Present Day Truth

TAMMUZ

2010-06-19T11:41:00.001-07:00

TAMMUZ, THE DESIRE OF WOMEN
The story of Tammuz goes back into the ages of antiquity. Whether he ever lived or not is not exactly important. He was probably an invention of his mother, Semiramis, who was the young widow of Nimrod, the rebel against God. Nimrod was cut off shortly after the confusion of tongues at Babel. Semiramis quickly took the helm of the religion of her fallen husband, and declared herself to be the virgin queen of heaven, and the mother of the re-
incarnated Nimrod, the baby Tammuz. The Babylonish names of the
MOTHER AND SON were Semiramus and Tammuz. The Greeks called them Ashtoreth and Adonis, while the Romans knew them as Venus and Cupid.
Worshippers of Tammuz would make he form of a "T" across their breasts as they came to worship him, or say their prayers and rosary.
Today we see the same sign "T" on Hot Cross Buns, and the same crossing of the breast with a "T". Women wept for Tammuz (Ezek. 8:12-14), because he was supposed to have been killed by a wild boar, but came back to life at the time of the
Feast of Ishtar in the spring of the year. A forty day period of fasting
and weeping (lent) before the feast. The prophet Daniel refers to
Tammuz as "The desire of Women" in Dan 11:37 where he is placed in a category with other gods.
The women of Israel were scolded by the Prophet for making cakes to the queen of heaven. It was a family affair, including fathers, mothers, and children. See Jer 7:18 It got them into trouble, but they did not realize it until it was too late. Jer 44:15-25 shows how they mis-interpreted the cause and effect of their condition.
Tammuz reputedly loved chickens, eggs, and rabbits, hence they were incorporated into the feast Ishtar.
Tammuz loved evergreen trees, so they were incorporated into the birthday of the sun god at the winter solstice.

SHALL OVERTAKE YOU

2010-06-19T11:39:00.001-07:00

SHALL OVERTAKE YOU
To be OVERTAKEN by someone or some thing means that you were unable to outrun them or it, however much you might have wished to do so.
The admonition which Moses gave to the children of Israel in the wilderness is as valid today as it was the day he spoke it-- with the exception that the Ceremonies of the Law are no longer imposed upon us-- just the Moral portion of the Law.
In effect, the Lord was telling the people through Moses that they would be OVERTAKEN by one of two forces-- depending upon their actions relating to His Commands.

Deuteronomy 28:2 And all these BLESSINGS shall come on thee, and OVERTAKE thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.

Deuteronomy 28:15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt NOT HEARKEN unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these CURSES shall come upon thee, and OVERTAKE thee:
Deuteronomy 28:45 Moreover all these CURSES shall COME UPON thee, and shall PURSUE thee, and OVERTAKE thee, till thou be DESTROYED; because thou HEARKENEDST NOT unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee:

After many years of disregard for the Commandments of the Lord, Isaiah laments the sad state of affairs in Israel. They were in Phase 2 (reaping) of their lack of obedience.
Isaiah 59:9 Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice OVERTAKE us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, [but] WE WALK IN DARKNESS.
Our truly Godly leaders of today are likewise weeping over the conditions of the Nation, AND THE CHURCH.

Paul Harvey has a saying, "You can run, but you can't hide." That is precisely what Jeremiah was telling the leaders of Judah, who were wanting to go into Egypt in order to escape what they feared would happen to them if they stayed where they were.
Jeremiah 42:16 Then it shall come to pass, [that] the sword, which ye feared, shall OVERTAKE you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine, whereof ye were afraid, shall follow close after you there in Egypt; and there ye shall die.
God knows where we are, and can find us when He wants to.

While it is certainly true that we are no longer under the Ceremonial Law, we are not free to do as we please. We are told of an OBEDIENCE which is required of us if we hope to have the blessing of God on our lives.

It is OBEDIENCE to the GOSPEL. It is OBEDIENCE TO THE FAITH. It is OBEDIENCE TO THE TRUTH. It is OBEDIENCE TO LIGHT.

John 3:19 And THIS is the CONDEMNATION, that LIGHT IS COME into the world, and MEN LOVED DARKNESS RATHER THAN LIGHT, because their deeds were evil.
Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye YIELD YOURSELVES SERVANTS TO OBEY, his servants ye are to WHOM YE OBEY; whether of SIN UNTO DEATH, or of OBEDIENCE UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS?
Romans 10:16 But they have not all OBEYED THE GOSPEL. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
Galatians 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not OBEY THE TRUTH, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
Romans 1:5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for OBEDIENCE TO THE FAITH among all nations, for his name:

I CANNOT FIND HIM

2010-06-19T11:37:00.001-07:00

I CAN NOT FIND HIM

Each of us have had our times of uncertainty about our relationship with the Lord-- wondering why God is silent when we call upon Him. We are sure to ask ourselves what His reason is for being silent.

It is in these times that our faith has a chance to grow. We KNOW that God will not turn His back on us. The price of our redemption has already been paid by Jesus on the Cross.

Many times I have been able to identify with Job when he said: Job 23:8 Behold, I go forward, but he [is] not [there]; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: Job 23:9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold [him]: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see [him]:

I am so glad those words were preserved for us to read over and over again. It is a source of strength to know that someone else has been where we are.

Though Job could not feel nor see the presence of God, there was one thing he was sure of. We can be sure of the same thing. Listen to him as he says: Job 23:10 BUT HE KNOWETH THE WAY THAT I TAKE: [when] he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

God knows where we are at all times. He is with us, whether we can "feel" Him or not.

"Who can separate us from the Love of God?"

A SMOKING FLAX

2010-06-19T11:35:00.000-07:00

A SMOKING FLAX
The Prophet Isaiah gave us a very good description of the nature and work of Jesus in His Ministry.

Isaiah 42:3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.

Matthew, in his writing, quoted from the above, and said that Jesus was fulfilling it. Matthew 12:20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.

I am glad those words were penned about Him, for they will give comfort to anyone who is struggling to keep their head "above water" in their Christian walk.

Pearl and I were attending the grave side service of a young lad who had, apparently, strayed from the "way", and had been killed. One of the Ministers took the opportunity to "lay it on" about rebelling against God and the Gospel. The second one soundly "put him in his place", or so I thought. What the second one said was a new thought to me, and it cleared up a lot of uncertainty about some scriptures in my mind. Quoting as nearly as I can: "There is a difference between open "rebellion toward God", and "struggles in the Faith", though they both look the same on the surface.

As the words were being spoken, I did a quick "retake" of some of my past ministry, and realized I might have made exactly the same mistake that the first Minister had made there by the grave. After much soul searching, I began to repent before God for some of my former attitudes toward people who were not measuring up to my expectations for them. With God's help, I am doing better now, though I still have difficulty once in a while.

When reading about "a bruised reed" I am carried back in memory to boyhood, driving the cows to pasture in the summer mornings. We passed a grove of "tules", as we called them. "Cat tails" is another name for them. We got so we could cause them to break down by throwing rocks at the stem. The tops would fall down, and we supposed they would die. But such was not the case. They kept on living, bruised as they were. The QUALITY of their life changed, but they lived on.

I am now convinced there are many of God's children who are in that same condition. They have been through some experiences that have created a real struggle in their lives, and their heads hang low as a result of it. Many times we tend to be harsh in our judgment of them. That is because we do not have the capacity to know the heart condition which underlies what we see on the surface. WE TELL 'EM TO SMILE! THEY CAN'T!

"A smoking flax" describes a situation where a fire, which at one time blazed high, has, for some reason, died down to embers. The cause is probably beyond the scope of our knowledge. And though Jesus knows the cause, His main concern is getting the "fire" going again. It should be ours also. I can visualize Him "blowing" on the "smoking" embers, fanning them to life. THE BREATH OF THE LORD!

I have "felt" the "blowing of Jesus" on my own life a few times. He blows gently, lovingly, persistently until new courage springs forth. Oh! GLORY TO JESUS!

This is the Jesus we love! This is the Jesus who loves us!

Take courage, struggling one. The "blowing" of the Lord shall come upon you. I feel I am prophesying into someone's life right now. God bless!

THE FIRSTBORN

2010-06-18T08:32:00.001-07:00

THE FIRSTBORN

On the night of the first Passover, when the death angel passed over the land of Egypt and killed the firstborn of every creature, the Lord laid claim to the firstborn of every Israelite.

EXO 13:2 Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, [both] of man and of beast: it [is] mine.

I do not claim to know WHY the Lord planned it the way He did. I merely know a little bit of WHAT He did. But, I am sure that if our eyes were able to focus more clearly on what was done, we might be able to know more about why it was planned that way.

The Law of the Firstborn was incorporated into the Ordinances and ceremonies of the Law given by Moses. The Bible informs us that the Law given by Moses was for the purpose of TEACHING us about Jesus Christ and His work in our hearts. If we understand the Law of Moses, we can also understand the work of Jesus in the world.

GAL 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster [to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Biologically, there is little reason to believe that the first child is any better than the second or third. But, the Lord, in His plan for the Church, placed a premium on the firstborn of the family.

It is a type of something that has little to do with the natural order of birth. The Lord is trying to teach us something about HIS PLAN that we would otherwise know nothing about.
If we can learn what the Lord is trying to teach us through this, we can know more about what to expect in the future of the Church.

Being the firstborn son in a family entitled a person to the BIRTHRIGHT. This custom was started long before the Law of Moses, the same as the practice of tithing of our income to the Lord. It also carried the blessing of the DOUBLE PORTION of the fathers goods

There were some notable EXCEPTIONS to the rule or custom. Some firstborns LOST their claim to the birthright and double portion, while others who were not the firstborn ATTAINED to those blessings.

GEN 49:3-4 ¶ Reuben, thou [art] my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou [it]: he went up to my couch.

GEN 48:20-22 And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh. And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers. Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.

Joseph, in Egypt indicated that God had a plan in store for the sons of Jacob when he arranged the seating and the portions at the table as he entertained his brothers who had returned with Benjamin.

GEN 43:33,34 And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth: and the men marvelled one at another. And he took [and sent] messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him.

We also see here that the racial hatreds we see today are not just a recent thing,

GEN 43:32 And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that [is] an abomination unto the Egyptians.

A little while after the first Passover, Aaron made a golden calf for the Children of Israel, and they danced around it. Moses came down from the mountain and called to them, "Who is on the Lord's side?" The tribe of Levi came out. There was a fight, and several people were killed. It is not wise to play with the things of God.

When it was time to start the ceremonies of the Tabernacle. God did NOT choose the firstborns to be priests. Rather, He chose the Levites. I suppose that the episode at the golden calf influenced His choice. Only God knows the real reason.

The fact remains that He reserved the firstborns FOR ANOTHER PURPOSE and substituted the Levites to be Priests.

The firstborns were symbolic of something else, and it was NOT TIME for that yet, in the economy of God.

The LEVITES were to portray, IN SYMBOLIC LANGUAGE, what the firstborns were chosen to do IN REALITY at a later time.

And, by the way, REALITY is what the word TRUTH means as it is used concerning the work of Jesus in the Church. TRUTH equates with REALITY, as compared with symbolic activity. "Grace and TRUTH (REALITY) came by Jesus Christ.

JOH 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, [but] GRACE AND TRUTH came by Jesus Christ.

The Law was SYMBOL; Jesus is the REALITY.

The LEVITES were SYMBOLIC; Jesus, the FIRSTBORN is REALITY.

COL 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the FIRSTBORN OF EVERY CREATURE:

TRUTH IS NOT A DOCTRINE. There are several true doctrines, but none of them is THE TRUTH.

There remains a CHOOSING of people, which will be done by the Lord. The purpose of the choosing is for the selecting a group of followers whom He can make into what the FIRSTBORNS and the LEVITES of the Old Testament were symbolic of.

ISA 66:1,2 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven [is] my throne, and the earth [is] my footstool: where [is] the house that ye build unto me? and where [is] the place of my rest? For all those [things] hath mine hand made, and all those [things] have been, saith the LORD: BUT TO THIS [MAN] WILL I LOOK, [EVEN] TO [HIM THAT IS] POOR AND OF A CONTRITE SPIRIT, AND TREMBLETH AT MY WORD.

ISA 66:21 And I will also take of them for priests
[and] for Levites, saith the LORD.

As the Levites administered the Law of Moses, so will the Firstborns (those who have attained to the status of the Firstborn) administer the Spirit of the Kingdom.

We have so much more to look forward to than we have been told about in the standard Christian curriculum. We have been sold short.

HEB 12:18-24 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which [voice] they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: And so terrible was the sight, [that] Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) BUT YE ARE COME UNTO MOUNT SION, AND UNTO THE CITY OF THE LIVING GOD, THE HEAVENLY JERUSALEM, AND TO AN INNUMERABLE COMPANY OF ANGELS, TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND CHURCH OF THE FIRSTBORN, WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN HEAVEN, AND TO GOD THE JUDGE OF ALL, AND TO THE SPIRITS OF JUST MEN MADE PERFECT, AND TO JESUS THE MEDIATOR OF THE NEW COVENANT, AND TO THE BLOOD OF SPRINKLING, THAT SPEAKETH BETTER THINGS THAN [THAT OF] ABEL.

THE DARK AGES

2010-06-18T08:30:00.001-07:00

THE DARK AGES--
CAUSE AND EFFECT

Most of us are aware of the fact that the period from the early 300's AD to about the mid 1500's is called the Dark Ages.

However, not so many people know what caused it to happen.

here were, perhaps, several contributing factors, but a few facts stand out among the others as being of primary importance.

After Pentecost, the Church had experienced TEN DISTINCT PERIODS of terrible persecution-- part of it from Jewish leaders, but most from the secular government.

Secular government, by the way is called "THE DAILY" by the Prophet Daniel. The translators added the word "sacrifice", because they had no revelation of what it meant.

John, in the Revelation, had told the church of Smyrna that they would: Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast [some] of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

These "ten days" of persecution extended over about two hundred years. They could not succeed to stamp out Christianity-- indeed, the more they persecuted, the faster it grew.

About 325 AD a Babylonish priest, who ASPIRED TO RULE THE WORLD and was already well on his way, found that one thing was hindering. It was the Church, which BELIEVED IN THE LIVING GOD, AND HAD NO IDOLS NOR MYTHS.

He was smart enough to recognize that he could not persecute them out of existence. So he resorted to the same approach that Balaam had used after God had forbidden him to curse Israel on the plains of Moab.

CORRUPT THEM FROM WITHIN, was the scheme.

Revelation 2:14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

You know the story of Balaam. When God would not let him curse Israel, he conceived the plan of Baal-peor. It was a plan to invite the children of Israel to a "free open house" of Baal. That is what Baa-peor means.

PROSTITUTION AND ADULTERY were key elements of their pagan worship, and had a strong appeal to the natural senses. The end result was that 24 thousand Israelites committed adultery with the Midianitish people-- and lost their lives for doing it. Read all about it in Numbers 25.

The young Babylonish priest who held the title of Pontifex Max in the religion (Mithras) of his home land, promised the Christians that if they would be favorable to him, he would see to it that all persecution by the State ("daily" [sacrifice]) would cease. The Christians fell for it.

The religion of Mithras had "mother and child", and the festivals of the Spring and Fall equinoxes, as well as those of the Summer and Winter solstices.

"Really, we are not so far apart as we seem to be," was the slogan of the day. Soon, Christian names were affixed to the festivals.

Then, this Pontifex Max (Constantine) maneuvered to REPLACE THE ONE TRUE GOD OF THE CHRISTIANS WITH THE THREE-PARTITE GOD OF MITHRAS. The names of Babel, Arach and Akkad were changed to our modern term for God. Then that pagan religion DISAPPEARED AND CEASED TO BE KNOWN AS SUCH, EXCEPT IN HISTORY. But it continued in the new form, under a different name.

What word should we use-- conquered-- absorbed-- assimilated-- evangelized? Take your pick._

The Church of the Living God was CORRUPTED FROM WITHIN! The corruption didn't all happen over night. It took
maybe a generation or two, but the end result was the same-- the
Church lost its way. The "Truth was cast to the ground".

DNL 8:12 And an host was given [him] against the daily [sacrifice] by reason of transgression, and IT CAST DOWN THE TRUTH TO THE GROUND; and it practised, and prospered.

Constantine was now the Pontifex Max of both the State (daily) and the Church. BUT HE WAS NOT A CHRISTIAN. He was only "favorable to the Christians". He had succeeded to become the supreme leader of the world. The "twain had become one."

The Church had moved into the "Pergamos" age. "Married to Power." An unholy union, by the way.

Ceremonies rapidly replaced reality (Truth). People were held in bondage to the progressively corrupt system by fear of excommunication and reprisals. The feudal system arose out of the combined church-state (Daily) form of government. Human culture deteriorated to a very low condition.

The State (Daily [sacrifice] ) was eventually displaced (absorbed, assimilated) by the corrupted church. This corrupted church then became what is described as "The Little Horn with eyes LIKE the eyes of man (deception), and a mouth speaking great things." It "waxed exceeding great." See Dnl 7:8 8:9

Job had spoken of this sort of condition: Job 12:6 The tabernacles of robbers prosper, --

Isaiah had prophesied about it also: Isaiah 59:14 And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: FOR TRUTH IS FALLEN IN THE STREET, and equity cannot enter.

Daniel saw a vision of the "takeover" of Christianity by the forces of a pagan religion: Daniel 7:21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;

He also saw the struggles of those who tried to keep the Truth alive in the midst of the horrible corruption of the Church:

Daniel 11:33 And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, [many] days.

John, on the Isle of Patmos, wrote of the coming conflict, and the temporary subjugation of the Christians under this Church/State (Daily) union.

Revelation 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

But God was NEVER WITHOUT A WITNESS in the earth, throughout the entire 1200 years. Though the Truth was cast to the ground, and lay in the streets, there was ALWAYS A MAN OR GROUP OF MEN who stood for, and kept the Truth alive. They increased in number greatly as the time of awakening drew near.

One such defender of the Truth was a man named Huss. The name meant "a goose". As he was being prepared for his death, he remarked, "You can kill the goose, but in a hundred years there will come a swan, whose song you can not silence."

It was a prophecy of the coming of Martin Luther (Swan), whom God anointed for the specific purpose of introducing small rays of light to pierce the "dark of the ages". The Church-State (Daily) regime could not silence him. Glory to Jesus!

From that point in time, it is very interesting to watch the progress of the restoration of Truth to the Christian community.
That restoration is still in progress today.

Have you ever wondered what would happen if suddenly, Peter, James, and John, along with Paul were returned by some "time machine" operation, to live again among us? I have.

In their search for a Church to attend, they could "identify" with "Justification by Faith" in the Lutheran Church. But soon they would find themselves lost in a maze of things they didn't know anything about. With the Baptists, they could recognize "Baptism by immersion." With the Presbyterians, they would be happy for "Man's responsibility to God." The Methodists, along with others, would make a hit with "Holiness to the Lord." Yet each Church would display a great void in their understanding and practice, compared to that of the Church after the Day of Pentecost, the one which they had known.

But, following the progression of restoration, they would eventually find a good Pentecostal Church-- one where they shout for joy, revel in the goodness of God. In this Church people receive the Baptism of the Holy Ghost, and talk in tongues and prophesy. Imagine their joy at such a discovery! They might be on the verge of joining the church, but a "glitch" is discovered at a Baptismal service after a Sunday night meeting. "What are they saying to the candidates when they put them under the water," they ask one another. "That isn't the way we did it," said Paul and Peter. "Where did they get that?"

Well, we could follow those four men for several days, and it is doubtful if they could ever find a church just like the one they left behind when they went to be with Jesus.

We still have some of the "grave clothes" of the dark ages clinging to us. It is beyond the ability of mankind to free ourselves of these grave clothes by ourselves.

It takes a revelation from God for us to even SEE them, let alone discard them. Oh! How greatly we need the Lord to take the scales from our eyes.

But God HAS MADE SOME PROMISES to His people, and He WILL PERFORM THEM.

Joel 2:25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.

Rejoice with me!

The Word of the Lord is SURE AND STEADFAST. The Truth, which was cast to the ground, and that lay in the street, shall, according to God's Word, SPRING UP AGAIN, and flourish in the earth.

Psalms 85:9 Surely his salvation [is] nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.

Psalms 85:10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed [each other].

Psalms 85:11 Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.

I want, desperately, to see it, and have a part in it!

Don't you?

I WILL

2010-06-18T08:24:00.001-07:00

I WILL…

Eze 36:22 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.
Eze 36:23 And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.
Eze 36:24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.
Eze 36:25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
Eze 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.
Eze 36:27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
Eze 36:28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
Eze 36:29 I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you.
Eze 36:30 And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen.

Please take note that there are no “If’s” or “Maybe’s” in the above passage I have quoted. There are no conditions or qualifications to be met by the people involved. “It’s gonna happen.”

We have it to “look forward to”.

It will be “All of God, and none of us”.

A similar scripture is found in Jer 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
Jer 31:32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they broke, although I was a husband unto them, saith the LORD:
Jer 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Jer 31:34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Note again that there seems to be NO REQUIREMENTS laid on the people. God will do it Himself, asking no odds of anybody.

Think about it. Pleasing God will be as natural as breathing. No more struggling with flesh, to bring it into line with the Word of God. No more of the fleshly desires that hinder our progress toward the ways of God.

Why would God do that for fallen humanity?

Isn’t there SOMETHING that humans have to do to help make this possible?

God NEEDS NO HELP from any of us. We have caused nothing but chaos thus far in trying to eliminate the human characteristics from our friends and neighbors. Made messes. Worked havoc.

We have NO CAPABILITIES whatsoever when it comes to implanting the NATURE OF GOD into the lives of other people. ONLY GOD CAN DO THAT!

The best we have been able to do thus far is to lay condemnation on our friends and neighbors for what they/we are NOT DOING. That was the purpose of the Mosaic Covenant. In 1500 years, it taught us that humans are incapable of measuring up to the LAW OF GOD’S NATURE. Ours is a nature of REBELLION TOWARD GOD.

But, REST ASSURED that God has a reason for what He says He WILL DO for humanity.

About 4000 years ago there was a man named Abram who found Grace in the sight of the Lord because he believed and acted upon what God said to him.

God, after 42 years of testing Abram, was satisfied with what he saw (Faith in what God said), and He made a COVENANT OF PROMISE with the man Abram.

IT WAS A UNILATERAL COVENANT OF PROMISE.

Gen 22:15 And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,
Gen 22:16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:
Gen 22:17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
Gen 22:18 And IN THY SEED shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

The SEED spoken of here is JESUS CHRIST. See Gal 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

When Jesus ministerd on earth, He CONFIRMED THE COVENANT with the Jewish people, but they would have none of it, and opted for the consequences--DESOLATION.

Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall MAKE IT DESOLATE, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

When Jesus spoke about the PROMISE OF THE FATHER, he was referring to the COVENANT OF ABRAHAM that He was confirming.

God’s COVENANT/PROMISE was to endure for a thousand generations.

Psa 105:6 O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen.
Psa 105:7 He is the LORD our God: his judgments are in all the earth.
Psa 105:8 He hath remembered his covenant forever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.

Who are the HEIRS OF ABRAHAM? Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the PROMISE.

Gal 3:17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was CONFIRMED BEFORE OF GOD IN CHRIST, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the PROMISE of none effect.

The COVENANT/PROMISE OF ABRAHAM WAS DESTINED TO COVER THE WHOLE WORLD.

Rom 4:13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

Bear in mind that this was a UNILATERAL COVENANT we are dealing with. Unilateral, and worldwide.

IT WILL HAPPEN.

TWELVE SENT

2010-06-17T08:48:00.001-07:00

TWELVE SENT
Jesus was more than a Prophet. HE WAS GOD IN FLESH.
His manner of prophecy was sometimes different from
the ordinary, but they were prophesies, none the less.
Here is one example of how they were different.
One day, according to Matt 10, He sent His twelve
disciples out to act out a prophecy about the end of
the age. It reads like this: Matthew 10:1 _And when he
_had called unto [him] his twelve disciples, he gave
_them power [against] unclean spirits, to cast them out,
_and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of
_disease. ú These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded
_them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and
_into [any] city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go
_rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And
_as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at
_hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the
_dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely
_give. Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in
_your purses,ú Nor scrip for [your] journey, neither two
_coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman
_is worthy of his meat. And into whatsoever city or
_town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and
_there abide till ye go thence. And when ye come into
_an house, salute it.
This was not a permanent arrangement, as we can see
from other Scriptures that those same disciples were
not able to do the job placed before them. The power,
or Authority was given to them by Jesus, as proof that
it _could be done,_ and as a _demonstration of what will _
_be done by a few (comparatively) who are close enough _
to receive what will given to ardent followers on the
Day of Atonement, and to reap the benefits from it.
I marvel that the truths of the Day of Atonement
are not being taught more than they are. It seems to
have "slipped through the cracks" of modern Theology.
But it is there, bright and clear, if we care to
examine it.
The biggest problem will be letting go of some of
the "standard" teachings before we can grasp this truth
of future events in God's Calendar.

"Freely ye have received (without limitations or
restraint). Freely give (no limitations on what you
will be able to accomplish)." NOTHING can resist this
God-given authority, as guided by the Spirit Itself.
The Mission? Preach, heal the sick, raise the dead,
cast out devils, and have no worry about living expens-
es nor clothing. It was a prophecy of the days follow-
ing the Day of Atonement. I am hoping to see it, and
participate in it, by the Grace of God.

PILLARS IN THE TEMPLE

2010-06-17T08:46:00.000-07:00

PILLARS IN THE TEMPLE
In the letters to the Churches, as recorded in Rev.
2 & 3, there is a statement that needs a little further
scrutiny, because it is loaded with import. Let's look
at it.
Rev. 3:12 "Him that overcometh will I make a
pillar in the temple of My God---."
Now, contrast this with a scripture in Rev. 21:22
where it says, "and I saw no temple therein; for the
Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple of it."
Is there a mistake in the scriptures? The same
writer has written both scriptures. The same Spirit
has shown the vision to John. Did God change His Mind
somewhere in the process?
I would rather believe that there has not been a
mistake, nor a change of course by the Spirit. The
fault MUST be in our ability to grasp just what is
being said by the Spirit.

First, let me say that Scripture does not support
the belief that there will EVER be a physical temple
again. Much as man desires a physical place of beauty
in which to worship, we will yet learn that "They that
worship Him will worship in Spirit and in Truth.
The Bible, however, DOES SUPPORT THE BUILDING
OF A SPIRITUAL TEMPLE, made up of human beings who have
met the requirements of a Holy God for their lives.
Please note, though, that they have NOT had to work
for their salvation. That is, and must ever be,
a GIFT OF GOD. Working FOR REFINEMENT OF CHARACTER
AFTER WE HAVE THE GIFT OF SALVATION WILL ENHANCE OUR
CHANCES OF BEING CHOSEN OF THE LORD.
1 Pet. 2:5 "Ye also, as lively stones are built
up a spiritual house." See also Eph 2:20 "--built upon
the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus
Christ Himself being the chief corner stone. In Whom
all the building fitly framed together GROWETH UNTO AN
HOLY TEMPLE IN THE LORD: In Whom ye also are
builded together for an habitation of God through the
Spirit."
Long before the birth of Jesus, the prophet
Zechariah told of One who was to be called the BRANCH,
and that He would build the Temple--the Temple being,
of course, the one built by the Spirit of God with the
Lively Stones cut out and prepared by the Spirit. Zec.
6:12
It goes without saying, that not ALL CHRISTIANS
will attain to becoming a part of this Spirtual Temple.
Only those who qualify as Overcomers will be eligible.
It is impossible to study the Scriptures, and not
discover the fact that there are distinctions made be-
tween Christians and Christians. Some are sincere,
others are careless and nonchalant. Some are striving
to overcome their flesh, others only revel in what
Jesus has done for them, content with their status quo.
It is, also, difficult for us to comprehend the
full meaning of these things, because of some of our
past teachings.
The process of UN-LEARNING these past teachings is
sometimes very painful.
Violent as the process may be, it will be well
worth our while to put forth the effort, in order to
know the TRUTH when it is brought to light. The TRUTH
will make us free.

WHENCE CAMEST THOU

2010-06-17T08:45:00.001-07:00

___WHENCE CAMEST THOU?_

It doesn't require a whole bunch of smarts to be
aware of the fact that the nations are in a world of
hurting. Reading one newspaper, or watching a news
cast will quickly tip you off to that fact.

