3.23.22
The Cloud
Great people of faith such as Abel, Noah, Abraham and Sara, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses and so many others walked and lived by faith. Most important, of course, is Jesus Christ who for the joy set before Him endured the cross and is seated now at the throne of God. Hebrews Chapter 11 and 12 calls these great people of God “so great a cloud of witnesses.”
Vines Dictionary: Cloud - denotes a cloudy, shapeless mass covering the heavens, metaphorically of a dense multitude, a throng (Hebrews 12:1)
You and I are surrounded by a great cloud, a dense multitude, a throng of Saints who lived by faith, who persevered to the end. “How is it that we are one?” Through Jesus we are all one!
Ephesians 1:3 God has “blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.
Ephesians 2:6 God has raised us up together and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
Romans 12:5 “so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.”
One Body
“How can I be in two places at the same time?”
You are born from above as Holy Spirit came to abide in you. Holy Spirit has each of us in Him. Your spirit is united with Holy Spirit: Spirit/spirit. Your earth suit has boots on the ground as part of God’s great army to produce His Kingdom on earth, yet at the same time we are spiritual beings united together with those in Heaven, producing a glorious church body with dual citizenship and dual occupancy in heaven and earth.
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)
2022: Running our Race in Victory!
Think of a multitude of people running a marathon.
Some runners in the front are getting close to the finish line. Their eyes are focused on Jesus and family and friends who are cheering them on, “Keep going, you’re doing great! You’re almost there, don’t give up!” Others behind them are becoming tired but trying their best to continue. More are behind them, sweating and weary, beginning to think, “I can’t take this anymore.” These are the ones that are carrying backpacks on their backs. Some backpacks are quite large and the weight is causing them to stumble. Behind them are some who have fainted and require medical assistance to get up and have dropped out of the race.
“The sower sows the word. And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble. Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” (Mark 4:14-20)
The Race Set Before You
Are you running your daily race carrying a backpack full of worries and cares of this world? You can tell if the Word of God is being choked or suffocated out of your life. How much time are you giving to study? Are other things coming in to steal the Word? Satan is after the Word to kill it. How did Jesus overcome him in the desert? What if Jesus had become tired and weary and had no scripture to speak to him?
Saints, the great cloud of witnesses went through tough times in their lives. Their names are written in scripture because they fought back; they had stamina and persevered! Our great Word of Faith army is mighty and we are one body surrounded with great overcomers. If you’re weighted down find out why and get rid of all your cares by casting them on the Lord. (1 Peter 5:6-9)
If the Word is being choked, the anointing is also…
“And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.” (Matthew 25:1-10)
“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”
Watching ,,, and running to the finish line with you!
Suggestion for study: Hebrews Chapter 11 and 12.
The Spirit-filled Catholic Community has a wonderful song: “One Body” Be sure and listen to the whole song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-3BO_PQbqY
The Cloud
Great people of faith such as Abel, Noah, Abraham and Sara, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses and so many others walked and lived by faith. Most important, of course, is Jesus Christ who for the joy set before Him endured the cross and is seated now at the throne of God. Hebrews Chapter 11 and 12 calls these great people of God “so great a cloud of witnesses.”
Vines Dictionary: Cloud - denotes a cloudy, shapeless mass covering the heavens, metaphorically of a dense multitude, a throng (Hebrews 12:1)
You and I are surrounded by a great cloud, a dense multitude, a throng of Saints who lived by faith, who persevered to the end. “How is it that we are one?” Through Jesus we are all one!
Ephesians 1:3 God has “blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.
Ephesians 2:6 God has raised us up together and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
Romans 12:5 “so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.”
One Body
“How can I be in two places at the same time?”
You are born from above as Holy Spirit came to abide in you. Holy Spirit has each of us in Him. Your spirit is united with Holy Spirit: Spirit/spirit. Your earth suit has boots on the ground as part of God’s great army to produce His Kingdom on earth, yet at the same time we are spiritual beings united together with those in Heaven, producing a glorious church body with dual citizenship and dual occupancy in heaven and earth.
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)
2022: Running our Race in Victory!
Think of a multitude of people running a marathon.
Some runners in the front are getting close to the finish line. Their eyes are focused on Jesus and family and friends who are cheering them on, “Keep going, you’re doing great! You’re almost there, don’t give up!” Others behind them are becoming tired but trying their best to continue. More are behind them, sweating and weary, beginning to think, “I can’t take this anymore.” These are the ones that are carrying backpacks on their backs. Some backpacks are quite large and the weight is causing them to stumble. Behind them are some who have fainted and require medical assistance to get up and have dropped out of the race.
“The sower sows the word. And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble. Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” (Mark 4:14-20)
The Race Set Before You
Are you running your daily race carrying a backpack full of worries and cares of this world? You can tell if the Word of God is being choked or suffocated out of your life. How much time are you giving to study? Are other things coming in to steal the Word? Satan is after the Word to kill it. How did Jesus overcome him in the desert? What if Jesus had become tired and weary and had no scripture to speak to him?
Saints, the great cloud of witnesses went through tough times in their lives. Their names are written in scripture because they fought back; they had stamina and persevered! Our great Word of Faith army is mighty and we are one body surrounded with great overcomers. If you’re weighted down find out why and get rid of all your cares by casting them on the Lord. (1 Peter 5:6-9)
If the Word is being choked, the anointing is also…
“And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.” (Matthew 25:1-10)
“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”
Watching ,,, and running to the finish line with you!
Suggestion for study: Hebrews Chapter 11 and 12.
The Spirit-filled Catholic Community has a wonderful song: “One Body” Be sure and listen to the whole song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-3BO_PQbqY