just instructs us to honor them. That is why I accepted the assignment, dropped everything in my life to help take care of and see after my Father. I did exactly what my father asked me to do from the goodness of my heart. When you love someone, there is nothing too much you could give to them.. You will drop everything, no matter what inconvenience it could cost you. I want to remind someone that in this life, we get one shot, and one shot only! We get one set of biological parents to love, so I have no regrets. The good part is, through it all, I survived, and I’m much stronger in my faith and my walk with God!!
When trying times come in our lives, lean on God’s word that is being released into the atmosphere. I just thank God for various online ministries that imparted into my life when I was so low until all I could get was an online word. I was and still is today, being fed by some of the finest Pastors on this land. When you are in a very dry place, you need others to pray for you, stand with you, and to love on you until your personal and spiritual health has been restored (restoration). Nevertheless, I stood on the word of God, and believed him for the things I did not understand. The guidance that was being deposited into my life was priceless..
Nevertheless, my Father preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ and carried the great message of FAITH and GRACE everywhere he went. I want everyone to know that he fought a good fight, and he kept the faith and he finished his course on December 22, 2013. Although, he is gone, what he deposited spiritually into my spirit can’t be bought.. I’m honored that my Father chose and trusted me enough to be his Power Attorney over his life to make many vital medical decisions when he got to the point where he was unable to do for himself, or make his own medical decisions. He knew that we were on the same spiritual FAITH wave link, and I would stand and believe with him for his healing, and carry out the final wishes he wanted to take place in the final chapter of his life. All five wishes were granted. I even managed to make contact with his son that he had not seen since he was 33-years-old. My brother and I both alike are the same age with him being one month older than I, and he has a different mother. It happened in God’s timing. I remember laying in the hospital, and something told me to check my messages, and low and behold when I did there was a message from my brother’s caretaker saying that she would love for my Dad to see his son. The connection was made, and I gave her the information from a hospital where I was being held against my will.
At this time, I was no longer allowed at bedside with my Dad because there was a big confrontation that broke out between the new attending physician and myself who took it upon himself to verbally change my father’s final five wishes, which my Father chose to exercise his faith and do everything possible to keep him alive until the Lord called him home… See, man wanted to plant in his head to go ahead and be a (DNR) do not resuscitate in the case he stopped breathing as they removed him from the ventilator before my very eyes with security standing around me and an irate nurse who had a problem with me asking this physician: “WHAT PART OF MY DAD’S ADVANCE DIRECTIVES DIDN’T HE UNDERSTAND?” From there, everything went downhill after the nurse jumped in my face and their hospital security forcefully threw me out of the hospital after they let me watch respiratory therapy unhook him from the ventilator and all the machines that he did not need anyways because he was already in the palm of the hands of the Lord. It was just a matter of it being his appointed time. So they said I could not return to the hospital because I disrespected the physician. Not in all of my years in the medical field, had I ever heard of anything so assigning. I was the one being disrespected and my Dad’s written advance directives were not being honored and I was livid. They knew that I would enforce my Dad’s last testaments which is called “Advance Directives” that the patient choose how they want to be treated in their final days and all of their wishes are carried out, and my job as a daughter first, and then his appointed Power of Attorney was to give my DAD what he wanted, and that was to exercise his faith down to his last breath. He just asked to be made comfortable with meds. It was a real nightmare, unheard of that a doctor would step in and try and change someone’s advance directives. It was my Dad’s choice to believe that God was going to heal him. Even after they took him off of the ventilator he lived another 30 days, and long enough to receive one final visit from his son, and even so, my brother was given the opportunity to attend his Father’s funeral. I did not attend the funeral because I just was not strong enough at the time; I was broken!!
Nevertheless, all I went through was worth it, because my Dad was not going to leave this land until what he asked for was fulfilled, and God’s will was done in his life.