We have a great tendency to shrug our shoulders
and say there is nothing we can do about it, and we are
partly right about that. But will you listen to me for
a moment?

If I read the signs of the times correctly, there
is a single "fountain head" from which many of our
problems issue. There is something more to be reckoned
with than the mere fact of man's moral decadence.

Consider the strength with which the homosexual
community is demanding attention. To be sure, each
generation since the time of Noah has had its share of
"queers", but they have mostly stayed in the woodwork
and the closets because they knew it was wrong for them
to do what they were doing. Now they are being ushered
right into the limelight, and our children are being
told that it is merely an "alternate life style" rather
than what the Bible says it is--an abomination to God.
Do we know who is doing it? From whence do they get
the "drive" that is hurtling them into the limelight of
public awareness. Are their sheer numbers overwhelming
the "regulars" in our society? You and I both know
differently. Then why are we being required to accept
their actions a an "alternate normal"? Where is the
"unseen hand"? Is there, indeed, an unseen hand?

Consider the power of the demand for sex educa
tion in our schools, and how educational reform has
been forced upon us whether we want it or not. Most of
us are not in favor of either one of them, but we are
having them forced upon us. From whence comes their
momentum, that they should roll over us in spite of our
protests?

Consider how God has been dragged out of the
school rooms across America. Is ALL of America that
badly depraved? Is it the workings of an unseen hand?

Why are we so unable to stop the easy flow of
drugs into our country? Is it because our police force
is so inefficient? Can it be that their hands are tied
behind their backs while an unseen force works havoc in
our land? Can it be that they are forbidden to do what
they know they can do?

Is the break down of the institution of Marriage
a lapse of moral fiber altogether, or is it engineered
by a force we do not see?

I recently read a little booklet written by Don
Hicks of Nampa, Idaho. He offers an explanation which
does not seem to be too far out of line. He believes
he can identify the one fountain head from which most
of these devastating factors come. Each factor is an
expression of hatred for Jesus Christ and all that His
Name stands for.

Other things I have read in times past seem to
confirm what Don says--that there is a single powerful
force behind these things. It is an energetic, secret,
group of individuals with no good motives to their
credit.

The Bible, also, seems to bear out the existence
of such a group, and tells of its demolition by the
Power of God before they can accomplish their
diabolical plot. "When they shall say, 'Peace and
safety', sudden destruction cometh--." "But they know
not the thoughts of the Lord." God still has a "trick"
or two "up His sleeve."

It is going to be interesting to watch what God
does in the not-too-distant future.

We might be wise to carefully scrutinize the
current "prophetic" teachings, and abandon some of
them, in favor of what the Word plainly teaches.

WHAT GOES AROUND

2010-06-15T15:03:00.000-07:00

WHAT GOES AROUND, COMES AROUND

A few years ago, a man I was working with made the statement that the law of Karma meant, basically, that "What Goes Around, Comes Around". We had been talking about "Chickens Come Home To Roost" and a few other aspects of the law of Sowing and Reaping.

Today, I was reminded of some scriptures in the Old Testament which could add credence to those wise sayings of yester year.

Deuteronomy 28:1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe [and] to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.

What the Lord was saying to His People in this passage is: If you "send around" obedience to the principles of the Word of God, as you make choices of conduct and habit in your everyday life as you deal with other men and women, you can expect something to "come around" in response to those actions and motives.

Imagine being OVERTAKEN and RUN OVER by the blessings of the Lord! What a happy "catastrophe" to have befall you. Overtaken by the Blessing of the Lord! Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

I'm sure we would all like to brush some of that kind of "DUST" off of ourselves-- every now and then.

We can look forward to that, if we "send around" a goodly portion of "obedience to God" in our daily course of life.

But the same law of "sowing and reaping" works in the reverse fashion also.

Deuteronomy 28:15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:

If we take the attitude that it doesn't really matter too much whether we follow Godly principles in our dealings with other people-- if we "fudge" a little here and there for personal advantage or gain, we can expect a return which is fitting for such a pattern of conduct.

Perhaps Abraham Lincoln wasn't so "dumb" after all when he walked that great distance to return the very small amount of money he had, unknowingly, shorted a customer of the store where he was working. How far would we go, to make right a wrong we had done to another human being? Will it make any difference in the long run?

TREASURE IN A FIELD

2010-06-15T15:01:00.000-07:00

TREASURE IN A FIELD

Matthew 13:44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

A treasure, to different people means different things.

The Apostle Paul held one thing dear to his heart as he worked for the Lord.

II Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

His "treasure" was the Ministry which God had given him. I Corinthians 2:4 tells us what he considered most important. "And my speech and my preaching [was] not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

He had developed a "Spiritual Sensitivity", in order to do the work which God had called him to do.

Revelation 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith--

I still remember the fear which gripped my heart one summer day when I was about 15 years old. Three or four of us were out in the east forty, bunching hay. Three miles to the north, we would watch for the daily passenger train headed east. When we saw it, we knew we had only ten minutes more until noon, and lunch.

I saw the steam of the whistle. One of the other boys said, "He sure blew a wicked one today." For the first time, I realized that other folks were hearing things I was not. Panic seized me, for I knew what that meant.

Serious as my problem has become over the years, there is one thing which far surpasses it in importance in the light of eternal values.

Proverbs 2:2 --incline thine ear unto wisdom, [and] apply thine heart to understanding;

Philippians 3:13 --but [this] one thing [I do],

Pro 2:5 Then shalt thou...find the knowledge of God..

II Peter 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make [you that ye shall] neither [be] barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Proverbs 3:13 Happy [is] the man [that] findeth wisdom, and the man [that] getteth understanding.

Proverbs 3:15 She [is] more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

II Timothy 1:6 --stir up the gift of God, which is in thee--.

WHY DO THE HEATHEN RAGE

2010-06-15T14:59:00.000-07:00

WHY DO THE HEATHEN RAGE?

I greatly fear that the Christian community is becoming ensnared in a swamp of discouragement, as the result of erroneous teachings we have allowed ourselves to believe.

One such error is the belief that we are gradually losing the battle for right and purity, and righteousness will never prevail over the depravity of the world. Oh, we ALL subscribe to the thought that Jesus will set things right when He returns to the earth. There is no question about that-- it is an established fact.

But, I am convinced that Jesus didn't die in order to establish a Church which would end in defeat, and have to be rescued by a fell swoop at the end, in order to escape anihilation by the forces of evil.

I can't buy that-- in the light of what I believe the scriptures are plainly trying to teach us. There are so many places where we are told of the Glory that is to be revealed in us, and what the Lord is planning to do through the Church.

I shall never forget the transformation which took place in my own life when I asked the Lord to strip away from me all the false ideas about the Gospel, and teach me how to find the real Truth contained therein.

Believe me, it was a real transformation of life and ministry when I finally was willing to relinquish what He began to strip away. He always replaced those things with something better. After a while it became easier to let loose of that He wanted to take away, but at the beginning it had left me somewhat bewildered, and I wondered at times if there would be anything left.

Eventually, a whole new world of light has been shed on the Gospel. And, stangely enough, it makes more sense than the old curriculum ever did.

He began to teach me that HE IS IN CHARGE--- TODAY. And HE KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING-- RIGHT NOW.

We need not worry. Remind yourself that He let the children of Israel toil in Egypt for at least 80 years while He was preparing Moses to lead them out. Also, He told Abraham eight generations earlier that-- "Genesis 15:16 But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites [is] not yet full. "

Present conditions are bad-- no doubt about that. But they have been worse-- lots worse--, and the Lord has managed to restore rectitude-- WHEN THE TIME WAS RIGHT.

There is a definite reason for the lack of power and anointing in the Church today. I have no idea how much longer the Lord intends to allow the condition to continue. But I am sure He know how to deal with it-- IN HIS TIME.

God Bless!

THE FEET

2010-06-15T14:56:00.001-07:00

The following is one chapter from the booklet "DAY OF ATONEMENT" written by Marion Fretwell
902 So 11th Ave Yakima, WA. 98902

THE FEET
"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace: that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation: that saith unto Zion, 'Thy God Reigneth'." Isa 52:7
NO study of the End-time Ministry would be complete without mentioning the "Feet". They, being the extremities of the anatomy, are used in prophetic language to portray what Jesus is planning for His faithful followers in the extremity of this dispensation.
LET me give you a few thoughts, as I believe the Lord has given them to me.
IN John 13 you will find the text of what I am referring to. Jesus had taken a towel and a basin of water, and began to wash the feet of His disciples. He came to Peter, who said, "Thou shalt never wash my feet." Jesus replied and said, "What I do thou knowest not now: but thou shalt know hereafter." What was Jesus talking about? What was the hidden meaning of Him washing the feet of His disciples---His close followers? Why didn't He wash the feet of everybody? Were the feet of His disciples extra dirty? Why just His close followers? No, their feet were not extra dirty. He was not giving them a lesson in hygiene. Nothing like that.
JESUS was giving them a prophecy concerning the extremity of the dispensation that He was just about to usher in upon the earth---Grace.
There will come a special cleansing to the close followers of Jesus in the last days, which will make them "beautiful." Just the close followers will receive it.
THE KEY which permits us to use the scripture this way is in Daniel 2, where the King of Babylon had dreamed a dream about a great image made up of different metal ---gold, silver, brass, iron, and iron mixed with clay The image was a chronological preview of the four great Gentile Kingdoms which were to come into being on the earth. The feet and toes were to represent what we have on the earth today in the politics of the world.
RUNNING parallel to the world kingdom is a Kingdom which God is in the process of bringing to perfection. God's kingdom is the stone which was hewn out of the mountain, which smote the image in the feet, and obliterated it. "And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed...". Dan 2:44
THE body of Christ, the Church, has been in existence for a long time also, and has gone through various stages, like the image which the King of Babylon saw in his dream. We are now living in the time of the feet.
LISTEN to what John said about what he saw when he beheld it, in the Revelation of Jesus Christ. "And His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace." Rev 1:15 This tells us that in the time of the feet, there will be "Refined Judgment" or "Exact Judgment".
"JUDGMENT", here, as in most usages of the word in scripture, means putting things in their proper place, or putting proper value on things--knowing what should be where, and why.
PRESENT day believers, especially those who are walking as closely to the Lord as they know how, constitute the "feet" of the body of Christ in the same sense that the present day governments of the world constitute the "feet" of the Babylonian image.

JESUS allowed a prophecy to be enacted concerning the believer of the last days while in Bethany at a supper in His honor. Mary took a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment. See Jn 12:3 Why did she anoint the feet? Why not the head? Why not the hands and arms? Because the special anointing was to be poured out upon the saints of the last days. GOD HAS A SPECIAL WORK FOR US TO DO, AND IT WILL TAKE A SPECIAL ANOINTING TO GET THE JOB DONE.
THERE is a work to be completed, Brethren, and we need to fix our gaze in that direction INSTEAD OF SEEKING AN ESCAPE ROUTE, as we have been programmed to do for so many decades. If you can handle it, take a look at the many scriptures that talk about all things being put under His Feet. That includes His enemies.
GOD intends to use His Saints--"My sanctified ones--My mighty ones for Mine anger, even them that rejoice in My Highness." See Isa 13:3 They will be the Weapons of His Indignation". See vs 5.
"But the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever---Until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High: and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom." See Dan 7:22,27
BECAUSE "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God, to the pulling down of strongholds", we cannot expect by any fleshly means to overpower the forces of evil as they are seen in the governmental, financial and religious institutions of the world today.
Legislation will not do it. Armies will not do it. Passing resolutions will not do it. Our only means of attack is the Spirit of Almighty God.

BUT THAT IS SUFFICIENT!

WHEN the Mighty Angel binds Satan, to cast him into the bottomless pit, he will use the Chain of the SPIRIT OF GOD. If you can believe it, the Mighty Angel is the SAINTS OF THE MOST HIGH GOD, after they have received the Anointing typified by Mary in Bethany, when she anointed the feet of Jesus with the "VERY COSTLY OINTMENT."
IT WILL BE A VERY COSTLY ANOINTING, and few will be willing to pay the cost to be in that company.

WE OFFER NO EASY ESCAPE ROUTE.

NOR DOES THE WORD OF GOD.

The Church world needs to get their eyes off of some of the traditional teachings, and onto what the Word actually SAYS about what IS GOING TO
HAPPEN.

DOING OR BEING

2010-06-14T09:27:00.000-07:00

DOING OR BEING

John, in the book of the Revelation, records the seven letters to the seven churches of Asia. Each letter ends with a promise to "him that overcometh."

We have consistently told you that there are Christians, and then there are Christians-- meaning that not all of us are going to inherit all of the promises that God has made.

Some of those promises are to a people who have "overcome". Overcome what, you might ask, just as I did when the Lord first brought it to my attention nearly fifty years ago.

If I were to tell you that our salvation is somewhat dependent upon what we do after the initial experience of forgiveness, would you believe me? Well, it is, whether we realize it or not.

I do not wish to infer that we are not secure in Jesus from moment one when we are saved. That much will, finally, get us into heaven without any further effort on our part. It is a gift.

But, there is a lot more involved in Salvation than merely making Heaven our home in the sweet by and by.

We are told in Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

The "salvation" Paul is talking about here is what pertains to our WALK WITH THE LORD after the initial experience.

It is here that we are exhorted to (Colossians 3:5) Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: Overcome them, if you please.

That responsibility rests on our shoulders. There is a REWARD if we do, no REWARD if we don't. The choice is ours. This is different from the GIFT of salvation.

Paul wrote to the Romans and told them how to accomplish this "killing out" of the fleshly desires.

Romans 8:13 --- but if ye THROUGH THE SPIRIT do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

There is no other way to accomplish it. Resolutions are inadequate. Education is a dismal failure. Etiquet training only covers over the festering corruption.

The question is often asked, "How can I get the Spirit to do this nasty job of mortifying the flesh?" "What do I do?"

The best answer I can give you is a "two pronged" attack.

One part is the Word of God. Saturate yourself with as much of the Word as you can get your eyes on. In other words, READ THE BIBLE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN. This may cause you to sacrifice time away from the "fishin' hole", the ball park, or other pleasurable activities. HARD CHOICES HAVE TO BE MADE. Nobody has said that it will be easy.

We must determine in our hearts that we will pay the price of CRUCIFIXION OF FLESH. If we have, habitually, indulged a lot of flesh in the past, the price of crucifixion will be proportionately higher. (It's a nasty job, but someone's gotta do it.)

The second part is prayer and consecration to God. I have found that I sometimes had to do some "begging" (supplication) God to help me to overcome some deep seated deficiencies in my make up, which are contrary to the Spirit. This, also, takes TIME AND ENERGY away from things which I ENJOY DOING, and which are NOT SINFUL. AGAIN, HARD CHOICES.

Bible study and prayer are BOTH needed. Either one, by itself, will fall short of the goal.
The veil of flesh (OUR FLESH) separates between us and the Glory of the Lord. That veil of flesh has to be torn apart. The responsibility rests squarely on our own shoulders.

WE must ENLIST THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT to beat down, subdue, and mortify (kill out) those things in our life that keep us from breaking through to the Glory of God.

Hey! I'm not talking about SINFUL things! There is much in every one of us that comes under the category of "NO HARM" in them. But when they consume energy and time which will have to be directed toward God if we are going to see His Glory---.

Some people have a tendency to get real active FOR THE LORD, hoping to be an overcomer by that means. About all they can accomplish is to further spread their carnality. God does not need what we can do FOR Him.

DOING is different than BEING.

Paul said, (II Corinthians 6:1) We then, [as] WORKERS TOGETHER [with him], beseech [you] also....

The essence of "overcoming", then, is just what the word implies. Overcoming our fleshly nature by filling our lives with the Word and the Spirit instead of flesh.

This is the essence of making Jesus the King and Lord of our lives. Nothing short of this will meet the rquirements of becoming an overcomer.

Overcoming constitutes a path of loneliness. There are "few that find it". It is a path of deeper obedience, and will, invariably, bring separation. The multitudes WILL NOT go the full distance with us.

God will make a difference in His Workers (Priests) of the coming Outpouring of Himself on the earth.

In Ezek 44 The qualifications are given to determine who shall minister in THE INNER COURT, and those who are barred from entering into it.

WHAT WE ARE DOING RIGHT NOW WILL BE A DETERMINING FACTOR.
Ezekiel 44:16 They shall enter into my sanctuary, and they shall come near to my table, to minister unto me, and they shall keep my charge.

Today, each one of us is either ministering to the Lord, in our personal life, or we are catering to our flesh.

We must "come near to Him" before we can be qualified to minister to those who are outside.

THE PROMISES ARE TO THOSE WHO OVERCOME.

THE LEFT FOOT

2010-06-14T09:24:00.000-07:00

THE LEFT FOOT

I wrote earlier about Mama and Papa receiving the left foot of fellowship from the Northern Baptist Convention in Roswell and the surrounding areas after they had embraced the Pentecostal teaching, and received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.

Perhaps I didn't do the matter justice, by passing over it as lightly as I did.

After Freada's funeral, I was questioned extensively about the legacy which Papa and Mama had left for the Fretwell family. The Nieces and Nephews wanted to know more about the price my parents had paid for the blessings the family had enjoyed.

I never cease to thank God that my parents had the "guts" to walk on with God in the new light He had shed on their pathway.

Papa told me once of the meeting at Roswell Baptist in which the overseer (J. R. Haslam) who lived in Caldwell came down to "set the Church in order". The Pastor of Caldwell Baptist (Bro. Burchard) was also present, and after Bro. Haslam was finished with his business, called on Burchard to dismiss. Bro. Burchard, in his prayer, asked the Lord to forgive Haslam for what he had done. He had summarily dismissed all who would hold to the Pentecostal teaching and practice. Burchard was dismissed from Caldwell also.

Bro Cox, the Pastor of the Baptist Church, would come frequently and talk to Papa about what he had done. He would advise Papa to "stay with the Church, right or wrong". Papa would reply that his conscience wouldn't allow him to do that. Bro. Cox would warn Papa of the terrible effect it would have on his family-- the children would drift out of fellowship with the Lord, and their lives would be wasted. He would warn Papa that some of his precious daughters, who were "talking in tongues" would land in the insane asylum. He had better "straighten up and fly right" to ward off such an attack on his family.

Papa would thank him for his concern, but would firmly tell him that he could not afford to say "No" to what God had shown him.

It was not really hard for Papa to take such a stand, for he had done it before, more than once. His fear of God superceded any other fear he might have had. Some years prior to this test, a family named Gusman who lived in the Jordan Valley area, had tried to convince him that he should become an Adventist and keep the Sabbath. He told me when I was teenager that he had known that if the Gusmans were right, he would have to embrace the doctrine and practices they were espousing. As his custom was, he resorted to the Bible and prayer for guidance. After long poring over the Word, and prayer for an answer from the Lord, the Truth arose in his heart like the sun coming over the eastern hills of the Boise Valley. (Ee-da-how) God had given him His Judgment in the matter. It was closed. His family would not be Adventist. They would not keep the "Sabbath".

Somewhere along the line, Papa also had a brush with the Catholics, but I never did know what that entailed. It would be interesting to know about it, for that skirmish left him with some VERY strong feelings about the "Petticoat Dads" as he called them.

Papa was a preacher of sorts, and his "congregation" was a captive audience around the table three times a day, or whenever Papa had been thinking about that "Left Foot" episode in 1923 or 24. We didn't always appreciate his "sermons", but we tolerated them because of the "loaves and fishes". Perhaps more of it rubbed off onto us than we realized, for he and Mama raised a bunch of God-fearing kids before they had to "lay down the shovel and hoe", and go to meet their Maker.

The "Left Foot" episode polarized the Christian community of Roswell. Truth ALWAYS divides. TRUTH is extremely arbitrary. Jesus, the ULTIMATE TRUTH, said that He had come on the scene to bring division, rather than peace (lack of turmoil).

The Sparks family, along with the Carlisles, the Tunings, the Adams, the Sayres, and other families I can not recall, could not, or would not respond to the new Light of the Word of God. They stayed with the Church, and felt that the Fretwells, the Sullivans, the McCombers, the Stewarts, the Jenkins, the Kerfoots, the Cornwells, and others I can not recall, were doing wrong to hold on to their new religion, and not stay with the Church, be it right or wrong.

The latter group of people rented a lodge hall and started holding Sunday School. Horace Kerfoot was the Superintendent to start out with, and we had three or four different classes. Papa, as he had been accustomed to, was Bible Teacher. I don't remember who taught the class I was assigned to. It doesn't matter, for not much of it soaked in to my juvenile skull.

At least one family was divided right down the middle. Judd Stewart and his daughter Lucille stayed with the Church, while Mrs. Stewart and their son (I want to call him Raymond) came with the Woodman Hall group.

I don't recall anyone ever relating how the episode affected the Church group, for there was not much communication between the two groups. This was especially true of the older folks who had been forced to make a decision in their own lives at the time.

However, the CHILDREN of those family heads later became like most teens tend to be. They preferred a "pack" to being alone, and Church doctrine and practice was secondary, if not completely irrelevant. The result was that the Youth Group of the Church was later to be made up of teens from both camps, and became quite a large group.

God has no grandchildren. Each individual must establish his or her own relationship to God. This was to come later.

Pastors came and went at the Baptist Church as the years wore on. Most of them learned sooner or later, that it was not wise to mention the "Left Foot" episode, and wiser still to not try to do anything about it. It was history, unless you wanted to make something of it. One German man found out the hard way that it was better to "leave sleeping dogs lie." His tenure was quite short, but I don't know how nor by whom the eject lever was pulled.

After about fifteen years of struggling along with a Sunday School and a part time preacher, the folks were growing weary of making so little progress in the Woodman Hall. Paul and Dorothy Yadon had come to Parma and were trying to get a Pentecostal Church going. They had invited David Casper, who was Pastor of a church in Nampa to come hold a revival for them. During that Revival, the Spirit broke upon the congregation, and things started to happen. Mama and Papa started driving the ten miles each night to attend.

Mama phoned me where I was working for my room and $40.00 per month, to see if I would go with them. Not that night, but the next night. That would have been April 1, 1938. It would become a major turning point in my life.

The Lord put a portion of Himself into my body that night. He touched me with His Spirit, and I would never be the same again.

It was some time before the full extent of the change would make itself manifest in my life, for I had plenty of my own plans for my future life that had to be laid down if I was going to walk this new way. Like Saul of Tarsus on the Damascus road, I knew I had met my Master, and I would be calling him "Lord" from here on out.

The struggles of Mama and Papa to steer us kids into the right pathways had paid off. The whole family now had the Holy Ghost Baptism. The whole family was serving the Lord, and loving every minute of it. Many of the kids were either already in Ministry or were destined to be ministering in some capacity.

And Bro. Cox? He had died in the insane asylum a few years ago

THE RIVER OF GOD

2010-06-14T09:19:00.000-07:00

THE RIVER OF GOD

I know I have written about this before, but it seems to keep coming to me this morning, so I will touch base with it again.

The point which seems to want the limelight right now is found in Ezekiel, chapter 47. It tells about waters issuing out of the House of God-- coming from the right side of the Altar. It grew and grew as it progressed down the hill on its 12 mile journey. Before it was half way to its destination, it had grown to a river which could not be passed over-- "waters to swim in".

Ezekiel 47:5 Afterward he measured a thousand; [and it was] a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.

Most scholars agree that this prophecy is talking about an outpouring of the Spirit of God in the end time of this dispensation. We are probably correct. This interpretation is in line with what Jesus said about the believer having a river of living water springing up unto Everlasting Life. See John 7:38 and John 4:14

There are other scriptures which speak about the river of refreshing which is to be expected from the Lord.

Psalms 46:4 [There is] a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy [place] of the tabernacles of the most High.

Psalms 65:9 Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, [which] is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it.

A few years ago, I was looking at the river found in Eze 47, and made a remarkable discovery from the Word.

THESE WATERS HAVE A DEFINITE DESTINATION AND A DEFINITE PURPOSE.

Ezekiel 47:8 Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, AND GO DOWN INTO THE DESERT, AND GO INTO THE SEA: [which being] brought forth into the sea, THE WATERS SHALL BE HEALED.

The first purpose is to bring life to the desert. It will do that.

The second purpose is to heal the waters of the Dead Sea. We all know that nothing lives in the Dead Sea. No plants, no fish, no animals. Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not.

What a fitting way for the Lord to portray the "deadness" of humanity. Absolute depravity. Absolute helplessness to produce anything good. All life ceases at its borders. The "Black Hole" of life.

But God! But God has a plan in mind that can and will bring that condition to an end.

According to the Prophet, all of the Dead Sea but a few-- Ezekiel 47:11 But the miry places thereof and the marishes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt.

No, not EVERY ONE will respond to the Spirit of the Lord when it is poured out as a DELUGE upon humanity. But God intends to retrieve a generation or two from the kingdom of death, into the Kingdom of Life-- from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of Light-- from the kingdom of error to the Kingdom of Truth-- from the kingdom of sin to the Kingdom of Righteousness.

Isaiah 11:9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

Habakkuk 2:14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

God WILL have the last word.

THE FIRST FIRE

2010-06-14T09:17:00.001-07:00

THE FIRST FIRE

The first fire on the Brazen Altar, that is. You will recall that the Lord had taken great pains to fully instruct Moses and the people about how the sacrifices were to be conducted, and the ceremonies of the Tabernacle were to be performed.

For many years, I had not been aware that the fire on the brazen altar was NOT ORDINARY FIRE. It was not, by any means. True, it LOOKED just like other fire, and normally ACTED like other fire, but that is where the similarity stopped. Have you ever considered just how long it would take to BURN the carcase of an animal, using ORDINARY fire? Stop, and think about it.

No, the fire on the Altar was a special fire. The Bible tells us, Leviticus 9:24 AND THERE CAME A FIRE OUT FROM BEFORE THE LORD, AND CONSUMED UPON THE ALTAR THE BURNT OFFERING AND THE FAT: [which] when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.

God started that fire, but there were certain rules that Moses and Aaron must observe in the CARE of that fire. Leviticus 6:12 And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall BURN WOOD on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings. The fire shall EVER BE BURNING UPON THE ALTAR; IT SHALL NEVER GO OUT.

That command created a problem of fuel supply. THAT WAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MAN-- to keep the fire burning on the Altar. This speaks volumes to me. We must DO WHATEVER IT TAKES to keep the Fire of God burning in our souls. Three main elements make up the FUEL for the FIRE OF GOD in our souls. They are: The WORD (Rhema) of God, PRAYER and OBEDIENCE to the Spirit. I used the term "Rhema" instead of "Logos" because the Logos is not always the Rhema to us. Rhema is the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT. Rhema is the WORD OF FAITH (which we preach). Rhema is the WORD OF CREATION, which we understand through faith.

God gave a demonstration of what that fire COULD do when Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel. I Kings 18:24 And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.

I Kings 18:37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou [art] the LORD God, and [that] thou hast turned their heart back again. Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that [was] in the trench.

Two of the sons of Aaron broke the rules of worship by taking ordinary (strange) fire to burn incense before the Lord, instead of getting their (eternal) fire from the Altar. The cost of that mistake was sudden death by the same CONSUMING fire that had been put on the altar. Leviticus 10:1 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.

I am wondering-- Is God concerned about our mode of worship today? What do you think?

The Bible tells us that when the Lord showed His Glory to Israel in the wilderness, it was like a devouring fire. Exodus 24:17 And the sight of the glory of the LORD [was] like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.

WHAT WE LEARNED

2010-06-13T13:05:00.000-07:00

This is from my archives. There is one more I can post if desired. ...Marion

WHAT WE LEARNED IN LATTER RAIN

I believe you folks are sincerely interested in knowing what has paved the way for what the world is experiencing today-- a mighty movement of the Spirit of God all over the earth. Most of it can be traced back to the LATTER RAIN movement, which began in the tiny town of North Battleford, Sask. in 1948.

The Canadian brethren did not like the term LATTER RAIN, and rebuked us sharply for using it. To a great extent, they tried to dis-associate themselves from anything that was called LATTER RAIN. It was just as well that they did, for by Spring of 1951, when I attended the FEAST OF PENTECOST gathering up there, they were already showing strong signs of wanting to exercise control over what God was doing. They were beginning to teach "Apostolic Succession" and "Apostolic Authority". This was in direct contradiction to the first expression of purpose in 1948. They had vowed to NEVER try to control what God was doing.

But, when large Centers began springing up for the purpose of helping to spread the news of the Revival, it created an unbearable strain on those first brethren. Detroit had a huge Center, as did Los Angeles, Portland and Vancouver, BC. Others were to follow, but those were the main ones at first.

