Jesus Generation, Part 2

In the language of God’s original “chosen” people, 4 = Daleth which means “door.” Jesus said, “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” (John 10:9).

God the Father’s house (Beth) has a door (Daleth) whose name is Jesus by which you can go out or come in. The door can be closed or open. If the door is open, man can see another world. God designed us to live with the door open, which means that we will experience strife in our lives, rather than closing the door to avoid conflict. People live in a world of warfare and conflict, both within ourselves and against nature. Daleth symbolizes a world of opposition between good and evil, life and death, justice and injustice.

1 Corinthians 16:9, New American Standard Bible (©1995)
for a wide door for effective service has opened to me, and there are many adversaries is the same as God says to Cain in Genesis “If you do not do well, sin is crouching at your door; and its desire is to master you, but you must master it.”
Cain didn’t listen to the Lord. The sin of anger mastered him, and he killed his brother.
Remember how Jesus defined His “family?” Who ever obeys His Father’s will. PERIOD. END OF DISCUSSION. NO ROOM FOR DEBATE OR CRAFTINESS.

Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Hebrews 13:8 (New International Version, ©2010)

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. The warning, one more time: “If you do well, surely you will be accepted, but if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door and its desire is to master you, to consume you, to rule you. You must master it by depending on the power of the Lord Jesus Christ to keep you free from its power.”

Daleth represents “this world in this time.” It covers the physical side of our world, which exists within the time dimension. So that it is plain to understand the four-dimension concept, here are other examples:

o Four directions (north, south, east, west)
o Four elements (earth, air, fire, water)
o Four kingdoms (animal, vegetable, mineral, spiritual)
o Four seasons (spring, summer, autumn, winter)
o Four DNA genomes (A, G, T, C)
o Four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)

Through TIME, who is the Fourth Man?

Let me tell you who He is in every book of the Bible.

In Genesis He is the Seed of the Woman.

In Exodus He is the Passover Lamb.

In Leviticus He is our High Priest.

In Numbers He is the Pillar of Cloud by day and the Pillar of Fire by night.

In Deuteronomy He is the Prophet like unto Moses.

In Joshua He is the Captain of our Salvation.

In Judges He is our Judge and Lawgiver.

In Ruth He is our Kinsman Redeemer.

In I and II Samuel He is our Trusted Prophet.

In Kings and Chronicles He is our Reigning King.

In Ezra He is our Faithful Scribe.

In Nehemiah He is the Rebuilder of the Broken Down Walls of our human life.

In Esther He is our Mordecai.

In Job He is our Dayspring from on high and our Ever-Living Redemmer.

In Psalms He is the Lord our Shepard.

In Proverbs and Ecclesiastes He is our Wisdom.

In the Song of Solomon He is our Lover and the Bridegroom.

In Isaiah He is the Prince of Peace.

In Jeremiah He is the Righteous Branch.

In Lamentations He is the Weeping Prophet.

In Ezekiel He is the Wonderful Four-Faced Man.

In Daniel He is the Fourth Man in the burning fiery furnace.

Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion

Who is the Fourth Man?

In Hosea He is the Faithful Husband, forever married to the backslider.

In Joel He is the Baptizer with the Holy Ghost and Fire.

In Amos He is our Burden-Bearer.

In Obadiah He is the Mighty to Save.

In Jonah He is our Great Foreign Missionary.

In Micah He is the Messenger of Beautiful Feet, of carrying the Gospel.

In Nahum He is the Avenger of God’s Elect.

In Habakkuk He is God’s Evangelist, crying, “Revive thy work in the midst of the years.”

In Zephaniah He is the Savior.

In Haggai He is the Restorer of God’s Lost Heritage.

In Zechariah He is the Fountain Opened in the House of David for sin and uncleanness.

And in Malachi He is the Sun of Righteousness, rising with healing in His wings.

Who is the Fourth Man?

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

In Matthew He is the Messiah.

In Mark He is the Wonder-worker.

In Luke He is the Son of Man.

In John He is the son of God.

In Acts He is the Holy spirit.

In Romans He is our Justifier.

In Corinthians He is the Gifs of the Spirit.

In Galatians He is the Redeemer from the curse of the law.

In Ephesians He is the Christ on Unreachable Riches.

In Philippians He is the God Who Supplies All Our Needs.

In Colossians He is the Godhead Bodily.

In ! and II Thessalonians He is our Soon-coming King.

In I and II Timothy He is our Mediator between God and Man.

In Titus He is our Faithful Pastor.

In Philemon He is a Friend that Sticketh Closer that a Brother.

In Hebrews He is the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant.

In James He is the Great Physician.

In I an II Peter He is the Chief Shepard who soon shall appear with a crown of unfading glory.

In I, II, and III John He is Everlasting Love.

In Jude He is the Lord Coming with Ten Thousands of his Saints.

And in revelation He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

Luke 2:7, And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Jesus was both rejected/despised and accepted/esteemed of men when He first came but when He returns it is He who will be either rejecting or accepting us solely on whosoever has publicly confessed Him as their Lord and Savior in this age/time.

In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.

Jesus the Way to the Father

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

“If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”

Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”

Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

“All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

“You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me, but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me.

“Come now; let us leave.

At Jesus’ first coming, the enemy was striking down children even as he has attempted in every chronological generation…Hitler and in our time-period, the unborn aborted even as the Egyptians slaughtered Moses’ generation.

“A VOICE WAS HEARD IN RAMAH, WEEPING AND GREAT MOURNING, RACHEL WEEPING FOR HER CHILDREN; AND SHE REFUSED TO BE COMFORTED, BECAUSE THEY WERE NO MORE.” Matthew 2:18 as foretold by the prophet, Jeremiah in Jeremiah 31:15

Yet the mother, even as Eve who had pain in childbirth, is the Bride of Christ who is co-laboring with Him in holy travail, interceding and weeping over the tribe, her children, and with them weeping over the fallen destiny of Israel, and over the calamities about to come upon the land.

In Jerusalem, there is the Dominus Flavit Church on the Mount of Olives. The Church, built in the shape of a teardrop, signifies Jesus weeping over Jerusalem from Matthew 23 where Jesus said, “Oh, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how often I wanted to gather your children as a hen gathers her young under her wings. But you would not.”

And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

Isaiah 53:11, He shall see of the travail of his soul, [and] shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

Jesus Generation, Part 1

A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation

Micah 5:2, “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”

“The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” is the common three-generation descriptive title of God. God Himself declares it to Moses at the burning bush when revealing His name, “I AM“:

“And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.” (Ex. 3:14, 15)

God promised Abraham that after 400 years He would deliver Israel, “…in the fourth generation.” A generation in the Bible is normally 40 years long. However, here a generation is 100 years (4 x 100 = 400 years). Since Abraham received his promised child when he was exactly 100 years old, this is the measure of that generation, or God’s standard. Romans 9, “…but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. “

“But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.” At the end of this age of God’s Grace in Christ Jesus, we have the end-time generation that “will not pass away until all these things have taken place.” (Matthew 24:34, Mark 13:30, Luke 21:32). People read this and wonder, “Well, how long is a generation?” Forty years seemed to be a good Bible answer. However, just as people were when Jesus first came, nit-picking and squabbling over deep issues and missing the point, so it is with His second coming — the heart of the matter is how does Jesus define a “generation” because just how He defined His “family“, His ways are higher than ours and does not have to mean a specific number of years. It means a group of people at a given age throughout all the ages in time which God has given to people everywhere to seek Him as Father, Lord and Savior.