I want to encourage someone and let them know that God has the final say over our lives, not man! The bible says we shall live out until our appointed time, and he did that with or without me being at his bedside. After which, I called to the hospital throughout the the night to see how my father was doing, only to be treated nasty by various nurses and staff that answered the phones. The next day, the director of the hospital (Mary Ann Patton) told me the next day that she instructed the staff to hang up in my face, which was wrong on all levels even to treat a dog in that manner that was losing their parent. I was grieving. Then the next day, I received a call from that same director of the hospital who stood at my Father’s bedside , and put him on the phone for me to talk to him, and all I could ask my Dad was: “why didn’t you protect your advance directives or me? His final words: “I DON’T KNOW!” I began to weep uncontrollably, because I did what my Dad had asked me to do before he became unable to care for himself. He signed the notarized document which was witnessed by two other people, and his advance directives should have been honored. I told my Dad, if he ever want to check that (DNR) box, that was his right too, and I would have supported him in anyway he wanted the final chapter of his life to end..
So now, in the next hour, I get a knock upon my door, and it was our local Irvine police, saying they were called by the Hospital in Torrance where my Dad was slowly transitioning, asked them to come out and check on me… #really??? I open the door and said: good afternoon officers, may I help you? Then they began to say how the hospital director was worried about me, but they saw I was at ease because I had heard my Father’s voice, which would be the final time ever that I would hear or see him again. I never had a problem with him dyeing, because my bible tells me that when we get to heaven we all will get a new glorified body, and if we live right down here on this earth, we will see our loved one’s again. That is my Dad’s teachings, straight from the bible which often rolled off the fruit of his lips. Daddy was a real praiser by the way!!!
The police went away for two hours, and then returned to my house again, and said they were just checking on me. I noticed this time, every time I tried to go inside my home, one officer just kept talking to me, and again, I was ok, because I had heard my Dad’s voice and I was so happy that he did not expire that night even after being induced into a comma prior to, which I signed the papers authorizing them to induce him into a comma at certain hours of the day so his body could rest. My Dad was very feeble as they removed him from the ventilator, but I was at ease because I knew God was in control of his life… It was never I, but God working all the time. I am certain that Dr. was so wrong on so many levels, but was so right that “your” services, (meaning me) were no longer needed and said that my Dad was capable of making his own decisions. At this point it was evident that none of our services were needed, he was slowly transitioning. It would have been in their best interest to just leave good enough alone since he was going to die anyways, but just not when they wanted him too. He was very adamant about exercising his faith. His faith in God brought him his last final wish, and that was to see his child.. It happened!!
After the Irvine police tricked me and entertained me for over two hours, there drives up the Torrance Police cop car to my house with Irvine police standing back watching as the officer from Torrance jumps out of his cop car, threw me down on the ground in a short dress and no shoes on and began pouncing on me in front of my child who was 10-year-old at the time. He claimed, I resisted arrest, when all I was doing was trying to get my shoes which were at the door as I was being rushed with excessive force which equates to police brutality that I did not deserve. He never read me my rights or said what I did wrong. Later on I was told that the nurse told a lie, and said the night before, I called the hospital floor and talked to her and said I was going to get her. I never said anything of that nature, and to this day, no phone records were produced by this hospital with me saying such, but the Torrance police drove 50 miles to Irvine, CA on a lie, and hearsay with no proof. All hell broke loose from there after I was arrested for only carrying out my Father’s Advance Directives. Of note, someone cut my car tires with a blade that I took over to the Torrance police department a few days before the main incident, and filed a report with them to pull the surveillance video to see who had vandalize my car at that same hospital. To this date, no surveillance camera video from the valet services were produced to address my complaint, but the nurse who I don’t have a clue what she looked like would get prompt services from that same officer that took my police report and said he would help me find out who vandalized my car at the hospital. He was the same officer who took my report , but brought with him the baddest corrupt cop he could find to beat the living daylights out of me for nothing. Once at the station, the same police officer who came to my home with about 10 more officers dressed in hazmat suits came into my cell, put