Planet Of “Rest”-Finding “Rest Unto Your Soul” (Part 2, Precious Promises)

By admin On March 11th, 2012

 

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Click credit links below each pic, for licensing names/details/tags/etc.. Most pics cropped/reduced in size

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

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Planet Of “Rest”

Finding “Rest Unto Your Soul”

(Part 2, Precious Promises)

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“Whereby are given unto us

exceeding great and precious promises:

that by these ye might be

partakers of the divine nature,

having escaped the corruption

that is in the world through lust.”

2nd Peter 1:4

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So here in the above passage we have the admonition from Peter to have ready the, “precious promises”, which by these we may be partakers of the Divine nature.

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There is a popular song which goes… “How can you stand on God’s promises if you don’t know what they are?”

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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shoppers_on_Dundas,_near_Yonge.jpgThis would be a funny song if it weren’t so true! Satan has kept most Christians so busy, that we have neglected our Bible study. And for those who do engage in Bible study, Satan endeavors to engross our minds, so that we don’t meditate day and night upon those Bible verses which we do study. And Satan doesn’t care what we think about, just as long as it’s not on our morning Bible study.

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There is a popular saying… “He’s so heavenly minded, he’s no earthly good!”

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But for every “Christian” who fits that description, there are 99 others who are better described as follows… “He’s so EARTHLY MINDED, he’s no heavenly good!”
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Shoppers in Toronto – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike license.

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KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

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“Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increases strength. For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.” Proverbs 24:3-5

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This above passage from the wise man, Solomon presents one of the greatest concepts in the Bible: namely, that the strength of the Christian increases, the more that his or her knowledge of the Bible increases!

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THE DESIRE FOR SANCTIFICATION

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When a person begins the Christian sojourn, that person becomes aware of areas in life which are less than Christlike. And since every Christian has been given the desire to become Christ-like, there is an unrest which develops… “How can I become Christ-like? How can I overcome this sin? How can I have that ‘peace which surpasses all understanding’?”

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And so the Christian begins searching for the solution to his or her sin-problem. The Christian knows that while sin has the mastery, there will be no deep, abiding peace in life.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USMC-06831.jpg.

It isn’t long before the Christian finds certain Bible passages which speak to that particular sin. 

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Usually, it is some verse, such as this one… “Thy Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee,” Psalm 119:11.

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And so the Christian begins to realize that God’s Word has power to help the Christian overcome sin. And so begins the upward journey in which he or she must walk, to become in harmony with the Lord.

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God gives us a “mountain to conquer” in hopes that we will seek with all our heart to climb and conquer that mountain.

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – public domain

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FAITH THAT GOD WON’T GIVE UP ON ME

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bernhard_Plockhorst_-_Good_Shephard.jpgHere is another verse which the Christian soon finds very helpful…

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“…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12, 13.

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So the Christian begins to realize that God is closely working within every Christian to help them overcome those peace-robbing sins which plague us.

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And it is not long until the Christian finds the following verse… Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” Philippians 1:6.

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And so these verses begin to give the Christian comfort and confidence that God is not just going to abandon the trembling child of God. He is going to keep working with each of His children. And it is such verses that begin to give the Christian a deeper abiding relationship with the Lord.

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Bernhard_Plockhorst 1825-1907 The Good_Shephard – wikipedia – public domain

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BIBLE STORIES GIVE US CONFIDENCE

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And the various stories in the Gospels and also in the Old Testament are designed to show us how God works in the lives of men. These stories more and more help us to recognize God’s workings in the lives of men, and even among the nations.

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Just like the story of Daniel, for instance. God faithfully delivered Daniel, because Daniel was faithful to God.

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Stories such as this, are given to us to strengthen our trust in God’s protection for us in times of need.