Who Is The Fourth Man?

In the New Testament, “The God and Father of our Lord Yeshua Messiah,” FULFILLS the Old Testament, “The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” This is because Messiah is, of Himself, the last or fourth part (4 x 100 years) of the three-generations phrase (i.e., after, “…God of Jacob,…”). Furthermore, He is of Himself, the entire 400 years as symbolic of a 40-year generation (times 10). Jesus says of Himself as it is written in Revelation 22:13 New Living Translation (©2007),
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. Matthew 20:16 and in Wesley’s Notes,

“So the last shall be first, and the first last – Not only with regard to the Jews and Gentiles, but in a thousand other instances. For many are called – All who hear the Gospel; but few chosen – Only those who obey it. Matthew 9:30; 22:14.”

Here in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus is talking to a crowd. The religious “leaders” are forever wanting to trip Him up on some legal technicality or snare Him in a loophole in the Law and even His closest follower squabble among themselves right on up to the night before His crucifixion on which one is more important than the other -they never ease up or “get it” fixating on the deep issues while overlooking the pure and simple Truths. Jesus was God’s Word fulfilling all things, including: the Sabbath, the devil, signs, miracles, YADA! Finally, in the midst of all of this, someone tells Jesus that His mother and brothers are standing outside waiting to talk to him. Jesus replies, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” He points to the disciples and says, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus goes straight to the heart of the matter, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple.”

Let us not miss the boat, or the ark of God’s Covenant in Christ Jesus by missing the point in a literal definition but seek God’s perspective.

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.
1 Peter 11 Peter 2:9
and, Matthew 22:14, For many are called, but few [are] chosen. What is God’s definition on “chosen?“

2 Peter 1:10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and Revelation 17:14 They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings–and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.“

Believe In: We Can Change

Those who enter into God’s salvation are adopted into God’s family.

Before we receive the gift of God’s grace, we are homeless orphans searching for some place to belong. But now all that has changed. The Father reaches out through His Son to all those orphaned by sin and death, and He brings them into His family.

We are adopted into His forever family and fully enfranchised as His heirs.

So, my brothers and sisters, you owe the flesh nothing! You do not need to live according to its ways, so abandon its oppressive regime. For if your life is just about satisfying the impulses of your sinful nature, then prepare to die. But if you have invited the Spirit to destroy these selfish desires, you will experience life. 

If the Spirit of God is leading you, then take comfort in knowing you are His children.

(Romans 8:12-14)

Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly–mere infants in Christ.  Because the wisdom of this rebellious and broken world looks like foolishness when put next to God. So it stands in Scripture, “He catches the wise in their deceitful plotting.”  But now I’m afraid that as that serpent tricked Eve with his wiles, so your hearts and minds will be tricked and you will stray from the single-minded love and pure devotion to Him. 

Vile men have slithered in among us. Depraved souls who stand condemned have made a mockery of the grace given to us, using it as a pretext for a life of excess, lived without any thought of God. These poor fools have denied Jesus the Anointed, our one Lord and Master.

(1 Corinthians 3:1; 19, 2 Corinthians 11:3, Jude 1:4)

And I will do everything that I can as long as I am President of the United States to remind the American people that we are one nation under God, and we may call that God different names but we remain one nation.
Barack Obama

Since God is changeless, the above statement shows the IDENTITY CRISIS inherent

in the mindset that produced that belief. 

 ^”Because I am the Eternal One, I never change; as a result, you children of Jacob have not been destroyed though your blessing may have been delayed.”

(Malachi 3:6)

God is not a man—He doesn’t lie.
God isn’t the son of a man to want to take back what He’s said,
Or say something and not follow through,or speak and not act on it.

(Numbers 23:19)

Brothers and sisters, in light of all I have shared with you about God’s mercies, I urge you to offer your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice to God, a sacred offering that brings Him pleasure; this is your reasonable, essential worship.  Do not allow this world to mold you in its own image. Instead, be transformed from the inside out by renewing your mind. As a result, you will be able to discern what God wills and whatever God finds good, pleasing, and complete.

(Romans 12:1-2)

Therefore, as a witness of the Lord, I insist on this: that you no longer walk in the outsiders’ ways—with minds devoted to worthless pursuits.  They are blind to true understanding. They are strangers and aliens to the kind of life God has for them because they live in ignorance and immorality and because their hearts are cold, hard stones.  And now, since they’ve lost all natural feelings, they have given themselves over to sensual, greedy, and reckless living. They stop at nothing to satisfy their impure appetites.

But this is not the path of the Anointed One, which you have learned. If you have heard Jesus and have been taught by Him according to the truth that is in Him, then you know to take off your former way of life, your crumpled old self—that dark blot of a soul corrupted by deceitful desire and lust— to take a fresh breath and to let God renew your attitude and spirit. Then you are ready to put on your new self, modeled after the very likeness of God: truthful, righteous, and holy.

So put away your lies and speak the truth to one another because we are all part of one another.

(Ephesians 4:17-25)

God spoke: “Let us make human beings in Our image, make them
        reflecting Our nature
    So they can be responsible for the fish in the sea,
        the birds in the air, the cattle,
    And, yes, Earth itself,
        and every animal that moves on the face of Earth.”
    God created human beings;He created them godlike,
    Reflecting God’s nature.
        He created them male and female.
    God blessed them:
        “Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge!
    Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air,
        for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth.”

(Genesis 1:26-28)

Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ

Now that Paul has described the new world as God would have it, he urges believers to live out their callings with humility, patience, and love: to walk as Jesus walked. These are the ways of Jesus. Paul encourages them to do whatever it takes to hold onto the unity that binds people together in peace. He does not ask them to create that unity; this has already been accomplished through the work of the Rescuer and His Spirit. Rather, he calls believers to guard that unity—a more modest but no less significant task—because that unity is founded on God’s oneness and work in the world.

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were all called to pursue one hope. There is one Lord Jesus, one living faith, one ceremonial washing through baptism, and one God—the Father over all who is above all, through all, and in all.

(Ephesians 4:4-6)

 It was the risen One who handed down to us such gifted leaders—some emissaries^, some prophets, some evangelists, as well as some pastor-teachers— so that God’s people would be thoroughly equipped to minister and build up the body of the Anointed One.  These ministries will continue until we are unified in faith and filled with the knowledge of the Son of God, until we stand mature in His teachings and fully formed in the likeness of the Anointed, our Liberating King. Then we will no longer be like children, tossed around here and there upon ocean waves, picked up by every gust of religious teaching spoken by liars or swindlers or deceivers.   Instead, by truth spoken in love, we are to grow in every way into Him—the Anointed One, the head. He joins and holds together the whole body with its ligaments providing the support needed so each part works to its proper design to form a healthy, growing, and mature body that builds itself up in love.

(Ephesians 4:11-16)

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but He has given us a spirit of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.

(2 Timothy 1:7)   

You have heard the stories many times, and the Spirit has enlightened you about their meaning, but you still need to be reminded. Remember when the Lord saved our ancestors from the land in Egypt? He breathed life into their earthen lungs and took back the life from those who did not believe. And God has kept the rebellious heavenly messengers bound and chained in utter darkness—shadowy gloom—until the time when His judgment arrives, because they failed to keep their rightful positions and abandoned their appointed realms. Sodom and Gomorrah and all their neighbors were defeated by their own sexual perversions as they pursued the strange and unnatural impulses of the flesh. Let these who went their own way and are experiencing the eternal heat of God’s vengeance—a punishment by fire—be a warning to you.