Christians came together under one Banner-- that of Christian Love and Fellowship. They were willing to lay aside the divisive doctrines of the past, and collectively enjoy the Blessings of the Lord.

Under that canopy, mighty revelations were received, mighty healings took place, and lives were profoundly changed. In fact, under the banner of Love, Bro. Reg Layzell, Pastor of the Vancouver, BC. center received light on the Oneness of God, and Baptism in the Name of Jesus. He, and the whole church (several hundred) were baptized again. A similar thing took place in Everett, WA. So much so, that the Pastor at Everett told me that he doubted that I had ever had the revelation-- I had never mentioned it to him. I assured him that, indeed, I did have it, but had determined to let the Holy Ghost reveal it to whom He would. I was busy trying to digest what the Lord was showing me at the time-- brand new things which would change the course of my life forever, but not increase my popularity in the Fellowship. I was, indeed, "Hearing a different drummer", but didn't know what to do with what I was hearing.

My wife, Pearl, and I began publishing some of those things in 1954, and soon were mailing them across the nation. Later, almost as suddenly as it began, the Lord caused us to cease the publications and we began intensive teaching in the little assembly we were serving at the time. We will never know just why the Lord drove us into obscurity at that time, but we know He had a purpose in doing it. He made it possible in 1992 for us to resume the writings which were interupted for several years.

Reg Layzell was the one responsible for teaching those of us in the Pacific Northwest the inestimable value of copious praise to the Lord in our services. We will always be grateful to him for that. I guess I should also have been grateful to him for disfellowshipping me later because he could not agree with some things I was teaching. Indirectly, it was a great benefit to me, for it made me re-prove to myself that I was, indeed, hearing the voice of the Spirit.

Others brought us the message of "Worship", which has had a much harder time becoming established than the message of "Praise" did. That is due, partly, to the human reluctance to expend what is necessary for us to be exercised in true worship. People still do not grasp the vast difference that exists between the factors of "praise" and "worship". They are BOTH necessary, but they are vastly different, and produce different results in the assembly and in the lives of the individuals. But, that is another topic altogether.

The LATTER RAIN movement served as a springboard for other facets of what has developed through the years. The FGBMFI spearheaded the CHARISMATIC RENEWAL movement which made its way into Notre Dame and othe large universities. It caused the knowledge of the Baptism of the Holy Ghost to be spread far and wide. It is traveling like wildfire in Third World countries-- people receiving the Holy Ghost at approximately one every minute of every day of each week of every year (1997).

"Who hath despised the day of small things? Zec 4:10_

STRIVE TO ENTER IN

2010-06-13T12:58:00.001-07:00

STRIVE TO ENTER IN

There is still too much confusion and faulty interpretation of the Word of God, and it is causing a lot of difficulty for many good Christians. A case in point comes to mind. Listen while I tell you about it:

I was riding with a Real Estate dealer in the early 50’s, looking for a Church building to possibly buy. There was a vacant one available close to where our Church was located. It MAY have been in equal or better repair than the one we had.

It belonged to a group that believed very strongly in the GRACE ALONE message. They had outgrown their old facility, and built a new larger one, where they could also have a school.

The Realtor told me in passing that some of the folks in the congregation had a tendency to be not altogether truthful in their dealings with businesses and other people.

He had questioned some of them about that tendency, and they were right up front with their answers. They believed very strongly in Salvation by The Grace of God, and didn’t feel that their everyday business life had anything to do with their Salvation. In fact, they had the two aspects of life COMPLETELY SEPARATED. They tenaciously guarded, lest anyone try to apply their Salvation to their everyday life, and vice versa.

Well, I had come from a different group of believers, where most folks thought our Salvation greatly DEPENDED on what we did in our dealings with others in everyday life So much so, that we lived in fear of doing something that would completely cancel out our Salvation experience, and send us straight to hell.

We trembled at the Sermon on the Mount, and much of Paul’s writings. We were extremely protective of our reputation and image in the community. Hence, we were ALSO very JUDGMENTAL in our views of other Christians, especially anyone who could not keep pace with our APPEARANCES of HOLINESS.

Inwardly, we KNEW that we were not really “CUTTING THE MUSTARD” that we appeared to be, but WE EXPECTED THE REAL THING FROM THE OTHERS.

Our congregations were turning out full-fledged hypocrites (almost carbon copies of ourselves) as our young folks matured and left the nest.

Well, I began to seek the Lord about the situation, and through the process of time I believe the Lord has answered many of the questions I had. It has been quite slow in developing, because I have had such a struggle re-learning the Plan of Salvation.

Light IS coming, however, and I believe I am getting closer to the “McCoy Version” of the Gospel than I was for so many years.

According to the writers of the Gospels, Jesus SAID VERY LITTLE ABOUT SALVATION. Most of his teaching was about THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

Let me cite a few scriptures for you:

Luk 13:20 And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the KINGDOM OF GOD?
Luk 13:21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
Luk 13:22 And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.
Luk 13:23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,
LUK 13:24 STRIVE TO ENTER IN AT THE STRAIT GATE: FOR MANY, I SAY UNTO YOU, WILL SEEK TO ENTER IN, AND SHALL NOT BE ABLE.

Mat 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.

1Co 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
1Co 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
1Co 9:26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
1Co 9:27 But I keepunder my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Phi 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Phi 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Col 1:29 Whereunto I also labor, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Heb 4:11 Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

2Pe 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
2Pe 1:11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

OVERCOMERS

2010-06-13T12:56:00.001-07:00

OVERCOMERS

Our churches are made up of TWO COMPANIES of people-- one within the other. Like an expectant mother, there is a smaller body within the one which is presently carrying it.

This SMALLER group are the OVERCOMERS of the seven churches in the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

They are INDIVIDUALS within the corporate body who are meeting God's requirements for their lives in the day they are living. They have made Jesus their LORD. They are more concerned with what His Word requires of them than they are about church buildings, ceremonies, programs and social activities connected with the present set up.

The corporate body is NOT MEETING those requirements-- never has-- never will. It has a huge "machine" running, and it requires so much energy (money, time, maintenance, etc.) to keep it going-- there is very little being accomplished other than fueling and maintaining machinery.

Personal consecration to the Will and Nature of God in the life of the individual has fallen by the wayside. (Whatever happened to prayer meetings where people "consecrated" themselves to the Will of God? That energy is now required to fuel a "machine".) We must now sign petitions, march in a demonstration, and write our congressman, instead of "praying through" to personal victory.

Run-of-the-mill Christianity will never attain to becoming an *Overcomer*, and there are very few promises given to this class of believers. The promises are to the *Overcomers*. *Overcoming* is not as easy as it sounds, and we can certainly not do it in our own strength. We must have the Spirit of God actively working in our lives, guiding, strengthening, energizing us.

*Overcomers* are usually outside the camp of organized religion-- because they simply do not fit into the modus operandi. "As many as are led by the Spirit of God-- "

"And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels--

IN HIM WAS LIFE

2010-06-13T12:52:00.000-07:00

IN HIM WAS LIFE
Jn 1:4

Something hit me “like a ton of bricks” a few days ago. I would like to share it with you.

An “in depth” study of the first chapter of John started me down a “rabbit path” of investigation, and I haven’t reached the end of it yet.

My Bible program told me that the word for “life” used here is NOT referring to the PHYSICAL life of humans or other animals, (Psuche), but rather the life of the SPIRIT, (Zoe).

I had known that from previous studies, so it didn’t shake the earth too violently. But a study of the “ZOE” word in the Scriptures led me to something that shook me up quite quite a bit.. I will import it with the Greek numbers included, plus emphases from me.

Joh 5:25 Verily,281 verily,281 I say3004 unto you,5213 The(3754) hour5610 is coming,2064 and2532 now3568 is,2076 when3753 the3588 dead3498 shall hear191 THE3588 VOICE5456 OF THE3588 SON5207 OF GOD:2316 AND2532 THEY THAT HEAR191 SHALL LIVE.2198
Joh 5:26 For1063 as5618 the3588 FATHER3962 HATH2192 LIFE2222 IN1722 HIMSELF;1438 so3779 hath he GIVEN1325 TO(2532) THE3588 SON5207 TO HAVE2192 LIFE2222 IN1722 HIMSELF;1438
Joh 5:27 And2532 HATH GIVEN1325 HIM846 AUTHORITY1849 TO EXECUTE4160 JUDGMENT2920 ALSO,2532 BECAUSE3754 HE IS2076 THE SON5207 OF MAN.444
Joh 5:28 Marvel2296 not3361 at this:5124 for3754 the hour5610 is coming,2064 in1722 the which3739 ALL3956 THAT3588 ARE IN1722 THE3588 GRAVES3419 shall hear191 his846 voice,5456
Joh 5:29 And2532 shall come forth;1607 they that have done4160 good,18 unto1519 the resurrection386 of life;2222 and1161 they that have done4238 evil,5337 unto1519 the resurrection386 of damnation.2920

Verse 25 is, undoubtedly, written about the FIRST RESURRECTION, while verse 28 is very likely referring to the GENERAL RESURRECTION. I had no problem there.

But verse 26 was one of those that “STOOD OUT ON THE PAPER” as the saying goes. I had read it many, many times, but never had I seen what it was trying to tell me this time.

Here is how it happened: The Father hath LIFE (Zoe) in Himself. That means He is “SELF-EXISTENT”. Still no problem, for we have known that all along.

What shook me this time is the statement that “so hath He GIVEN to the SON to have LIFE IN HIMSELF. (to be SELF-EXISTENT) “In Him was LIFE.” Jn 1:4

Now, Some of my friends have believed for a long time that Jesus was “God in the womb, God in the manger, and God in the carpenter shop.”

I don’t. Never have. Never will.

My friends always stop short of saying He was God on the Cross, for that would put their foot into the swamp, but good.

To the best of my understanding, Jesus was born the Son of God. He was the Son of God in the Carpenter shop.

The Son of God went into the waters of Jordan and was baptized by John when it was time for Him to enter into His Messianic Ministry. It was at this time that a mighty event, which many have overlooked, took place.

Luk 3:21 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,
Luk 3:22 And the HOLY GHOST DESCENDED IN A BODILY SHAPE LIKE A DOVE UPON HIM, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

Mat 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the HEAVENS WERE OPENED UNTO HIM, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
Mat 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

AH! The OPENED HEAVENS! Originally, I thought of this as being a small passage-way for the “dove” to come through. Lately I have come to realize it as something ENTIRELY DIFFERENT. Let me explain.

Jesus was baptized as He became thirty years of age. That was considered the age of accountability or adulthood in those days. It was at that age that a son should be “ADOPTED” by his father, and taken in to full PARTNERSHIP IN THE FAMILY BUSINESS. In this case, it would have been the Carpenter shop.

But, JOSEPH WAS NOT THE FATHER OF JESUS!!!!

JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD!!!

So, in accord with the custom, God stepped up to the plate and LAID CLAIM TO JESUS.

He ANOINTED (COMMISSIONED) JESUS WHEN HE WAS BAPTIZED BY JOHN.

It was at that time that God “GAVE” to Jesus THE “SELF-EXISTENT” quality. (Life within Himself”. Jesus was now a FULL PARTNER in the business of REDEEMING mankind from the fall of Adam. Jesus now had full access to what is going on in the HEAVENLY REALM. (The Opened Heavens)

Jesus was STILL the Son of God while doing His Ministry. He was still completely mortal, but he had access to the Heavenly realm in addition to the realm of earth.

Act 10:36 The word (Logos) which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
Act 10:37 That word (Rhema), I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
Act 10:38 HOW GOD ANOINTED JESUS OF NAZARETH with the Holy Ghost and with power (Dunamis) : who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

That “ANOINTING” consisted of an impartation of a “measureless” amount of the Spirit that spoke the worlds into existence.

Joh 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words (Rhema) of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

As a “SELF-EXISTENT ONE”, Jesus was then able to say things that no other man had ever been able to say.

Joh 2:18 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign showest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
Joh 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
Joh 2:20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
Joh 2:21 But he spake of the temple of his body.
Joh 2:22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the Scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.

Joh 10:15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

Joh 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
Joh 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

But the story doesn’t stop here!
Joh 5:27 And2532 HATH GIVEN1325 HIM846 AUTHORITY1849 TO EXECUTE4160 JUDGMENT2920 ALSO,2532 BECAUSE3754 HE IS2076 THE SON5207 OF MAN.

The ANOINTING OF JESUS included the AUTHORITY (Exousia) to execute Judgment.

Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, HE ALSO HIMSELF LIKEWISE TOOK PART OF THE SAME; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Heb 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Heb 2:16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
Heb 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a MERCIFUL AND FAITHFUL high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Heb 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is ABLE TO SUCCOR them that are tempted.

Heb 4:15 For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; BUT WAS IN ALL POINTS TEMPTED LIKE AS WE ARE, yet without sin.

Joh 2:24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,
Joh 2:25 And needed not that any should testify of man: FOR HE KNEW WHAT WAS IN MAN.

We can be glad that Jesus was given authority to sit in judgment of humanity, for it was His humanity that was given that authority. He KNOWS us, better than we know ourselves. He walked among us, and is familiar with our problems. He experienced the problems we face. He can and will be Merciful, Righteous and Just. We can depend on that.

THE SON OF GOD

2010-06-13T12:50:00.000-07:00

JESUS, THE SON OF GOD

I read something in the Bible a few days ago that really piqued my interest and I felt I MUST find out more about it. I seem to be enjoying days of revelations or illuminations of Scripture lately.

The place where I was reading is Act 8:36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
Act 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

I had been studying about the real meaning of the word “Repent” as it is used in Acts 2:38. I knew it came from a Greek word meaning to change your mind, but I wanted it “boiled down” further than that.

I realize that the different denominations put their own spin on it. I was not interested in that. I wanted to know, from the Bible, if there was a more lucid explanation of the word.

Does it really mean a “changing of the mind”, a “reversal of thinking”, a “Profession of Belief in Jesus as the Son Of God”, or does it go deeper than that?

The jury is still out, but there a few things I did learn from looking at all of the scriptures pertaining to Jesus being the Son of God.

Satan challenged His Sonship right after His baptism and time in the wilderness. In essence Satan said, “If you are the Son of God, PROVE IT TO ME. Mat 4 Luk 4

Jesus felt no obligation to do that. Neither did He feel obligated to answer the High Priest when challenged in the court room:

Mat 26:63 But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.
The demons in the catacombs of Gadara knew who He was.

Mat 8:29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?

Mar 3:11 And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.

John’s Gospel was written for the purpose of helping people to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, BECAUSE BELIEVING IS ESSENTIAL TO ETERNAL LIFE.

Joh 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that BELIEVING YE MIGHT HAVE LIFE THROUGH HIS NAME.

Peter promptly answered Jesus when questioned about who he thought Jesus is.

Mat 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Gabriel spelled it out to Mary in the Announcement:

Luk 1:26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
Luk 1:27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
Luk 1:28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
Luk 1:29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
Luk 1:30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God.
Luk 1:31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
Luk 1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the SON OF THE HIGHEST: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
Luk 1:33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Listen to Jesus Himself when He was comforting the former blind man:

Joh 9:35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, DOST THOU BELIEVE ON THE SON OF GOD?
Joh 9:36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?
Joh 9:37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.
Joh 9:38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshiped him.

If Jesus is the Son of God, we must, of necessity, adjust our lifestyle to fit that fact. Is that the essence of Repentance?

The Romans had their gods and goddesses. The Greeks did the same. The Egyptians also had theirs. In fact, the world was steeped in idolatry of one sort or another.

We are no different today. We have, in our civilized modern world, myriads of objects or beings that fill our waking moments with attention and affection.

Following Jesus demands a change in the course of our lives. Does that constitute Repentance, a change in course, a change in purpose? Or is Repentance something entirely different—something that requires little or no change in lifestyle or direction?

Can we accept Jesus, and continue our life as we did before we met Him, or will He require more of us if we intend to follow Him and live for Him?

Gal 4:8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
Gal 4:9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Gal 4:10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
Gal 4:11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labor in vain

1Jo 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

Heb 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

Heb 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
Heb 6:5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
Heb 6:6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Mat 27:39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,
Mat 27:40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
Mat 27:41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,
Mat 27:42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
Mat 27:43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.
Mat 27:54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

Joh 10:36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
Joh 10:37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
Joh 10:38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

Joh 11:3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
Joh 11:4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

Joh 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
Joh 11:26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
Joh 11:27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

Joh 19:7 The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.

Act 9:19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.
Act 9:20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

Rom 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

Rom 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

Rom 1:9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;

Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

1Co 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

2Pe 1:17 For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
2Pe 1:18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

1Jo 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

Gal 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Gal 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Gal 4:7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Act 13:33 God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee

LEAVEN

2010-06-13T12:48:00.001-07:00

LIKE UNTO LEAVEN

Mat 13:33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, TILL THE WHOLE WAS LEAVENED.

The outstanding characteristic of leaven is its ability to penetrate to every molecule of the dough it is introduced into.

Please notice that Jesus used this characteristic trait of leaven in describing the characteristics and purpose of the KINGDOM OF GOD IN THE EARTH.

IT WILL NOT STOP UNTIL IT HAS REACHED, AND CHANGED, THE WHOLE EARTH! There are, of course, exceptions, for we know from Ezekiel 47 that there are some places (people) that will not receive the workings of the Holy Ghost. Eze 47:11 But the miry places thereof and the marshes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ will penetrate into, and produce the desired effect, in every corner of the globe before we see the consummation of the purposes of God in the earth.

This means that EVERY NON-CHRISTIAN RELIGION will wither and die on the vine in the path of the DELUGE OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD that is, I believe, starting on planet earth even as we write these lines.

Let me go a little farther and declare that EVERY DENOMINATION OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION WILL ALSO SUFFER THE SAME FATE, for they are the work of Man’s hands.

How in the world will God be able to accomplish such a monumental task? The earth is BIG, and there are billions of people on it. Most of the people are already entrenched in some other kind of worship that would have to be abandoned if/when they turn to Jesus Christ and His Salvation.

The Word of God gives us a few clues about the methods God will use to accomplish what he intends to do. The clues are masked in symbolic and parabolic language, and are easily missed if we are not in tune with the Spirit. God has intentionally masked them, to keep insincere people from finding them. Psa 25:14 The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant.

I could not possibly cite for you all of the ways the process has been described and likened to, but there are many places where they can be found, hidden in the scriptures.

The greater part of the teachings which are “standard” today are the results of the best efforts on the part of mankind to figure out and understand, with their own minds, what has been written BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD. Confusion is the only possible result. There is certainly no shortage of that.

The “standard” prophetic curriculum has “the great tribulation that nearly abolishes the Church” in our future. The Word of God says it is already in the past, and it didn’t apply to the Church at all.

The “standard” curriculum has the Antichrist/man of sin rising to tyrannical, dictatorial power in some future era. The Bible doesn’t show that to be so at all. It shows it to have been here for centuries, and will be revealed and destroyed by the Spirit of God shortly.

How did all the prophecies get scrunched up into the last seven years of the dispensation? It was done deliberately, and for a purpose. Do you know why?

Isa 28:17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.

Jer 16:19 …..Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.

Just as leaven keeps working until it has permeated the entire mass of the dough, so the Kingdom of God will keep doing what it is supposed to do until it has reached, and altered, the entire world.

Is our God big enough, strong enough, to do that?

FOOTSTOOL

2010-06-13T12:44:00.001-07:00

TILL I MAKE….. THY FOOTSTOOL

Last night I was musing about the terrible struggles our early Church fathers endured while trying to formulate Church Doctrine about the relationship Jesus had to His Father.

There were two or three main teachings that were in conflict, and the Emperor Constantine wanted, desperately, to bring about a consensus of doctrine, so the Church could progress in the work of evangelism. The infighting over doctrine was producing nothing but chaos and turmoil. The various Bishops were resorting to physical assaults and property damage on each other when their views of the Godhead were opposed. Character assassinations were more normal than abnormal.

Constantine died before he could solidify Church Doctrine. The infighting seemed to get worse with each effort he made. The Bishops were fighting carnally, trying to solve a Spiritual problem. It didn’t work then—it will not work now. It was only after three or four more emperors had tried and failed, and three to five decades worth of water had gone under the bridge, and a major Church split had occurred, that even a semblance of unified teaching was found. AND IT STILL WAS NOT CORRECT. It had been formulated by the minds of men rather than by the Spirit of God.

Suddenly, “out of the blue”, came a verse of scripture I had not thought of for months:

Psa 110:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

Thee are several places in scripture where David’s writing is reiterated, and it always seems to be pointing to Jesus Christ. I’ll print them out for you here.

Mat 22:44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?

Mar 12:36 For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, the LORD said to my LORD, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

Luk 20:41 And he said unto them, How say they that Christ is David's son?
Luk 20:42 And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
Luk 20:43 Till I make thine enemies thy footstool.
Luk 20:44 David therefore calleth him Lord, how is he then his son?

Heb 1:13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?

Heb 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God;
Heb 10:13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
Before I was finished with my musings, I had digressed from the original subject entirely, and was ready to argue the point of who is going to get the job of evangelization done.

Most Evangelists, and many Pastors, seem to leave us with the impression that “we, the people” will accomplish the task with our tithes and offerings and witnessing to our neighbors and friends. They tell us that our method needs to be “fine tuned”.

There can be no doubt in our minds about whether the world will be turned to Jesus Christ before our earth is “folded up” or replaced by another one. That fact is well established by the scriptures (with due apologies to Hal Lindsey, Ervin Baxter and others). We can fully expect that nearly one whole generation, along with a good share of another generation, will turn to the Lord through Jesus Christ before the final curtain falls on this age.

It is “in the Book” if you will look for it. You will first have to discard some of the former teachings about the future course of events, or you will never be able to clearly see what the Word of God is trying to tell us.

The Bible tells us (James 3:16) “But where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”

Church history witnesses to a constant strife between factions endeavoring to promote the doctrinal system which they favored, and also the church political system which seemed more correct in their eyes. It qualifies to be classified in the “Strife” section. There was little or no lasting Good produced during those sessions of turmoil.

It is little wonder that a great abundance of incorrect teaching should evolve from such a condition within the Church when so much confusion, envying and strife prevailed. How could Humanity expect to be receiving Revelations of the Spirit of God when they were indulging their carnal natures to such an extent as they were? Impossible then, impossible now. We need to repent

But “Who, How, and When” must be dealt with before we can get a clear picture of the situation at hand.

First “Who?” must be answered. I think most of us will agree that it is Almighty God who is making the assertion about His right hand, and Jesus Christ’s enemies being made His Footstool.

Does Jesus have enemies? If so, who are they? “Yes, Virginia, Jesus has enemies, and they are getting desperate as we approach the closing of this age.

If Jesus is to be crowned the Victor, what will happen to the “hero” they worship and pay homage to? They know, and they don’t like it… not at all. The fanatical spirit they are following shows them all kinds of ways to cause havoc and terror.

Their “guiding spirit” is in panic mode… fighting for its life.

I think we will all agree that these false religions, all of them, are following, and being driven by, a wicked spirit that HATES our God with a passion

Our God, however, is quietly going about His business of convicting, convincing and saving great hordes of people in different parts of the earth… every minute, every hour and every day.

The Church is growing by leaps and bounds in spite of all they can do to hinder it. Also, in spite of the prevalent teachings that the Church will become so terribly decimated by demonic forces that it will have to be snatched away from planet earth to prevent it from being completely annihilated by evil forces.

The “footstool” is being prepared by the LIVING GOD for HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST.
Mankind can only hope to have a part in the process as we lay down our carnal ways of doing things, and learn how to follow the guidelines of His Spirit. The programs and schemes of Man will do nothing more than get in the way of what God is (is) doing, and have to shoved out of the way by the Spirit of God.

Strife produces NOTHING GOOD. Likewise, ENVYING DOES NOTHING that is Spiritually constructive. Confusion and evil works are the ONLY thing produced by our carnally motivated efforts.

The only productive activity on our part is that which stems from, and is in harmony with, the Spirit of God. There are definite guidelines for Spiritual endeavor, and they must be followed if there is to be any hope for success.

“If any man strive for the masteries, yet is he not crowned except he strive lawfully.” (2Ti 2:5)

Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. (Zec 4:6)

Hab 1:5 Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvelously: FOR I WILL WORK A WORK IN YOUR DAYS, WHICH YE WILL NOT BELIEVE, THOUGH IT BE TOLD YOU.

Isa 29:14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.

Isa 44:3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:
Isa 44:4 And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.

Zec 12:9 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. (THE CHURCH)
Zec 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

Isa 4:4 When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning.

God is well able to accomplish whatever will be necessary when the time is ripe for His Plan to be fulfilled.

That plan calls for a world-wide awakening to Jesus Christ, which will affect the greater portions of two generations of humanity. An extremely high ratio of people will hear and respond to the Spirit of God when He calls to them.

The Bible tells us that the Lord will SEND REAPERS TO REAP A HARVEST at the proper time. We can “go to the bank” with that.

Rev 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
Rev 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Joh 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

Rom 15:12 And again, Isaiah saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.

Psa 72:11 Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.

Isa 2:2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

Isa 49:6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

Hag 2:7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.

FIRSTBORN--FIRSTFRUITS

2010-06-12T10:51:00.001-07:00

FIRSTBORN -FIRSTFRUITS

At Easter time, we think of the Resurrection of Jesus, and what it means to us as human beings. Many of the Scriptures point up the larger meaning for us.
Acts 13:33 tells us that Jesus was BEGOTTEN OF THE FATHER WHEN HE WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD.
" Thou art my Son, THIS DAY have I BEGOTTEN thee."
Colossians 1:15 tells us that Jesus is the FIRSTBORN of every creature:
Col 1:18 "who is the BEGINNING, the FIRSTBORN FROM THE DEAD;
I Cor 15:20, 23 refer to Him as the FIRSTFRUITS OF THEM THAT SLEPT.
Rom 8:29 "that he might be the FIRSTBORN AMONG MANY BRETHREN.
The Word also tells us something about ourselves, who follow the Lamb, and meet the requirements of God for our lives. Doing that is not as easy as it has been made to appear.
Rev 14:4 These are they which---were redeemed from among men, [being] the FIRSTFRUITS UNTO GOD--
James 1:18 Of His own Will BEGAT HE US WITH THE WORD OF TRUTH, that we should be a kind of FIRSTFRUITS of HIS CREATURES. A study of the Firstfruits is very profitable.
The Word also tells us which direction we are headed. Look at Heb. 12:23 "To the general assembly and CHURCH OF THE FIRSTBORN, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the SPIRITS OF JUST MEN MADE PERFECT." This is more than membership in the local group.
I Peter 1:3 "hath BEGOTTEN US again unto a lively hope by the RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST FROM THE DEAD."
We have an empty tomb. We do not believe in Reincarnation of the soul, in order to live again after death of this body. Pity the poor souls who do not have a Risen Saviour.
"HE IS NOT HERE, HE IS RISEN"

THE END OF THE WORLD

2010-06-12T10:48:00.000-07:00

THE END OF THE WORLD

Mat 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of THE END OF THE WORLD?
Mat 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
Mat 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Mat 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, BUT THE END IS NOT YET.

I have capitalized two portions of the above scripture selection in order to emphasize the point I want to show you about the teachings of Jesus to His disciples that day on the Mount of Olives.

The term END OF THE WORLD is not the same as THE END IS NOT YET. They are two different subjects, and are IN NO WAY CONNECTED.

The two phrases show how the disciples asked one question, and Jesus answered it in a different way than they had expected.

I would like to add right here, that MUCH OF THE BIBLE is written the same way. I believe it was intentional on the part of the Lord. If the Word of God could be figured out with the MINDS OF MEN, then the smartest of them could all know the secrets of God. But, "The secret of the Lord is with those that FEAR HIM." He has hidden them from the wise and the prudent, and revealed them unto Babes.

One reason for the Church world being in such a state of confusion is because men have built doctrines on the best understanding the human mind can have of a Book that was written by the SPIRIT of God. "No Comprende" is the ONLY response our human understanding can give to the WORD OF GOD.

IF THE SPIRIT DOES NOT INTERPRET THE WORD FOR US, WE GROPE IN DARKNESS. And we are BOUND TO MAKE MISTAKES if we do not seek for, and get, the INTERPRETATION OF THE SPIRIT.

Have you ever had the experience of hearing the Bible explained by others, and something within you tells you it is not correct? I have, many times. Those times have caused me to go before the Lord and ask Him to reveal the TRUTH to me. Each time, when I have sought Him diligently enough, He causes His LIGHT to shine into my spirit. When He does, I know what the TRUTH of the matter is.