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G. Dore_Daniel In The Den Of Lions www.creationism.org public domain

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PROPHECIES GIVE CONFIDENCE ABOUT FUTURE

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“I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure:” Isaiah 46:9, 10

800px-Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse_Victor Vasnetsov Wikipedia Public Domain

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As the Christian begins to study Bible prophecy, it becomes evident that God is knowledgeable of future events. This too becomes a great help. Such passages as the one above from Isaiah help us realize that the events of history are all working together in God’s plan, and eternal mission. And just to know that God is ultimately in charge of history causes our confidence in Him to grow and grow.

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Just listen to this passage… And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and He doeth according to His will in the army of Heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest Thou?” Daniel 4:35.

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Such verses as this establish that God is in control of this seemingly “out-of-control world”, and gives the child of God confidence in God’s authority, even over this rebellious planet.

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Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse – Victor Vasnetsov – Wikipedia – Public Domain.

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TRUST THAT GOD WILL BE OUR MEMORY

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And when the Christian finds this verse… “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:26. 

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The Christian realizes that he or she does not have to depend on their own faulty human memory, because God promises to bring all things back to the Christian’s memory, in the time of need.

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Our task is to fight to keep our minds stayed upon God’s Word through our day.

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THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD

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One very big secret to overcoming is to have confidence that God will help us in every situation of life. And the best way to understand this, is to be busily hiding more and more of those special passages in our heart, which tell us the many ways that God is in control of the world. For instance, this passage….

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“O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” Jeremiah 10:23.

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Now this passage tells that Man is not so much in control of his life as he would like to think. But if Man does not control his own steps, then who does? 

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“A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.” Proverbs 16:9.

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Here is another verse which greatly helps Christian to see that God is even in control over individuals. Though a man’s rebellious heart may go after his lusts, yet God ultimately leads that sinner’s steps in such a way, that God’s ultimate plan and purposes shall be accomplished.      

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Listen to this next verse… “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will” Ephesians 1:11.

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Such verses as this help Christians realize that God ultimately rules from Heaven. Though humans often take credit for our good choices, yet it is God who providentially leads a Christian. 

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Jesus Walks on Water – Wikipedia – US public domain

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Dear Christian:

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In order to get through the trial before us, we need to keep hiding God’s promises in our heart, while there’s still time.

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We need to cancel every unnecessary activity so that we can spend much time reading and thinking upon God’s Word. Our job is to read and think on these things. God’s job is to bring them back to our memory, during the trial before us.

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There’s so many more things to learn about God’s providence in our lives. And with each new revelation of God’s omnipotence, our trust will grow stronger and our rest will grow deeper. 

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https://theheavensdeclare.net/orion-2/OUR DAILY BATTLE

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Perhaps at the end of each day, maybe while lying down in bed, we need to spend much time thinking back on how we might have overcome that big or little attack by the Devil. Just what “exceeding great and precious promises” could have been employed, which would have given us the victory over the temptations which assailed us in our daily warfare?

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Listen…Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2nd Peter 1:4)

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Constant learning and hiding of the many Bible promises into our hearts is a critically important part of our daily walk in the Lord! 

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The armor of God – theheavensdeclare.net -use by permission only

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THE END

picture - soldiers of the cross - armor up!.

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A HEAVENLY HOBBY

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Starry_Night_at_La_Silla.jpg

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“Lift up your eyes on high, and behold Who hath created these things; that brings out their host by number: He calls them all by names by the greatness of His might, for that He is strong in power; not one faileth.” Isaiah 40:26

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ABOVE PICTURE – Starry Night at La Silla – cropped  and altered image – Wikimedia – Share-Alike license

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The above verse is a plea from God to look up at the Heavens and behold Who has created these http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:New_york_times_square-terabass.jpgthings.

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In this busy work-a-day world, there are many very interesting things which can occupy one’s time and energy: hobbies, and careers, and entertainments and http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shoppers_on_Dundas,_near_Yonge.jpgworries, and habits, to name just a few.

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But as the child of God devotes his or her life to God, there should be a jealous guarding of one’s own heart… “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23.