a bag over my head backwards, and rushed me, and I was already on the ground, which I had been there sitting over 2 hours. In my mind, I was thinking, what chance did I have against 10 police officer and one was videotaping the whole ordeal as that same cop who brutally attacked me in front of the Irvine police at my home, took the lead again and it was all she wrote. I could have been killed. The cop thought he would try and finish me off. What he did not know was I have had to fight the enemy all of my life for no reason at all. The other nine officers backed off, and it was just he and I, and I gave it all I had if I was going to die and I did not care. They did all of that, just to put me in a chair that looked like an electrocuting type chair on wheels, only to wheel me over to the fingerprinting station. Surely, I could have peacefully walked over there without being rushed by 10 officers. Then after which, the ambulance team shows up and they transferred me to Harbor General hospital where my Dad’s ex fiance who stuck by his side every step of the way, and she knew my story, would later on be my nurse at the hospital where I found favor. What were my odds of being taken to a random hospital and be cared for by my Dad’s fiance. She literally fed me, bathed me, and called my oldest son to let him know that I was ok and I was in her care. Then later, I would be transferred back to an Orange County Hospital where I was there for almost 2 1/2 weeks, after I had been assaulted and punched in the face by the light skin african american cop who violated me at my home and the police station. The hospital took pictures of all of my scars, wounds and bruises, which I have the pictures in my possession. Only God can make a person like me look so good after being so brutally abused for no reason at all.
After I got home, I found out that the nurse had the audacity to file a restraining order on me that I could not answer because I was in the hospital, and to top it off, the Torrance police sends me a letter after I was released from the hospital, saying there is a warrant for my arrest. Of note, I did not ask to leave the jail to go to the hospital. They took it upon themselves to let me go, and the doctor released me to home. After which, I was not going to the Torrance police station ever for no peaceful surrender. I later would have to contact an attorney, and I did not stop until I got the answers I needed to be free. They instructed me that I could surrender to any city police station, and I did, and it was about a 30 minute process, posted bail and I was on my way, and have been on my way every since, free! One attorney told me that I was facing 14 years in prison for what I did. What did I do? I cared for my Father. To this date all charges were dropped but I’m not satisfied because no justice was served to the hospital, the wicked doctor or the cop who brutally beat me. I want justice but I could not live out a trial, for what they said. So I took the lil deal and that was 150 hours of community service, and 52 counseling sessions. For what? Should I have been treated like a dog for doing good, and what I was asked to do. I want to sue these organizations so bad, but it was so painful and I could not find a good attorney to help me, and to this date, it puzzles me, why did I have to go through all of this? Never had a prior record, and had never been in trouble with the law ever, and all of a sudden I’m a criminal for carrying out my Father’s final 5 wishes. To this date, I do not know what this nurse looks like or would I be able to identify her even the next day.. The nurse was not my concern or my business. I was only concerned about my Dad and his well being.
So, even when we do a good deed for others, you never know what lessons you may have to learn or what God may want to teach you in the process. I learned “LOVE” on a new level. Lets just say, I got the unexpected, and today, I’m still standing tall with a smile on my face as I blog this inspiration to the world. There is a message above in the scripture: Exodus 20:12, and I did my part. See, I hear God speaking loudly saying to someone today other than myself: NO CROSS, NO CROWN!!!!
There is a cross for all of us, no one is exempt. Most of us think we should always be up and no trials will ever come. Wrong, they will come, but the good thing is knowing how to deal with them when they do. That is why it is so important to build our lives on a solid foundation so when the wind blows, your house may crack, and things may shut down but know it’s still nothing besides what Jesus went through. They made him carry his own cross. They beat him; they talked about him; they nailed him to that old rugged cross so you can I can know that we too can take it, and just like Jesus, after he carried his cross, they pierced him in the side and the precious blood came streaming down, but he never said a mumbling word. Sometimes we just have learn how to be quiet and let Jesus fight our battles. What they did not know is that Jesus had all power in his hands to do exceedingly, and abundantly to come up off of his cross if he wanted too, but he said in John 2:19 “Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” Jesus, he did just what he said he would do from the 6th to the 9th hour and he got up one Sunday morning with all power in his hands.