These stories are examples to help you understand the fate of those dreamers who have slipped in and defiled your community, rejected those in charge, and insulted the glorious majesty of the heavenly messengers.  Even their chief, Michael, when disputing with the devil over Moses’ body, did not offer his own taunting judgment against him. Michael simply said, “May the Lord’s rebuke fall on you.” 

The deceivers among you despise what they do not understand; they live without reason like animals, reacting only with primal instincts; and their ways are corrupting them. Woe to these deceivers! They are doomed! They have followed in the footsteps of their father Cain, sold their souls for profit into Balaam’s deceit, and suffered the devastation of Korah’s rebellion.

These men are cold stones on the warm hearth of your love feasts as they glut themselves without fear, thinking only of their own benefit. They are waterless clouds, carried away by the wind; autumn’s lonely and barren trees, twice dead, uprooted; violent waves of the sea breaking over the bow, foaming with shame; lost and wandering stars destined to live forever in gloomy darkness.

During the seventh generation after Adam, the prophet Enoch said, “Look! The Lord came, and with Him tens of thousands of His holy messengers to judge wicked men and convict the impious and ungodly for all they have said and all the hard things they have done against the Holy One.” These men are complainers who look long and hard to find the faults of other men. They are led by their own lustful desires like fools down the path of destruction. They are arrogant liars who want only to get ahead of others.

But you, friends, remember the words of the emissaries of our Lord Jesus the Anointed, the Liberating King:  ^“At the end of time, some will ridicule the faithful and follow their lusts to the grave.” These are the men among you—those who divide friends, those concerned ultimately with this world, those without the Spirit. You, however, should stand firm in the love of God, constructing a life within the holy faith, praying the Spirit’s prayer, as you wait eagerly for the mercy of our Lord Jesus the Anointed, which leads to eternal life.

Keep being kind to those who waver in this faith. Pursue those who are singed by the flames of God’s wrath, and bring them safely to Him. Show mercy to others with fear, despising every garment soiled by the weakness of human flesh.

(Jude 1:5-23)

Lord, I pray that my life may not be spoiled as a child who demands its own waywhether motivated by worry, fear or selfishness.  But may my life be a true reflection of Your Eternal Way, Truth and Life flowing abundantly out of my innermost being for it is in You that we live, move and have our being.  May my life be a hymn of grateful, glad thanks giving sung from a happy heart back to You my Creator-Dad, through

Co-working with my big brother Jesus Christ by the power of His Holy Spirit operating in and through me.  For it is You that gives me both the will and the ability to do all things through Christ who strengthens me in His Presence.  Amen.

For us, there is one God, the Father who is the ultimate source of all things and the goal of our lives. And there is one Lord—Jesus the Anointed, the Liberating King; through Him all things were created, and by Him we are redeemed.

(1 Corinthians 8:6)

It’s time to stop bringing grief to God’s Holy Spirit; you have been sealed with the Spirit, marked as His own for the day of rescue. Banish bitterness, rage and anger, shouting and slander, and any and all malicious thoughts—these are poison. Instead, be kind and compassionate. Graciously forgive one another just as God has forgiven you through the Anointed, our Liberating King. 

(Ephesians 4:30-32)

Now to the One who can keep you upright and plant you firmly in His presence—clean, unmarked, and joyful in the light of His glory— to the one and only God, our Savior, through Jesus the Anointed our Lord, be glory and greatness and might and authority; just as it has been since before He created time, may it continue now and into eternity. Amen.

(Jude 1:24-25)

Change We Can Believe?—Believe in:  We Can Change!

But Jesus, on hearing this, answered him, “Do not be seized with alarm or struck with fear; simply believe in Me as able to do this, and she shall be made well.”

(Luke 8:50)  If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

By this it is made clear who take their nature from God and are His children and who take their nature from the devil and are his children: no one who does not practice righteousness [who does not conform to God’s will in purpose, thought, and action] is of God; neither is anyone who does not love his brother (his fellow believer in Christ).  (1 John 3:10)

Jesus the Anointed One is always the same: yesterday, today, and forever.

(Hebrews 13:8)

So it comes down to this: since you have been raised with the Anointed One, the Liberating King, set your mind on heaven above. The Anointed is there, seated at God’s right hand.  Stay focused on what’s above, not on earthly things, because your old life is dead and gone. Your new life is now hidden, enmeshed with the Anointed who is in God.  On that day when the Anointed One—who is ourvery life—is revealed, you will be revealed with Him in glory!  So kill your earthly impulses: loose sex, impure actions, unbridled sensuality, wicked thoughts, and greed (which is essentially idolatry).  It’s because of these that God’s wrath is coming [upon the sons and daughters of disobedience],so avoid them at all costs.  These are the same things you once pursued, and together you spawned a life of evil.  But now make sure you shed such things: anger, rage, spite, slander, and abusive language.  And don’t go on lying to each other since you have sloughed away your old skin along with its evil practices  for a fresh new you, which is continually renewed in knowledge according to the image of the One who created you.   In this re-creation there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian and conqueror^, or slave and free because the Anointed is the whole and dwells in us all.

Paul tells them the key to remain unified is to show compassion and forgiveness toward one another.

 Since you are all set apart by God, made holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a holy way of life: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Put up with one another. Forgive. Pardon any offenses against one another, as the Lord has pardoned you, because you should act in kind. But above all these, put on love! Love is the perfect tie to bind these together. Let your hearts fall under the rule of the Anointed’s peace (the peace you were called to as one body), and be thankful.

Let the word of the Anointed One richly inhabit your lives. With all wisdom teach, counsel, and instruct one another. Sing the psalms, compose hymns and songs inspired by the Spirit, and keep on singing—sing to God from hearts full and spilling over with thankfulness.  Surely, no matter what you are doing (speaking, writing, or working), do it all in the name of Jesus our Master, sending thanks through Him to God our Father.  (Colossians 3:1-17)

If you pursue the next “big thing” materially, you will not be free to follow the One that is all you need and created all things for His glory. 

These pursuits are akin to a hamster on a wheel, designed to wear you out without actually going anywhere.  They leave you empty, hollow, dry, unfulfilled, dissatisfied without any real sense of belonging or purpose in life.  They are like a drug that only serves to anesthetize the brain to not respond to the pain receptors.  The pain remains long after the drug recedes.    By pursuing worth less things instead of finding our true purpose for being created in Christ who makes all things new—

our lives become like an alternate reality game (ARG), a simulation not a true reflection of God’s abundant life.  We are robbed and depleted of real meaning and true identity caught up in an endless spiral downwards.

Jesus warned about this, saying about the devil—”The thief approaches with malicious intent, looking to steal, slaughter, and destroy; I came to give life with joy and abundance.“  (John 10:10)

It takes the supernatural power of a changeless God to transform what is naturally impossible with men.  God’s ways and thoughts are far above our own way of thinking.  He sees who we can be in His Beloved Son.  Catch His vision, His holy

perspective of being completely whole in the integrity of His One and Only Son.

It is not by our might, nor our power but by His Spirit that we are enabled, strengthened, helped as we obey His Voice, He leads and guides us into all Truth.