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The Christian wants nothing to get in the way of running that Christian Race.

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New York Times Square – terabass – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share-alike License

Shoppers in Toronto – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike license

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“AND WHEN YE SEE THESE THINGS…

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LOOK UP, LIFT UP YOUR HEAD”

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But having said this, there is one hobby which every ‘Noble Berean’ may take up, which only compliments the pursuit of the heavenly Prize.

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Yes, Signs Of Heaven becomes a wonderfully rewarding hobby which, unlike many less meaningful hobbies, pays off with rich, heavenly rewards. Everlasting rewards!

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And unlike the person in this photo with equipment, all you need is fairly good vision, and a dark, starry night.

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And once a person really gets to know these heavenly messengers, it will become very apparent that the message connected with these signs is truly a message to be heeded.

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Thus will the Christian be able to share this message with others. And there are perhaps many nuances and hidden biblical truths to these signs which have yet to be discovered.

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Astronomy Amateur – cropped image – Wikipedia – share-alike license

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.summer w/woman & doves

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“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;” Luke 21:25

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ABOVE CHART: Summer Constellations with Doves (Sagittarius) & Woman (Ursa Major)

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FIRST FIND ORION & 7 STARS

.Orion Constellation

The very first step in finding these many constellations, should be to find the two main constellations: Orion, and the 7 Stars (aka, The Big Dipper).

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These two constellations represent Christ (Orion), and His Chur7 stars as Crossch (7 Stars).

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And just as these are the easiest constellations to find, so too, the first place to begin studying the Bible is the Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John).

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These four books present Christ and His Church, when He walked the earth, just as Orion and the 7 Stars represent Christ and His Church, as seen up in the heavens.

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Then, once you are comfortable finding these two constellations, you can begin to locate the next closest constellations, and so on.

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ABOVE PICTURE: Orion the Soldier and the Revelation 12 Dragon (Hyades & Pleiades, etc.) – winter constellations – www.signsofheaven.org – not for commercial use

ABOVE PICTURE – 7 Stars Constellation as the Cross (aka Big Dipper) – winter – signsofheaven.org – not for commercial uses

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ANOTHER HEAVENLY HOBBY: PRAYER-WALKS

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Now if you’re fortunate enough to be able to go on nightly walks, and you live in an area where you can safely view the stars, here is another Heavenly Hobby which Signs Of Heaven endorses…

.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Starry_Night_at_La_Silla.jpg

Why not combine star-watching with prayer, as you walk? What a great way to draw closer to God!

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It cannot be over-stressed, just how wonderful it is to walk under the dark canopy of Heaven, while lifting up one’s heart to our Heavenly Father! There is a closeness to God that cannot be described with words!

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(And even if you cannot safely do this, you can always do such prayer-walks in the daytime, in a safe place, such as a mall, which is every bit as effective, prayer-wise.

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And for those who are in confinement, one can view these starry signs on the Internet, or simply listen to Scripture on audio.

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Either way, all such may enjoy God’s richest blessings at this very time in which God is pouring out all Heaven’s treasures upon anyone willing to forsake all, and follow Jesus!)

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Starry Night at La Silla – cropped and altered image – Wikipedia – share-alike license

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THRICE-DAILY PRAYERS

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Marines_at_Prayer_by_Alex_Raymond.jpg.

Now of course, the Bible commands us to, “pray without ceasing“. The Christian is to constantly talk with our Heavenly Father throughout the day.

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But the Bible also holds up the godly life of Daniel, who, when captive in Babylon, still set aside three times daily, in which he knelt for special prayer.

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And furthermore the Bible also says… “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice.” Psalm 55:17.

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Even those who are bed-fast or in a prison cell can begin to imitate Daniel in this way. And if one is fortunate to be able to walk, then this thrice-daily prayer regimen can be combined with three walks daily and even nightly.

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Marines at Prayer by Alex Raymond – Wikimedia – public domain

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