It took me longer to get back to you all, because after being misused, lied on, talked about, literally beat down , then could not see my Father the last 30 days of his life was painful, but I kept the faith, and I carried my cross. No it did not feel good, but in the end God fixed it all. God is just sitting back waiting on us to believe that he can do anything but fail. He is able to turn your life around and fix everything that seem so impossible. We will encounter situations that will break in our earthly house and vessels, but if we learn to lean on our eternal father, Jesus who is able to do anything but fail. I’m going to say it again: “Things will break”. Just like a good looking car with a perfect outer body, breaks down too, and when it does, you may find yourself stopped in your tracks, distracted and even frustrated. Just relax, it’s a normal reaction. The good part is, there’s an expert mechanic waiting somewhere to fix your internal problems that you had nothing do with it. I can hear someone saying, well I followed the recommended manual that came with the car, and you did everything you were required to do to keep it running right, but it still did not stop it from breaking down. You changed the oil, you took the car in for a major servicing, and sometimes I even gave it a tune up and put new spark plugs in it, just so it could be dependable on the road. No matter what situation you find yourself in, God is still there. I’ve been in church all my life, I love the Lord with all my heart, I have professed Jesus Christ to be center of my life, but I heard God say: I want to give you some fresh oil, a new burning desire to serve and love me even the more.. I tell you, I thought I had a relationship with God before this ordeal… If I didn’t, I promise you, I do now! I’ve never felt so close to God, because he is close to the person that is broken hearted. All he want us to do is surrender everything for him, and let his will be done in our lives. Sometimes he just wants see if we will remain faithful, and still serve and praise his Holy Name when the road gets rough… You can rest assure he will NEVER leave you alone!!!
I want you to know, just like the Lord did it for me these past 18 months, he can do it for you too! I want to encourage someone and let them know that there is nothing to hard for our God to solve. Our God is faithful, and he waits on us until we are ready. He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all we can ever ask or think.. Stop right here, take a deep breath, and just shout out his precious name: “JESUS!”
Remember this when you’re going through: “NO CROSS, NO CROWN!!” I know someone is wondering why must we bear our cross alone? See, there is a cross for everyone and I know there is a cross for me; however, after you have bared your cross, and you stood the test of time, God has a crown waiting on you and I!!!
Love you all so much!! Please continue to keep me and my family in prayer as we resolve unfinished business left behind from my Father’s estate. God is able to fix that situation too!!!
I believe!!!!
Oh yeah, p.s.: Just wanted to share with you all that the precious Lord Jesus allowed me to see another year.. Yes, “APRIL” is my birthday month, and the Lord allowed me to see another year on April 11.. I tell you, I am so grateful and thankful for my life!!! I’ve been celebrating all month long, with family and friends.. I feel like I should celebrate for the rest of my life, after all the hell I’ve been through.. But I am a realist, and until the end of the month, I’m going out of my way to do great things that would deem sufficient this entire month. I just want the world to know that it is ok to celebrate your life, your accomplishments, and celebrate the things you have overcome!!! I’m out family, and I just wanted to let somebody know that with God, all things are possible if we just believe!!! The most important part is that my FAITH is strong, and the sun is shining again in my life because we serve a God of light!!! “Happy Birthday” is in order!! #life #celebrate
Here is an inspirational song that blessed my soul when I was going through… I hope you listen up and be blessed… #sang #vickie
Zechariah 13:6 (KJV) “And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.”
Proverbs 27:6 (NIV) “Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
but an enemy multiplies kisses.”
I just wanted to share a word of encouragement with all of our WiFI Subscribers, Family and Friend’s.
