Does the Lord direct our steps? The answer to this question is yes. The Lord God makes it possible for all of us to walk, talk, and breathe His air. This is because the air that we breathe each day does not belong to us. If a man’s steps are of the Lord, how come man’s immortality rates are higher than child birth? When it comes to man, God is always there to help him. Although man’s sense of direction is questionable.
I say this because man cannot do everything all by himself. This is the reason why man needs a mediator between him and God. If you want know the truth, we are all holding onto God’s right hand. I have another question. Is it true that man does not know his own way? This is a question for someone who has a Theology Degree to answer. John 3:27 says John answered and said A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. Therefore, all things are given to man in advance.
Do you know that man uses 50% of his own efforts when it comes to God? Yet, man is exhausted and tired after completing a task that God has for him. I am a man myself, and I will not be able to understand God like some of us. According to Isaiah 55:8 says My thoughts are higher than your thoughts and My ways are higher than your ways. man, himself was created by God while inside of our mother’s womb.
Another question that I have to ask. Does God really want man to understand him? In order for man to understand God, he must submit to His will. Will man ever get an opportunity to understand God? Is it true that we have to submit to God’s will in order to understand him? Is there a middle ground? The answer to this question is no. I only write blogs and essays just to cope with a mental illness.
It is not too late to ask God for wisdom and knowledge. God has granted me the serenity to accept the things that I cannot change. Please give me the courage to change the things that I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Just for today!! I only wanted to fully understand God, but that is impossible. I have submitted to His will on February 15, 2015. For the past eight years I have yielded to God myself. I have to put Him first in my life.
Ephesians 5:1-2: And What It Means to All People!! By Anthony Joseph Hopkins October 31, 2020
Praise the Lord Saints!! Praise the Lord Everyone!! How are all of you doing today? Fine, I hope. I would like to start this essay off by asking a very important question. How do you go by becoming an imitator of Jesus Christ? I am asking this question because I had to learn how to become an imitator of Jesus Christ from being around my mother, grandmothers, aunt, and from my grandfather.
Next, I want to say to everyone that I really need your prayers right now. I want to be transparent by saying that I had to start all over again. This is because I am a hoarder; I am a very lazy person. I also want to say that my apartment is very messy. I have been very generous to everyone else except myself.
Furthermore, I also want to say is that I help others more than myself. I realize that right now that the money that we earn each month does not belong to us. Our money belongs to God. The air that we breathe out of our mouth does not belong to us. According to Psalm 144:4 says: Man is like a breath. His days is like a passing shadow.
How do we learn to become imitators of Jesus Christ as dear children? First, we have to make an honest omission and confession to God, to ourselves, and to others. We have to let go and let God. We have to give God an opportunity to work in our lives. I will admit that I hear voices that others do not hear. These voices are not the Holy Spirit. I listen to secular music from Mary J. Blige because it soothes me from hearing the voices.
Frankly, I suffer from a mental illness called schizoid affective disorder. This means that I suffer from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder at the same time. I do not want to be labeled as a double minded person. I have been listening to church sermons rather than secular music. I am very overwhelmed by the voices that I hear that other people do not hear.
I am completely ready to submit to God. I have to learn how to take salvation very seriously. Another Example, is that my neighbors, who live inside of my apartment building play loud music all night long. They also drink alcohol, and smoke marijuana. I have been living inside of my apartment for almost 10 years now.
In Addition, I attend Fort McKinley United Methodist Church in Dayton, Ohio. I have been a member of the church for almost 6 years now. I am a Christian man. I am confessing my faults and trespasses to everyone. My neighbors keep me up all night by playing loud music. They smoke cigarettes inside of the hallway inside of my apartment building. It bothers me because I suffer from asthma right now.
Finally, I still have a question to ask. How do you really deal with very difficult people? My neighbors, who live on my floor are very apathetic. I really need help this time around because I am trying my best to stay out of trouble. Thank you for understanding me as a person. I have been praying to God about my personal problems but God does not hear me because I am viewed as a sinner myself.
Heavenly Father, I pray for justice, for retribution for all those who oppress, terrorize and torment, while I pray for compassion and hope for all who are victims. I vow in You and in the name of Jesus Christ my savoir to speak on the side of the righteous, the side of right and light amongst the shadows of evil. I pray in You Lord, to help heal the injured, and to show them peace in the afterlife. Amen.