He is the Same Power that raised Christ’s body from the earthen grave into the highest place of honor at the right side of God, the Father Almighty!  This is the Same Powerful Present Help available as we believe in Him!  He empowers us to rise beyond the dictates of the flesh in response to the love of God that compels us to live as Christ in the love of God  (John 3:16). 

And He said to them, “Come after Me [as disciples—letting Me be your Guide], follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men!“  (Matthew 4:19)

Moses: ^“Listen, Israel! The Eternal is our True God—He alone.  You should love Him, your True God, with all your heart and soul, with every ounce of your strength.  Make the things I’m commanding you today part of who you are. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you’re sitting together in your home and when you’re walking together down the road. Make them the last thing you talk about before you go to bed and the first thing you talk about the next morning. Do whatever it takes to remember them: tie a reminder on your hand and bind a reminder on your forehead where you’ll see it all the time, such as on the doorpost where you cross the threshold or on the city gate. 

(Deuteronomy 6:4-9)

Know Truth, Know Life

“—but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”  (Genesis 2:17)But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.  (Matthew 13:16)

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. 

He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”  (Genesis 3:1)

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.  (Genesis 3;6)  The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.  (1 Timothy 4:1)  You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 

Don’t Believe Everything You Are Told–

Don’t be deceived–Read, Study and Obey God’s Word!  Hand the one thousand lies back to the voice that does not belong to you. 

Obsession with self in these matters is a DEAD END.

Attention to God, leads us out into the OPEN, into a SPACIOUS free life.

(Romans 5:8)  The Lord confides in those who fear Him, He makes His covenant known to them.  My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only He will release my feet from the snare.  (Psalm 25:14-15)  The only Way out is Jesus Christ.  He is the only Way of escape.  We have to be under His care and protection.  Salvation by any other Name or means, simply does not exist.  Complete obedience is required.  Praise the LORD.

Come soon, Lord Jesus.  Amen.  The END.

(John 8:44)

For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. By truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left.

God’s Final Word: His Son

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom also He made the universe.  The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful Word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.  So He became as much superior to the angels as the name He has inherited is superior to theirs.  (Hebrews 1:1-4)

If any of you needs wisdom to know what you should do, you should ask God, and He will give it to you. God is generous to everyone and doesn’t find fault with them.

(James 1:5) 

Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He instructs sinners in His ways.  

 I will give you words and wisdom that none of your enemies will be able to oppose or prove wrong.   –For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.  Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.

(Psalm 25:8, Luke 21:15, Luke 12:12, Exodus 4:12)

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.  Outside the city are the dogs–the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie.  Don’t you know that wicked people won’t inherit the kingdom of God? Stop deceiving yourselves! People who continue to commit sexual sins, who worship false gods, those who commit adultery, homosexuals, or thieves, those who are greedy or drunk, who use abusive language, or who rob people will not inherit the kingdom of God.

(Matthew 7:21, Revelation 22:15, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil.  (1 John 3:8)   This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.  (1 John 3:10)

As Jesus warns of the mistreatment His followers can expect, He disarms fears by noting the most important things. If the Spirit is within, there is no reason to fear. In fact, the church will thrive under persecution. Yet humans are obsessed with power and political prominence as a means to influence the culture. Christian citizens have an obligation to strive for justice and freedom through the transforming power of the Spirit in people’s lives. Rather than exerting temporal power, the real work of the Kingdom often thrives under fierce attack and opposition. Jesus announces this coming persecution to His followers, believing this will lead to their finest hour.

Jesus: I am telling you all of this so that you may avoid the offenses that are coming. The time will come when they will kick you out of the synagogue because some believe God desires them to execute you as an act of faithful service. They will do this because they don’t know the Father, or else they would know Me. I’m telling you all this so that when it comes to pass you will remember what you have heard.

(John 16:1-4)

The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John.  Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”

(Revelation 1:1, Revelation 19:9)  This is the One who came by water and blood–Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.  (1 John 5:6)    Many nations will be joined with the LORD in that day and will become My people. I will live among you and you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent Me to you.   The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be One LORD, and His Name the Only Name.

(Zechariah 2:11, Zechariah 14:9)

Lies separate man from the truth of the Word–

Therefore, don’t let anyone separate what God has joined together. 

(Mark 10:9)   Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  (Acts 2:38)

The day of the Eternal One is coming. It is a day of judgment when a great final battle is fought. Jerusalem and her people are under attack; and the city, it seems, falls to her enemies. But ultimately, God’s people do not fight alone. The Lord comes—commanding the army of heaven—to rescue and defend His people. Ultimately, He is crowned King over all the earth. In that day, Jerusalem is transformed and reinstated as God’s holy city; it becomes the center of the world, the source of life-giving waters. Even her enemies make pilgrimages to Jerusalem to worship and adore the one True God.

In days to come, all people who took up arms against Jerusalem and survived will make a choice: they will either journey to Jerusalem every year to keep the Feast of Booths and to worship the King—the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies— or the families of nations will refuse the journey to Jerusalem to adore the King, the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies. The rains will never come to those who refuse the journey.   Even the family of people known as Egypt, if they do not come up to and travel through the gates of Jerusalem to present themselves to God, the Eternal will afflict them with the same plague of drought He’ll use to crush those nations who won’t keep the Feast of Booths.  ^This is the punishment Egypt and the enemy nations can expect if they refuse the journey to keep the Feast of Booths.

On that day, every aspect of the land will be ritually pure. Engraved on the bells worn by horses will be the same phrase on the high priest’s turban: “Sacred to the Eternal One.” The cooking pots used in the house of the Eternal will be as sacred as those collection bowls used at the altar.   In fact every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be treated as sacred to the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, so that anyone who offers a sacrifice may borrow them and use them to boil the meat of the sacrifice. In that day, no merchant  will be found in the temple of the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies.  (Zechariah 16:14-21) 

He told them, “Scripture says, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you’re turning it into a gathering place for thieves!“  (Matthew 21:13)  Don’t you yourselves admit that this Temple, which bears My name, has become a den of thieves? Surely I see all the evil going on there. I, the LORD, have spoken!  (Jeremiah 7:11)

Pro-Choice or Pro-Life? 

 There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.

(Proverbs 14:12)  A stubborn fool considers his own way the right one, but a person who listens to advice is wise.  (Proverbs 12:15)

Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.  (Proverbs 19:20)   Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; You taught me wisdom in that secret place.  (Psalm 51:6)

For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

(Proverbs 2:6)   “Scripture says, ‘A person cannot live on bread alone but on every word that God speaks.’”–Jesus Christ —  “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father–the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father–He will testify about Me.“

(Matthew 4:4, John 15:26)

You Will Know Them by Their Fruits

Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.  (Matthew 12:33)  They conceive trouble and give birth to evil; their womb fashions deceit.  (Job 15:35)  Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with malice. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongues they tell lies.  (Psalm 5:9) 

Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.  

(James 1:15)

Look at that guy! He had sex with sin, he’s pregnant with evil.
Oh, look! He’s havingthe baby—a Lie-Baby!

(Psalm 7:14)

Truly the righteous attain life, but whoever pursues evil finds death.

(Proverbs 11:19)

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

(James 3:17)

The Tree and Its Fruit

“Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.  You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?  (Matthew 7:15-16)

Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. 

The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.

---

But you know that He appeared so that He might take away our sins. And in Him is no sin.   Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might break the power of him who holds the power of death–that is, the devil– Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.