The word of God tells us that those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends (Brethren) Zechariah 13:6. But the word also tells us that faithful are the wounds of a friend Proverbs 27:6. So, all the times we are being wounded on this earth, we have to view it as coming from God, because if He’s allowing it, them, him or her to proceed with whatever is going on, then He is using it to get the glory. Sometimes we have to give up what we think we know is right and embrace the lesson, no matter who is delivering it. Change is good and most of my change came from God using those closest to me to wound me, abandon me, discard, discount, rebuke, dispute, clown, embarrass and treat me in ways I could never imagine treating an enemy… Nevertheless, it was all for my good. What it taught me is, if I can examine (look at closely) what someone is telling me or showing me – HONESTLY, removing SELF out of the equation and ASK God “What are you teaching me? Show me, Holy Spirit” Watch His revelation. And I know that you know: NO PAIN- NO GAIN! Stay encouraged and remember that you don’t have to prove a point to anyone, just stay true to God… We are to be the Salt of the earth (different in every way!)
◄ Mark 12:31 ►
Parallel Verses
New International Version
The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
New Living Translation
The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
English Standard Version
The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
New American Standard Bible
“The second is this, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
King James Bible
And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
Holman Christian Standard Bible
“The second is: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other command greater than these.”
International Standard Version
The second is this: ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
NET Bible
The second is: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
GOD’S WORD® Translation
The second most important commandment is this: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
Jubilee Bible 2000
And the second is like it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is no other commandment greater than these.
King James 2000 Bible
And the second is like, namely this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.
American King James Version
And the second is like, namely this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
American Standard Version
The second is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the second is like to it: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is no other commandment greater than these.
Darby Bible Translation
And a second like it [is] this: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is not another commandment greater than these.
English Revised Version
The second is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
Webster’s Bible Translation
And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: there is no other commandment greater than these.
Weymouth New Testament
“The second is this: ‘Thou shalt love thy fellow man as thou lovest thyself.’ “Other Commandment greater than these there is none.”
World English Bible
The second is like this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Young’s Literal Translation
and the second is like it, this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself; — greater than these there is no other command.’
Parallel Commentaries
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
12:28-34 Those who sincerely desire to be taught their duty, Christ will guide in judgment, and teach his way. He tells the scribe that the great commandment, which indeed includes all, is, that of loving God with all our hearts. Wherever this is the ruling principle in the soul, there is a disposition to every other duty. Loving God with all our heart, will engage us to every thing by which he will be pleased. The sacrifices only represented the atonements for men’s transgressions of the moral law; they were of no power except as they expressed repentance and faith in the promised Saviour, and as they led to moral obedience. And because we have not thus loved God and man, but the very reverse, therefore we are condemned sinners; we need repentance, and we need mercy. Christ approved what the scribe said, and encouraged him. He stood fair for further advance; for this knowledge of the law leads to conviction of sin, to repentance, to discovery of our need of mercy, and understanding the way of justification by Christ.
Pulpit Commentary
Verse 31. – Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. God is to be loved above everything – above all angels, or men, or any created thing. But after God, amongst created things, our neighbor is above all to be loved. And we are to extend to our neighbor that kind of love with which we love ourselves. Our love of ourselves is not a frigid love, but a sincere and ardent love. In like manner we should love our neighbour, and desire for him all those good things both for the body and for the soul that we desire for ourselves. This is what our Lord himself teaches us. “All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, even so do unto them.” There is none other commandment greater than these. St. Matthew (Matthew 22:40) says, “On these two commandments hang the whole Law and the prophets.” There is no commandment greater than these, because all the precepts of the Divine Law are included in them. So that our Lord here teaches us that we ought continually to have these two precepts in our minds and before our eyes, and direct all our thoughts and words and actions by them, and regulate our whole life according to them.
Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
And the second is like,…. “Unto it”, as in Matthew 22:39 and so it is read here in two ancient copies of Beza’s, and in the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, Persic, and Ethiopic versions;
namely this, thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. This commandment stands in Leviticus 19:18 and respects not an Israelite only, or one of the same religion with a man’s self, or his intimate friend and acquaintance, or one that lives in the same neighbourhood; but any man whatever, to whom affection should be shown, and good should be done to him, and for him, as a man would have done to and for himself; as much as lies in his power, both in things temporal and spiritual; see the note on Matthew 22:39.