Whosoever Guard His Mouth and Tongue keeps His Soul from Troubles. This is the truth because my grandparents used to tell me this Bible verse to my face because I was always getting into trouble. I know that your own tongue cannot be tamed. The tongue is a consuming fire. I guess if someone loves you besides God, then you are blessed. My family members used to always keep me from going to jail or prison. This means that you need to keep your mouth shut. My mother worried about her children. She did not want any of us to get into trouble all of the time. My grandparents were the same way. They didn’t want us in jail or prison. The mouth is filled with poison.
Further, I want to say that my mouth got me beaten up by other kids in school. I remember back in 1975, I got into a fist fight with a girl, and she whipped me really good. The 1970s we’re terrible for me because even my own sister beat me up in the past. This Bible verse is simple. Please keep your mouth shut.
Finally, I want to inform all of you to please spend time with God. I know that I have to spend more time with God. I need God to give me a Reality Check. One thing that I can say is that I don’t talk as much as I used to. I have learned a valuable lesson from my past. I do not say anything to anyone at times. Right now, people will shoot you with a gun rather than fight with their fist. We are living in the Last Days. I really don’t know what is happening right now, but people have changed with the times. Please keep me and my family members in your prayers and thoughts. I really don’t want to see any of my family members in hell. It would crush me to see my family members in hell. I don’t want to go to hell myself. This is the reason why I am living my life in peace right now. I remember on Saturday August 19, 1994, I saw my oldest grandmother inside of a casket. I kept crying because I didn’t want her to die. I get very emotional if someone that I know dies. I really need peace for the rest of my life. I am scared of death. It hurts really bad. Please keep me in your prayers because I don’t like funerals. I tend to break down and cry to death.
I am a child of the Most High God. I have to demonstrate that I am a Child of The Most High God by doing good work. Like they say, faith without works is dead. I believe it. I have to complete another 4th Step Inventory. I have to be honest and truthful all over again. I have to be honest and truthful each day of my life. I am a Child of The Most High God because I am very unique. I am truthful because I have to be real with all people and God for the rest of my life.
Your Body Is a Temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? This is the truth because it is inside of the Bible. What are some things that we do to destroy our temple? We are smoking marijuana, Crack, and cigarettes. We are destroying our own Temple of God because we enjoy cigarettes, and nicotine as a means to get high. People are actually doing this to themselves. I remember when my oldest grandmother told me that I was born with alcohol inside of my bloodstream. My grandparents spoke with me about Moms behavior. When my mother got married at the age of 23, I was in a state of shock. This is because I wanted my mother and biological father to get married to each other. My father was already married to his wife. My mother moved on with her life. I guess I was too understand. When I got older, I started asking questions about my father.
Next, I started drinking alcohol and coffee as a child. I remember during the year of 1974, I was nine years old. I was drinking coffee with my mother. I used to eat peanut butter and honey sandwiches. I drunk one cup of coffee per day. At that time, I was processing everything around me. Coffee does increase your memory and it also send you to the bathroom all of the time. I was defiling my own Temple myself. For 18 years, I was defiling myself. I guess another thing is that I was talking to strangers as well. I know that as a child, I was doing a lot of damage to my own body. Now, I know that I am not supposed to consult with Mediums and Psychics to get defiled by them also. I constantly made mistakes around other people. I even got robbed a few times in my life by thug’s and street gang members.
Further, I kept getting myself into trouble as a child. Some people think that the Age of Accountability was 12 years old. The Age of Accountability is when a child becomes responsible for their own actions. Proverbs 20:11 says Even a child is known by his deeds, whether what he does is pure and right. This is the truth because I kept getting myself into trouble by dealing with bad children. My mother told me to my face that I became a bad influence on my own siblings. My brother’s and sisters were getting into trouble just like I was. I really didn’t learn my lesson in life until I got scammed out of money by people that I didn’t know. My family members were telling me that I was getting scammed by the people who I didn’t know. I have sent them a total of $16,977 dollars in Western Union Funds.
Moreover, I became gullible at an early age. This is because I was very stubborn and hardheaded. I didn’t know how to become a thief. My grandmother took me with her because she didn’t want me getting into trouble. My grandmother took me to church. When I got into high school , I was skipping school and smoking marijuana. I also drunk alcohol as well. You know something, I had real friends growing up. They didn’t do what I was doing for a very long time. I guess I was oppressed at an early age as well. My life wasn’t going anywhere too fast. I was buying alcohol as a child. My family members learned from me. I have been clean and sober for 32 years and 6 months today. I have to attend meetings on a regular basis. I have been living in the same apartment complex for 12 years now.
Finally, I want to inform all of you that I feel much better now. I had a total of 3 operations in less than 2 months. Therefore, I am honoring God with my body. I know that I am not my own. I was bought at a price. I am God’s Temple right now. I have to go ahead and get rid of everything inside of my apartment. God Bless You All!! We all belong to God.