(1 John 1:2, 1 John 3:5, Hebrews 2:14, 1 Timothy 3:16)

God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and He blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near.

(Revelation 1:3)

“I’m coming soon! Blessed is the one who follows the words of the prophecy in this book.  Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.”

–Jesus Christ  (Revelation 22:7, Revelation 16:15)

Genesis provides an image of the ideal marriage: One man. One woman. In a one-flesh relationship. For life. These four elements constitute the ideal, as Jesus reminds His followers (Matthew 19:4–5). Anything less, anything more, or anything other misses the ideal. In marriage two individuals, who once lived as “me,” come together as “we” in one flesh and one life. No earthly bond can match the intimacy of this divinely sanctioned union.

But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  –But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.

(Matthew 5:28, James 1:14)

The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it — No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.

(1 Thessalonians 5:24, 1 Corinthians 10:13)

While our enemies pretend, they have proven repeatedly that they want nothing less than the complete destruction of God’s chosen ones.  We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love one another. The person who does not love remains spiritually dead. (1 John 3:14)

When our enemies saw that they could not defeat us militarily, they resorted to the age old anti-Christ tactic of telling lies. This is their warfare and so much of today’s media is quick to spread this deceit as truth. This is how they try to defeat us. Who can protect from such vicious lies?

The answer, of course, is God. One day the truth will become clear, and until that time, God will protect His people.

Judgment and the Love of God

If Jesus ever commanded us to do something that He was unable to equip us to accomplish, He would be a liar. And if we make our own inability a stumbling block or an excuse not to be obedient, it means that we are telling God that there is something which He has not yet taken into account. Every element of our own self-reliance must be put to death by the power of God. The moment we recognize our complete weakness and our dependence upon Him will be the very moment that the Spirit of God will exhibit His power. 

(Oswald Chambers, “My Utmost For His Highest”)

The Woman, Her Son, and the Dragon

A great Sign appeared in Heaven: a Woman dressed all in sunlight, standing on the moon, and crowned with Twelve Stars. She was giving birth to a Child and cried out in the pain of childbirth.

And then another Sign alongside the first: a huge and fiery Dragon! It had seven heads and ten horns, a crown on each of the seven heads. With one flick of its tail it knocked a third of the Stars from the sky and dumped them on earth. The Dragon crouched before the Woman in childbirth, poised to eat up the Child when it came.

The Woman gave birth to a Son who will shepherd all nations with an iron rod. Her Son was seized and placed safely before God on his Throne. The Woman herself escaped to the desert to a place of safety prepared by God, all comforts provided her for 1,260 days.

War broke out in Heaven. Michael and his Angels fought the Dragon. The Dragon and his Angels fought back, but were no match for Michael. They were cleared out of Heaven, not a sign of them left. The great Dragon—ancient Serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, the one who led the whole earth astray—thrown out, and all his Angels thrown out with him, thrown down to earth. Then I heard a strong voice out of Heaven saying,

Salvation and power are established!
    Kingdom of our God, authority of His Messiah!
The Accuser of our brothers and sisters thrown out,
    who accused them day and night before God.
They defeated him through the blood of the Lamb
    and the bold word of their witness.
They weren’t in love with themselves;
    they were willing to die for Christ.
So rejoice, O Heavens, and all who live there,
    but doom to earth and sea,
For the Devil’s come down on you with both feet;
    he’s had a great fall;
He’s wild and raging with anger;
    he hasn’t much time and he knows it.

When the Dragon saw he’d been thrown to earth, he went after the Woman who had given birth to the Man-Child. The Woman was given wings of a great eagle to fly to a place in the desert to be kept in safety and comfort for a time and times and half a time, safe and sound from the Serpent. The Serpent vomited a river of water to swamp and drown her, but earth came to her help, swallowing the water the Dragon spewed from its mouth. Helpless with rage, the Dragon raged at the Woman, then went off to make war with the rest of her children, the children who keep God’s commands and hold firm to the witness of Jesus.

(Revelation 12)  All your children will be taught by the LORD, and your children will have unlimited peace.  (Isaiah 54:13)  It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.‘ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from Him comes to He. —Jesus Christ    No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest.  No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the LORD. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

(John 6:45, Hebrews 8:11, Jeremiah 31:34)

The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call.   (Acts 2:39) 

Worship only God. For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus.
(Revelation 19:10b)

Believe in the Lord your God and you shall be established; believe and remain steadfast to His prophets and you shall prosper.  (2 Chronicles 20:20b)

“But now listen, Jacob, My servant,Israel, whom I have chosen.
This is what the Lord says—
    He who made you, who formed you in the womb,and who will help you:
Do not be afraid, Jacob, My servant, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
 For I will pour water on the thirsty land,and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring,and My blessing on your descendants.
They will spring up like grass in a meadow,like poplar trees by flowing streams.
Some will say, ‘I belong to the Lord’;others will call themselves by the name of Jacob;
still others will write on their hand, ‘The Lord’s,’and will take the name Israel.

(Isaiah 44:1-5)  –The Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you.

(John 16:13)   See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.   Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears,  we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. All who have this hope in Him purify themselves, just as He is pure.  (1 John 3:1-3)

Then many nations will come and say, “Let’s go to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways so that we may live by them.” The teachings will go out from Zion. The Word of the LORD will go out from Jerusalem.

(Micah 4:2)

“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with Me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.”  (Revelation 22:12)

He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” (Revelation 22;20)

 

 

 

Sustenance for Staying Power

His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms—and to know this love that surpasses knowledge–that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it).

Jesus said, “Don’t bicker among yourselves over Me. You’re not in charge here. The Father who sent Me is in charge. He draws people to Me—that’s the only way you’ll ever come. Only then do I do my work, putting people together, setting them on their feet, ready for the End. This is what the prophets meant when they wrote, ‘And then they will all be personally taught by God.’ Anyone who has spent any time at all listening to the Father, really listening and therefore learning, comes to Me to be taught personally—to see it with his own eyes, hear it with his own ears, from Me, since I have it firsthand from the Father. No one has seen the Father except the One who has His Being alongside the Father—and you can see Me.

 “I’m telling you the most solemn and sober truth now: Whoever believes in Me has real life, eternal life. I am the Bread of Life. Your ancestors ate the manna bread in the desert and died. But now here is Bread that truly comes down out of heaven. Anyone eating this Bread will not die, ever. I am the Bread—living Bread!—who came down out of heaven. Anyone who eats this Bread will live—and forever! The Bread that I present to the world so that it can eat and live is Myself, this flesh-and-blood self.”

At this, the Jews started fighting among themselves: “How can this man serve up his flesh for a meal?”

But Jesus didn’t give an inch. “Only insofar as you eat and drink flesh and blood, the flesh and blood of the Son of Man, do you have life within you. The one who brings a hearty appetite to this eating and drinking has eternal life and will be fit and ready for the Final Day. My flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. By eating My flesh and drinking My blood you enter into Me and I into you. In the same way that the fully alive Father sent Me here and I live because of Him, so the one who makes a meal of Me lives because of Me. This is the Bread from heaven. Your ancestors ate bread and later died. Whoever eats this Bread will live always.”

(John 6:43-58)

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.“  (Matthew 4:4)

 

Too Tough to Swallow

After this a lot of his disciples left. They no longer wanted to be associated with him. Then Jesus gave the Twelve their chance: “Do you also want to leave?”