There is none other commandment greater than these; in the whole law, moral or ceremonial; not the sabbath, nor circumcision, nor the phylacteries, nor the fringes on the borders of the garments, nor any other.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
31. And the second is like—”unto it” (Mt 22:39); as demanding the same affection, and only the extension of it, in its proper measure, to the creatures of Him whom we thus love—our brethren in the participation of the same nature, and neighbors, as connected with us by ties that render each dependent upon and necessary to the other.
Thou shall love thy neighbour as thyself—Now, as we are not to love ourselves supremely, this is virtually a command, in the first place, not to love our neighbor with all our heart and soul and mind and strength. And thus it is a condemnation of the idolatry of the creature. Our supreme and uttermost affection is to be reserved for God. But as sincerely as ourselves we are to love all mankind, and with the same readiness to do and suffer for them as we should reasonably desire them to show to us. The golden rule (Mt 7:12) is here our best interpreter of the nature and extent of these claims.
There is none other commandment greater than these—or, as in Mt 22:40, “On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets” (see on [1485]Mt 5:17). It is as if He had said, “This is all Scripture in a nutshell; the whole law of human duty in a portable, pocket form.” Indeed, it is so simple that a child may understand it, so brief that all may remember it, so comprehensive as to embrace all possible cases. And from its very nature it is unchangeable. It is inconceivable that God should require from his rational creatures anything less, or in substance anything else, under any dispensation, in any world, at any period throughout eternal duration. He cannot but claim this—all this—alike in heaven, in earth, and in hell! And this incomparable summary of the divine law belonged to the Jewish religion! As it shines in its own self-evidencing splendor, so it reveals its own true source. The religion from which the world has received it could be none other than a God-given religion!
Mark 12:31 Additional Commentaries
The Greatest Commandment
30 ANDlj YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’ 31″The second is this, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32The scribe said to Him, “Right, Teacher; You have truly stated that HE IS ONE, AND THERE IS NO ONE ELSE BESIDES HIM;…
Cross References
Leviticus 19:18 “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.”
Mark 12:32
“Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him.
Treasury of Scripture
And the second is like, namely this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
Leviticus 19:13 You shall not defraud your neighbor, neither rob him…
Matthew 7:12 Therefore all things whatever you would that men should do to you, …
Matthew 19:18,19 He said to him, Which? Jesus said, You shall do no murder, You shall …
Matthew 22:39 And the second is like to it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Luke 10:27,36,37 And he answering said, You shall love the Lord your God with all …
Romans 13:8,9 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loves …
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Charity suffers long, and is kind; charity envies not; charity braggs …
Galatians 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; You shall …
James 2:8-13 If you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, You shall …
1 John 3:17-19 But whoever has this world’s good, and sees his brother have need, …
1 John 4:7,8,21 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one..
Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV): “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Every since I made the decision, and literally gave away the keys to God’s house, there has been no real peace in MY life…Yes, we still have EVERYTHING in tact, and yes we do outreach ministry daily, and yes we are still prospering and in good health for the most part, etc, but there’s still a void in my life that I just cannot fill… Yes, I love my online / outreach ministry at World In Focus International Ministries (WIFI), it is excellent, and many lives have and are being changed and are being blessed, and lives are being changed as we speak. I know because we read all the mail, emails, and answer the calls, and listen to the voicemails, so we know that souls around the world are being saved, inspired and souls are being led to Christ with what we are sharing nation wide.. The written word or the Lord, and Inspirations.