O God, we do not fully understand how you can be Three and yet One. But we see this truth taught in your Word and so accept it, not leaning on our own understanding. Our becoming your sons by faith involved Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and we know these Three Persons are but One God. Teach us to honor you as the great Triune God that you are. Amen.
– “The Lord is my shepherd.” In these words, the believer is taught to express his satisfaction in the care of the great Pastor of the universe, the Redeemer and Preserver of men. With joy he reflects that he has a shepherd, and that shepherd is Jehovah. A flock of sheep, gentle and harmless, feeding in verdant pastures, under the care of a skilful, watchful, and tender shepherd, forms an emblem of believers brought back to the Shepherd of their souls. The greatest abundance is but a dry pasture to a wicked man, who relishes in it only what pleases the senses; but to a godly man, who by faith tastes the goodness of God in all his enjoyments, though he has but little of the world, it is a green pasture. The Lord gives quiet and contentment in the mind, whatever the lot is. Are we blessed with the green pastures of the ordinances, let us not think it enough to pass through them, but let us abide in them. The consolations of the Holy Spirit are the still waters by which the saints are led; the streams which flow from the Fountain of living waters. Those only are led by the still waters of comfort, who walk in the paths of righteousness. The way of duty is the truly pleasant way. The work of righteousness in peace. In these paths we cannot walk, unless. God lead us into them, and lead us on in them. Discontent and distrust proceed from unbelief; an unsteady walk is the consequence: let us then simply trust our Shepherd’s care, and hearken to his voice. The valley of the shadow of death may denote the most severe and terrible affliction, or dark dispensation of providence, that the psalmist ever could come under. Between the part of the flock on earth and that which is gone to heaven, death lies like a dark valley that must be passed in going from one to the other. But even in this there are words which lessen the terror. It is but the shadow of death: the shadow of a serpent will not sting, nor the shadow of a sword kill. It is a valley, deep indeed, and dark, and miry; but valleys are often fruitful, and so is death itself fruitful of comforts to God’s people. It is a walk through it: they shall not be lost in this valley, but get safe to the mountain on the other side. Death is a king of terrors, but not to the sheep of Christ. When they come to die, God will rebuke the enemy; he will guide them with his rod, and sustain them with his staff. There is enough in the gospel to comfort the saints when dying, and underneath them are the everlasting arms. The Lord’s people feast at his table, upon the provisions of his love. Satan and wicked men are not able to destroy their comforts, while they are anointed with the Holy Spirit, and drink of the cup of salvation which is ever full. Past experience teaches believers to trust that the goodness and mercy of God will follow them all the days of their lives, and it is their desire and determination, to seek their happiness in the service of God here, and they hope to enjoy his love for ever in heaven. While here, the Lord can make any situation pleasant, by the anointing of his Spirit and the joys of his salvation. But those that would be satisfied with the blessings of his house, must keep close to the duties of it.
\\<>\\. Thus psalm was written by David, either when he was in distressed circumstances, being persecuted by Saul, and was in the forest of Hareth, 1Sa 22:5; as some think {r}; wherefore he comforts himself with the Lord’s being his shepherd, so that he should not want; nor would he fear, was he in worse circumstances than he at present was; or rather, when he was settled upon the throne of Israel, and in the most prosperous and flourishing state of his reign, as the latter part of the psalm shows; he speaks not in his own person only, but in the name of all believers; for Christ, who is the shepherd spoken of, is a common shepherd to all the saints, who are all the sheep of his pasture, as well as David; and the prophet here makes use of similes very familiar with him; he having been a shepherd himself, and knew what it was to do all the parts of that office, which are herein expressed; and very pertinently does this psalm follow the former; for as there Christ is prophesied of as laying down his life for the sheep, as the good shepherd does; and of his being brought again from the dead, as the great shepherd of the sheep, as Christ has been; so here of his performing his office as such, in all its parts, to the great comfort, refreshment, and safety of his people. {r} Jarchi & Kimchi.
1 Peter 3:14 says But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear their threats, do not be frightened. There is a gentleman, who is afraid himself. He has a weapon and doesn’t know how to use it. This young man is angry with me because he lost his job over a misunderstanding. All this is a misunderstanding between two people that are going in different places in life. The first person is myself. The second is one of my accusers. At least he had a job and a promising future. Me, myself, I have written two books in one year. My books are not selling right now. Perhaps, I should have put more effort into it. Whereas, the other person feels depressed right now. Mom always told me to never allowed a monkey to stop my show. I say that, just to say this if a man doesn’t work, he doesn’t eat. 2 Thessalonians 3:10. Meanwhile, I was truthful in my matters. All I am saying is never allow a misunderstanding to get worse. It’s a sore that doesn’t heal. The sore itself gets infected. The battle is not yours but God’s.