 

“Every Word I’ve spoken to you is a Spirit-Word, and so it is life-making. But some of you are resisting, refusing to have any part in this.” (Jesus knew from the start that some weren’t going to risk themselves with Him.

Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.  (Acts 3:19) 

From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”  (Matthew 4:17)

God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?  
(Numbers 23:19)

Who formed the mountains by Your power, having armed Yourself with strength, who stilled the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations.

(Psalm 65:6-7)

God is the faithful and powerful Creator of the universe.  He has power over all creation–and all suffering.  Enough power to do anything He chooses!  To transcend

suffering—to give grace to endure it, or comfort through it, or to remove it–the decision is His.  He is Sovereign.  He is Lord.

Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you.   He shall never permit the righteous to be moved. 

(Psalm 55:22)

Lord, help me know You has the Supplier, the Provider of my needs.  Give me the vision to recognize You as the Source of all Provision.  I pray that I will bring all problems to You for help in meeting them.  I am not my own, I am bought with a

price to glorify You in my human body with all its limitations—I belong to You

and I trust You as Faithful and True, Amen.

 There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!

(Romans 5:3-4)  Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.  (Isaiah 40:31)  Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow.  (James 1:17)  

I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to Him.  And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on His name.   Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.   (2 Corinthians 11:2, Acts 22:16, Hebrews 10:22) 

Don’t Put It Off

 Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you—your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned your back on a world corrupted by lust.

So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you can’t see what’s right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books.

So, friends, confirm God’s invitation to you, His choice of you. Don’t put it off; do it now. Do this, and you’ll have your life on a firm footing, the streets paved and the way wide open into the eternal kingdom of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ.

(2 Peter 1:3-11)

For by one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.  Who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good.

(Hebrews 10:14, Titus 2:14)

Christ Brings New Life

Dear friends, God is good. So I beg you to offer your bodies to Him as a living sacrifice, pure and pleasing. That’s the most sensible way to serve God.   Don’t be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to Him.  (Romans 12:1-2)

The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.  (Proverbs 11:25) 

Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 

(2 Corinthians 5:17)

The Word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,  that is, the Message concerning faith that we proclaim.  Let the Message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 

(Romans, 10:8b, Colossians 3:16)

Sanctify them by the Truth; your Word is Truth.

(John 17:17)

First and Fore, Most

But seek FIRST the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.

To this testimony, I add my own in agreement with God’s holy word for out of the mouth of two or three witnesses (testifying) is a word confirmed and established,

Thanks be to God!

From Ron Buch, Pastor at Breakout Ministries in Salunga, Pennsylvania:

This is one of the first scriptures that the Lord Jesus used in building my spiritual house.  Remember, unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain that build.

There is no other foundation that can be laid but the Lord Jesus Christ.

“But first, be concerned about His kingdom and what has His approval. Then all these things will be provided for you.” (Matthew 6:33)

He simply defined my walk with Him.

Always seek first the kingdom, in every thought (2 Corinthians 10:5), and in

every word or action (Colossians 3:17).

Be found having not my own righteousness, but rather hidden with Christ in God.

(Philippians 3:9, Colossians 3:3)

This scripture (and the verses that precede it) has a strong application in the thought realm.  Take no thought for tomorrow! 

“First-born of all creation” proclaims Christ’s preeminence. As the eternal Son of God, He created the universe. He is the Ruler of creation!

As a new believer, I was caught in the grip of the world, having experienced more of Egypt than I could stand.  My thought life had been “unholy ground.”

 

Incoming scud missiles constantly assaulted me.  What it?  How about that! Is God really helping me?  Is Jesus powerful enough to deliver me?  Is Jesus powerful enough to deliver me out of my situation?

 

Thank God, the answer is simple.  Seek first the Kingdom, and all these other things will be taken care of.  Then the revelation hit me.  Just believe what Jesus said.

Stay simple in this.  You don’t have to know everything now!  Faith becomes the victory.  Just believing what Jesus said is what overcomes the world. (1 John 5:4-5)

 

This is the shield that stops the attack.  (Ephesians 6:13-15)

 

 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance^]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.

 

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.   For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.   For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when He comes, those who belong to Him.   Then the end will come, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father after He has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.   For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.  

For a great door is opened to me, filled with opportunities and many opponents.

The last enemy to be destroyed is death.  For He “has put everything under His feet.”Now when it says that “everything” has been put under Him, it is clear that this does not include God Himself, who put everything under Christ.   When He has done this, then the Son Himself will be made subject to Him who put everything under Him, so that God may be all in all.

 

  “Where, O death, is your victory?
    Where, O death, is your sting?” 

  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.   But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

 

Now I can rest in God’s love.  His message is still the same. (Jesus is the Living Word

of God the Father Almighty, Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever).  It will all work out, if I stay focused on the Kingdom.  Keep it simple.  Don’t worry about tomorrow.  Always seek first the Kingdom and His righteousness (Romans 8;28).  Jesus is really in the power position.  When we believe and act on what He says, then we are in that same position.  Go on with that in your heart today.

 

Thank You Father for all that I have in Christ.  Continue to give me revelation of Your truth so that I can glorify You in my time on the earth today as it is in heaven.  Amen.

 

The Resurrection of Christ

Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.  (1 Corinthians 15:1)

“First” – Coming before all others in time or order;

“First” – Never previously done or occurring.

But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.

In the Old Testament, the offering of firstfruits brought one sheaf of grain to represent and anticipate the rest of the harvest (Leviticus 23:9-14).  The resurrection of Jesus represents our resurrection, because if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection (Romans 6:5).  The resurrection of Jesus also anticipates our resurrection, because we will be raised with a body like His.  “As in the firstfruits offered to God, the Jews were assured of God’s blessing on the whole harvest; so by the resurrection of Christ, our resurrection is insured.” (Trapp)

“Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you’ll have it forever, real and eternal.  (John 12:24-25)

“And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things have been created by Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything. For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.” (Colossians 1:15-21)

To God be the glory, great things He has done!

So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,

Who yielded His life in atonement for sin,

And opened the Life-Gate that all may go in.

 “If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think He’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do His best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way He works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how He works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.  (Matthew 6:30-33)

 

What Are You Wearing?

All of us have become like one who is unclean,and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;
we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. (Isaiah 64:6)
As the Scriptures say, “People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades.  But the word of the Lord remains forever.” And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.  (1 Peter 1:24-25)

 

Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses. (Proverbs 10:12)  A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.  (Proverbs 15:1)

You need a positive mental attitude.  You have been reacting negatively.

Choose to believe somehow, someway, sometime it might be possible.

All things are possible to he who believes for nothing is impossible with God!

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.  (Philippians 2:5)  In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.  Although from the beginning He had the nature of God He did not reckon His equality with God a treasure to be tightly grasped.  (Philippians 2:6) 

Love covers a multitude of sins. 

Consider Noah’s sons, Shem and Japeth who unlike their brother Ham, who saw his father in a drunken, naked condition–becomes a tale-bearer instead of a burden-bearer. 

As Christ’s seed, we are called to confess our sins one to another and pray for one another that we may be healed.  A matter spread, separates brethren.  We are called to unity in Christ.

Noah afterwards blessed his two sons for honoring him. Ham acted shamefully. Ham should have just covered his father’s nakedness and concealed the matter.

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.  (1 Peter 4:10)  

We are STEWARDS of what God has GIVEN us.