However, it’s just not like the 4-wall-experience we were use to having at 2nd Corinthian Ministries, Inc., founded by my Father, the late Rev. J.E. Thomas. I must confess, that I have not found a church I really like or have my desires been met since I made the wrong decision that led to the doors being closed.. I have no one to blame but myself for trusting someone else with the key to what God placed in our hands. Yes, I have repented and asked God for his forgiveness for the decision I made… I’m not sure how to fix it, but I know God can if it’s in his will… I do know that God’s work and legacy must go on, and we will continue to do his will with the platform we’ve been given.. When I asked for a church January 1, 2015, I really literally meant that… I told God, I don’t need a house on the hill, or a butler or a driver, or any material things… Just give me Jesus and let me do his will…
This is why the devil is fighting me so hard, because he knows if I ever got my hands on what’s rightfully mine, I would use it to build up God’s Kingdom… I can’t cry over spilled milk, but in God’s timing it will happen again with the prayers of the righteous..
From this day forward, I’m placing the problem that torments me in your hands, and Yes Lord, I hear you speaking loud and clear on tonight, and I’m listening..
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV) : “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
James 1:5 (ESV): “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV): “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Proverbs 3:6 (ESV) In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
I remember 1999 just like yesterday, as it was a very intense year for many of us. I remember everyone being scared about the Y2K, and entering into the New Millennium. Just like then, over 12 years ago, and here we are with iphones, ipads, face-time, etc.
Most of us did not know what to expect. All I know is that I went to church and got my praise on, went home and everything, including all our computers were just fine.
I said all that reminiscing on that significant day to say this:.. ~ 2014 is going to be just fine!!!
Our advice to all of of our subscribers, family and friends: “Keep your trust in God!” No matter what man says: “Trust God!”
2014 – we are trusting God with our very lives as we’ve always done in the past years with miraculous results.
Trust God, and watch the blessings of the Lord overtake your life in 2014 and always.. Of note, we did not just say above that it was going to be easy trusting, but just know that each trial comes to make us strong! Keep your hands in the master hands and everything in our lives will work out fine!
We are saying good bye to 2013 and praising our way into 2014 “TRUSTING GOD” with all thine heart… We will not lean to our own understanding, because when the road gets rough, we may not always understand, but God knows and understands totally.
This is a surrender to him on this last day of 2013 as we walk into 2014 with a greater mindset than we had in 2013!
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Let the house of Aaron say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Let those who fear the Lord say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free.
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways! You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes!
Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!
Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie! You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told.
Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie! You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told. In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see.
Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.
Glad songs of salvation are in the tents of the righteous: “The right hand of the Lord does valiantly, the right hand of the Lord exalts, the right hand of the Lord does valiantly!”
As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me! For evils have encompassed me beyond number; my iniquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see; they are more than the hairs of my head; my heart fails me.
But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, “Great is the Lord!” As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God!
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.
My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. Trust in theLord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it. I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
They surrounded me like bees; they went out like a fire among thorns; in the name of the Lord I cut them off! I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the Lord helped me.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. All nations surrounded me; in the name of the Lord I cut them off! They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side; in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Let the house of Aaron say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Let those who fear the Lord say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”
Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me! O Lord, make haste to help me! Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether who seek to snatch away my life; let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt! Let those be appalled because of their shame who say to me, “Aha, Aha!” But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, “Great is the Lord!”
I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation.
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord. Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie! You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told.
To the choirmaster: according to The Doe of the Dawn. A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
Terah took Abram his son and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife, and they went forth together from Ur of the Chaldeans to go into the land of Canaan, but when they came to Haran, they settled there.
The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion. When a land transgresses, it has many rulers, but with a man of understanding and knowledge, its stability will long continue. A poor man who oppresses the poor is a beating rain that leaves no food. Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law strive against them. Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand it completely.
And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So he left them and departed. When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread.
To the choirmaster: according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. How long will all of you attack a man to batter him, like a leaning wall, a tottering fence? They only plan to thrust him down from his high position. They take pleasure in falsehood. They bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse. Selah For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”
So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.
If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.
Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
All his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said, “No, I shall go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.” Thus his father wept for him.