The Battle has already been won, long before we all were born. Frankly, I have been shot before. When a man looks directly at his accusers, he has already been identified by God. It looks like I am taking a little trip. It happened before, on October 19, 1979, I was a freshman in high school when my closes friend shot me in the right leg. At least I have something to remember it by. I had surgery to repair a problem that is 40 years old. I remember on Monday October 30, 2006, I had jaw surgery on my right side of my face. I didn’t know that my right mandible was fractured. I guess if I didn’t go to the dentist, I would have bled to death. My bone marrow was leaking from my jaw. What makes this situation different is that we are two African American Men, who are going through different paths of life. Frankly, I took advantage of what the US Government has given all of us. That is called Stimulus Money. I decided to use my money to publish two books. I got into trouble for fraud, but My charges were dropped because I used my stimulus money to publish two books. The first one is called Essays and the second one is called My Grace is Sufficient for Me. It was a present for myself. The battle is not yours but God’s. I have my tax documents to prove that I have earned money from selling my Intellectual property. I didn’t earn very much money. I guess it was the thought that counts.
Today is a brand new day for all of us. It is an opportunity to make things happen in a positive way. Lord God, I want to thank you for waking me up this morning. I thank you for keeping it real with me. Lord God I laugh right now because life itself is precious. Life is really what you make out of it. Life is a course that we choose to make. At least for me, I have had it all. To lose it it is a choice that I make for myself. Right Now, I prefer to share my love and wealth. This is an opportunity for two men to make a life for themselves. All that we have is today. Tomorrow is not promised to anyone. If you read Proverbs 27:1 it states that do not boast about tomorrow for you never know what a day may bring forth.
1 Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives,
2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.
3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.
4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands,
6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.
7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
Suffering for Doing Good
8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.
9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
10 For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.
11 They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?
14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats ; do not be frightened.”
15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.
19 After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits—
20 to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water,
21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
22 who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
The duties of wives and husbands. (1-7) Christians exhorted to agree. (8-13) And encouraged to patience under persecutions for righteousness’ sake, considering that Christ suffered patiently. (14-22)
Verses 1-7 The wife must discharge her duty to her own husband, though he obey not the word. We daily see how narrowly evil men watch the ways and lives of professors of religion. Putting on of apparel is not forbidden, but vanity and costliness in ornament. Religious people should take care that all their behaviour answers to their profession. But how few know the right measure and bounds of those two necessaries of life, food and raiment! Unless poverty is our carver, and cuts us short, there is scarcely any one who does not desire something beyond what is good for us. Far more are beholden to the lowliness of their state, than the lowliness of their mind; and many will not be so bounded, but lavish their time and money upon trifles. The apostle directs Christian females to put on something not corruptible, that beautifies the soul, even the graces of God’s Holy Spirit. A true Christian’s chief care lies in right ordering his own spirit. This will do more to fix the affections, and excite the esteem of a husband, than studied ornaments or fashionable apparel, attended by a froward and quarrelsome temper. Christians ought to do their duty to one another, from a willing mind, and in obedience to the command of God. Wives should be subject to their husbands, not from dread and amazement, but from desire to do well, and please God. The husband’s duty to the wife implies giving due respect unto her, and maintaining her authority, protecting her, and placing trust in her. They are heirs together of all the blessings of this life and that which is to come, and should live peaceably one with another. Prayer sweetens their converse. And it is not enough that they pray with the family, but husband and wife together by themselves, and with their children. Those who are acquainted with prayer, find such unspeakable sweetness in it, that they will not be hindered therein. That you may pray much, live holily; and that you may live holily, be much in prayer.
Verses 8-13 Though Christians cannot always be exactly of the same mind, yet they should have compassion one of another, and love as brethren. If any man desires to live comfortably on earth, or to possess eternal life in heaven, he must bridle his tongue from wicked, abusive, or deceitful words. He must forsake and keep far from evil actions, do all the good he can, and seek peace with all men. For God, all-wise and every where present, watches over the righteous, and takes care of them. None could or should harm those who copied the example of Christ, who is perfect goodness, and did good to others as his followers.