The disciples asked about the END OF THE WORLD. The Old Testament, especially the book of Isaiah, has much to say about the subject. They, no doubt, thought He was talking about the END OF THE WORLD when He told them about the DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM AND THE TEMPLE IN 70 AD.

BUT THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT SUBJECTS ALTOGETHER.

When the disciples asked Him about the matter He had introduced at the Temple site, He continued to explain about the OVERTHROW OF JERUSALEM AND THE TEMPLE, instead of answering their misguided question about the END OF THE WORLD.

Most of the Church World is still as lacking in understanding as the disciples were on that day so long ago. We have "lumped" several subjects together, and crammed them all into a "last seven years", and given it a name that doesn't fit at all-- "The GREAT TRIBULATION" (aka THE REIGN OF ANTICHRIST).

Jesus had told the disciples plainly that the time of the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple would be the time of THE GREAT TRIBULATION. Nothing worse BEFORE it. Nothing worse AFTER it. What can be more precise than that?

But, people ask, "What about Mat 24:6 And ye SHALL HEAR OF WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, BUT THE END IS NOT YET.

Are we not seeing these things unfold right before our very eyes?"

The answer is, "Yes these events are taking place, BUT THEY ARE NOT the events Jesus was talking about.” Jesus was referring to events which would happen immediately before the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple.

THE EVENTS WE ARE WITNESSING NOW ARE A DIFFERENT SUBJECT ALTOGETHER.

Here is where a look into history can be of great benefit. During the last five or six years before 70 AD. there were several "earth shaking" events occurred in the Roman Empire that had a profound effect on their relationship to Jerusalem and the Jews.

One historical account reads like this: Which wars, the gloss says, will be between the nations of the world, and Israel. Here wars may mean the commotions, insurrections, and seditions, against the Romans, and their governors; and the INTESTINE SLAUGHTERS COMMITTED AMONG THEM, some time before the siege of Jerusalem, and the destruction of it. Under Cureanus the Roman governor, a sedition was raised on the day of the passover, in which twenty thousand perished; after that, in another tumult, TEN THOUSAND WERE DESTROYED BY CUT-THROATS: in Ascalon two thousand more, in Ptolemais two thousand, at Alexandria fifty thousand, at Damascus ten thousand, and elsewhere in great numbers. The Jews were also put into great consternation, upon hearing the design of the Roman emperor, to put up his image in their temple:

Another historical note reads: Mat 24:6-7 -

Ye shall hear of wars. The Jewish war began in A. D. 66, and ended five years after. During this period all the Roman empire was filled with commotion. Nero, the emperor, was overthrown by Galba; six months after, Galba was overthrown by Otho; a few months after, Otho was overthrown by Vitelius; a little later, he was overthrown by Vespasian. All of these but the last, who ascended the throne shortly before Jerusalem was destroyed, died violent deaths.

Here is what others have written about the months just prior to the overthrow.

see that ye be not troubled; so as to leave the land of Judea as yet, and quit the preaching of the Gospel there, as if the final destruction was just at hand;

for all these things must come to pass; these wars and the reports of them and the panic on account of them; these commotions and slaughters, and terrible devastations by the sword must be; being determined by God, predicted by Christ, and brought upon the Jews by their own wickedness; and suffered in righteous judgment, for their sin:

but the end is not yet; meaning not the end of the world, but the end of Jerusalem, and the temple, the end of the Jewish state; which were to continue, and did continue after these disturbances in it. …

But the armies of Titus did accomplish the desolation of Jerusalem and the Temple in August of 70 AD. Not one stone was left on top of another. They were torn apart to retrieve the gold which had melted and ran down from the roof when it burned.

Dan 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

Luk 13:35 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

THE DEAD SOUL

2010-06-12T10:45:00.000-07:00

THE DEAD SOUL

One day, early in my years of being a Pastor, I started to study about the Soul of Man-- what it is, etc. I'm not sure I like what I found. Sometimes Truth can be disturbing.

First thing I found was that the soul of mankind came into being by God breathing into the body He had formed from the dust of the earth. The combination of the earthy body and the Breath of Life created a LIVING SOUL.

Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Next, I discovered that the Lord promised DEATH on the day the man and his wife should eat of the forbidden tree.

Genesis 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

THEY DID EAT-- choosing to trust their own judgment rather than the judgment and command of God. The serpent had told them the FIRST LIE "Thou shalt not die." Adam lived in his physical body for more than 900 years after eating from the "tree" which had been forbidden.

I discovered that the "DEATH" which God had warned them about was not primarily a PHYSICAL death, but a death of another type.

Further study revealed to me that the SOULS of all mankind who are not within the shelter of Jesus, the Christ of God, are called "dead" in scripture.

To illustrate what happened at Eden, Evangelist C.W. Phileo in 1945, gave us an object lesson. He had me go out to a peach tree during service, and cut off a twig. He then asked us if we would class the twig as being dead or alive. It was fresh. It was beautiful and green. But he brought home a powerful lesson on the only source of life was for the twig to remain attached to the parent tree.

The soul that is not attached to God through Jesus is DEAD. The SOULS of Adam and Eve were CUT OFF from God when they rebelled. Their souls were DEAD from that moment on, even though they were physically still alive, and lived for a long time after that.

Of course, there were many cataclysmic changes took place when the man and his wife disobeyed God's orders. Suddenly, there were creatures of prey, and their victim species were terrified at their presence. Mankind was robbed of its instinct, and given another one. The list could go on.

In the mid-forties, we had to rely on Robert Young's Analytical Concordance or Strong's Exhaustive for an in-depth study of any part of the Bible. I had a Young's, and nearly wore it out studying various subjects. Now, a touch of the finger brings up more than I could dig out in hours of searching back the then. Thank God for what computers can do.

But, in all my poring over the original texts and the translations, I could not, (nor can I now) find any reference to the soul of man being immortal, or "never-dieing", as it is often described by people who seem to know. Maybe some of you can help me find where it is described as being immortal.

What I did find, in history, was that the idea of the soul being immortal came originally from the people who taught and believed in "transmigration of the soul", or, as we know it today, "re-incarnation". It was popularized by the Greek philosopher Plato and others like him.

The medieval Church (the Papacy) incorporated it into the curriculum , because it served their purposes of fear and intimidation so very well. Fear of excommunication was paralyzing to people who were ignorant of the Word of God, and steeped in the traditions of unregenerate men. The Church did not, however, teach "transmigration of the soul" as others had done. Purgatory and Limbo served very well to give them power over even the dead people.

I found, also, that every living creature was considered a "soul" in scripture, and every creature was destined to die. Righteous men die, the same as the unrighteous. Jesus told the folks to not fear physical death, but rather to fear Him who was able to destroy (I studied that word also) both the body and the soul.

Ezekiel 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

DEIRY OF JESUS

2010-06-11T08:25:00.001-07:00

THE DEITY OF JESUS

Perhaps I have failed to make my position clear about whether Jesus is God or not. I suppose I am what others might want to call Dualist, if I understand that term correctly.

As I see it, Jesus was BOTH God and Man while He was in His ministry here on earth. Until His baptism by John, He was Man with unpolluted blood (the virgin birth accomplished this). His blood could atone for sin because of this.

When Jesus was baptized in water, the Holy Ghost came upon Him.

John 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure [unto him]. He was then GOD IN FLESH-- complete Deity in Flesh without the Nature of Sin. (Virgin birth)

Jesus ministered in this manner for three and one half years.

But a transaction took place on the Cross which made Him cry in anguish, "My God, My God, Why hast Thou forsaken me?" The Holy Ghost was withdrawn from Jesus, and at the same moment, all the guilt of the world flooded over Him. "He who knew no sin (nature) became (laden with) sin for us.

It was flesh that died at Calvary-- not God. Here is the miracle of Justification.

Our guilt was placed upon Jesus, so that His righteousness could be given to us.

We must realize that sometimes Jesus spoke as Man-- other times the same lips spoke as God. Hence "before Abraham was--I AM." "I can of myself do nothing-- what I see my Father do--"

The Holy Ghost, given at baptism, was, is, and always shall be "Alpha and Omega."

The scriptures in Isaiah (41:4 48:12) are not, as near as I can see, speaking of the flesh of God in Jesus Christ. Rather, the Spirit that inhabits Eternity.

We must remember that the doctrine which became known as The Trinity did not make its appearance until over a hundred years after Jesus died. It could well qualify as the teachings of man rather than of God. At least, that is the way it looks from here.

God bless!

COULD NOT DISANNUL

2010-06-11T08:22:00.001-07:00

COULD NOT DISANNUL

I got a real “wallop” a few days ago while musing about Abraham and the one-sided (Unilateral) Covenant of Promise that God made with him, after the 42 years of testing (Documenting) his Faith (Obedience) were finished.

Abraham walked with God in very much the same way that Christians SHOULD walk with Him today.

It was, basically, a walk of FAITH and OBEDIENCE. There were no other requirements asked for nor expected, as far as God was concerned.

The relationship had plenty of GRACE (Divine Enablement) in it, for no ordinary man could do what Abraham was asked to do, that of sacrificing Isaac, without the enabling factor of God’s Grace. That was the “Acid Test” of his FAITH (Obedience).

It was after that incident that God added the element of PROMISE to the relationship.

Gal 3:18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

Those three elements, GRACE, FAITH, AND PROMISE were all that was needed.

That relationship endured for 430 years before being interrupted for a time, and for a reason.

Gal 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, (to define sin—Wey) (to identify wrongdoing—God’s Word) (to show what wrongdoing is—Goodnews), till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

The Law was given as a Schoolmaster to bring us to Faith in Christ Jesus.

Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Gal 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

The Law, AT NO TIME was able to supercede or cancel out the relationship of FAITH, GRACE AND PROMISE that existed between God and Abraham.

Gal 3:17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

All through the 1500 years of the LAW, there were people who acquired and maintained the same relationship that Abraham had experienced—that of GRACE, FAITH and PROMISE. Many of the Heroes of Faith (Heb 11) came from that period of time.

The LAW, which had been Divinely inaugurated at the first Passover, was also Divinely set aside on the Cross of Calvary when Jesus said, “It is finished”. The “Schoolmaster” was dismissed, and school was let out. THERE WERE NO MORE RESTRICTIONS. There were NO MORE RITUALS AND NO MORE CEREMONIES.

If we have “done our homework” (learned our lessons), we have learned to put our trust in Jesus for the Salvation of our souls. THAT IS FAITH.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

FAITH gives us access to THE GRACE OF GOD, and HOPE.

Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

2Pe 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us EXCEEDING GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES: that by these ye might be PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

FAITH GRACE PROMISE (The same as Abraham, our Father)

Rom 4:16 Therefore it is OF FAITH, that it might be BY GRACE; to the end the PROMISE MIGHT BE SURE to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
Rom 4:17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

NO RESTRICTIONS NO RITUALS NO CEREMONIES

HOWEVER, if we have completed our lessons given by the Schoolmaster (LAW) we have learned a few PRINCIPLES of God that we will faithfully practice because of Love and Respect for our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

HE THAT BELIEVETH

2010-06-11T08:19:00.000-07:00

HE THAT BELIEVETH

John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Strong's Concordance gives a definition (4100) of "believeth" which is about as plain as it needs to be. He gives, "Trust the soul's well being to Him."

The Jewish folks still trust Moses. Others trust Alla, or Buddha, or whomever else. It doesn't matter. None of these are trust worthy.

Neither are we safe to put confidence in anything we can do ourselves. Many of us seem to think that we have to add a little bit here and there in order for our salvation to be valid.

This is not true. Jesus paid the FULL PRICE. Salvation is HIS GIFT to us. All He asks from us is full confidence in Him to save our souls from Hell and get us to Heaven.

While it is true that He desires a growth in Spiritual stature as we go along, and is grieved if we do not progress, the lack of it does not in any way detract from our Salvation. It is a gift.

It is just as true that if we make progress in the Spirit, we get a greater enjoyment from, and appreciation for, our Salvation, so that He seems sweeter as we go along. Progress will be rewarded, but in no way can it make our Salvation more secure than it already was, or is.

The victory of the Christian life is no more nor less than our complete confidence in Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Deliverer. To place any confidence anywhere else becomes spiritual adultery.

Complete confidence in Jesus makes us steadfast and unmovable. Psalms 125:1 They that trust in the LORD [shall be] as mount Zion, [which] cannot be removed, [but] abideth for ever.

Psalms 146:5 Happy [is he] that [hath] the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope [is] in the LORD his God:

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

BRING ME A MINSTREL

2010-06-10T15:30:00.000-07:00

BRING ME A MINSTREL

There is a vivid illustration in the Bible of what good music can do for a congregation of saints, or for an individual believer.

I use the term "GOOD MUSIC" intentionally, for it is my opinion that there is far too much "beat of the heathen" in much of the noise that is being passed off as music for worship in these days.

I never studied music, but in my Pastoral years I did learn that music can set the mood for a congregation, either to promote PRAISE, or to promote WORSHIP.

There is a distinct difference between PRAISE and WORSHIP. Both are beneficial and necessary, but neither one to the exclusion of the other.

The use of fast, higher pitched songs will tend to promote a happy atmosphere where folks want to clap their hands, tap their feet, or run around the building. That is very good in its place, but, over the long haul, it produces relatively poor Spiritual stablility in the saints-- especially the younger ones.

Conversely, the slower, lower pitched songs tend to promote more of an atmosphere of WORSHIP, which is more conducive to the bringing forth of the Gifts of Utterance in the congregation. We are nigh starved to death for lack of hearing the Voice of the Spirit in many of our congregations.

Experiment with the 23rd Psalm. Pitch it high, and speed it up. It produces an exuberance of spirit right away. Try it again, low pitched, and quite slow. It calls forth an entirely different mood immediately. What it does for the individual, it will also do for the congregation.

Elisha, and perhaps others of the Prophets knew this about music. When two kings called upon him for advice about a forthcoming battle, he NEEDED something to counteract his utter contempt for one of the kings. He possibly asked the minstrel to sing Psalm 23. ?????

II Kings 3:14 And Elisha said, [As] the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee. But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him. And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches.

Do you want the Moving of the Spirit in your congregation? Set the mood for it. Do you want excitement and jubilance? Set the mood for it.

You will have to LEARN HOW to WORSHIP, and then TEACH YOUR PEOPLE HOW, for it is almost a lost art in our present day Church culture.

THE GREAT TRIBULATION

2010-06-10T15:27:00.000-07:00

THE GREAT TRIBULATION

MAT 23:39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed [is] he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Jesus had just finished pronouncing desolation to the nation of Judah, when He made the above declaration to them or about them.

Here is what follows that episode.

MAT 24:1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to [him] for to shew him the buildings of the temple.

MAT 24:2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

Those words of Jesus set the stage for a much longer discourse at a later time.

MAT 24:3 ¶ And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what [shall be] the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

The primary concern of Jesus as He talked to them on the Mount of Olives was a warning about letting men deceive them.

MAT 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

THAT IS STILL HIS MAIN CONCERN. It should also be ours.

Let's take a good look at what the Disciples asked Jesus that day.

Tell us, when shall these things be? That was the first portion of a three-part question. They, being men and not possessing Spiritual knowledge, THOUGHT they were asking only one question.

The last thing He had told them was about the Temple buildings-- that they would be completely demolished. He DID NOT tell them WHEN it would happen, nor WHY it would happen.

40 years would roll by before the prophecy of Jesus would be fulfilled. It would be accomplished by the Roman general Titus in 70 AD. But Jesus gave them no date.

He only said, "Take heed that no man deceive you." He then related some conditions whereby they might have an idea of what was about to happen.

MAT 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

MAT 24:16-21 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For THEN shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

I readily admit that I do not have all the answers, but I believe I have SOME OF THEM. I also have to admit that I have serious doubts about the validity of most of the answers that are floating around today.

Sounds like Jesus was telling His disciples that the sacking of Jerusalem in 70 AD would be the time of what is called THE GREAT TRIBULATION. (Remember that Jesus was talking about Jerusalem and the Temple when He mentioned the term "GREAT TRIBULATION"

Now, if this be correct (and I am convinced that it is), how in the world did the GREAT TRIBULATION get shoved clear down into what is considered the LAST DAYS? Who did it, and why?

There are a couple of other scriptures where the words "GREAT TRIBULATION" are found. But neither scripture mentions the fact that it will be the worst that has ever happened, or ever will happen.

REV 2:22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into GREAT TRIBULATION, except they repent of their deeds

This one is talking about the great Whore that rides on one of the three (wild) Beasts of the Revelation, as it was given to John.

How come she is a whore? What does it mean to be a scriptural whore? It means to have a divided allegiance-- both to the God of the universe, and to the god of this world . Jesus said we CAN NOT serve two masters.

The word "kosmos" is used to denote the World. Its root means "an orderly arrangement", and is definitely referring to secular rulership, (government) which we are all under today if we are a citizen of any country.

TIT 3:1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,

The Word teaches us that our CITZENSHIP is in Heaven.
PHI 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

We are given instructions about the relationship we should have toward the affairs of government while we inhabit the earth.

Jesus said for us to render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's. We get into trouble when we try to mix the two.

Yet, we should maintain an attitude of being pilgrims and strangers in the world. We are citizens of the "city" that Abraham was looking for.

HEB 13:14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

Another mention of GREAT TRIBULATION (Rev 7:1-14) refers to a "great multitude which no man could number" standing before the Throne and giving Glory to God. An angel asked John who they were, and where they came from.

REV 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Again, I submit that I do not have all of the answers, but it would seem to me that GREAT TRIBULATION is an essential element in our Spiritual Development, and is an integral part of becoming an OVERCOMER.

I am of the opinion that the person/s who, for whatever reason, changed the interpretation of the Scriptures, made a mistake.

The Church has seen many periods of intense persecution. But there is ONE such persecution/tribulation which the Word indicates as being the GRAND DADDY TRIBULATION.

That one was identified by Jesus as being what happened at 70 AD., when the Temple was burned. The gold overlay melted and ran into the cracks between the stones. Every stone was separated from all others to retrieve the melted gold.

It indicated that the Law of Ordinances was finished.
Faith in Jesus Christ is all that remains. There simply IS NO OTHER WAY TO APPROACH GOD.

Perhaps in a later issue we will discuss the other two facets of the question asked by the Disciples on the Mount of Olives. "The sign of Thy coming, and the end of the world.

VALLEY OF DECISION

2010-06-10T15:22:00.000-07:00

THE VALLEY OF DECISION

Joel 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD [is] near in the valley of decision.

For many years, I believed and taught that it was the PEOPLE who were making the decision-- to serve God or not serve Him.

But, that theory is one which the Lord stripped away when I became willing for Him to teach me what the scriptures were trying to tell us. After quite a bit of tearing down my former beliefs, He was able to start teaching me what is, I believe, more in line with His plan for humanity.

The word "decision" throws us off course, because it has come to mean differently now than it did when the KJV was translated.

I was sent a writing of a 17th century writer a few years ago, in which the word "decision" was used in its historical sense. It sheds light on the "valley of decision" which brings it more into line with the remainder of the passage.

In 1619, when the article was penned, the writer said that there would come a DECISION, in which the true believers would be SEPARATED from those who were not entirely sold out to God. IT IS GOD WHO IS MAKING THE DECISION-- separating the wheat from the chaff, a "threshing" if you will.

Only HE knows the HEARTS of men. We have to judge by the sight of the eye and the hearing of the ear. He reads the heart.

This is pinpointed in Mal 3 where it tells about the Lord making up His Jewels. They will be those who-- Malachi 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often (lit: Consulted) one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard [it], and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that FEARED the LORD, and that THOUGHT (lit: Reckoned) upon his name.

Malachi 3:17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Malachi 3:18 Then shall ye return (lit: look back or around), and discern (see clearly) between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. (There is a vast difference between those who SERVE God, and those who joyfully bask in the sunshine of His Forgiveness, and neglect the personal refinement which He offers to them.)

II Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, THE LORD KNOWETH them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of GOLD and of SILVER, but also of WOOD and of EARTH; and some to HONOUR, and some to DISHONOUR. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, [and] prepared unto every good work.

It is my firm belief that Malachi wrote of the same time of "decision" (separation) as Joel did when he wrote: Malachi 3:2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he [is] like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: And he shall sit [as] a REFINER and PURIFIER of silver: and he shall PURIFY the SONS OF LEVI, and PURGE them as gold and silver, THAT THEY MAY OFFER UNTO THE LORD AN OFFERING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS.

God bless!

ACONSUMINGFIRE

2010-06-09T14:12:00.000-07:00

OUR GOD IS A COMSUMING FIRE

One evening, a few nights ago, Pearl and I were in a service at the church, when, as clear as a bell, the words came to me, "For our God [is] a consuming fire." Hebrews 12:29

I do not remember the circumstances that might have prompted me to think of that scripture, but I have learned that these things do not just happen without a purpose. It seems that something I had unwittingly said in another public service had made such an impact on one or more individuals as to drastically change the course of their thinking-- for their good. I had not known about it until much later. But, it had re-enforced the conviction that we can do so much more good when we allow the Spirit to "prompt" us in speaking what we are given for any particular situation. That occasion had been one of those times, and I had forgotten about it altogether. Other people had not forgotten, for it had impacted their lives.

The statement, "Our God is a Consuming Fire" comes near the end of the letter written to the Hebrew people, and seems to be the summation of the entire letter. It was written to a people who were enduring much severe persecution for their faith in Jesus, rather than the ceremonies and restrictions of the Law of Moses-- especially the "modern" interpretations of the Law. The persecution was so severe as to cause some of the Hebrew Christians to turn back and return to the Law and traditions of the elders. It involved a ceremony in which they publicly denounced the Blood of Jesus and the Grace of God.

The writer of the epistle called that ceremony Hebrews 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? Then, a couple of verses down, he writes, Hebrews 10:31 [It is] a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

In other words, "Be very careful what you do when in times of stress or distress, for-- Hebrews 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things [are] naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

Moses used the term "Consuming Fire" in Deut 4:21-24 when urging the Hebrews to be very careful in their walk with the Lord. In fact, the Lord used His Glory (which was like a Devouring fire Ex 24:17) to subdue rebellion and anarchy in the camp of Israel in the wilderness. See Numbers 14:10 But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel. Numbers 16:19 And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation. Numbers 16:42 And it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation: and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared.

In the Hebrews letter, they are urged to listen carefully to what God is saying to them, for it is dangerous to let his voice fall on Spiritually deaf ears.

Hebrews 12:18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which [voice] they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: And so terrible was the sight, [that] Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than [that of] Abel. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more [shall not] we [escape], if we turn away from him that [speaketh] from heaven: Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this [word], Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God [is] a consuming fire.

ALTARS

2010-06-09T14:09:00.001-07:00

ALTARS
Abraham has been called the Altar Builder. He built at least three of them in his recorded life time.
The first one was in RESPONSE TO GOD WHO APPEARED TO HIM. He had left his father, Terah, in Haran, and was in the land of Canaan. We have no record of him ever seeing his father again, although Terah lived until after the birth of Isaac.
This was one of the many "SEPARATIONS" of the life of Abraham.
Genesis 12:7 And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.
The second recorded altar was built when Abraham called upon the Name of the Lord. It was a form of worship to God.
Genesis 12:8 And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Beth-el, and pitched his tent, [having] Beth-el on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.
Abraham found it good to return to his former places of worship, and again "call on the Name of the Lord."
Genesis 13:4 Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD.
Abraham's last recorded altar became a "life altering altar". His life would never be the same again.
Genesis 22:9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.
Abraham was in deep trauma as he built this last altar. God had asked for what he valued most dearly-- Isaac, his only son by Sarah. He was the "Son of Promise."
God had put him to an acid test of obedience, and though bleeding emotionally, Abraham had passed the test.
He was about to hear God's "Now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not witheld..."
At no time did God promise to shield us from difficult situations and hard choices. In fact, He initiates most of them in order to assist us in our maturing process. We naively blame the devil for them.
Richard Reneau tells us that we do not use altars of earth and stone now, because we have Jesus Christ. But he says that we do figuratively build them and use them in our walk today.
OLD TESTAMENT ALTARS WERE SHADOWS OF NEW TESTAMENT REALITY.
There are crises in our lives which need to be brought to our "altars" like our fathers did theirs. There are disappointments and painful and confusing experiences. We can, and should, make "altars" out of the "dirt-y" things which beset us.
Exodus 20:24 An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.
We should also make "altars" out of the hard things (stones) of our lives.
Exodus 20:25 And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.
Don't try to "shape" things with tools. (counselling) Bring them just like they are. Bro. Reneau says that if we don't turn the dirt and stones (hard things) into altars, they will turn us into stone.
They left the altar where they made the sacrifice-- they went on.
We lay our burdens-- dirt and hard things, before Him. Then we walk away from them-- before bitterness and hardness sets in.
It is not easy to build altars. We carry dirt and hard things until we wear ourselves out before we make them into altars-- and go on.
Small, frequent altars diminish the need for large ones.
Take the cross daily-- keep them small.
Accumulated dirt and hard things can become traumatic, and leave us, like Jacob, with a lifetime limp.

MYSISTERMYSPOUSE

2010-06-08T09:08:00.000-07:00

MY SISTER, MY SPOUSE

Four times in the Song, Solomon refers to his Beloved as "My Sister, My Spouse."

Most of us know that in Bible times, an "Engagement" was as binding as the "Wedding", and couples were often spoken of as being a spouse before they came together as husband and wife.

Song of Solomon 4:9 Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, [my] spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck.

Song of Solomon 4:10 How fair is thy love, my sister, [my] spouse! how much better is thy love than wine! and the smell of thine ointments than all spices!

Song of Solomon 4:12 A garden enclosed [is] my sister, [my] spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.

Song of Solomon 5:1 I am come into my garden, my sister, [my] spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.

In our modern "rush-a-day" world, we might have a tendency to forget some important principles of the marriage relationship.

While we were serving as Pastors (and we did for over 30 years) we had ample opportunity to observe differences in the way spouses treated one another while in the Church house-- compared to how they did after they left and went their way. Often times there was a BIG difference.

To combat the trend, I would often use an illustration, and tell the folks that my wife, whom I called "Sister" while in public, was NO LESS my "sister" when we got safely within our four walls.

Too many times, when the door is locked for the night, a man becomes a brute beast, or a woman becomes a shrew, and a battle is joined. Often, the children become the confused audience. "These things ought not so to be."

Sometimes, in times of stress, we tend to lose sight of the fact that God's Word has something to say about the most sacred relationship we humans can have.
Colossians 3:19 Husbands, love [your] wives, and be not bitter against them.

I Peter 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with [them] according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

ABRAHAM'SCITY

2010-06-08T09:05:00.001-07:00

ABRAHAM'S CITY

According to present day prophetic teachers, Jerusalem in the land of Palestine is the focus of much speculative teaching about what is destined to happen in the last days.

Right now, we are hearing a great deal about a certain red heifer, and the role intended for her to fulfill in the plans of the Israeli people.

We also hear rumors of the plans for a new temple, either on the old site or on a new site-- it doesn't make much difference.

If people are making a mistake, it doesn't matter too much whether it is a big mistake or a small one. Either one will miss the intended goal.

I think, sometimes, that the prople who lived when Jesus lived, and rejected Him because of a lack of proper teaching and understanding, were not much worse off, if any, than our Bible teachers of today. The believers today are apt to miss the true events of God as badly as those who crucified Jesus. Our "guns" are pointing the wrong direction.

Abraham, 4,000 years ago, may have known more than we do today. He didn't have the "benefit" of Bible commentators-- he had to depend upon what God told him. Any way, Abraham was looking for a City. Not an earthly city, but one which has "foundations."

Hebrews 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker [is] God.

If Abraham knew enough to keep his eyes off of an earthly city, shouldn't we also know as much? Do we have any right to be looking at what God considers "last year's bird nest"?

Hebrews 11:16 But now they desire a better [country], that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

Hebrews 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

Hebrews 13:14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

Revelation 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Revelation 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

Revelation 21:16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.

Revelation 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither [whatsoever] worketh abomination, or [maketh] a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

May I submit to you that no earthly city will ever figure into God's Eternal Plan. We need to let those people in Palestine worry about their city-- it will never be accepted of God. MEN ARE BUILDING IT.

God is building His own City-- right now. You and I are a part of it. We fit into it in some manner-- walls, foundations, gates. We are there NOW!

