To Be Up by PM

Christians should be mentally and emotionally up most of the time.If you are down most of the time,you need to adjust your thinking in God's Word.We are going to begin our study with God telling us how to be up through His servant Peter.God expects His children to be up.We have a lot to be up about. II Peter 1:1 Simon Peter,a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ,to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: This letter is written to those who have obtained faith.If you haven't obtained faith,you probably don't have ears to understand this letter. II Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through knowledge of God,and of Jesus our Lord, Do you want grace and peace?It is multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God and His Son Jesus Christ. II Peter 1:3 According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness,through the knowledge of Him That hath called us to glory and virtue;(4) 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. Be careful not to place anything of the world before God.You can't claim His precious promises,if you do. II Peter 1:5 And beside this,giving all diligence,add to your faith virtue;and to your virtue knowledge;(6)And to knowledge temperance patience;and to patience godliness. Virtue means strength or resolve.Don't be a quitter.Temperance means self-control. II Peter 1:7 And to godliness brotherly kindness;and to brotherly kindness charity. Godliness means doing things God's way.Charity is giving to others and expecting nothing in return. II Peter 1:8 For if these things be in you and abound,they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Barren should have been translated useless or lazy.God expects His children to produce fruit. II Peter 1:9 But he that lacketh these things is blind,and cannot see afar off,and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.(10) Wherefore the rather,brethren,give diligence to make your calling and election sure:for if ye do these things,ye shall never fall: If you do these things,you will be up most of the time.You may sway a little from time to time;however,you will not fall.You will straighten yourself out,and get your life in order.How do we do that?We have just read. II Peter 1:11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.(12) Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things,though ye know them,and be established in the present truth. The entrance is the gate into the kingdom.Knowing where the gate is and how to enter the kingdom is reason for every Christian to be mentally and emotionally up. II Peter 1:13 Yea,I think it meet,as long as I am in this tabernacle,to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;(14) Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle,even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.(15) Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. While still in the flesh,Peter thought it proper to remind us of these things that we might not forget. II Peter 1:16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables,when we made known unto you

the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,but were eyewitnessess of His majesty.(17) For He received from God the Father honour and glory,when there came such a voice to Him from the excellent glory,"This is My beloved Son,in Whom I am well pleased." Peter didn't follow,nor did he want you to follow,the traditions of men.Peter,James and John were eyewitnesses to the transfiguration of Jesus and God's words honoring His Son.(Matthew 17:1-5) II Peter 1:18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard,when we were with Him in the holy mount.(19) We have also a more sure word of prophecy;whereunto ye do well that ye take heed,as unto a light that shineth in a dark place,until the day dawn,and the day star arise in your hearts: The word"arise" could be translated"to be up".The light has been shining continuously in a dark place,that is to say the world.That light brings the minds of those with eyes to see up.That light gives your life purpose. II Peter 1:20 Knowing this first,that no prophesy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. Biblical prophesy is not of man,nor subject to the private interpretation of men. II Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man:but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. God spoke through the prophets.His prophecies come to pass just as they are written.You may have confidence and be sure of yourself,because the day star has risen in your heart.That is reason to be up. Turn with me to the Book of Hebrews.We are going to be talking about Melchisedec which means king of the just. Hebrews 7:11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood,(for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec,and not be called after the order of Aaron? The tribe of Judah had nothing to do with the priesthood.Jesus Christ is the Priest and King of the just. Hebrews 7:12 For the priesthood being changed,there is made of necessity a change also of the law.(13) For He of Whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe,of which no man gave attendance at the altar. The seedline of Jesus was through David of Judah;however ,that is only half of the story.Mary was also half Levite which is easily documented in Luke Chapter 1 where we learn Mary's cousin Elizabeth was of the daughters of Aaron,a levite.Jesus joined the king and priest bloodline after the order of Melchisedec. Hebrews 7:14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda;of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.(15) And it is yet far more evident:for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another Priest. The word "sprang" in verse fourteen means "hath risen".The fact that Jesus has risen is reason for us to be up.The word "ariseth" in verse fifteen is similar. Hebrews 7:16 Who is made,not after the law of a carnal commandment,but after the power of an endless life. Through forgiveness,we all have the opportunity to live endlessly.That,friends,is a good reason to be up. Hebrews 7:17 For He testifieth,"Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec."(18) For there is verily a disannulling of the commendmant going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. The burnt offerings and blood sacrifices were weak and unprofitable compared to forgiveness under grace.Don't ever forget that one must forgive to be forgiven. Hebrews 7:19 For the law made nothing perfect,but the bringing in of a better hope did;by the

which we draw nigh unto God. Do you draw near enough to God that the day star rises in your heart and mind?Have you felt His touch?Are you receiving His blessings?Are you up? Let's continue our study in Zephaniah.Zephaniah means hidden of YHVH and the Book has to do with the end times. Zephaniah 3:8 Therefore wait ye upon Me,saith the LORD,until the day I rise up to the prey:for My determination is to gather the nations,that may assemble the kingdoms,to pour upon them Mine indignation,even all My fierce anger:for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of My jealousy. This is a very unique verse.Within this verse we find every letter in the Hebrew alphabet,including the five final letters.The Massorah calls attention to this fact.This implies that the verse takes in the whole purpose of YHVH concerning Isreal.Look around,friends.Stand up! Be up! How do we do this? We are able to be up by gaining knowledge from God's Word.You can be sure that you will not slip,and you will produce fruit. Zephaniah 3:9 For then will I turn to the people a pure language,that they may call upon the name of the LORD,to serve Him with one consent. Babylon,that is to say confusion,will be destroyed.There will be only one language spoken by all of God's children.In conclusion,let's turn to Jeremiah.

Jeremiah23:1Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith
the LORD. Unfortunately,many pastors scatter God's sheep by not teaching God's Word.They find quarterlies and traditions of men more important than God's Word Jeremiah23:2Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD. Judgement begins at the house of God and those who occupy the pulpits(I Peter 4:17) Jeremiah23:3

And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. Think how proud God must be of you that are fruitful now,and how much He does increase our blessings. Jeremiah 23:4 And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD.

When we feed on God's Word we lack nothing. Jeremiah 23:5 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. Jeremiah 23:6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this [is] his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. The fact that the Branch was raised should raise you up as well.All twelve tribes of Isreal shall be saved. Jeremiah 23:7 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that they shall no more say, The LORD liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; Jeremiah 23:8 But, The LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land. Are you up?If you will take time to study God's Word and learn of His promises,you will be up. In HIs Service, Arnold Murray