Verses 14-22 We sanctify God before others, when our conduct invites and encourages them to glorify and honour him. What was the ground and reason of their hope? We should be able to defend our religion with meekness, in the fear of God. There is no room for any other fears where this great fear is; it disturbs not. The conscience is good, when it does its office well. That person is in a sad condition on whom sin and suffering meet: sin makes suffering extreme, comfortless, and destructive. Surely it is better to suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing, whatever our natural impatience at times may suggest. The example of Christ is an argument for patience under sufferings. In the case of our Lord’s suffering, he that knew no sin, suffered instead of those who knew no righteousness. The blessed end and design of our Lord’s sufferings were, to reconcile us to God, and to bring us to eternal glory. He was put to death in respect of his human nature, but was quickened and raised by the power of the Holy Spirit. If Christ could not be freed from sufferings, why should Christians think to be so? God takes exact notice of the means and advantages people in all ages have had. As to the old world, Christ sent his Spirit; gave warning by Noah. But though the patience of God waits long, it will cease at last. And the spirits of disobedient sinners, as soon as they are out of their bodies, are committed to the prison of hell, where those that despised Noah’s warning now are, and from whence there is no redemption. Noah’s salvation in the ark upon the water, which carried him above the floods, set forth the salvation of all true believers. That temporal salvation by the ark was a type of the eternal salvation of believers by baptism of the Holy Spirit. To prevent mistakes, the apostle declares what he means by saving baptism; not the outward ceremony of washing with water, which, in itself, does no more than put away the filth of the flesh, but that baptism, of which the baptismal water formed the sign. Not the outward ordinance, but when a man, by the regeneration of the Spirit, was enabled to repent and profess faith, and purpose a new life, uprightly, and as in the presence of God. Let us beware that we rest not upon outward forms. Let us learn to look on the ordinances of God spiritually, and to inquire after the spiritual effect and working of them on our consciences. We would willingly have all religion reduced to outward things. But many who were baptized, and constantly attended the ordinances, have remained without Christ, died in their sins, and are now past recovery. Rest not then till thou art cleansed by the Spirit of Christ and the blood of Christ. His resurrection from the dead is that whereby we are assured of purifying and peace.
In this chapter the apostle instructs wives how to behave towards their husbands, and husbands how to behave towards their wives; and then exhorts to various things common to all Christians, and particularly to suffer patiently for righteousness sake; to which he encourages them from the sufferings of Christ, and the benefits resulting from them, on which he enlarges to the end of the chapter. He begins with the duty of wives to their husbands, even unbelieving ones, which is subjection to them, urged from the profitable effect of it; since hereby they might be won over to the Christian religion, without the use of the word, as a means, by their conversation, which is explained of chastity and fear, 1Pe 3:1,2. And he proceeds to give some advice about their apparel, that they should have a greater regard to internal ornaments; particularly meekness and quietness of spirit, which is highly esteemed of by God, rather than to outward adorning; and which he enforces by the examples of godly women in former times, who were so adorned, and were subject to their husbands, particularly Sarah, the wife of Abraham, 1Pe 3:3-6. And next the apostle directs husbands how to conduct towards their wives, to dwell with them, and honour them, because vessels, and weaker vessels, and also heirs of the same grace of life; and besides, to use them ill would be an hinderance of their praying together, 1Pe 3:7. And then follow various exhortations to unity of judgment, compassion, brotherly love, pity, courteousness, and patience under the reproaches and revilings of men, which is the way to inherit a blessing they are called unto, 1Pe 3:8,9 and that these are incumbent on the saints, and that they shall be blessed, who are helped to regard them, is proved by some passages out of Ps 34:12-16, which passages are cited, 1Pe 3:10-12. And in order to encourage to the exercise of the above things, the apostle suggests, that they that so behaved should not be hurt by any; and if they did suffer for righteousness sake from wicked men, yet still they would be happy; nor should this deter them from making a public confession of their faith; to which should be added a good conscience and conversation, to the shame and confusion of them that spoke evil of them, and accused them, 1Pe 3:13-16. And though they were distressed and injured by men, they should not be cast down, nor murmur, since it was the will of God it should be so; and since it was better to suffer for doing well than for doing ill; and especially the example of Christ should animate to patience, since he, an innocent person, suffered for the sins of unjust men, to reconcile them to God; and he is now glorified and happy, and so will his people be, 1Pe 3:17,18. And having made mention of his being quickened by the Spirit, the apostle takes occasion from hence of observing, that by the same Spirit Christ preached in the times of Noah to disobedient persons, whose spirits were now in hell; and he takes notice of the longsuffering of God in that dispensation towards them, and of the goodness of God in saving Noah, and his family, in the ark, which was a figure of baptism; of which some account is given what it is, and is not, and which saves by the resurrection of Christ, 1Pe 3:19-21 who is described by his ascension to heaven, session at the right hand of God, and dominion over angels, authorities, and powers, 1Pe 3:22.