WE are the City not made with hands-- the City Foursquare-- out of Heaven-- the Spirit of God.

Our City has no need of the sun, for the Lamb is the light.

Hey! I don't have all the answers yet. But I believe I have heard from God on the matter. I can't tell you all about the streets of Gold-- the wall of Jasper, etc. etc.. But I do believe they represent Christians with certain characteristics which cause them to be classified as "wall" or "street" or some other part. I am sure God knows where each one of us fits.

Have you ever wondered why you are like you are-- why you do what you do? Has God made you that way by His Spirit, so you can perform a function in His Celestial City?

Consider what I say!

A न्यू CREATURE

2010-06-08T09:00:00.000-07:00

A NEW CREATURE

2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is A NEW CREATURE: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

2Co 5:5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

Heb 13:21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, WORKING IN YOU THAT WHICH IS WELLPLEASING IN HIS SIGHT, THROUGH JESUS CHRIST; to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Eph 2:10 FOR WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Eph 2:14 For he is our peace, WHO HATH MADE BOTH ONE, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Eph 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for TO MAKE IN HIMSELF OF TWAIN ONE NEW MAN, so making peace;
Eph 2:16 And that he MIGHT RECONCILE BOTH UNTO GOD IN ONE BODY BY THE CROSS, having slain the enmity thereby:

Gal 6:15 For in Christ Jesus NEITHER CIRCUMCISION AVAILETH ANY THING, NOR UNCIRCUMCISION, but A NEW CREATURE.

Jer 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I WILL PUT MY LAW IN THEIR INWARD PARTS, AND WRITE IT IN THEIR HEARTS; AND WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.

Eze 36:25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
Eze 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.
Eze 36:27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Phi 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

2Co 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

Heb 13:21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

SENDMEAMAN

2010-06-07T09:07:00.001-07:00

SEND ME A MAN
Many years ago I knew a man who lived about five miles
south east of Weiser, Idaho. Down on Buttermilk Slough, to be
exact.
This man and his wife had knelt in their living room, along
with his brother and his wife, and given their hearts to the Lord
when both couples lived in Midvale, about 25 miles to the north
of Weiser. Dr. Charles E. Fuller was giving his altar call over
the radio, and both couples responded.
Both couples were grieving over baby boys they had each
lost to infant disease.
The men had been noted for their "wild west" demeanor in
the past, and a very real change had taken place in their lives.
They had joined a church in their little hamlet, but they
were not taught water baptism.
As Floyd was studying his Bible, he became convicted that
he should be baptized. But not just any baptism would do. He
felt that he should be baptized in the same manner that all of the
people of the New Testament time were recorded to have been
baptized.
He could not find a man in the area of Weiser who would
do the job like he thought it should be done.
So he talked to the Lord about it. Surely there was some-
one somewhere who would be willing to baptize him that way.
He said to the Lord, "If this is as important to You as it is
to me, Send me a man."
In a few days, a man from Naches, Washington, about 350
miles away, knocked on Floyd's door.
The house sat at the end of a long driveway, off a side
road from the highway. Highway 30, that is.
The man's name was Bill A. I knew him also. He related
to Floyd that the Lord had told him there was a man wanting to be
baptized, and had directed him to that house. Was it true that he
was ready to go to the water?
It was true, and the water was close by. "So, what doth
hinder-- ?"
"If ye be willing, and obedient--."

THEGOODFIGHT

2010-06-07T09:03:00.000-07:00

THE GOOD FIGHT

II Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished [my] course, I have kept the faith:

Faith is sometimes described as something similar to a pry bar, by which we can procure things from God, such as a new car, a better job, or more finances. The list would be endless.

The real meaning of faith is "Dedication", or "Commitment to God".

Peter and James each referred to the "trial" or "trying" of our faith. These words equal our modern word for a "sworn statement"-- "Documenting".

The crucial part of the Christian life is that of maintaining our "commitment" or "dedication" to God.

Getting a new car, a better job, or any of those things are not essential to our life in Jesus.

MAINTAINING TRUST IN, AND OBEDIENCE TO GOD IS VERY ESSENTIAL.

When trusting Jesus for the well being of your soul becomes difficult, don't pray for less trials-- pray for more strength from Him.

Fight the good fight of Faith (Commitment to God)

TIMESOFCRISIS

2010-06-07T09:01:00.001-07:00

TIMES OF CRISIS

Great occasions do not make us heroes or cowards. Times of testing serve as a barometer of our Spiritual condition. They simply show us what we have been making of ourselves.

Each day, we are either growing stronger or we are getting weaker. We DO NOT REMAIN STATIC.

God's purpose in sending winds of adversity is NOT that we should FAIL and become DISCOURAGED-- No, No, No! Rather, they are HIS MESSENGERS to cause us to develop STRENGTH in THE FAITH, and walk in VICTORY.

VICTORY doesn't mean that WE WIN EVERY TIME.

The essence of VICTORY is the refusal to let circumstances deter or discourage us in our walk with JESUS.

We MUST, at any cost, maintain the commitment of our souls to the care of the Lord Jesus Christ.

TO HAVE FAITH means that we maintain our CONFIDENCE in the INTEGRITY OF GOD.

THAT IS THE "GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH"

MORETHANCONQUEROR

2010-06-04T08:55:00.000-07:00

Subj: MORE THAN CONQUERORS
The Apostle Paul spent a few days in Athens, and was invited to preach to them. Read all about it in Acts 17.
He had spent some time in looking over the city, and was impressed by the many altars erected to the various gods of the Athenians. They even had one for the "Unknown God", for fear of insulting one by having left him out.
In seeing all those altars, Paul undoubtedly saw the beautiful statue of Alexander the Great. Alexander has been hailed as one of the all-time greatest military generals. In his short career of maybe thirteen years, he conquered most of the then known world. It is said of him that he wept one day because there were no more nations to conquer.
His statue in Athens had the inscription "CONQUEROR" on it.
Can't you just picture Paul, as he looked at it, saying to himself the words he was yet to pen in one of his letters-- "We are MORE THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH HIM THAT LOVED US--"
Friends, the best of worldly accomplishments turns pale when placed alongside what God is able to do in the lives of those who set out to make Him their Lord and Master. "Greater is he that ruleth his own spirit--"

CEASAR-JESUS

2010-06-04T08:53:00.000-07:00

CAESAR--JESUS
When I was a kid in high school we learned about Julius
Caesar, who was, roughly, contemporary with Jesus Christ.

Caesar's famous speech, VENI, VIDI, VICI, (I came, I saw, I
conquered) was drilled into us, especially in second-year
Latin class. Caesar has been called one of the greatest
conquerors of all time, along with Alexander and Napoleon.

But they neglected to teach us about another famous decla-
ration, made by the Saviour of the world, Jesus Christ.

If my memory of Latin serves me right, Jesus answered
Caesar's boastings and said, "VIAS, VERITAS, VITAS," (I am
the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE.)

It portrays the supremacy of Jesus over the wildest boast-
ings of humanity. The best that man can produce can do no
better than pale into insignificance when compared to Jesus
Christ, the Son of God.

Today, we would be foolish to trust in the abilities of any
man or group of men. The only sure place of security is in
Jesus.

THESHOUT

2010-06-03T09:07:00.001-07:00

THE SHOUT
Have you ever wondered what we should be listening
for as the signal that the "Rapture" is taking place?
I have, many times. In fact, I did some extensive
studies on the matter some time ago, and found some
things which startled me, to say the least. The scrip-
ture tells us: I Thessalonians 4:16 _For the Lord
_himself shall descend from heaven with a _shout,_ with
_the _voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God:_
_and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which
_are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with
_them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so
_shall we ever be with the Lord.
Notice the three distinguishing features: SHOUT,
THE VOICE OF THE ARCHANGEL, and THE TRUMP OF GOD. The
"shout" has always been a signal of VICTORY. It is a
primary feature of battling armies, and was an effect-
ive weapon on many occasions. Jeremiah told of a time
when God's Chosen Ones would "lift up a shout" against
what is referred to as "Babylon."
The "voice of the Archangel" identifies where the
shout is originating. Jesus has triumphed over every
foe, and is declaring it to the Spirit world.
The "Trump of God" tells us WHEN it will happen.
I Cor. 15:51 _Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not _
_all sleep, butúweúshallúallúbeú changed,ú In a moment, _
_in the twinkling of an eye,úat _theú last trump:_úforúthe _
_trumpetúshallúsound,úandúthe dead shall be raised in- _
_corruptible, and we shall be changed.
There are seven "Trumpets" which "sound" during the
Church Age. _NONE OF THEM ARE AUDIBLE TO THE HUMAN EAR.
They are signals in the _Spirit Realm_ to activate
certain aspects of the work of the Holy Spirit in the
affairs of men and governments. We might add Religious
Institutions to that list also.
The "Message" which accompanies the "last trump" is
that the _KINGDOMS OF THIS WORLD ARE BECOME THE KINGDOM
_OF OUR GOD. _ It is all over, as far as human government
is concerned. Jesus takes over, through His Overcomers
from that point on. And we didn't "hear" a thing. All
of it took place in the Realm of the Spirit of God. We
could only know what was taking place as He revealed it
to us by the Spirit. Some "heard" the Voice of the
Spirit, but many didn't know what was happening at all.

MERCYSEAT

2010-06-03T09:02:00.000-07:00

HE MERCY SEAT
When Moses was given the pattern for the Tabernacle in
the wilderness he was cautioned to make everything exactly to
specifications. The reason for this was because it was to be a
visible representation of something in the invisible realm. It all
had to do with the Plan of God for our Salvation and Redemption.
Let's look for a while at what is called the Mercy Seat.
Exodus 25:17 And thou shalt make a mercy seat [of] pure
gold: Exodus 26:34 And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the
ark of the testimony in the most holy [place].
Not much is told us about its function. It was actually the
covering for the Ark of the Covenant. There were two cheru¬bims, one on either end of it. Their wings were spread over the
Mercy Seat, and they were looking down toward it.
Hebrews 9:5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing
the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.
I like to think that the Shechinah, Glory of God, was
centered in the spot where the gaze of one met the gaze of the
other. Proof would be hard to come by, but I still like to think it.
Leviticus 16:2 And the LORD said unto Moses,-- I will
appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.
Once every year, on the Day of Atonement, the High
Priest would take blood into the Holy of Holies, and sprinkle it
upon and around the Mercy Seat. Thus the sins of the past year,
(see Rom 3:25) were atoned for. The Old Testament word is the
one used to say that Noah covered the wood of the Ark with pitch.
Blessed is the man whose sin is covered .
Hebrews 9:7 But into the second [went] the high priest
alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for
himself, and [for] the errors of the people:
Leviticus 16:15 Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offer¬ing, that [is] for the people, and bring his blood within the veil, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat:
This ritual was repeated every year for hundreds of years.
And no one had their sins forgiven-- just covered, for that was the
best that animal blood could do. And it was NOT the blood that
did it. It was the obedience of the High Priest in performing the
ritual that accomplished the covering over of past sins.
Every time he sprinkled blood, he was enacting a prophecy
of the One, Christ Jesus, who would one day enter heaven, the
true Holy of Holies, with HIS OWN blood, and there obtain for
us, not just atonement, BUT FORGIVENESS AND MERCY
UNENDING.
Hebrews 9:9 Which [was] a figure for the time then
present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could
not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the
conscience;
I wonder if we have the spiritual capacity to fully grasp the
magnitude of what Jesus accomplished when He entered Heaven
with His own blood and sprinkled it upon the heavenly Mercy
Seat.
Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but
by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having
obtained eternal redemption [for us].
The door of Salvation swung wide open to every inhabitant
of earth, and will remain wide open for as long as Jesus is in the
Heavenly Holy of Holies.
Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

When He is finished in that Holy of Holies, He will do an
even greater thing for His people who are looking for Him.
Jesus purchased for us FAR MORE THAN FORGIVE¬NESS OF SINS when He said, "It is finished" and gave up the ghost on Calvary.
Psalms 100:5 For the LORD [is] good; his mercy [is]
everlasting; and his truth [endureth] to all generations.
Psalms 103:17 But the mercy of the LORD [is] from ever¬
lasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteous¬
ness unto children's children;
Hebrews 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places
made with hands, [which are] the figures of the true; but into
heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
When He returns from His intercession, He will be ready
to finish the work portrayed by the ceremonies of the day when
the earthly High Priest sprinkled the Mercy Seat in the wilderness.
There was a second goat waiting for Aaron to return from
the "sprinkling" ceremony. There was a little "prophecy" for it to
enact too. But that is another story.

LETUSGOON

2010-06-03T09:00:00.001-07:00

LET US GO ON

Hebrews 6:1 Therefore LEAVING (not abandoning) the PRINCIPLES of the DOCTRINE of Christ, let us GO ON UNTO PERFECTION; not LAYING AGAIN the FOUNDATION of REPENTANCE from dead works, and of FAITH toward God, :2 Of the DOCTRINE OF BAPTISMS, and of LAYING ON OF HANDS, and of RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD, and of ETERNAL JUDGMENT. And this will we do, if God permit.

Most of us know quite a bit about these foundational doctrines of the Christian Faith. They are the PRINCIPLES which form the back bone of our Christian society. Without them, we have very little to build upon. Any group that fails to accept one or more of them as necessary blocks in their structure, soon finds themselves off on a siding somewhere-- going nowhere.

But, there is also something saddening about any group who readily accepts these foundational truths, and then feels that there is no need for anything else. They soon stagnate, and begin to smell characteristically with the odor of self-righteous piety, and tend to exclude all who do not agree exactly with their creeds. It contributes to religious bigotry, both collectively and individually.

The writer of the letter to the Hebrews is urging us to NOT CAMP PERMANENTLY around the basic principles of our relationship with Jesus, even though they are of VITAL IMPORTANCE. We MUST NOT LEAVE them out of our lives.

Neither should we neglect that which these principles are STEPPING STONES to bring us into. If we do neglect them, our Christian lives will be stunted and very incomplete. FOUNDATIONS are to be built upon-- not to be displayed with pride and satisfaction.

I Corinthians 3:11-15 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man BUILD UPON this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Paul had as good a FOUNDATION as any man of his day. Philippians 3:4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, [of] the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

But, when Paul came to know Jesus, he knew that he could not rely on his earthly roots. Living for Jesus was an entirely "different ball game", to use the vernacular, and the rules were different. The life of Faith is to RELY ENTIRELY upon Jesus for the welfare of our soul, and our hope of Heaven. However, these experiences of Salvation are NOT AN END IN THEMSELVES, and must not be treated as such if we hope to have an effective Christian life. We must BUILD upon these experiences of Salvation.

II Peter 1:4-8 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that BY THESE YE MIGHT BE PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And BESIDE THIS, GIVING ALL DILIGENCE, add to your faith VIRTUE; and to virtue KNOWLEDGE; And to knowledge TEMPERANCE; and to temperance PATIENCE; and to patience GODLINESS; And to godliness BROTHERLY KINDNESS; and to brotherly kindness CHARITY. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make [you that ye shall] neither [be] BARREN NOR UNFRUITFUL IN THE KNOWLEDGE (epignosis--full discernment) OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

Brethren, these attributes are NOT A PART OF A PACKAGE SALVATION. They MUST BE ADDED after we come to know Jesus, and if we fail or neglect to add them, the cost will be higher than we can afford to pay. How sad it would be to approach the White Throne with ONLY a ticket to Heaven in our hand, when we COULD HAVE COME in garments shining with the ATTRIBUTES OF JESUS.

II Peter 1:9 But he that lacketh these things is BLIND, and CANNOT SEE afar off, and hath FORGOTTEN that he was purged from his old sins.

Paul was NOT striving for SALVATION when he wrote: Philippians 3:10-14 That I may KNOW (be sure of) him, and the POWER of his resurrection, and the FELLOWSHIP of his sufferings, being made CONFORMABLE unto his death; If BY ANY MEANS I might attain unto the resurrection (THE STANDING OUT FROM AMONG) of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were ALREADY PERFECT: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that (FULL SONSHIP) for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] ONE THING [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I PRESS TOWARD the mark for the PRIZE of the HIGH CALLING of God in Christ Jesus.

"Let us GO ON TO PERFECTION" It means to come to COMPLETENESS in God. It means to experience ALL that Jesus died to provide for us here on earth. It means that we should IMBIBE THE VERY NATURE OF CHRIST-- from Him. There is no other place we can get it but from Him. Praying in the Spirit. Every day. Romans 8:13 -- but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

God Bless!

Marion

DEITYOFJESUS

2010-06-02T15:35:00.000-07:00

Perhaps I have failed to make my position clear about whether Jesus is God or not. I suppose I am what others might want to call Dualist, if I understand that term correctly.

As I see it, Jesus was BOTH God and Man while He was in His ministry here on earth.

Until His baptism by John, He was Man with unpolluted blood (the virgin birth accomplished this). His blood could atone for sin because of this.

When Jesus was baptized in water, the Holy Ghost came upon Him.

John 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure [unto him]. He was then GOD IN FLESH-- complete Deity in Flesh without the Nature of Sin. (Virgin birth)

Jesus ministered in this manner for three and one half years. But a transaction took place on the Cross which made Him cry in anguish, "My God, My God, Why hast Thou forsaken me?" The Holy Ghost was withdrawn from Jesus, and at the same moment, all the guilt of the world flooded over Him. "He who knew no sin (nature) became (laden with) sin for us.

It was flesh that died at Calvary-- not God. Here is the miracle of Justification.

Our guilt was placed upon Jesus, so that His righteousness could be given to us.

We must realize that sometimes Jesus spoke as Man-- other times the same lips spoke as God. Hence "before Abraham was--I AM." "I can of myself do nothing-- what I see my Father do--"

The Holy Ghost, given at baptism, was, is, and always shall be, "Alpha and Omega."

The scriptures in Isaiah (41:4 48:12) are not, as near as I can see, speaking of the flesh of God in Jesus Christ. Rather, the Spirit that inhabits Eternity.

We must remember that the doctrine which became known as The Trinity did not make its appearance until over a hundred years after Jesus died. It could well qualify as the teachings of man rather than of God. At least, that is the way it looks from here.

God bless!

THEWORKER'SDREAM

2010-06-02T09:18:00.000-07:00

THE WORKER'S DREAM

I sat down in an arm chair, wearied with my work. My toil had been severe and protracted. Many were seeking Him. As for myself, I was joyous in my work. My brethren were united. My sermons and exhortations were evidently telling on my hearers. My church was crowded.
Tired with my work, I soon lost myself in a sort of halfforgotten state.
Suddenly a stranger entered the room, without any preliminary "tap" or "come in." He carried about his person, measures, chemical agents, and implements, which gave him a very strange appearance.
The stranger came toward me, and, extending his hand, said: "How is your zeal?"
I supposed that the query was to be for my health, and was well pleased to hear his final words; for I was quite well pleased with my zeal, and doubted not that the stranger would smile when he should know its proportions.
Instantly I conceived of it as physical quantity, and putting my hand to my bosom, brought it forth and presented it to him for inspection.
He took it, and placing it in his scale weighed it carefully. Then I heard him say; "One hundred pounds."
I could scarcely suppress an audible note of satisfaction; but I caught his earnest look as he noted down the weight; and I saw at once that he had drawn no final conclusion, but was intent on pushing his investigation.
He broke the mass to atoms, put it into his crucible, and put the crucible into the fire.
When the mass was fused, he took it out and set it to cool. It congealed in cooling, and when turned out on the hearth exhibited a series of layers of strata; which all, at the touch of the hammer, fell apart, and were severally tested and weighed, the stranger making minute notes as the process went on. When he had finished he presented the notes to me, and he gave me a look of mingled sorrow and compassion, as without a word, except "May God save you," he left the room.
The "notes" read as follows:

ANALYSIS OF THE ZEAL OF JUNIUS
A candidate for a Crown of Glory
Weight, en masse, or total weight, 100 lbs.
Of this, on analysis, there proves to be---:
Bigotry--------------------------11 parts
Personal Ambition----------------22 parts
Love of Praise-------------------19 parts
Pride of Denomination------------15 parts
Pride of Talent------------------14 parts
Love of Authority----------------12 parts
(Wood, Hay, and Stubble.) 1Cor 3:10

Love of God-----------------------4 parts
Love of Man-----------------------3 parts
(Pure Zeal)

I had become troubled at the peculiar manner of the stranger, and especially at his parting look and manner; but when I looked at the figures, my heart sank like lead within me.
I made a mental effort to dispute the correctness of the record. But I was startled into a more honest mood by an audible sigh from the stranger (who had paused in the hall). I cried out, "Lord, save me," and knelt down at my chair, with the paper in my hand, and my eyes fixed upon it. At once it became a mirror, and I saw my hear reflected in it.
The record was true. I saw it! I felt it! I confessed it! I deplored it! And I besought God with many tears to save me from myself. With a loud cry of anguish I awoke.
I had once prayed to be saved from hell, but prayer to be saved from myself now was immeasurably more fervent; nor did I rest or pause till the refining fire came down and went through my heart, searching, probing, melting, burning, filling all its chambers with light and hallowing my whole heart to God.
When the toils of my pilgrimage shall be at an end, I shall kneel in heaven, at the feet of the alchemist and bless Him for the revelation of that day. --Anon
(copied from S.S quarterly, 71years ago, 1939)

APPROACHBY SACRIFICE

2010-06-02T07:42:00.000-07:00

Notes from a sermon by Bert Dearden in Portland, OR. in the 70’s

APPROACH BY SACRIFICE--LEVITICUS--HEBREWS
Jesus did not come to BECOME the Saviour of the world.
He came AS the Saviour of the world.
All of the Old Testament types, shadows, pictures and symbols are rolled together in Jesus Christ.
The Old Testament showed us the distance between God and man.
In Hebrews we are shown that God and man have been reconciled in Jesus.
The distance has been removed.
The Law is a revelation, in shadow form, of the Nature and Character and Purpose of God.
Also a revelation of the Name of God.
Genesis reveals Him as Creator.
Exodus reveals Him as Redeemer--the blood of the lamb.
Leviticus reveals Him as the Holy Ghost.
The purpose of the Holy Ghost is to reveal Jesus.
He will not speak of himself.
In Leviticus we see the Priesthood--its qualities, its work.

Exodus begins with gloom--it ends with glory
Genesis begins with glory--it ends with gloom
When you have the glory, you can afford to listen.
In Numbers, He tells us how to live--how to move around.
The Priesthood was born out of an aggressive, militant movement by men who were zealous for the glory of God (the golden calf)

Leviticus 1:1 And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him OUT OF THE TABERNACLE OF THE CONGREGATION, saying,
Out of the tabernacle--GRACE
Out of Sinai--JUDGMENT
LAW AND GRACE NEVER MIX
Access in Lev. is by the Priesthood--(shadow)
Access in Heb. is by Jesus (reality, substance)

There are four items involved in our approach to God
1--The offerer
2--The offering
3--The Priest
4--The Altar
The O. T. was a shadow only--no substance

Perfection cannot be superceded. Cannot be improved upon.
Leviticus is not perfect
You cannot improve upon Jesus!

The greater the God of the O. T. becomes to you--The greater Jesus
becomes, for, The Jesus of the New Testament is the God of the Old Testament.

How can a person who is evil approach a God who is Holy?
He cannot do it apart from the Grace of God, ie. unless God allows him to do it.
As sinners, we don't have the right to come into the presence of the Holy God. We have NOTHING to approach Him with.
In the OFFERER, we are shut up to Jesus
In the OFFERING, we are shut up to Jesus
Leviticus 1:3 If his offering [be] a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it OF HIS OWN VOLUNTARY WILL at THE DOOR OF THE TABERNACLE of the congregation before the LORD.
Jesus was willing to carry out the Lord's will on this earth.

Whenever you see a cross, let it remind you that it is possible to carry out the Lord's Will on this earth, for ONE MAN did it. No one else.
THIS IS THE PERFECT OFFERING
Man was put on this earth in the beginning to carry out the Will of God--but he didn't.
The Will of God was violated when conditions were perfect. Adam in Eden
But it was reversed--the Will of God was carried out in a condition of sin, degradation, and thorns and corruption.
When the Lord speaks from Sinai, He speaks Law
When the Lord speaks from the Tabernacle, He speaks Grace.

AT THE DOOR OF THE TABERNACLE-(threshold), we cross over into a different area altogether.
GOD ALMIGHTY DWELLS THERE
It was the Grace of God that gave the rules in Exodus.
Leviticus 1:4 And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt
offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.
LAYING ON OF HANDS for blessing---for judgment two purposes.
It is not right for every Tom, Dick and Harry to lay hands on every Susie, Sally, and Gertie.
Be careful whose hands are laid upon you.
If the person isn't born again, make sure he keeps his paws off of you.
I am not your enemy, I am your friend
The laying on of hands is always coupled with identification, or
association.
Jesus laid hands on people--that was a blessing.
BUT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, if a man blasphemed, the people who heard him do
it, LAID THEIR HANDS ON HIM and transferred the guilt back onto him--they were no longer responsible--they disapproved. He bore his own guilt.
BLESSING ON ONE HAND, JUDGMENT ON THE OTHER HAND.

In Lev. the OFFERER laid his hands on the OFFERING, (pressed his hands) so the Priest could see the identification,
THE OFFERER AND THE OFFERING BECAME ONE!

In the New Testament, THE HISTORY OF JESUS in the first chapter of
Ephesians, BECOMES THE HISTORY OF THE BELIEVER in Eph. 2
Quickened us together, raised us up together, seated us together.
Jesus and you have become one.
You and me have become one
We are in Him, He is in us.

Blood is THE VEHICLE OF LIFE. Blood is NEVER REGARDED AS BEING DEAD.
Blood is absolutely forbidden as an item of food; because one day someone would come whose blood would bring life to men.
See how the Lord safeguards these symbols, shadows.
In the Tabernacle we look at symbols and shadows.
WE HAVE TO COME TO JESUS TO FIND OUT HOW THEY WORK.
The blood of Jesus cleanses us.

In Lev, he is offering substitute blood (life) in order to gain access to the Presence of the Lord.
It is not my life, it is His life.
THIS, THE DOOR OF THE TABERNACLE is as far as the OFFERER can go.
This is as far as the OFFERING CAN GO
The blood is never allowed to touch the ground.
The blood of Able cries out from the ground for vengance.
The blood of Jesus calls for forgiveness.
The vessels of the Tabernacle were shaped so they could never be set down.
The priest is now involved. The MEDIATOR between God and Man.
He does not take unto himself this office. He is called (chosen) of God.
Hebrews 5:4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as [was] Aaron.
It is the Priest who offers the blood. The blood is Life.
The Priest doesn't deal with death, he deals with Life.
Jesus didn't offer up His blood, He offered up His life.
Hebrews 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered HIMSELF without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Matthew 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
John 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I
have power (authority) to lay it down, and I have power (authority) to take it
again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
"I have the authority from God." "I have been commanded"
His death is essential only that we might receive His life.
The OFFERER IS JESUS, THE OFFERING IS JESUS
THE PRIEST IS JESUS! There is one mediator, the Man, Christ Jesus.
He dismissed His Spirit, that He might dispense it
The ALTAR is the meeting place between God and Man.
Abraham, before the law, under grace, had an altar.
THE MEETING PLACE BETWEEN GOD AND MAN IS JESUS CHRIST!
Everything that can be said about the Almighty God, can also be said about Jesus Christ.
JESUS is the OFFERER. JESUS is the OFFERING. JESUS is the PRIEST.
JESUS is the ALTAR.