He OWNS it, we USE it.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.  (Matthew 5:38-40)  Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.  Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” –Jesus  (Luke 12:33; 6:38) For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.  (Romans 8:18) 

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:31-32)  See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled.  (Hebrews 12:15) 

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every from of malice*.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.  (Ephesians 4:31-32)

In 1 Samuel 17:39 we see King Saul offering his attire to the shepherd boy David,

the one who defeated the enemy’s giant champion, Goliath…hear the wisdom in

the heart of one who pleases God,

^“David fastened Saul’s sword over his clothes and tried to walk, but he had never practiced doing this. “I can’t walk in these things,” David told Saul. “I’ve never had any practice doing this.” So David took all those things off.

This is the same David, who God anointed as King over all of Israel, the united kingdom.  The same King who stripped himself of crown, robe and royal attire to

usher in the ark of the covenant the bearer of the Lord’s presence among His people.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.  (Hebrews 12:1)

Make no provision for the flesh by putting on appearances for there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed.

Even Satan masquerades as an angel of light.  (2 Corinthians 11:14)  The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.  (Romans 13:12)

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.  (Romans 12:2)  Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices …(Colossians 3:5-10)

So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. (James 2:12-13)

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.  (Colossians 3:12-14)

(John 1:1)  just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.  (Matthew 20:28)  And being recognized as truly human, He humbled Himself and even stooped to die; yes, to die on a cross.  (Philippians 2:8)

Nay, He stripped Himself of His glory, and took on Him the nature of a bondservant by becoming a man like other men.   (Philippians 2:7)  For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so He condemned sin in the flesh,  (Romans 8:3) 

Stir up the gift of God that is within you.  (2 Timothy 1:6)  In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.  (Hebrews 12:4)  Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one He has sent.”

(John 6:29)  And this is His command: to believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as He commanded us.  (1 John 3:23)  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.  (John 3:17) 

Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  (Hebrews 12:2)  Son though He was, He learned obedience from what He suffered.  (Hebrews 5:8)

For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.  (Romans 5:19)    “For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of Him who sent me… Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.” –Jesus

(John 6:38; 57)

Fan the flames of love through loyalty to Christ in unity with one another as members of His body.  Refuse to stir up any embers of jealousy, rage or envy towards one another lest you be consumed and destroyed.  Malice in whatever form it takes,

only steals, kills or destroys the life of God growing inside you.  It diminishes you.

Jesus came that we may have life and to the fullest!  In Christ the corruption of

sin that leads to death is exchanged for His purity that leads to everlasting abundant life.  The Lord repays.  Be sure to be in right standing with Him lest you receive the

wages of sin which is death.  We must keep short accounts with God and man, lest we be found owing more than we can repay.  Only Christ paid our debt in full.

Malice or maliciousness fills the place where Christ should sit enthroned.  It gives place to our adversary, the devil.  He does not fulfill the righteousness of God; only

Christ does.  He was wounded for our transgressions and with His stripes we are healed.  Only He can help us as we say “yes and Amen” to the will of God the Father

in Him and say, “no” to the elusive illusions of our arch enemy Satan.  As we refuse to give place to the malice’s bitter offspring, we yield fruitful, productive lives of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ.

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)

The Sovereign LORD has opened my ears; I have not been rebellious, I have not turned away.  (Isaiah 50:5) 

Lord, I BELIEVE.  Help my unbelief.  For I know You and nothing is impossible with You.  Lord Jesus, by Your Holy Spirit, show me how to let go of every malicious weed of resentment and truly love those who have wronged me that together the harvest be plentiful, in Your Name and for Your Glory, Amen.

I know that every Word of God is faithful and true and that through faith and patience we inherit Your promises.  I know that all things work together for good

to those who are called by God.  As I believe, I am a co-worker with God being a partner in the labor so that all things work together and are fitting into a plan for good to and for those who love God and are called according to His design and purpose.  (Romans 8:28)  When it is a Word of God, according to His desire, it will surely come to pass in due time.  As we endure, waiting patiently for the manifestation of God’s promise, His Holy Spirit strengthens us in the process, transforming us into mature children of God through obedient worship.  By Your Holy Spirit we are co-workers and co-heirs with the Lord, Christ Jesus.

The stone was rolled away, the grave was empty and the grave clothes not necessary

for death had no hold on the risen Lord of life! 

Consider the words of Joshua, one of only two in his generation that wholly believed.

This is how he addressed the children of the succeeding generation:

“Pay attention, because I will soon die like everyone else. You know with all your heart and soul that not one single promise which the LORD your God has given you has ever failed to come true. Every single word has come true.”  (Joshua 23:14)

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”–Jesus (Matthew 5:5-9)

We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

(1 Thessalonians 1:3) 

But the product of sin is death and the gift of God is eternal life in our Lord.

He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

*malice Etymology:

c.1300, “desire to hurt another,” from Old French malice “ill will, spite, sinfulness, wickedness” (12c.), from Latin malitia “badness, ill will, spite,” from malus “bad“

In legal use, “wrongful intent generally” (1540s).

Similarly, a Malfeasor is also known as:

Criminal, crook, deceiver, delinquent, evildoer, felon, gangster, lawbreaker,

malefactor, malevolent, mobster, outlaw, public enemy, racketeer,

sinner, thief, transgressor, villain, worker of ill, wrongdoer.

A person may think their own ways are right, but the LORD weighs the heart… Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the hearts. (Proverbs 21:2)

As free and not as making liberty a cloak for malice, but as the servants of God.  (1 Peter 2:16)   Live like free people. But don’t use your freedom to cover up evil. Live like people who serve God.

 

 

 

For Christ is the end of the Law [the limit at which it ceases to be, for the Law leads up to Him Who is the fulfillment of its types, and in Him the purpose which it was designed to accomplish is fulfilled. That is, the purpose of the Law is fulfilled in Him] as the means of righteousness (right relationship to God) for everyone who trusts in and adheres to and relies on Him.  (Romans 10:4)

We are living for The Day when the Master says,

“Well done, you upright (honorable, admirable) and faithful servant! You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little; I will put you in charge of much. Enter into and share the joy (the delight, the blessedness) which your master enjoys.”  (Matthew 25:21)

 

I’m a ‘lil sprout

 And God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it [using all its vast resources in the service of God and man]; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and over every living creature that moves upon the earth.  (Genesis 1:28)

burgeon – begin to grow or increase rapidly; flourish.

    Put forth young shoots; bud, sprout – germinate…

His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.

(Psalm 112:2)

“I will change those who are lame into a faithful people. I will change those who are forced away into a strong nation.  The LORD will rule them on Mount Zion now and forever.    Those who are weak will survive as a remnant; those who were exiles will become a strong nation. Then I, the LORD, will rule from Jerusalem as their king forever.” (Micah 4:7)

 The remnant of Jacob will be in the midst of many peoples like dew from the LORD, like showers on the grass, which do not wait for anyone or depend on man. 

(Micah 5:7)

Who is a God like You, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.  (Micah 7:18)

They will do no wrong; they will tell no lies. A deceitful tongue will not be found in their mouths. They will eat and lie down and no one will make them afraid.   (Zephaniah 3:13)

At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified Him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; His kingdom endures from generation to generation. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.   And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has said, even among the survivors whom the LORD calls.   “I will surely gather all of you, Jacob; I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel. I will bring them together like sheep in a pen, like a flock in its pasture; the place will throng with people.”
(Daniel 4:34, Daniel 7:14, Joel 2:32, Micah 2:12)

In love a throne will be established; in faithfulness a man will sit on it– one from the house of David– one who in judging seeks justice and speeds the cause of righteousness.  The moon will be dismayed, the sun ashamed; for the LORD Almighty will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before its elders–with great glory.