But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died,
Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol? Shall I redeem them from Death? O Death, where are your plagues? O Sheol, where is your sting? Compassion is hidden from my eyes.
But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.
Sheol beneath is stirred up to meet you when you come; it rouses the shades to greet you, all who were leaders of the earth; it raises from their thrones all who were kings of the nations.
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.”
I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.
And said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
“There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.
Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of theLord shall prosper in his hand.
Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.” Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;
But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,
And when they say to you, “Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,” should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living?
For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land. In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there. But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.
The Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying, “Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel, by clans, by fathers’ houses, according to the number of names, every male, head by head. From twenty years old and upward, all in Israel who are able to go to war, you and Aaron shall list them, company by company. And there shall be with you a man from each tribe, each man being the head of the house of his fathers. And these are the names of the men who shall assist you. From Reuben, Elizur the son of Shedeur;
If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
As I awake on this Sunday morning, the Lord reminded me of a powerful word that set with my soul so dearly back in 2012 during the Women Thou Art Loosed Conference sponsored by Bishop T.D. Jakes Ministries. Today, I will re-share with you the words that rang loudly in my spirit. The words you hear in the enclosed video below were preached so eloquently by: Pastor Cindy Trimm. What a dynamic ministry gift she has to break the bread of life, and rightly divide the word of truth. I personally thank her for sharing those powerful words that resonates over one year later with my soul..
Read below, Pastor Trimm’s exact words I transcribed from this one minute and twenty five seconds clip that’s loaded with a word from the Lord that I needed to adhere to today! I must re-share this word with you, as the Lord re-shared this sound word, intimately, with me.
I decree and declare on today, that I reconfirm that I am the vessel God chose at the early age of 12-years-old, and every since that day sitting on our piano in the living room, in the privacy of our own home while I was playing and singing the great song: “Yes, Jesus Loves me!” – That day, I said: “Yes” to the Lord, because I knew at that moment that I was chosen from my mother’s womb, and that there has always been a great calling on my life. I’ve been commissioned and chosen by God to do his will and live his way. I am certain and I know that I’ve been chosen by God to do the work of the Lord. I am positive about who I am in Christ Jesus to represent the Kingdom of God. No more I, but it is you Lord that we represent. Forgive me dear Jesus if I have misrepresented you in any way form or fashion. I surrender this day, and move forward in you to fulfill this mandate that rests upon my life. ~ “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, ~ Galatians 1:15
I am convinced that the word of the Lord is the only tool we have left that will reshape our lives. The word of God is always valid, on time and it stands forevermore!
“We don’t know who we are! We don’t know where we come from! We don’t know how powerful we are!”
“We have NEVER been, and will never be a religious institution! We are a political movement! We have come to tear up the kingdom of darkness, to establish the kingdom of light! The Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent taketh by force!”
Isaiah 49:1
Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the LORD called me; from my mother’s womb he has spoken my name.
Isaiah 49:5
And now the LORD says– he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD and my God has been my strength–
Jeremiah 1:5
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
Acts 9:15
But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.
Romans 1:1
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God–
Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:30
And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
“What a Friend We Have in Jesus” is a Christian hymn originally written by Joseph M. Scriven as a poem in 1855 to comfort his mother who was living in while he was in Canada. Scriven originally published the poem anonymously, and only received full credit for it in the 1880s. The tune to the hymn was composed by Charles Crozat Converse in 1868.William Bolcom composed a setting of the hymn.
The hymn also has many versions with different lyrics in multiple languages, such as the Japanese version “Itsukushimi Fukaki” (いつくしみ深き?, lit. “Deep Affection”), or a version sung during World War I with the line “When this bloody war is over” in place of the original title.
The Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal notes, “In spite of the fact that this hymn, with its tune, has been criticized as being too much on the order of the sentimental gospel type, its popularity remains strong, and the hymn retains a place in modern hymnals.”
No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!”
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ,
Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), he left Judea and departed again for Galilee. And he had to pass through Samaria. So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.