JUBILEE

2010-05-29T14:59:00.001-07:00

THE YEAR OF JUBILEE
For almost as long as I can remember, I have heard about the Year of Jubilee. But I have to confess that it didn't mean much to me until the Lord captured my thinking and directed it to an in-depth study of the seven feasts of the Levitical year.
This Levitical year was a seven-month space of time within the regular year of twelve or thirteen months, as the case might have been. It ALWAYS started at a certain phase of the Moon, and ALWAYS in the Spring of the year. There were seven distinct events which had to be observed by the people-- each at the exact time decreed by the Lord alone.
Of these seven events, there was one which was the most solemn and awesome of them all. It was the Day Of Atonement. The events of this day were required to be very precise, for the life of the high priest was at risk if anything went wrong.
Leviticus 25:9 Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubile to sound on the tenth [day] of the seventh month, IN THE DAY OF ATONEMENT shall ye MAKE THE TRUMPET SOUND throughout all your land.
It became the most ANTICIPATED, and also the most DREADED day of the year once every fifty years.
ANTICIPATED, by those who had suffered misfortune and hardship during the fifty preceding years. If they had been forced into servitude or mortgage, the servitude was cancelled, and the mortgage annulled on this Day of Atonement. They were SET FREE FROM BONDAGE.
DREADED, by those who had taken advantage of their neighbor's misfortune, and brought them into servitude and debt in the preceding fifty years. They had to restore all land to it's original owner, and turn all servants free.
IN SHORT, everything was restored to it's original state.
I AM SURE THAT THIS CEREMONY SERVES AS A TYPE OF THE MIGHTY RESTORATION WHICH IS DETERMINED UPON THE CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD!
Leviticus 25:10 And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout [all] the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.
Leviticus 25:13 In the year of this jubile ye shall return every man unto his possession.
There are, perhaps, more than two applications of this principle of God. But I want to draw your attention to a couple that stand out in my mind.
FIRST, a look at the group of people who are referred to as The Church of the Living God. If we compare what it was at it's beginning with what it is now-- brother, sister, we are in deep, hard bondage. We are horribly impoverished. And I wish not to go into the details of our impoverishment and shame, except to affirm that it exists. You know it, as well as I do.

JUBILEE TWO
The GOOD NEWS is that RESTORATION lies ahead. NOT BECAUSE WE DESERVE IT, but because of who Jesus is, and what has been decreed to be done. Nothing can stop it.
The ONLY THING we need to be concerned about is our own individual Spiritual condition before Jesus right now. We can MISS IT if we are not diligent about our walk with the Lord. The principle applied to the so-called "rapture" applies here.
Matthew 25:10... and they that were ready went...
SECOND, the broader look at the whole of humanity. When conditions were perfect, Adam failed, and dashed all of humanity into poverty and servitude.
John 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
We are destitute of any good in our humanity, and but for the Grace of God, slaves to our fallen nature.
BUT THIS IS ALSO DESTINED TO BE CHANGED. NOT BY ANYTHING WE CAN DO, but by the MERITS OF JESUS CHRIST, our Redeemer.
THE YEAR OF JUBILEE is close at hand. When it is "signaled in" by the blowing of the trumpet, tremendous changes will take place in the Christian Community, and in individual lives.
But, again, Matthew 25:10... and they that were ready went...
Leviticus 25:9 Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubile to sound on the tenth [day] of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land.
Just as the day of the birth of Jesus was determined by God alone, so also the time of the Great Jubilee is determined (already) by God alone.
I know of no way to ascertain just where we are in a 50 year cycle, so I am not making any predictions of any kind. Except, that is, to say that in this year 1995, the Day of Atonement falls on October 4. This is probably NOT THE YEAR. I do not believe the nations are in proper alignment at this time. But that is MY OPINION-- not from any revelation I have.
I do, however, feel it is safe to predict that WHEN THE YEAR OF JUBILE ARRIVES, it will start on the Day of Atonement of that particular year.
Please note that Jesus BECAME our Passover on Passover day in AD 30. Jesus BECAME our Pentecost "When the Day of Pentecost was fully come." That was also AD 30.
We have reason to believe that Jesus will BECOME our Jubile when His DAY OF ATONEMENT is "fully come".
What all does the Day of Atonement hold for those earnest seekers who are "looking for Him?" "They that wait upon the Lord shall...."

CIRCUMSTANCES

2010-05-29T14:55:00.001-07:00

CIRCUMSTANCES
We all know that life is a constant battle with circumstances. Some of them are beyond our control. We didn't ask for them. We don't know where they come from, but they are there.
Ever notice how some circumstances pop up at just the precise moment to deter us from doing something for the Lord. Just at Church time, or just as we were preparing to go on an errand of mercy.
These are NOT BY ACCIDENT. They are by DESIGN of the enemy of our souls.
They also serve as tests of our walk with God. They can cause us to GROW in God. They can also cause us to stalemate in our growth.
If the enemy of our souls ever learns that sudden circumstances will deter us from our goals in God-- there will be plenty of them, and at every occasion possible. Enemies will employ whatever methods will work.
A family feud just as we are arriving at Church service will effectively kill any positive effect the service might have on us. And, if you are supposed to have a part in the Ministry, you had about as well "hang it up" as far as doing any lasting good for the folks to whom you minister
If we WILL react to a neighborhood dispute, and develop an "attitude", we will have a generous supply of neighborhood trouble.
But, if we draw upon the Grace of God when our spouse or one of the kids is influenced from below just at Church time, the desired effect will have been thwarted.
"He that ruleth his own spirit--".
"A soft answer turneth away wrath."
If a devilish tactic ceases to produce the desired results, it will soon be abandoned. RESIST THE DEVIL AND HE WILL FLEE FROM YOU.
Overcome evil with good.

GUARDTHEALTAR

2010-05-28T10:04:00.001-07:00

GUARD THE ALTAR

Genesis 15 tells of Abram being told to put five creatures on the altar, which would serve as a binding covenant between him and the God of Heaven. He obeyed, dividing the carcases, as instructed.

For the remainder of the day, Abraham guarded the sacrifice against vultures. He didn't allow anything to molest any part of the sacrifice.

It was a tedious job, and required constant watchfulness on his part, but he completed the day, and when it was evening, God showed up and walked through the midst of the sacrifice. At the same time, the Lord revealed to Abram that he would, indeed, have a son, and that in the fourth generation his posterity would go into Egypt for four generations-- eight generations in all.

Successfuly guarding the altar brought Abram into a deeper relationship with God.

It will for us too, if we know what a vulture looks like, so we will know what to guard against. If you can recognize them, you can keep them away.

What do they look like? How will we know them when we see them?

Well, finding fault with our Church leaders will do a lot of damage to our consecration to God.

Listening to, and spreading gossip will tear huge hunks of sacrifice off our altar. We will never be what we could have been if we had recognized and driven that vulture off before it could do damage to our soul.

Contributing to disunity in the home, the church or the community can leave us with the "mark of Cain" in our foreheads.

You get the idea. We must carefully guard our relationship to God. There are MANY things which are too dangerous for us to allow even close to our commitment to God.

"Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life."

THEMOSTHIGH GOD

2010-05-28T09:13:00.000-07:00

THE MOST HIGH GOD EL ELYON
Our God has chosen many ways by which to make Himself known to us, in His various attributes. He affixes different titles to denote
different characteristics of His Nature.
He was known to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as "The Breasted One".
The Hebrew word for that is EL SHADDAI, meaning "The Nourisher"
He revealed Himself to Moses as JEHOVAH, the Law Giver--the Stern One--The Inflexible One.
But the title most of us like the best is EL ELYON, which portrays His Merciful Nature. "The God of another chance", has been attributed
to this Title. It is in this Title we see the Grace of God.
Abraham paid his tithes to the Priest of THE MOST HIGH GOD. (EL ELYON). He knew about the God of Grace--another chance.
That is why Jesus was made a High Priest, forever, AFTER THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK. Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ.
Almost every place in both the Old Testament and the New
Testament, where the term "Most High" or "Highest", is used itindicates that God is referring to Himself as the God of Grace.
David was aware of this side of God's Nature--Grace through Faith.
Psa 91 is unique. "He that dwelleth in the secret place of
The Most High (EL ELYON) shall abide under the shadow of The Almighty (EL SHADDAI) I will say of The Lord (JEHOVAH) He is my refuge and my fortress my God; in Him will I trust"
David knew God as The God of GRACE (for when he went astray). He knew Him as the NOURISHER (for when he was in need). He knew Him as the stern, inflexible LAWGIVER--the SHEPHERD who would guide him in the right way (paths of righteousness), defining and circumscribing, without error, the way of truth.

APRIESTFOREVER

2010-05-28T08:57:00.000-07:00

A PRIEST FOREVER

Hebrews 5:6 As he saith also in another [place], Thou [art] a priest FOR EVER AFTER THE ORDER OF MELCHISEDEC.

What is the ORDER OF MELCHISEDEC? How does it differ from the AARONIC ORDER?

Genesis 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he [was] the PRIEST OF THE MOST HIGH GOD. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed [be] Abram of the MOST HIGH GOD, possessor of heaven and earth:

"THE MOST HIGH GOD" comes from the word "El Elyon", a term portraying the GRACE OF GOD-- The God of another chance-- the God of Mercy and Compassion. The God who constantly seeks our good, in preference to punishment and judgment.

If MELCHISEDEC had been Priest of JEHOVAH, he would been priest of THE STERN ONE, THE ROCK, THE UNMOVEABLE ONE, THE RIGID, UNBENDING ONE. The Aaronic Priesthood got their authority from this part of God's Nature.

If he had been the Priest of EL SHADDAI, he would have been called the priest of the NOURISHER, THE BREASTED ONE. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob knew Him by that term. He MADE THEM RICH.

JESUS, the Priest after the Order of Melchisedec, is the BLESSER WITH BREAD AND WINE (Gen 14:18.19). These are the elements of our COMMUNION (Joint Participation) of the Goodness of God through Jesus Christ. Matthew 26:26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed [it], and brake [it], and gave [it] to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave [it] to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Hebrews 5:9 And being made perfect, he BECAME THE AUTHOR OF ETERNAL SALVATION unto all them that obey him; Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

Jesus FED the five thousand with five loaves and two fishes, and the people wanted to make Him a king. The other kings exacted taxes from their subjects.

Jesus became the AUTHOR of Salvation. He GIVES, we RECEIVE. He PROVIDES, we ENJOY.

He BLESSES us with BEAUTY for ashes, STRENGTH for weakness, RIGHTEOUSNESS for untowardness, SALVATION for helplessness.

A PRIEST FOREVER AFTER THE ORDER OF MELCHISEDEC.

ABETTERRESURRECTION

2010-05-27T09:50:00.000-07:00

A BETTER RESURRECTION

There are many scriptures which point out the fact of a distinction being made among Christians. It would seem that there are stages of development, or maturity within the community of believers.

Without giving biblical references for them, let me give you a few examples:
There are: The Brethren of the Lord, and the Congrega¬tion. There are: Mount Zion, and Jerusalem. There are: the Beloved, and the Little Sister. There are: The Overcomers, and those who do not overcome. There are more examples of the distinction, but these are enough for you to know where I am coming from.

Now let's look at Hebrews 11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

1 Cor 15, the resurrection chapter, tells us plainly that there will be degrees of glory in the resurrection. It seems to be closely connected to the degree of maturity which we arrive at in our journey through life. (Overcoming, if you please.)

RABBI

2010-05-24T07:59:00.000-07:00

RABBI
A few days ago a visiting minister drew our attention to a word play in the Bible which illustrates different ways in which we can relate to Jesus.
He drew our attention to Matthew 26:25 Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said. The Greek word that Judas used is "Rabbi", which means a teacher, or school master.
This term was contrasted with Matthew 26:22 And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? The other disciples all used the word "Kurios", which is properly translated "Lord".
The minister used the two words to show how Judas, though numbered among the dicsiples, was unable to call Jesus "Lord" because he was not fully surrendered to Him. There were other things in his affections which kept him from being in full surrender to the Lordship of Jesus.
Judas was not the only person to be afflicted this way.
There has been much speculation about what these "other things" might have been. I do not feel that we need to speculate about what they were. Their identity is not the critical point, and in mentioning certain things which seemed to be glaring realities in his life we tend to salve our consciences if we do not see the same things in our lives. In this "comparing ourselves with ourselves" we are not wise. Our personal hindrance to complete surrender will probably be far removed from those of Judas. They will keep us from full surrender as surely as his did, if we do not deal with them.
Multitudes upon multitudes of Christians today are in the same condition as Judas was on that day.
They are saved. They will eventually get to heaven. We can not question their salvation, for that is a GIFT FROM GOD. (Judas, however, died before Calvary. We have no scriptural basis for hope in his eternal destiny.)
But they have not made Jesus the LORD OF THEIR LIFE.
They are not classed among the OVERCOMERS.
There is not much hope of a REWARD for them.
There will be no CROWN awaiting them on the other side.
On the other hand, the OVERCOMERS, who have done their best to crucify the flesh with its desires, so they can do what is pleasing to the Lord, have something glorious to look forward to as this age draws to a close.
GOD'S WAYS ARE ALWAYS CONTRARY TO OUR FLESHLY DESIRES. WE CAN NOT PLEASE BOTH.
Every day of our lives, Jesus is either our "Lord", or He is a "Teacher" to us. There is a big difference between the two.
Our churches are made up of TWO COMPANIES of people-- one within the other. Like an expectant mother, there is a smaller body within the one which is presently carrying it.
This SMALLER group are the OVERCOMERS of the seven churches in the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
They are INDIVIDUALS within the corporate body who are meeting God's requirements for their lives in the day they are living. They have made Jesus their LORD. They are more concerned with what His Word requires of them than they are about church buildings, ceremonies, programs and social activities connected with the present set up.
The corporate body is NOT MEETING those requirements-- never has-- never will. It has a huge "machine" running, and it requires so much energy (money, time, maintenance, etc.) to keep it going-- there is very little being accomplished other than fueling and maintaining machinery. Personal consecration to the Will and Nature of God in the life of the individual has fallen by the wayside. (Whatever happened to prayer meetings where people "consecrated" themselves to the Will of God? That energy is now required to fuel a "machine".) We must now sign petitions, march in a demonstration, and write our congressman, instead of "praying through" to personal victory.

WITHOUTME

2010-05-23T19:00:00.000-07:00

WITHOUT ME
Jesus gave His disciples some "facts" of Spiritual "life" one day. We might do well to ponder what He had to say about how to bear Spiritual fruit. He told them how to accomplish it, and no other way will work.
John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
He told them it was useless to try to produce the fruit of the Spirit by their own efforts, good as they might be. The natural man cannot produce that which is supernatural, or Spiritual. Natural man can only bring forth what is often_ thought to be_ Spiritual fruit, but is not the real thing. We seem to have drifted into a Christian culture which tells us that a smiling face and a cheery word are the only things important. You and I both know that these can do nothing more than to fall short of the goal. Good breeding and refinement, desireable as they are, have nothing to do with Spiritual fruit. It is a product of His Spirit alone, and is created within us supernaturally.
When He said to abide in Him, He meant that we MUST find a way for our lives to be incorporated into Him.
Our relationship to Jesus Christ is of greatest importance in this matter. Notice the next verse John 15:5 I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: _FOR WITHOUT ME YE CAN DO NOTHING._
Somewhere we have picked up the idea that fruit is what WE ARE ABLE TO DO FOR THE LORD. It is not. We can sing in the choir, teach a class, be an usher, pay our tithes regularly, and even take food to the hungry, and still not be producing fruit--be devoid of peace in our own heart, and love in our own soul, and the joy of close communion with the Lord in our daily life.
Fruit is produced by the Spirit in our hearts, and springs forth from within us. It is there when things are not going right, the same as when they do. It is there whether recognised and appreciated by others, or if it is not. It needs no audience, or recognition.
It grows out of a Spirit Filled life that livesin obedience to the known will of God, that surrenders itself to the Spirit of God, instead of the impulses of the fleshly nature.
II Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency [is] of God;.

THESONSOFLEVI

2010-05-17T19:07:00.000-07:00

THE SONS OF LEVI
There are a few scriptures in the Bible which lead us to believe that there are hidden meanings to some of the language that is used in the writing of them.
One place in particular which I am thinking about today is Malachi 3:2, "But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he [is] like a _refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: And_ _he shall sit [as] a refiner and purifier of silver: and_ he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that THEY MAY OFFER UNTO THE LORD AN _OFFERING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS".
We can find no place in Scriptural history where this has ever been done. We are also aware that there will never again be a need for Levitical Priests, for there will never be another animal sacrifice accepted by the Lord.
What we DO FIND, however, is that the Levites were a type of another group of people who probably are living today.
Isa. 66 tells about a time when there will be a gathering of people (followers of Jesus) who will be gathered to "My Holy Mountain, Jerusalem".
THIS IS NOT A GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION. IT IS A SPIRITUAL POSITION IN GOD! It can be achieved by any man or woman of any race who will press into God. Many of the Christian community are not especially interested in Spiritual achievement, so this "gathering" to "My Holy Mountain" does not capture their ttention.
But listen to what is said about those who do hear and heed the invitation to "My Holy Mountain."
Isa. 66:21 And I will also take of them for priests _[and] for Levites,_ saith the LORD.
The Levites were the "government" of the Old Testament order. It was God's order of government.
God is going to superimpose Himself on the affairs of man in a short time now, and will choose "Levites" from among those who are "gathered" to "My Holy Mountain." Not all Christians will rule and reign with Him._
The "Righteous Offering" of those "Sons of Levi"will consist of the righteous administration of the "Constitution of the Kingdom". It also denotes their manner of life--their relationship to the Law of the Spirit of God. They have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of God's Kingdom, and (to borrow a thought from Paul Weaver) they are qualified to minister to the Bride. Selfish motives are gone. Notice that Jesus _said, "I will purify the Sons of Levi."_
The "Purifying" of the Sons of Levi will take place on the Day of Atonement, which is rapidly approaching.
Any attempt to describe what will happen would fall far short of explaining what God has in store for those who are "Gathered" to His "Holy Mountain", also called "The
Mountain of His Holiness."
I believe it is worth our while to seek after the prize of this high calling, and turn our gaze away from things of this life.
If we do not have the desire to turn our efforts to things of the Spirit, we should pray, and ask God to do a work in our hearts that will create that desire within us. He can do it.

DESOLATE

2010-04-24T14:10:00.001-07:00

DESOLATE
One day, near the end of His earthly Ministry, Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem. In doing so, He fulfilled a prophecy given by Daniel several hundred years prior to the time. He said: Matthew 23:37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, [thou] that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under [her] wings, and ye would not! _Behold, your house is left unto you desolate The prophecy of Daniel reads: Daniel 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof [shall be] with a flood, and unto the end of the war _desolations are determined."_
It was more than a coincident that Jesus proclaimed desolation on Jerusalem just prior to his "cutting off" on the Cross, which "caused the sacrifice and oblation to cease." Sixty nine and a half of the seventy weeks which were "determined" upon Jerusalem and Judah were history when Jesus was crucified.
The term "unto the end of the war" means literallyuntil the end of the "Controversy", and not a war where two armies are engaged in battle. God has a score to settle with a people who rejected His rulership.
I am a little more than worried when I listen to the "standard teaching" about what is supposed to take place in the days that are ahead of us. All of the "Experts" seem to be saying mostly the same thing. It is the usual, "Antichrist! Beginning of the week, End of the week, Middle of the week, Daniel----Revelation."
I am afraid our modern "Experts" will miss it as far as the "Experts" in the days when Jesus was among us. Seems they are mostly "parroting" each other, and not getting anything from God for themselves.
It is easier to teach the standard curriculum than it is to ferret out what God is actually saying to us. The "seven year covenant" theory simply won't wash in the light of other scriptures which bear on the subject.
"If the trumpet give an uncertain sound."
There is no security in numbers, and the multitudes declaring it won't produce what the Word doesn't say. Jesus, being GOD IN FLESH, knew that in just a few days He would be standing in the hall of Pilate, and He would hear the Spiritual leaders crying:
Mark 15:13 And they cried out again, Crucify him.
Mark 15:14 Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him. Luke 23:21 But they cried, saying, Crucify [him], crucify him. John 19:6 When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify [him], crucify [him]. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify [him]: for I find no fault in him..
Jesus also knew that at the same time, the Jewish leaders would sound the death knell of their nation bythe choice they made that day: Matthew 27:25 Then answered all the people, and said, "His blood [be] on us, and on our children."
There are many Scriptures which refer to Jerusalem which DO NOT MEAN the natural city of Jerusalem. One such is Psalms 122:6 "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee." It is a song about the Heavenly Jerusalem.
Also, consider Hebrews 12:18 "For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, And the sound of trumpet, and the voice of words; which [voice] they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: Hebrews 12:22 But YE ARE COME UNTO MOUNT SION, and unto the city of the living God, the HEAVENLY JERUSALEM, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and CHURCH OF THE FIRSTBORN, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to THE SPIRITS OF JUST MEN MADE PERFECT, And to Jesus the mediator of the new Covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than [that of] Abel."
We, then, as citizens of the New Jerusalem, should not be overly concerned with a city that is desolate of favor with God. Treat it like you would a last year's bird nest. It has served its purpose in the economy of God, just as the Levitical ceremonies have served their purpose. Jerusalem of old was a picture, in type, of the contrast, or difference between that which God produces, in comparison to Babylon of old, the best works of mankind. Modern "Babylon" is our present-day world economic, political and religious system. Jerusalem is the Church of the Living God. Mount Zion is a special segment of that Church.
Believers will never be grafted into the desolate city. They will become citizens of the Heavenly City.
"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem."

THENEW ADMINISTRATION

2010-04-24T13:58:00.000-07:00

THE NEW ADMINISTRATION
Many of God's people are wondering what the future holds regarding the morals of the nation under the new administration.
We have often made the remark that it is not possible to legislate righteousness. It has never been possible, and is not possible now. People are going to do what is in their hearts to do, in spite of any laws to the contrary.
We were not in error to vote for those people who "said" they would push for a higher standard of conduct if they were elected, but we MUST be aware of the fact that the promises might not be kept.
Many godly people have repeatedly told us that our nation is on a collision course with punishment from the Almighty. We heartily concur.
ARE we approaching the beginning of the "time of correction" now? No one knows for sure.
One thing we "can be sure of" is that we as Christians will be a "DECIDING FACTOR" in it all.
Scripture gives several instances where a very small nucleus of people turned the hand of God and obtained mercy and deliverance for the nation.
As Esther of old, our response in time of this crisis will help to determine the outcome of it.
We "MUST" obey the admonition of Paul to the young man, Timothy, 1Ti 2:1 2 I exhort therefore, that, FIRST OF ALL, "supplications, prayers, inter-cessions, [and] giving of thanks, be made for all" "men; For kings, and[for] all that are in author-ity; that we may lead a
quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
We certainly cannot expect much intercession from the non-christian community.
We cannot look to the educators for help, for they are more of the problem, and not part of the solution.
Government is not part of the solution either, for those who constitute authority are powerless to stem the tide of wickedness in men's hearts.
The Christian community holds the key in their hands. We will have to shoulder the load on our knees, crying to God for mercy on our land.
Zec 4:6 gives us picture of what to expect, and from what quarter to expect it. "Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This [is] the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts."
It was pointed out to us lately that even the "mercy" of God had cost several thousand innocent people their lives when David numbered the people who could go to war.
The prophet Isaiah wrote of a time when the churches (women) would rise up and lament over the desolations, (barren conditions) of the people of the Lord. It reads: Isaiah 32:15 "Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high," and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest. 16 Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field.
Listen to the admonition of the prophet Hosea 10:12 "Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; "break up your fallow ground: for [it is] time to seek "the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
A sovereign move of the Spirit of God is the "ONLY "WAY" the tide will be turned, and a terrible time of correction be averted.

SETASASEAL

2010-04-20T18:37:00.000-07:00

SET ME AS A SEAL (reprint)

Song of Solomon 8:6 "SET ME AS A SEAL UPON
THINE HEART, AS A SEAL UPON THINE ARM: FOR LOVE
[IS] STRONG AS DEATH--" ; jealousy [is] cruel as the grave:
the coals thereof [are] coals of fire, [which hath a] most vehement
flame.

Song of Solomon 8:7 Many waters cannot quench love,
neither can the floods drown it: if [a] man would give all the
substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.

This is a story of a peasant girl who had been taken from
her home and family for a very strange purpose. The record does
not tell us if she suffered from homesickness. Neither does it
tellus if she found her task repugnant.

Little did she know that she would become the theme of a
most beautiful and inspiring Song-- the Song of Solomon.

Her strange task? It was before our modern ways of caring
for the aged. I believe it was a bungled solution to the problem,
but it seemed to be in the Mind of God, non-the-less. He OFTEN
USES OUR BUNGLING ATTEMPTS for His purposes.

I Kings 1:1-4 Now king David was old [and] stricken in
years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat.
Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there be sought for my
lord the king a young virgin: and let her stand before the king,
and let her cherish him, and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord
the king may get heat. So they sought for a fair damsel through-
out all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and
brought her to the king. And the damsel [was] very fair, and
cherished the king, and ministered to him: but the king knew her
not.

After King David had died, one of his sons was desirous of
her attentions, and asked King Solomon for her hand. It dis-
pleased Solomon very much, and he had the man killed.

I Kings 2:22,23 And king Solomon answered and said unto
his mother, And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for
Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also; for he [is] mine elder
brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab
the son of Zeruiah. Then king Solomon sware by the LORD,
saying, God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah have not
spoken this word against his own life.

Legend has it that this fair damsel had been in love with a
young man of Shunem before she was chosen for this strange
mission to King David, and would have desired to return to her
young lover there.

But, it was not to be, for God had other plans for her life,
much like He does for each one of us, if we will be submissive to
His Will for our lives.

To make a long story shorter, after much wooing on
Solomon's part, her heart is finally won over to him. She
FALLS DEEPLY IN LOVE with her Lover, who has tenderly
and faithfully done what He could to win her affection.

The Shulamite serves very well as a type of those who
whole-heartedly respond to the wooings of the Spirit of God. The
King patiently waits for her to lose her desire for her former love,
and to be drawn to Him. She would not have voluntarily been
drawn to the King, but His attentions were overwhelming.

Neither would we have followed the Heavenly King volun-
tarily. But the "drawing" of the Lord was overwhelming.

John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will
draw all [men] unto me.

Many of us have fallen in love with Jesus. BUT SOME HAVE
FALLEN SO DEEPLY IN LOVE WITH HIM THAT THEY
ARE CONSUMED WITH A DESIRE TO BE A PART OF
HIM. But they have been hindered by their inability to complete-
ly sever themselves from their former love. (their life before they
knew Jesus)

But they, like the Shulamite, are calling out to their Lover,
and asking of Him that He-- "SET ME AS A SEAL UPON
THINE HEART, AS A SEAL UPON THINE ARM: FOR LOVE
[IS] STRONG AS DEATH--"

THAT IS THE HEART CRY OF EVERY POTENTIAL
OVERCOMER.

ONEOFACITY

2010-04-20T16:01:00.000-07:00

ONE OF A CITY

After the ten-tribed Israel had been taken into Assyrian
captivity, the Southern kingdom of Judah fell into the same terri-
bly sinful condition which had caused the captivity of the North-
ern kingdom.

In chiding with Judah, the Lord wrote to the Northern
kingdom some statements which were prophetic-- spoken concern-
ing the people who live today, and are followers of the Lord.

It was a clarion call at that time-- for Israel to repent of her
sins and return to the ways of the Lord. It was also a clarion call
to the Christians of today who have backslidden into the denomi-
national system (with the resultant captivity) which we have today.

Malachi bemoaned the fact that integrity and morals had
deteriorated to the place that evil was called good, and good was
called evil. We find ourselves in the same condition today.
Business men say they can not be honest and prosper. Church and
denominational leaders today say they can not embrace the true
principals of Christianity. To do so would wreck their system.
The "system" has become a form of business-- and a cut-throat
business at that. Little wonder the wrath of the Lord is building to
explosive proportions.

When the "system" is crushed-- many of its leaders will
also be crushed. God is not, however, primarily displeased with
MEN who believe on Him. He is displeased with how men have
become CAPTIVE to that which they have invented-- "to further
the Gospel". It (the system) has become a "Frankenstein" of
sorts, and is a very cruel taskmaster.

Yet, ironically, out of, and in spite of, the mess which the
Christian community finds itself in today, God will perform His
Will and Plan for his Blood-bought people world-wide.

You don't believe He can do it? Think again, friend.
Look at the mess which the Hebrew people were in at the time of
the birth, life, and crucifixion of Jesus. Did that deter the Lord
from the timing and performance of His Plan? NO!!!

The message to ten-tribed Israel was: Jeremiah 3:12-14
Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return,
thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; [and] I will not cause
mine anger to fall upon you: for I [am] merciful, saith the LORD,
[and] I will not keep [anger] for ever. Only acknowledge thine
iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God,
and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green
tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD. Turn,
O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto
you: and I WILL TAKE YOU ONE OF A CITY, AND TWO
OF A FAMILY, AND I WILL BRING YOU TO ZION:

The prophet Ezekiel was given a vision which troubled him
very much. He saw a terrible thing taking place among the lead-
ers of Israel, and it was causing the people to commit a very great
sin. The Lord sent a man with an ink horn among the people-- to
put a mark upon those who "sighed and cried" over the abomina-
tions which were committed. Then, another was commissioned to
go through the nation and slay everyone who did not have the
mark on them. When so many were slain, and Ezekiel was
spared, he cried out to the Lord, "Lord, will you kill EVERY-
ONE?" See Ezek chs. 8 & 9

These two portions of scripture are prophetic, in that they
give us an idea of what and how God is working within the Chris-
tian Community today-- selecting and marking a group of people
who are meeting the demands of a Holy God for THEIR lives in
this day. You and I have no way of knowing who they are, for
we can judge by appearances only. GOD KNOWS THE HEART.