In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.       

(Isaiah 16:5, Isaiah 24:23, Daniel 2:44)
 
Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong. –and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed instead.  And straighten the paths of your life, so that your lameness may not become worse, but instead may be healed

You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.  (Matthew 7:13)

Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life!

Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.        (Hebrews 12:13)
 
She gives no thought to the way of life; her paths wander aimlessly, but she does not know it.  Carefully walk a straight path, and all your ways will be secure
For your ways are in full view of the LORD, and He examines all your paths.   
(Proverbs 5:6, Proverbs 4:26, Proverbs 5:21)

Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying Your decrees!  Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. (Psalm 119:5,Proverbs 4:25 )

FOCUS ON JESUS (HEBREWS 12:1-2)
   
Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.    (Proverbs 4:26)
 
Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.
—Since he is a double-minded individual, unstable in all his ways.         
Whoever wavers in his mind is troubled in all his ways.
 
A person who has doubts is thinking about two different things at the same time and can’t make up his mind about anything.   (James 1:8)
 
So He said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty (Zechariah 4:6)
     
Father, against You only have I sinned.
Forgive my selfishness.  Help me to have the pure, unadulterated trusting faith of a child who knows their father loves them and may Your desires be my delight in Jesus’ name, Amen.

To grant [consolation and joy] to those who mourn in Zion—to give them an ornament (a garland or diadem) of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit—that they may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice, and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.

Isaiah 61:3

To all who are victorious, who obey me to the very end, To them I will give authority over all the nations.

Beyond a shadow…

Beyond a shadow of a doubt…

…Yes, though I walk through the deep, sunless valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod to protect and Your staff to guide, they comfort me.  (Psalm 23:4)

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty Whose power no foe can withstand.  (Psalm 91:1)

Let us strip off anything that SLOWS us down or holds us back; and let us RUN
with patience the particular race that God has set before us.  (Hebrews 12:1)

Nothing is impossible with God.
That word has no use or meaning for me except to emphasis the necessity of abiding
 in agreement with God  for only He is the way, the truth and the life.

He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every Word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.
(Deuteronomy 8:3)

He is our only need for apart from Him we can do nothing but all things are
possible with God.

As a believer, the word “impossible” ceases to have any hold over me!

For You cause my lamp to be lighted and to shine; the Lord my God illumines my darkness.

For by You I can run through a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall.

(Psalm 18:28-29)  But those who wait for the Lord who expect, look for, and hope in Him shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up close to God as eagles mount up to the sun; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.  (Isaiah 40:31)

I would have fainted, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord!  (Psalm 27:13-14)

 
You caused men to ride over our heads when we were prostrate; we went through fire and through water, but You brought us out into a broad, moist place to abundance and refreshment and the open air.  (Psalm 66:12)   We are assured and know that God being a partner in their labor all things work together and are fitting into a plan for good to and for those who love God and are called according to His design and purpose.  (Romans 8:28)

 

Philippians 3:8-9

Amplified Bible (AMP)

Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ the Anointed One,

And that I may actually be found and known as in Him, not having any self-achieved righteousness that can be called my own, based on my obedience to the Law’s demands (ritualistic uprightness and supposed right standing with God thus acquired), but possessing that genuine righteousness which comes through faith in Christ (the Anointed One), the truly right standing with God, which comes from God by saving faith.  (Philippians 3:8-9)

All our “losses” in the world’s eyes count as gains in the Kingdom of God.

Maturing, refining, strengthening and preparing and enriching us for His glory.

We are spiritual beings in a temporal space and corporal body but we were
created to live with God.  Therefore, physical suffering, being forsaken, aloneness,
bereavement, forfeited money and relinquished rights, what the world counts as

“ours“, whatever we “lose” for His name’s sake are considered gains on the Kingdom side as there, living is based on giving.

It is more blessed to give than to receive.  We are not defined by how much
we have but by how much we give, whether thanks giving to God or forgiving man.

Tears are prayers to God too; they travel to God even when we can’t speak.  (Psalm 56:8)

We are co-laborers and co-heirs with Christ Jesus.  This is the great exchange–

our sin-ridden fallen world for His gloriously free Kingdom of joy in Resurrection life!

Our real life and true identity are hidden in Christ Jesus.

The lost and wayward are found in Him for He is the Way, the Truth and the Life! How can two walk together unless they agree?  Unless they are going the same way.  This is why we must repent (turn around, change our focus) and walk in agreement with His Word which is Alive and whose name is Jesus Christ!

 
 

ABOUT FACE

TURN AND FACE THE GLORY

FACE THE GLORY

Now when the time was almost come for Jesus to be received up to heaven, He steadfastly and determinedly set His face to go to Jerusalem.  (Luke 9:51)  Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.   (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Come into the Jesus is the Light.  Come into the light, He’ll take away the darkness.

 He arose the victor of the dark domain and He lives forever with His saints to reign.

Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the Message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place–until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts.  (2 Peter 1:19)

If we walk in the light—But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanses us from all sin.  (1 John 1:7)

I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I confidently trust!

 

For then He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.

 

Then He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge; His truth and His faithfulness are a shield and a buckler.

 

You shall not be afraid of the terror of the night, nor of the arrow (the evil plots and slanders of the wicked) that flies by day,

 

 Nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor of the destruction and sudden death that surprise and lay waste at noonday.

 

A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you.

 

Only a spectator shall you be–yourself inaccessible in the secret place of the Most High as you witness the reward of the wicked.

 

Because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place,

 

There shall no evil befall you, nor any plague or calamity come near your tent.

 

For He will give His angels especial charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways of obedience and service.

 

They shall bear you up on their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone.

 

You shall tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the serpent shall you trample underfoot.

 

Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name–has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness—trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never.

 

He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.

 

 With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation.

(Psalm 91:2-16)

“I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon.

This is how my Father shows who He is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as My disciples.  (John 15:5-8)

TRULY, HE SAVES THE BEST WINE FOR LAST.

The Lord says, “No one destroys good grapes; instead, they make wine with them. Neither will I destroy all My people—I will save those who serve Me. I will bless the Israelites who belong to the tribe of Judah, and their descendants will possess My land of mountains. My chosen people, who serve Me, will live there.  They will worship Me and will lead their sheep and cattle to pasture in the Plain of Sharon in the west and in Trouble Valley in the east.

“But it will be different for you that forsake Me, who ignore Zion, My sacred hill and worship Gad and Meni, the gods of luck and fate. It will be your fate to die a violent death, because you did not answer when I called you or listen when I spoke. You chose to disobey Me and do evil.  And so I tell you that those who worship and obey Me will have plenty to eat and drink, but you will be hungry and thirsty. They will be happy, but you will be disgraced. They will sing for joy, but you will cry with a broken heart.  My chosen people will use your name as a curse. I, the Sovereign Lord, will put you to death. But I will give a new name to those who obey Me.  Anyone in the land who asks for a blessing will ask to be blessed by the faithful God. Whoever takes an oath will swear by the name of the faithful God. The troubles of the past will be gone and forgotten.”  (Isaiah 65:8-16)