Are you full of it?

PLEASE SEE FOOTNOTE AT BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE

 

There is terminology that we use at times as a descriptive measure of a person.

We might say that the particular person is full of life, full of mischief, full of joy, or even full of bull.

In reality what we are doing is pinning a character trait upon that individual. Perhaps deserved or maybe not.

The question today is “what are you full of?”

Out of disgust we might declare that we are full up to our necks of something or someone!

Out of pride we may say that our heart is bursting.

Out of embarrassment we may say that we have eaten crow until we could no longer stand it.

A glutton will rise from the table having fulfilled a lust until he is full unto bursting.

A hardened heart can be full of rage.

Why does this even matter?

It only lends to us an opportunity to see that we are to be full also, only not of the things mentioned above.

We are to be full of things like grace, hope, charity, love, forgiveness, longsuffering, meekness, and all of the giftings of the spirit.

In the Exodus the children were full of the sacrificial lamb. Exodus 12:7-11

In the Psalms the author was full of the Word of God. Psalm 119:11

In the 71st chapter of Psalms the authors mouth was filled with praise.

In the Song of Solomon the suitors nostrils were filled with the fragrance of the beloved.

Jeremiah in ch 21 was so full of the word that to not declare it caused his bones to burn in an urge to declare the word of GOD to the nations.

In Acts ch 4 the followers were filled with the Holy Ghost.

The disciples were filled with joy, and again, with the Holy Ghost in Acts 13:52.

The true church was filled with knowledge and goodness in regards to the manner of encouraging each other. Romans 15:14

Filled with the fullness of the very GOD so that you may know the love of Christ in Ephesians 3:19.

Filled with the Spiritand not excesses of the world in Ephesians 5:18.

We are to be filled with the fruits of righteousness, which come only by Jesus Christ, to glorify GOD, Philippians 1:11.

All of these are good and pleasing to the Father, yet still;

There are many things of the world that a person can make a choice to be filled with and none of them are pleasing to the Christ .

The laws of humanity dictate that whenever we are full of something it will eventually spill out, usually at a time of the most inconvenience.

Scripture says that what comes out of a man will either sanctify him or will be his defilement.

Are you or someone you know filled with,

Violence  Genesis 6:13

Independence  Deuteronomy 31:20

Unhealed loathsome disease  Psalm 38:7

Self  Proverbs 1:31

Mischief  Proverbs 12:21

Filled with vain imaginations of your own worth  Proverbs 14:14

Filled with the choices to rail against what GOD says is good and right and teach others to do likewise  Jeremiah 16:18

Filled yourself with the blood of the innocent as you stood idly by and did nothing as the choice was made to murder another child?   Jeremiah 19:4

Bitterness  Lamentations 3:15

Drunkenness, with sorrow, with confusion, or desolation   Ezekiel 23:33

Pride   Hosea 13:6

Lies  Acts 5:3

Envy, contradiction, and blaspheming   Acts 13:51

Full of the devil,

Romans 1:29-32 “ Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of GOD, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: who knowing the judgment of GOD, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”

Jesus told his followers in John 14:30.…….”the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.”

Satan had no claim to the Christ, as there was nothing in Him that Satan could claim as his own.

Whenever you make a deposit into a bank account , the record is made and the deposit is yours even though someone else holds it.

It is the same thing in our lives, our bodies our spirits and our souls can receive deposit, they can be filled.

The owner then is able to examine each deposit and to use them as he sees fit.

Make the right choices, be filled with the things of God, a day is coming in which all the deposits ever made into you will be examined and measured.

May nothing of Satan be found in you.

 

 

We have received word recently of a sister in the nation of Kenya (I will not divulge her name as her life is in imminent danger) who runs an orphanage and preaches the gospel to all who will listen, was shot through the chest just recently by those who hate all things good.

She is in critical condition and laying in a clinic in an area outside of the slum in which she ministers.

Her faith is strong even as her body wanes.

Please pray for her and if by chance you would help financially, I will be glad to give you the name of her contact on the continent of Africa.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 8th chapter of Matthew is a contrast of faith.

Large faith with little faith.

Matthew presents a Centurions story with his inspiring “great faith” vv-5-13, and then goes on to describe the faith displayed by himself and that of his peers, he called it “little faith” vv-23-27.

Great faith places a full and final confidence in Jesus and what He says (speak the Word only.” v8) while neither being discouraged by nor denying the facts that contradict His sayings.

With childlike trust, it believes that the omnipotent Gods irresistible will and inspired Word will at last bend all the actual “things seen” of (2 Corinthians 4:8) to conform to the greater realities God has foretold.

Not quite sure of this “little faith” will do just the opposite. It is swayed by contradictory circumstantial evidence, so much that it first begins to doubt, then forgets, and finally denies altogether the greater, abiding facts: Jesus is still present and all-powerful and His personality and promises will always remain true.

Gods faithful character and firm Word will win the heart of the one--- while fickle contradictions intimidate and captivate the other with the spirit of unbelief.

The Bible is full of examples of great faith.

The Israelites demonstrated great faith at Jericho, when for six days they marched around the city, and on the seventh shouted victory, though as yet there were no visible changes in its walls.

Why?

God had promised that they would fall.

On his way to Rome, Paul showed great faith by expressing firm confidence that he and his shipmates would survive a long, violent storm when there was no meteorological evidence that would support his claim.

Why?

God had given a promise and Paul believed it to be true.

Acts 27:24 “Fear not, Paul, thou must be brought before Cesar; and; lo; GOD hath given thee all them that sail with thee.”

Whenever all physical evidence and years of experience declared that it was impossible for Abraham and Sarah to reproduce, Abraham,” hoped on faith” confident that he would yet bear a son and become a “father of many nations” despite the persistently hopeless physical realities.

Why?

God had promised and Abraham was “fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform” (Romans 4:21)

In all of these and in so many more God ultimately gave a full performance of His promises to those who remain fully persuaded of it in the face of persistently contradictory evidence.

Matthew 8 further teaches that, ultimately, great faith will be recognized and little faith rebuked.

The Centurion was publicly praised by the Son of God and subtly promised a place at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (vv-10-12)

The disciples, meanwhile, were rebuked for doubting the Lord, “Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?” (v. 26) and left ashamed and unhonored, though mercifully delivered.

Here is the thought of this matter.

The greatness of our confidence in Jesus will one day win us His personal praise--or its smallness will bring us His rebuke!