They are NOT PERFECT. No one is. But, their manner
of life-- dictated by their heart condition, is such that God consid-
ers them to be CANDIDATES for the special ANOINTING AND
IMPARTATION OF HIS SPIRIT which will empower them to do
what He has DETERMINED shall be done in the TIME OF THE
HARVEST.

MANY ARE CALLED, BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN.

II Peter 1:10,11 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give dili-
gence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these
things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered
unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ.

YOU AND I CAN BECOME CANDIDATES!

ACOLT

2010-04-11T16:45:00.000-07:00

A COLT, THE FOAL OF AN ASS
When Jesus rode into Jerusalem a few days before His crucifixion, He borrowed a couple of animals, in order to enact a prophesy about the future of the Church. Consider these facts.
The ass is a beast of burden, a work animal. That is why Jesus didn't borrow a horse. Horses are beasts of war. He _IS_ pictured as riding a HORSE when He comes to shake terribly the earth, however. But for the present, He has chosen an ass to be typical of His Church, because it is not yet time to fight and conquer, and destroy completely ALL THE WORKINGS OF SATAN.
The mother ass was disqualified, however, to be ridden by Jesus, for she had been ridden (ruled over) by man before. Our Churches have been ruled over by men for so long that it seems more natural to be subject to man-rule than to be obedient to Jesus alone.
ALL CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS are ruled and governed by man. Each one has their own set of rules by which they are governed. Each has their own doctrines which they propagate.
ALL CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS are licensed by the State, and are, therefore, subject to further rules and regulations. This is NOT to say that ALL of this is bad, necessarily, but it probably DOES DISQUALIFY those people from being eligible to participate in what is yet to be seen.
Consider, however, that the mother ass had a SON (see Smiths Bible Dictionary)( Also Young's Analytical Concordance) upon whom never man had sat. The term used in the Hebrew is "Ben", denoting a MALE colt. In the Greek of the New Testament, the word "Huios" is used, which is used primarily to denote a SON OF FULL MATURITY.
We do not wish to leave the impression that we believe males to be superior to females. We only make the distinction because it makes the incident ring true to Bible Principle. The full-grown Sons of God company will be made up of BOTH MALE AND FEMALE.
This group, the MANCHILD COMPANY of REV. 12, will be cohesive WITHOUT THE NEED OF INCORPORATION AND BY-LAWS. THE SPIRIT OF GOD, ALONE, will be their governing force. They are the great army of the Lord as seen in Joel 2, and nothing shall escape them. Jesus, riding into Jerusalem on the colt, typified His visitation of the Church by means of the Manchild Company, which, in turn, ministers to the "mother" Church in sustaining and nourishing her, as Joseph sustained his brethren in Egypt. See Rev. 12
PLEASE DO NOT GET THE IDEA THAT ALL YOU HAVE TO DO TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS CHOOSING IS TO REMAIN FREE FROM MAN'S ORGANIZATION, for that is NOT THE CASE. You must ALSO BE VERY SUBMISSIVE TO GOD. He cannot use "LONGHORNED CRITTERS". "They shall not break their ranks." "They shall not thrust one another". "A bruised reed shall He not break, and a smoking flax shall He not quench". "The servant of the Lord must not strive."
"Not a striker." "Not a brawler".
A CHANCE OF BEING ELIGIBLE FOR THIS CHOOSING OF GOD IS WORTH ALL IT WOULD COST an individual to attain to it. SALVATION, ALONE, IS NOT ENOUGH. It calls for a HIGH DEGREE OF CHARACTER REFINEMENT, and not very many of us human beings are aware of the need, nor do we possess the desire for it. There will, probably, be plenty of room at the top. Comparatively few will attain to it.
The masses like to be ruled by force. They are also attracted by large numbers. Numbers, in themselves, are not bad. "Running with the herd", however, is not conducive to getting alone with God with a view to personal refinement of Spiritual Character.
We MUST make Jesus our SOLE GOVERNOR if we are to be an overcomer. He will_ NEVER FORCE HIMSELF UPON US.
It is by_ INVITATION ONLY_ that He will do His refining work in our lives.

CANCELLED

2010-04-10T09:32:00.001-07:00

_CANCELLED!_
Cancelled! Paid in full! What wonderful words to hear or see! They make us feel good all over when we have finally struggled to the top of a debt we owed.
_ But if our struggling was to no avail; if we were like the frog in the well, which jumped up two feet and fell back three feet, we realized we were hopelessly trapped. We are all trapped in a body of iniquity. _
_ Paul, in Rom 7, describes our condition, and cries out, "O wretched man that I am, Who shall deliver me from this body of death?"
_ He was referring to a practice in those days of fastening the dead body of a person onto the person who had killed him. He was required to carry that putrefy_ ing "body of death" until he himself died, which would be a comparatively short time.
_ His illustration, which was dictated by the Holy Ghost, was intended to tell us that each one of us is carrying a putrid "body of sin" with us wherever we go.
_ But, thank God, Deliverance _WILL_ come to us, if we hold fast our confidence until the end.
_ _We can have a measure of victory,_ if we have received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost (firstfruits of the Spirit), but full deliverance is withheld until a future time, known only to God Himself.
_ It is all spelled out for us in the Feasts of Israel, especially the Day of Atonement.
_ The Day of Atonement will "happen" shortly before the closing of this particular dispensation in the economy of God.
_ On the Day of Atonement, every seven years, all who had become servants for any reason were allowed to go home, free of their obligations. This is _FORGIVENESS,_ in miniature object lesson.
_ On the Day of Atonement, every fifty years, all debt, both public and private, was cancelled, _AND EVERY MAN'S POSSESSION WAS RETURNED TO HIM, NO MATTER WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO IT IN THE LAST FIFTY YEARS_. _THIS IS RESTORATION_, in miniature object lesson.
_ JESUS _ became our Passover at Passover time_, He became our Pentecost, on the Day of Pentecost,_ He will _BECOME TO US WHAT THE DAY OF ATONEMENT TYPIFIED._ We have very reason to believe that it will happen just as the precedents have happened: _ON THE DAY OF ATONEMENT!_
_ Man, (Adam) "sold" us all into slavery to a fallen nature when he disobeyed God in the garden. We were all born into slavery. We have never known complete liberty, or freedom from the sinful nature.
_ To be sure, we do have a measure of victory over the WORKS of the flesh by the Spirit of God, but the NATURE OF SIN is still present in every one of us.
_ _LET ME EMPHASIZE THAT WE CAN ONLY HAVE FREEDOM
FROM SINFUL ACTS AS WE OBEY THE WORD AND SPIRIT OF GOD. _ _
There is no other way but this way.
_ FORGIVENESS makes this possible, but _EACH OF US DETERMINES THE DEGREE OF LIBERTY WE ATTAIN TO._ IT IS IN _DIRECT PROPORTION TO OUR OBEDIENCE TO THE WORD AND THE SPIRIT. Reading the Bible and prayer in the Spirit are of utmost importance to our obedience to God.
Aside from these, we will get no where in God. The closer we walk to Him, the sweeter He becomes to us.
_ RESTORATION, OR JUBILEE, however, is a different dimension altogether. IT WILL ONLY HAPPEN to those who _"with patience wait for [it]."_ Rom. 8:25 "_To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality--."_ Rom. 2:7
_ RESTORATION means being brought back to the original condition before deterioration took place.
There will be a company of people who experience this transformation. It will be worth all it has cost to attain to it. God will do the choosing. He, alone, knows all hearts.
_ Almost every Christian is anxiously waiting for the "Rapture" to take them out of this world. This "escape" teaching has robbed us of a far more glorious aspect of the Gospel. Every one, almost, wants to "escape" the "Great Tibulation" that is "coming". The "Rapture" teaching ensures this, so we latch on to it like a drowning man grabs for a straw on the water.
_ No one, not even the bravest of us, wants to encounter "boogy man" Antichrist. Again, "Rapture" is the perfect answer.
_ But such is NOT the teachings of the Spirit and the Word. _They BOTH AGREE THAT THE TRUE BELIEVERS WILL OVERTHROW THE FORCES OF HELL BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD! They will STAND ON THE FIELD, VICTORS AFTER ALL FOES
HAVE BEEN VANQUISHED!_
_ _THE CHANGE WHICH TAKES PLACE IN THE TRUE BELIEVER
ON THE DAY OF ATONEMENT WILL MAKE THIS POSSIBLE. THE
MORTGAGE OF THE NATURE OF SIN WILL BE ---
_ PAID IN FULL---------CANCELLED!_
_ _THE NATURE OF SIN WILL BE GONE, COMPLETELY_
_ Let the earth beware of this liberated people. They are the Army of the Lord (Joel 2), and the Sanctified ones, the Mighty Ones (Isa 13). They are the Stone cut out of the Mountain (Dan 2:34, 45)

EASTERTIME

2010-04-09T09:58:00.000-07:00

EASTER TIME 2010
We celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus, our Lord in this month.
The Resurrection is, perhaps, the most outstanding difference between Christianity and any other religion on earth today. We have an empty tomb--they do not.
All other forms of worship have to depend upon the theory of re-incarnation for their hope of future life.
It is not very good, at best, for they are never sure of what they were in former lives, nor what they will be next time. We know, for we shall be like Him.
Psalms 17:15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. David spoke by inspiration of God.
Our Jesus did return from the grave, and from whatever He did, and wherever he went while the body was in the tomb. He was more than conqueror, and has made a way whereby we can share in His Victory over both physical and Spiritual death.
Matthew 27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection....., and appeared unto many.
Jewish people, of course, do not help us celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. They still observe Passover at this time of year. It is a dead, empty ceremony for them as they observe it. By their calendar, it has been 3320 years since the first Passover in Egypt. No wonder it is reduced to mere symbols by now.
If the Jewish calendar is correct, this is year number 5770 since the banishment from Eden. There is room for doubting the validity of their calendar. It does correspond to Biblical history up to the time of Jacob and his family going into Egypt. From there, we lose the ability to trace people by their ages. We do know, however, Israel spent four generations in Egypt.
Whether it was 430 years, or 210 years, as JCAL says, I am personally satisfied with "four generations". I can prove that by the Bible.

MOUNTAIN

2010-03-29T18:34:00.000-07:00

MOUNTAIN
Let me present a few thoughts about the Mountain of the Lord's House. In Daniel 2:35 we read that the stone which smote the image of Nebuchadnezzar in its feet, rolled on until it became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. Later we learn (vs 44) that it represents the Kingdom of God in the earth.
We read elsewhere of this mountain in Mic. 4 and Isa. 2. It says that the Mountain of the Lord's House shall be established in the TOPS OF THE MOUNTAINS, and shall be EXALTED ABOVE THE LITTLE HILLS, and all nations shall flow into it. In other words, the Kingdom of God is the Acme of Spiritual development.
Isa. 11 and 65 tell about the blessed conditions which will exist in this Holy Mountain. "They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My Holy Mountain." (The Mountain of My Holiness)
Psalm 2 tells us (6) that "My Holy Hill is Zion," and that His King sits on it. The margin calls it ZION, THE HILL OF MY HOLINESS. Psa 87-- "The Lord loveth the gates of Zion---glorious things are spoken of thee, O CITY OF GOD."
Psa 48: " Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the City of our God, in the Mountain of His Holiness."
I am afraid there has been a tendency to think about Mount Zion as being a place of Glory and Dominion (which it surely is), but not enough about it being also a Mountain of Holiness. Isa. 35:8 speaks about the highway which leads to Mount Zion (vs 10) and says it shall be called "The Way of Holiness." While the redeemed of the Lord walk this Highway of Holiness, they will have songs and everlasting joy upon their heads. Note the word everlasting. This signifies a joy of Heavenly origin, of the same type which was set
before Jesus to cause Him to endure the Cross, and despise the shame. THERE SEEMS TO BE A TENDENCY these days for us to attempt to create a "pseudo-joy" which can be made compatible with an unclean life. The Psalmist (24) asked who would be permitted to walk this Highway to the Hill of the Lord (vs 3), and received the same answer as was given by Isaiah (35)-- "the unclean shall not pass over it." (vs 8) "If a man therefore purge himself...". "Purge out therefore the old leaven.." "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members instruments of unrighteousness unto sin, but yield yourselves unto God.." "Looking diligently lest any man FAIL of the Grace of God; lest any root of BITTERNESS springing up trouble you, and thereby many be DEFILED; lest there be any fornicator, or profane person." "Follow peace--- and Holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord."

SPIRITSOFJUSTMEN

2010-03-26T15:16:00.000-07:00

SPIRITS OF JUST MEN
I am almost positive that the Church leaders of yester year, and many of today, have been steered off course by the teaching of things which cannot be proven in the light of Scriptures as they stand, unchanged by past traditions and legends.
I submit for your consideration today a Scripture which seems to tell me that God has something more in store for His last-day Church than a fire escape to save them from annihilation.
If His Church is going to be Glorious, it should be brought to that point _before_ it is "Raptured" out of the world.
I wonder sometimes if we haven't overworked the "Rapture" a little bit. Maybe it has been emphasized a little more than it should have been, in view of other scriptures which seem to contradict, or at least detract from its position of priority in our circles.
One such Scripture is Heb. 12:22 _But ye are come_unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the _ general assembly and church of the firstborn,_ which are written in heaven, and to God the
Judge of all, and to the _spirits of just men made perfect,_ And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than [that of] Abel. __
The first thing that stands out to me is that we do not deal with Sinai anymore, but with Sion (Grace in Jesus Christ). We don't need to fret ourselves with an earthly city, __which has served its purpose,__ but we now have the Spirit of God within us, with the promise of
more of the same at the Day of Atonement, before the end of the Age. We __are the City of the Living God__, and have the promise of the Glory of God in the end.
Gal 4:24 _Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and__ is in bondage with her children.__ But Jerusalem __which is above is free,__ which is the mother of us all. _
I hope the phrase_ "Church of the Firstborn"_ means to you what it does to me. Some day, maybe we will be prompted to trace the "firstborn" through the Scripture with you. It is fascinating to watch God carry out His plan.
The burden of this lesson, however, is _"the spirits of just men made perfect."_ To me it speaks that God's plan calls for a few "good men" (and women) to be brought to a state of perfection (completeness) in the economy of God. The purpose of this is to have people who can administer God's "economy" or judgments (ways) in the earth. In some places they are called "Angels".
In other places they are called "reapers". They will be what the Bible calls_ Eunuchs;_ personal ambition will be gone. They will _faithfully administer the things of __God._
Isaiah 26:9 _With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments (Mishphat--manners, or ways--not punishments) [are] in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. _
The problem facing each of us today is that of being what the Bible calls "just". That is our job. God will have no trouble with His part, if we get our part done.
Merely being "saved by Grace" will not cut it. We will have to add the attributes found in 2 Peter 1:5 __"And beside this, giving all diligence, ADD TO YOUR FAITH _virtue;_ and to virtue _knowledge;_ And to knowledge _temperance,_ and to temperance _patience;_ and to patience _Godliness;_ And to godliness _brotherly kindness;_ and to brotherly kindness _charity._ For if these things be in you, and abound, they make [you that ye shall] _neither _[be] barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge_ of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is _blind, and cannot see afar off,_ and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.___
_THIS IS THE PATH OF THE JUST_

TIMES OF WARNING

2009-12-21T19:31:00.000-08:00

TIMES OF WARNING

Several times when The Lord was preparing to send judgment on the human race, He would give a warning so that folks who would listen could change their manner of life, and thus avoid the consequences. I think of a few:

Gen 6:3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be a hundred and twenty years.

This, of course, was a prediction of the flood and of the length of time it would be before Methuselah would die. His name, given to him over 800 years before, had been a prophecy of the coming flood. Now, a definite time is established for the meaning of his name to be fulfilled (“he dies, a going forth”).

Another such prediction was given to Abraham on the plains of Mamre while he conversed with God. It would be nine generations before this one was to be fully realized. BUT IT DID HAPPEN. Just like the Lord said it would, Gen 15:16 But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full. I gather that the Lord was implying to Abraham that it would be fully nine generations before He would feel that He had given the Amorites ample opportunity to change their ways. They didn’t, so He sent the Children of Israel into their land to decimate them. He also wrecked Egypt in the process.

The first Covenant had what I call a “contingent clause” containing two words—“But if”. That one provision spoiled the whole thing, and the Covenant ended up in the scrap heap.

Heb 8:6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
Heb 8:7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
Heb 8:8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
Heb 8:9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
Heb 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
Heb 8:11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
Heb 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

Our sins and failures were laid on Jesus (see Isaiah 53) at Calvary, and when we accept His sacrificial death for ourselves, a process is started which will ultimately bring about our complete Salvation and deliverance.

That is not to imply that we will not encounter obstacles and threats to our total deliverance along the way, but it does ensure total victory if we can maintain Faith in the Integrity of what God has said He will do. Our Salvation no longer depends on what we can do, but on God’s faithfulness to His Word in our behalf.

To be sure, there are many enemies lurking along the pathway of our life, waiting to hurt us or destroy our faith in Jesus, but they can not, (dare not) cross the Faith Line to damage us, much as they might try.

As a matter of fact. God has issued a stern warning to those enemies of His Plan for us in Jesus Christ. We find the record of their demise in the last book of the Bible—The Revelation of Jesus Christ. It is the Book of our Deliverance from our enemies—many of which we do not recognize as being enemies. We have a tendency to be fear-stricken when we think of the downfall of some of our enemies. That is because we fail to see them as enemies instead of friends.

But that condition will change as God continues to build His Church into what He intends for it to be in its finality.

Heb 1:13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?

That statement is used four times in the KJV.

Do you have any ideas about who those enemies are?

THE KINGDOM OF SOLOMON -- THE KINGDOM OF GOD

2009-07-10T19:08:00.000-07:00

THE KINGDOM OF SOLOMON---
THE KINGDOM OF GOD

There are several striking similarities between the historical Kingdom of Solomon and the future Kingdom of God. We would like to look at a few of them.

You will recall that David, the father of Solomon, was the one who wanted to build a House for the Lord. He was forbidden to do so because he had been a man of war—one who had spilled blood. Solomon, his son, would be a man of Peace. (Isa 11:9 Isa 65:25)

We are told that David was, however, allowed to gather materials and draw plans for the Temple that was to be built.

The Kingdom of Solomon was a different kind of kingdom than the other families of the earth had ever known.

No other king had ever asked the Lord for Wisdom to govern such a vast number of people, like Solomon had done. His desire for Wisdom to rule (for the sake of others) took precedence over the desire for riches or fame, like the normal man would have chosen. The desire for personal gain was probably just as strong in the man Solomon as it is in any of us who are alive today, but there was another need which was far greater than anything he might want for himself. He was convinced that the people belonged to the Lord, and he wanted to leave no stone unturned in an effort to ensure that they were governed in the manner chosen by God.

In a similar fashion, the Kingdom of God will consist of people just like you and me who also have their priorities in similar alignment to those of Solomon. They will have consciously asked the Lord for what it takes to be victors over the desires of humanity, and to become willing slaves of the Spirit of God. The Word tells us that “Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie—“.

The “flaming sword” that the Lord put in the Garden of Eden will forbid entry to any and all who have not “crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” Gal 5:24

We cannot stress too vigorously the fact that these statements are NOT meant to keep people from being “saved”, as we use the term today. They are NOT referring to us putting our trust in Jesus to forgive the inherent SIN we were born with. That is all taken care of when we ask Jesus for the Forgiveness HE PROVIDED for us on the Cross of Calvary, and declare (confess) that we believe Him to be the SON OF GOD.

But there are myriads (millions) of people who have trusted Jesus and are Christians in every sense of the word today who DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF GOD, and what would be required to attain to it.

1Ki 3:5 In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
1Ki 3:6 And Solomon said, Thou hast showed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
1Ki 3:7 And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.
1Ki 3:8 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.
1Ki 3:9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

1Ki 3:10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.
1Ki 3:11 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;
1Ki 3:12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.

1Ki 3:13 And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honor: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.
1Ki 3:14 And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.

Why did God do this? I believe it was for the purpose of giving us a “preview” of what the future Kingdom Of God will possibly be like. I see several similarities between the “past” kingdom of Solomon and the “future” or “present” Kingdom Of God.

I think that the primary purpose of God putting His Blessing on the reign of Solomon was to leave us with a testimony of what He is capable of doing in the lives of His Children if they will PUT HIM FIRST IN THEIR LIVES. I do not mean to imply that a Christian will never have difficult times, nor suffer any apparent “losses”, for that is NOT taught in the Bible. We can suffer terrible physical or financial “losses” but still be quite “prosperous” in our Spiritual life. We should put the emphasis on our relationship to God rather than our physical or monetary well-being. God does.

After Solomon had built the Temple, the Lord responded to his prayer of Dedication with a conditional promise. Solomon did not/could not fulfill the conditions, so the promise was never completely fulfilled by the Lord either.

But the failure of the agreement with Solomon could have no negative effect on the Unconditional promise that had been given to Solomon’s father, David. That one is still being fulfilled, to the letter, right before our eyes.

1Ki 9:2 That the LORD appeared to Solomon the second time, as he had appeared unto him at Gibeon.
1Ki 9:3 And the LORD said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there forever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.
1Ki 9:4 And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments:
1Ki 9:5 Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel forever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel.
1Ki 9:6 But if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or your children, and will not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them:
1Ki 9:7 Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people:

It happened just like the Lord warned the king. As long as he put God first in his life and in the kingdom, God caused him to prosper, but time and success took its toll. In time he began to drift from his resolve, and he eventually became one of the world’s worst fools. It proved that the wisdom he displayed at the first was NOT a human wisdom, but one that God had given to him—for the purpose of showing to the world what He could do through a dedicated human being.

1Ki 10:23 So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom.
1Ki 10:24 And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.
1Ki 10:25 And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and armor, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.

1Ki 10:14 Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold,
1Ki 10:15 Beside that he had of the merchantmen, and of the traffic of the spice merchants, and of all the kings of Arabia, and of the governors of the country.

1Ki 4:21 And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river (Euphrates) unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life.

Did Solomon remain true to his faith and dependence upon God? No, of course not, for he allowed honor, fame and riches to turn him from his utter dependence upon God. If he had been successful, men would have started to worship him in place of God, the same as many religions of the world have been centered upon a man, rather than God.

Now, about the future Kingdom of God (Kingdom of Heaven.)

Rev 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
Rev 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, (the Mountain of His Holiness) and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Rev 21:11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
Rev 21:12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
Rev 21:13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. (see the Tabernacle of Moses)
Rev 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Rev 21:15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed (DIVINE MEASURE) to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
Rev 21:16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. (the Holy of Holies of the Tabernacle)
Rev 21:17 And he measured the wall thereof, a hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.
Rev 21:18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. (these are people)
Rev 21:19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones (THESE ARE PEOPLE). The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; (people again)
Rev 21:20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
Rev 21:21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl (these are people): and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. (pearls are produced by discomfort and suffering) (people again)
Rev 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. (see Eph 2:21)
Rev 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
Rev 21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it. (homage, but not membership)
Rev 21:25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
Rev 21:26 And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.
Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it (attain to membership) any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. (do we REALLY understand the New Birth?)

The Kingdom of God (Heaven) is described in several different ways. Many of them, we have relegated to Eternity and Heaven, but that has not always been correct.

It is a phenomenon that will take place right here on earth, but it will NOT be accomplished by the efforts or ingenuity of any segment of humanity. When scripture says it comes down from God out of Heaven, it does not imply that it is actually a physical entity descending from the sky to the earth. It means that it is produced and maintained by the Spirit of God.

It will be a WORK OF THE SPIRIT IN THE HEARTS OF MEN, right here on earth. It will be the fulfillment of the scripture that tells us He will do a “Quick work, and cut it short in righteousness.” (Rom 9:28 Isa 10:22-23)

Isa 35:1 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
Isa 35:2 It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.

Isa 52:11 Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD. (the royal priesthood)
Isa 52:12 For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rearward.

1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

Rev 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings (a Kingdom) and priests (a Priesthood): and we shall reign on the earth.

Exo 19:5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
Exo 19:6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

Isa 11:9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. (every square inch)

Isa 65:25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.

Hab 2:14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

Jesus gave a short synopsis of the traits of character that each member of the Kingdom of God will be expected to possess. It is our responsibility to acquire those traits of character. Yet, there is NO WAY that we can, in our own strength, acquire those traits. We, Like Solomon, must ASK FOR THEM from the Lord.

Ironically, we will discover that we will also be required to give up and denounce some of the traits we got from the human family.

Jesus taught:

Blessed are the poor in Spirit.

Blessed are they that mourn.

Blessed are the meek.

Blessed –hunger and thirst after righteousness

Blessed are the merciful.

Blessed are the pure in heart.

Blessed are the peacemakers.

Blessed are—persecuted.

Blessed—reviled.

It is my belief that the Lord will be looking for these and maybe other qualities of character in the lives of folks who are candidates to be chosen as members of His Earthly Kingdom when the time comes.

I sincerely hope I am able to meet His Holy Standard. It will be ONLY by the enabling Grace of God if I do.

These, and other similar traits, will have to be WHAT GOD PUTS INTO US, rather than any we can acquire or already have. We are entirely inadequate for the job.

You see, THE CITY IS MADE BY GOD. (without hands). Only God can accomplish the Character Refinement in our lives that will make us fit for a place in His Kingdom, “By the spirit of Judgment (prioritizing) and the Spirit of Burning.” Isa 4:4

Solomon’s Temple was built ‘WITHOUT THE SOUND OF A HAMMER”

Solomon’s Worship was “breath-taking”. (1 Ki 10) God’s Glory filled the temple.
Rev 21:23 And the city (people governed by a common law, though maybe not in one place) had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. (This is a SPIRITUAL LIGHT, rather than sunlight or electric light)

I believe this is a description of the Kingdom members. The Spirit of God shines through them, wherever they happen to be—possibly (probably) not all in one place.
Rev 21:26 And they shall bring the glory and honor (tribute) of the (other) nations into it.
Jesus told His disciples:
Joh 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions (abodes): if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, (the Eternal realm) there ye may be also.
At least one other translation (God’s Word) reads:
Joh 14:3 If I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again. Then I will bring you into my presence so that you will be where I am.
That will be ENTIRELY a work of the SPIRIT OF GOD. Humanity is UTTERLY HELPLESS to accomplish the task.

“Unto HIM shall the gathering of the people be” Gen 49:10

Last night, I was sitting here at the computer studying, switching back and forth between my word processor and my Bible program. It was late, and I was getting sleepy, but I was becoming aware of a “light” beginning to glow in the back recesses of my spirit. Fully 54 years ago, an older man in the assembly I was serving had mentioned to me that “Cloud/s” in the prophetic scriptures did NOT mean the white, foggy areas we see in our skies, but, rather, it was a “code name” for some Spiritual Phenomenon (like the word “air” is a “code name” for the realm that is now ruled by Satan).

I went to bed, knowing that if the “light” I was seeing in the distance was really from The Lord, it would still be shining when I again got back to my Bible study in the morning. I am running the scriptures containing the word “cloud/s” (Strong’s #3507) to see if they actually lend themselves to what I thought I was seeing last night at bedtime. So far, a “pattern” seems to be coming to the front, and I may be on the verge of receiving an answer to my 54 year-old question, “What do Clouds mean? What do they represent in the Economy of God?”
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
(There are other “code names” in the scriptures, such as “Earth”, “Sea”, “Bottomless Pit”, “Voice of the Archangel”, “Shout”, “Trump of God”, etc). Do you have any ideas what they may mean? Help me, if you can.

YE HAVE HEARD

2009-01-19T15:59:00.000-08:00

YE HAVE HEARD

Mat 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
Mat 5:22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
Mat 5:23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee;
Mat 5:24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

When Jesus was delivering the Sermon On The Mount, He described a condition that existed in the Congregation of The Saints. That same condition is present with us today, in any Congregation we should want to examine. Oftentimes we find rank disunity in the midst of the Church. Families and individuals often sit apart from others because of some emotional rift that has come between them and others.

The sad part of this is that WE JUSTIFY OURSELVES in the ill will, and often, what is worse, we tell our grievances to others, and soon the group is “polarized” in division. GOD WILL NOT HONOR SUCH A CONDITION. There can be no Spiritual Growth.

All the while, we keep up a pretense (yes, I said PRETENSE) of Spirituality. It is only a SHOW for the sake of others looking on.

Anger and ill will, in all of its forms and degrees, is insipient MURDER.

Only the Spirit of God can bring about a deliverance from the latent Ill Will that is in each of our lives. BUT HE CAN DE.LIVER US, AND HE WILL, IF WE ASK HIM TO.

John the Baptist was sent of God to declare the need for Repentance (a turning around), because the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. He said:

Mat 3:10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

The root-cause of our problems is in our hearts. It is there, in the heart, that Jesus is planning to deal with the problems we create.

Luk 6:43 For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Luk 6:44 For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.

We are living in the time of, and we have access to, the promise foretold by Jeremiah.

Jer 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I WILL PUT MY LAW IN THEIR INWARD PARTS, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Jer 31:34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Trouble is: We lack the DESIRE for this to happen. We rather like the feeling of “having been wronged” by someone else. We humans, ALL OF US, are Divisive by nature. “Feeding” that nature is more pleasant than asking God for deliverance from it.
We DO HAVE a choice, you know.

Jam 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Jam 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, WHEN IT IS FINISHED, BRINGETH FORTH DEATH.

THE SPIRITS OF JUST MEN

2008-12-20T09:00:00.000-08:00

THE SPIRITS OF JUST MEN MADE PERFECT

Have you ever noticed how the Holy Ghost often sandwiches precious truths right into the middle of a seemingly unrelated discourse? Such is the case in Hebrews, chapter 12.

He is giving Pastoral instructions-- urging folks to take heed to their lives, and to avoid sins. Then:

Hebrews12:18-24 For ye are NOT come unto the mount that might be TOUCHED, (THE law of Moses) and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which [voice] they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: (For they COULD NOT ENDURE that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: And SO TERRIBLE was the sight, [that] Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) BUT ye ARE come unto MOUNT SION, (The City Foursquare, A PERFECT CUBE,THE MOST HOLY PLACE) AND UNTO THE CITY OF THE LIVING GOD, THE HEAVENLY JERUSALEM, (not TOUCHABLE, NOT BUILT WITH HANDS, WITH ITS FOUNDATION IN HEAVEN) and to an innumerable company of angels, To the GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND CHURCH OF THE FIRSTBORN, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, AND TO THE SPIRITS OF JUST MEN MADE PERFECT (MEN WHO HAVE LOOKED FOR HIM BY FOLLOWING HARD AFTER THE WORD AND SPIRIT),And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than [that of] Abel.

This scripture tells us WHERE WE ARE in the economy of God.

Not ONLY have we come to the NEW JERUSALEM and MOUNT SION, we have come to the time of THE SPIRITS OF JUST MEN MADE PERFECT.

Almost every time I have mentioned this, I am confronted with retorts such as, That is not what God is doing now.

I beg to differ. I choose to believe what the Holy Ghost said through the writer of Hebrews. WE ARE COME.

But my critics reply, Anyone can see that those conditions do not yet exist. And, I have to agree-- WE DON'T SEE THEM YET.

But, when I was teaching this at Emmanuel Assembly during the 50's and 60's, I used an homely illustration to explain what I knew to be true. I had been doing interior decorating prior to that time.

When our crew went into a home to paper a room, the FIRST thing we did was to throw a drop sheet on the floor and over the furniture. If someone were to have come along and asked us what we were doing, we would have said, We are papering this room.

Obviously, we only had a drop sheet on the floor. Later, it would have also been obvious that we were only sanding down the seams of the previous coats of paper. Still later, it would have been obvious that we were only painting the woodwork.

These activities were each a PART of the WHOLE JOB, and must be done in their proper times for the job to be satisfactory and complete.

But, IN EACH SEGMENT OF THE WORK, WE WERE PAPERING THE ROOM.

GOD IS NOW SELECTING AND BUILDING A BODY OF SONS WHOM HE WILL SHOW, BOTH TO SPIRITS AND MORTALS.

I CAN NOT TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT STAGE OF THE WORK IS TAKING PLACE RIGHT NOW, BUT IT IS ALL A PART OF THE JOB.

These SONS OF GOD will have a work to do in the earth, which can not be accomplished in any other way, nor by any other people.

I am confident they are described in scripture as being the angel which has achain, and binds satan. (They cut off his influence in the earth, and replace it with the influence of the Spirit that has birthed them from the midst of the church as we know it today.) (See Rev12)

Satan operates in the realm that is called AIR in the scripture. He is called the PRINCE of the POWER of the AIR. He will be bound and cast out of that realm. The OVERCOMERS will be caught up into that realm (AIR), and spread the INFLUENCE OF GOD (Holiness, peace, love, etc.) around the globe, IN THE SAME MANNER THAT EVIL (hatred, warfare, deceit, etc.) is being spread today

BLESSED--REVILED

2008-11-22T10:19:00.000-08:00

BLESSED---REVILE

Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you (give you a bad name), and persecute you (are cruel to you), and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely (tell lies about you), for my sake.

One quick question I need to ask myself, “Am I living in such a way that my life and demeanor are enough of a contrast to my neighbor as to cause him to hate me because of my better lifestyle?” “Do I have enough of the Spirit of God in me as to annoy and anger him just by being in my presence?”

We are still writing about the Traits of Character that Jesus will be looking for when He “Makes up His Jewels” for membership in the KINGDOM (Royalty) OF GOD here on the earth.

Our Ministers have, to a great extent, shied away from teaching and preaching about the Kingdom, probably due to a lack of understanding it as much as they would like to. Many have relegated the Kingdom as being equal to Heaven and Eternity, but, according to my understanding, this is a mistaken view.

Fact is, we have so very little teaching (in the Bible) about what, where, when Heaven will take place, that most of our learning about the subject is still “on the back burner.” It is just as well to have been left there, for we don’t seem to have a much better “grip” on the subject than the early Disciples had. They perceived of it as a POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC system when they asked Jesus about it, according to the Gospels. Most Christians today have the same general idea about the matter, though an increasing number of readers are catching a glimpse of the fact that it will actually materialize RIGHT HERE ON THE EARTH, before what is known as Eternity or Heaven begins.
Jesus did VERY LITTLE teaching about when and where Heaven would be. Most of what He taught was concerning the KINGDOM OF GOD.

Men have tried to interpret with their human, natural minds, what He said in the SPIRIT. It didn’t work then—it won’t work now. We are IN that proverbial “Swamp” of (mis)understanding. We need someone to come along with a Rhema from God to set us on the right path to a proper understanding and interpretation, similar to Elihu with Job and his “friends”.

Job 32:7 I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.
Job 32:8 But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration (breath) of the Almighty giveth them understanding (ability to sort out).
Job 32:9 Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.
Job 32:10 Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will show mine opinion.

Only the Spirit of God can enable us to properly “sort out” the teachings of Jesus. The “ink on the paper” is not sufficient for the task. Neither is it sufficient for guiding us in our daily life. WE NEED THE RHEMA OF GOD.

When we listen for, and pay heed to, the Rhema of God, changes begin to take place in our life that set us apart from other folks—even other Christians. A “division” in lifestyle soon begins to become manifest in our daily routine that will become a rebuke to those around us who are more careless about their relationship to Jesus. “Attitudes” begin to raise their ugly heads, and we are “in trouble”.

1Pe 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
1Pe 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
1Pe 4:14 IF YE BE REPROACHED FOR THE NAME OF CHRIST, HAPPY ARE YE; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

“He drew a circle that cut me out—
Heretic, Renegade, a thing to flout--
But Love and I had a wit to win---
We drew a circle that cut him in”.

WHO IS THAT GOD?

The king of ancient Babylon "talked when he should have been listening" one day, to the three Hebrew children. While we have to admit that he was not much different than a lot of us folks living today, we should realize that it is wise to know whom we are talking about when we boast ourselves in what we believe we are able to do. If it is another mere man, we might get away with our boastings, but if our vaunting ourselves involves the God of the universe, we may get more than we have bargained for. Listen:

Daniel 3:15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; [well]: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; AND WHO [IS] THAT GOD THAT SHALL DELIVER YOU OUT OF MY HANDS?

A wicked queen said a bit too much one day, and the Lord took note of it.

I Kings 19:2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do [to me], and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.

Dogs licked up her blood at about the time she had threatened the Prophet of God. It is risky business.

The king of Assyria sent a message to King Hezekiah one day to tell him that his God would fall before the Assyrian armies the same as the other gods of the country had fallen.

II Kings 18:34 Where [are] the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? where [are] the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? have they delivered Samaria out of mine hand? Who [are] they among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered their country out of mine hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of mine hand?

Good question, but not a wise one. Isaiah, the Prophet of God sent a message to King Hezekiah, telling him: II Kings 19:21,22 This [is] the word that the LORD hath spoken concerning him; The virgin the daughter of Zion hath despised thee, [and] laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee. Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted [thy] voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? [even] against the Holy [One] of Israel.

II Kings 19:27 But I know thy abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy rage against me. Because thy rage against me and thy tumult is come up into mine ears, therefore I will put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest.

The arrogance of the Assyrian king brought forth a speedy and very severe penalty. It is very foolish to defy our God.

II Kings 19:35 And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they [were] all dead corpses.

Of course, we don't have anybody who dares to defy our God these days. Right? WRONG.
Such an attitude on the part of mankind is perhaps a bit more subtle and polite than it was in days of yore, but it is still present, none the less.

And, although the longsuffering of the Lord is more pronounced than before, the penalties are similar to those experienced in historical times.

Matthew 21:44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will GRIND HIM TO POWDER.

OUR GOD WILL DO WHAT HE CHOOSES TO DO, and "all the king's horses, and all the king's men" will not be able to stop, or even retard Him in His plan.

Are there agencies of Government that are opposing our God? Are the governments of the world, any of them, defying our God? Are there any segments of society that are aligning themselves against the knowledge of God? You know the answer.

But, DON'T WORRY ABOUT THEM!!! YOU CAN'T STOP THEM. BUT GOD INTENDS TO-- in His own time, and in His own way.

Psalms 37:9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

We will be wise to fix our attention on God, rather than what our enemies are trying to do to the cause of Christ. Our help will come from Him. Our defense is in Him.

He created the Universe-- not those who oppose Him. He has declared the decree, not His enemies.

His enemies will be made a footstool for Jesus Christ. It will be accomplished by the Hand of God.

Let's look at Him. Let's trust in Him.

YE ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

2008-11-08T10:45:00.000-08:00

YE ARE---LIGHT

Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.

We must keep in mind that Jesus was giving a brief description of the KINGDOM OF GOD when He preached the Sermon On The Mount. He was NOT uttering platitudes and high-sounding phrases. He was describing the ULTIMATE INTENT OF GOD for the Church that He was starting. NEITHER WAS HE TALKING ABOUT MAKING HEAVEN OUR ETERNAL HOME—SALVATION. The subject was THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

Comparatively few Christians believe that God is able to do what He has said He will do. We have been so programmed for failure that we can not comprehend the magnitude of what He is intending to do. We have been told so many times that the final outcome depends on what WE do, that we cannot believe that HE will get the job done by Himself.

Sometimes it nearly staggers our imagination to even THINK about what the Kingdom of God will be like. This much we know: IT WILL NOT BE A POLITICAL SETUP SUCH AS WE KNOW NOW. The Statute books will all be blank pages. The Police blotters will be blanks—in fact there will not be any policemen, no Mayors nor City Councilmen. All penal institutions will be non-existent, and no court sessions will be conducted. What money we have will be as safe in the kitchen cupboard as if it were in the First National Bank. We can throw away the house keys, the ignition keys and door locks to our automobiles. Our women can walk the streets at night without fear or danger. Sickness and disease as we know it today will have vanished from among God’s People. Hospitals and institutions will be empty and abandoned. Health workers will be idle.

We are NOT writing about HEAVEN! THIS WILL BE TAKING PLACE RIGHT HERE ON EARTH.

Isa 11:5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
Isa 11:6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
Isa 11:7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
Isa 11:8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice's den.
Isa 11:9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: FOR THE EARTH SHALL BE FULL OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD, AS THE WATERS COVER THE SEA. (every square inch)
Isa 11:10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
Isa 11:11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.
Isa 11:12 And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.
Isa 11:13 The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.
Isa 11:14 But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them.
Isa 11:15 And the LORD shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dry-shod.
Isa 11:16 And there shall be a highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.

Jer 16:14 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be said, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;
Jer 16:15 But, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers. (This is describing the LAND OF THE SPIRIT, rather than a geographical location—the CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST, if you will.) “Unto HIM shall the gathering of the people be.” Isa 49:10

Let me hasten to say right here that the Church of today will have undergone a thorough overhaul by this time described in the Bible. The denominational system will have been completely demolished (by God’s own Spirit), and the people will be held together by that same Spirit. No other binding force will be needed.

Jer 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
Jer 31:32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they broke, although I was a husband unto them, saith the LORD:
Jer 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I WILL PUT MY LAW IN THEIR INWARD PARTS, AND WRITE IT IN THEIR HEARTS; AND WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
Jer 31:34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: FOR I WILL FORGIVE THEIR INIQUITY, AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SIN NO MORE.
Jer 31:35 Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name:
Jer 31:36 If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me forever.
Jer 31:37 Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD.

We must never forget that God caused Jeremiah to foretell the destiny of the Northern ten tribes of Israel in chapter 18. THEY WERE TO BE RE-MADE INTO ANOTHER VESSEL THAN THEY HAD FORMERLY BEEN when they failed God so miserably. They would hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and believe that He is the SON OF GOD. They would then begin to proclaim (as the Church) the Gospel around the world, and be the instrument through which God would do what He needed to do to bring about a world-wide reaping of the vast multitudes of humanity. (Three Major Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel) tell the story, though it sounds like they might be describing something else while they were writing). God will make up His Royalty (Kingdom) from among these people (whom we now know as the Church. NEVER FORGET THAT IT WILL BE ENTIRELY A WORK OF THE SPIRIT, RATHER THAN THE LABORS OF MANKIND.

How many times have we (you and I) miserably failed God? It doesn’t matter. He intends to forgive and forget them all, when we ask Him to. We can stand before Him—JUSTIFIED (declared innocent, absolved of all guilt--acquitted).

Rom 9:28 For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. (COMPLETELY AND DECISIVELY)--GW

We reach into the sixth century BEFORE Jesus was born for a clue to the identity of the person who is scheduled (yes, I said “Scheduled”) to “Build the Temple” that we have heard so much about the last few years. Listen to the Prophet:

Zec 6:12 And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD:
Zec 6:13 Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.

Here is a “strange” (to quote Paul Harvey). Listen to John the Revelator: Rev 21:22 And I SAW NO TEMPLE THEREIN: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
Rev 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
Rev 21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it.
Rev 21:25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.

Rev 3:12 HIM THAT OVERCOMETH WILL I MAKE A PILLAR IN THE TEMPLE OF MY GOD, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is NEW JERUSALEM, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name

The disciples of Jesus were as helpless to understand the things Jesus taught them as we are-- until Jesus, BY AN OPERATION OF THE SPIRIT, performed a miracle on their minds. One of the last things Jesus did before ascending to Heaven is recorded in Luke 24:45 Then opened he their understanding, (minds) that they might understand (sort out and put together) the scriptures, (a simpler translation, based on Strong's Conc.)

Try as they might, the disciples had not been able to comprehend the scriptures nor the words of Jesus, because they did not have access to, nor see the need of, the operation of the Holy Ghost. Jesus told Peter (Mk 8:33) "Thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men." (That is our problem today also).
So Jesus gave them a "Preview of Pentecost" with a Spiritual Illumination of the scriptures.
Spiritual understanding does not come from education. We educate fools, and produce educated fools, whom we send to the Pulpits or to Congress, with varying degrees of disaster.
Nor does understanding spring from human ingenuity or cleverness. In fact, human intelligence is at a total loss to comprehend Spiritual Truths. Mk 8:21 "How is it that ye do not understand?"
I Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned. Mk 9:32 "but they understood not--"
It is only as we humble ourselves in obedience to the Gospel (accepting the Salvation which is offered us through the Blood of Jesus) that we can have access to Spiritual Understanding which reveals the Truth to us.
Hebrews 11:3 THROUGH FAITH WE UNDERSTAND--
Psalms 25:14 The SECRET OF THE LORD [is] with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.

Part of the problem with Job and his friends was that THEY WERE SPEAKING WITHOUT THE INSPIRATION OF THE ALMIGHTY. Instead of solving problems, it created a bunch more.
Job 32:8 But [there is] a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.
Jesus told His disciples that the Holy Ghost would be their instructor in Spiritual things.
John 14:26 But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you
.
There is a COMMUNION, an EDIFICATION, an INSPIRATION, in speaking in the unknown tongue which CAN NOT BE RECEIVED in ANY OTHER WAY. Our spirit is made aware of things which our mind can not teach it, for the mind can not know them. When we pray in the unknown tongue, OUR SPIRIT is IN COMMUNION with the SPIRIT WHICH SPOKE THE WORLDS INTO EXISTENCE, and KNOWS EVERYTHING. OUR SPIRITS ARE TAUGHT BY HIS SPIRIT.

I Corinthians 14:2 For he that speaketh in an [unknown] tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth [him]; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

If we commune with God in the unknown tongue, we soon discover that we KNOW things which we didn't learn. Our Spirit has been taught things which our mind cannot comprehend. We do things without knowing WHY we do them. The prompting of the Spirit.

Job 33:16 Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction,

The Apostle Paul became excited while writing to the Romans about the plan of Salvation. He exclaimed:
Romans 11:33 O THE DEPTH OF THE RICHES BOTH OF THE WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE OF GOD! how unsearchable [are] his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

In Collosians he again referred to the Wisdom and Knowledge of God: Colossians 2:3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

In Ephesians, he again mentions the magnitude of the message of Jesus Christ, and His Salvation. Ephesians 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

David had a little "Glory Spell" also as we read: Psalms 40:5 Many, O LORD my God, [are] thy wonderful works [which] thou hast done, and thy thoughts [which are] to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: [if] I would declare and speak [of them], they are more than can be numbered.

Again in Psalms 104:24 O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.

Listen to Job: 5:9 Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number:

Wisdom speaks. Proverbs 8:12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
Proverbs 8:14 Counsel [is] mine, and sound wisdom: I [am] understanding; I have strength.

The Prophet says. Isaiah 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times [the things] that are not [yet] done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

The Apostle declares. I Corinthians 1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

2Co 4:6 FOR GOD, WHO COMMANDED THE LIGHT TO SHINE OUT OF DARKNESS, HATH SHINED IN OUR HEARTS, TO GIVE THE LIGHT OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE GLORY OF GOD IN THE FACE OF JESUS CHRIST.

A “City” (The New Jerusalem, the Kingdom of God, the “Paradise of God”) that is set on a hill (The Hill of His Holiness, My Holy Hill) cannot be hidden. (Mat 5:14)

Rev 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
Rev 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
Rev 21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it.
Rev 21:25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
Rev 21:26 And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.
Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

YE ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH

2008-11-07T15:27:00.000-08:00

YE ARE---SALT

Mat 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

Salt was used for flavoring food, and for preserving food.

When used in right proportions for flavoring, it is taken for granted, but most of us know what happens when it is left out of the gravy. Ugh!

I know very little about salt as a preservative, but that is not a crucial point right now. What IS IMPORTANT is that Jesus likened the lives of certain humans to the combination of elements that make up what is known as salt.

Our manner of life is IMPORTANT to the KINGDOM OF GOD on the earth. It is, perhaps, the MOST COMPELLING reason for us to endeavor to live according to the Plan of God for our life while here on earth.

Salvation, being a GIFT, does not require as much attention to our manner of life as does a place in the KINGDOM OF GOD. It doesn’t take a great amount of effort to maintain a “run-of-the-mill” type of Christian life. Following the crowd will usually suffice very well. When the crowd moves to a new fad or a new location—simply follow them. “Go with the flow”, as the saying goes. Staying in the “popularity circuit”, and moving with the “majority crowd” is gratifying to the flesh, and sometimes exciting. It is also somewhat un-productive, Spiritually.

Striving for KINGDOM STATURE, on the other hand has a far-reaching effect—both on us, and on those around us. It requires more strict attention to the things that are important to God and His Word. God has placed a very high value on motives and desires of the heart, whereas humans place more value on behavior that is acceptable in our Christian Society.

Close scrutiny will reveal that MOST of the New Testament—especially the Epistles of Paul and the others,-- consist primarily of INSTRUCTIONS IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, without which there is absolutely no hope of ever seeing the KINGDOM. Millions of “saved” people will never see the KINGDOM OF GOD.

Luk 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

Mat 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

1Pe 3:9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
1Pe 3:10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
1Pe 3:11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
1Pe 3:12 FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE OVER THE RIGHTEOUS, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

Kingdom Living will have a profound effect upon the rest of the world, and especially the community in which we are living. When we obey the Word and the Spirit of God, an influence is released into the area surrounding us, and conditions are created that we probably know nothing about at the time. BUT GOD KNOWS, and He is greatly pleased. Our Obedience creates an atmosphere in which the Spirit of God can work in the lives of those around us. Thus, a “flavor” is created in the community that is scarcely noticed by the majority of the people who are affected by it.

The BEST way that we can “help” others is to obey God ourselves.

BLESSED--PERSECUTED

2008-10-23T16:57:00.000-07:00

BLESSED--- PERSECUTED

Mat 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. (emphasis added)

We are continuing our studies in the Beatitudes of Jesus. They are an outline of the Attributes of Character that He will look upon favorably when He “Makes Up His Jewels” for entry into the KINGDOM (Royalty) of God.

We find many references in the Bible that testify to the fact of the irreconcilable hatred (enmity) of the carnal mind against the Will of God. It is a SPIRIT that pits neighbor against neighbor, brother against brother, etc.. We were each born with the Fleshly Mind, but some of us have invited the Mind of Christ into our lives, with the resultant open warfare—both in our own life (which can become rather severe at times) as well as in the community. This ill will intensifies as we continue our efforts to become more like Jesus in our demeanor.

2Ti 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Act 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

Act 9:16 For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

Phi 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

Little wonder, then, that Jesus gave the instruction, “Strive to enter in—for many will not be able to do it.” See Luke 13:24

We can not emphasize too often that the Kingdom of God will probably NOT be a political/economic Kingdom such as many of us have visualized from the past understanding and teaching of our instructors.

Luk 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: (ocular evidence)
Luk 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom (Royalty) of God is within (inside of) you.

Yesterday, at lunch time, I had a conversation with a man of French ancestry that we call “Chuck”. I can not even pronounce his last name, let alone try to spell it. He told me about some of his forebears who had lived in the late 1500’s, about the massacre of St. Bartholomew’s Day (Aug 24, 1572), and the Edict of Nantes, and about the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes. I may not have all of the details correct, but I’ll give you some of the highlights. The Massacre was only the beginning of what would go on for many, many years, but in this one incident there were soldiers and Ministers (Priests) of the dominant Church who attacked a gathering of Christians (Protestants) whom they had lured into a religious convocation of Good Will. They killed an estimated 100,000 Protestants at that time, and their blood ran like little rivers into the natural rivers, killing fish and other creatures and contaminating the rivers so much that the fish could not be eaten from them for many months. The remaining Protestants (who were the Master Craftsmen of France) scattered to other countries or went into hiding and practiced their religion in secret. The economy of France was devastated, and the nation was plunged into depression. On April 13, 1598 the Edict of Nantes was issued, granting Freedom of Worship to the Calvinists (Huguenots) in a country that was predominantly Catholic, in an effort to attract skilled workmen back to France. It worked, and in time France became a prosperous nation again. The Edict, however, cost the King his life—he was stabbed to death by a Jesuit Priest who disliked the idea of religious freedom for the Huguenots.

The Edict of Nantes was revoked in 1685, and the Church-sponsored persecution was vigorously resumed, forcing many into other countries or into hiding again. During that period, the Geneva Bible was published by John Calvin who was in exile in Geneva, Switzerland. (1595)

England was also having “religious convulsions” at the same time (1500’s). King Henry V111 wanted to divorce his wife, who had not been able to produce a male heir for him, and marry another woman who possibly could. The Pope said, “No Way”. Henry replied, “You go fly a kite. I’ll make my own Church—with all the trimmin’s.” He did, and the Church of England was born, and Henry got a new wife with the blessing of the Archbishop of Canterbury. (who was later burned at the stake by Queen MaryI) Mary did not look with favor on England being protestant, and started a “cleansing of the Faith”. In less than six years she burned over 300 of the most prominent people, including the Archbishop, at the stake for not recanting their Protestant views. (An average of one burning a week). Her subjects referred to her as “Bloody Mary”. England actually rejoiced when she lay in her coffin.

“WHAT GOES AROUND, COMES AROUND.”

In 1590 a book was published by a couple of Jesuit priests who had been commissioned by the Pope to “get the heat off the Catholic Church”. (The Reformers had all been calling the Papal System the Antichrist) In their book, they re-wrote the curriculum of Prophetic teachings. They “sold” their new doctrine to the Archbishop of Canterbury (Henry’s official Church of England). We have been “looking for” the “appearance” of the Antichrist, in the last seven years of the world, since that time.

If you “see” him, be sure to alert me.

I have no fears that any of you can produce “him”. In my lifetime there have been many “men” who have been suspected or accused of being “him”, but they have, mostly, all died without “producing the goods” that “he” is supposed to produce when “he” appears. In 1932 Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected to be President of the United States. We were in a deep Depression, and his NRA (National Recovery Act), CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) and other ingredients of the dubbed “Alphabetical Soup” he was initiating, caused many to look at him as the “one who comes in with flattery, but turns on his subjects and tries to destroy them”. Many of my relatives could maneuver the Scriptures into such a position as to “prove” that “he was him”. Before FDR was dead, he was replaced by Benito Mussolini, who, in turn, was replaced by Adolf Hitler Somewhere along the line, the EEC (European Common Market) would become the Revived Roman Empire consisting of 10 Nations (the Roman Dragon). That one is dying a slow death, but in its “heyday” it “drew a lot of water”. Poor old Henry Kissinger commanded some “suspicion” himself at one juncture.

The “Persecution” that Jesus was talking to His Disciples about is much, much more than having our feelings hurt by someone else. It is much more than thinking that someone doesn’t like us or is “out to get us”.

Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run (agon) with patience the race (agon) that is set (by the Lord) before us,
Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Heb 12:3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Heb 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

Jesus was talking about a DETERMINATION in the heart of each believer that “come hail or high water” we will remain faithful to the One who paid the price of our Redemption. We will NOT turn our back on Him who loved us enough to give His Life for us, no matter what others may say, do, or think of us.

Jesus will be looking for that kind of dedication when He “makes up His Jewels” on that Day—the Day of Jesus Christ. (The Day of the Kingdom)

Rev 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
Rev 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
Rev 6:11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

Rev 17:6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

David furnishes us with a very good example of one who was persecuted. We should read some of the Psalms in which he complains TO GOD ONLY about what is happening to him.

Psa 7:15 He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.
Psa 7:16 His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.
Psa 7:17 I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.

Psa 10:2 The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.

Psa 31:15 My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.

Psa 35:1 A Psalm of David. Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.
Psa 35:2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.
Psa 35:3 Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.
Psa 35:4 Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.
Psa 35:5 Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them.
Psa 35:6 Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.
Psa 35:7 For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.
Psa 35:8 Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.
Psa 35:9 And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.
Psa 35:10 All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?
Psa 35:11 False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.
Psa 35:12 They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.
Psa 35:13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.
Psa 35:14 I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.
Psa 35:15 But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not:
Psa 35:16 With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.
Psa 35:17 Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.
Psa 35:18 I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.
Psa 35:19 Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.
Psa 35:20 For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.
Psa 35:21 Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.
Psa 35:22 This thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.
Psa 35:23 Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.
Psa 35:24 Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.
Psa 35:25 Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up.
Psa 35:26 Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonor that magnify themselves against me.
Psa 35:27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favor my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
Psa 35:28 And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.

If you are ever tempted to question whether the Lord hears and sees when others indulge in persecution of the righteous, it is good to remember some things that Jesus spoke and did in response to how the Jews rejected Him and His Workers. He will do the same for us when we cry to Him in our times of persecution and distress caused by our adversaries—IF we keep our eyes on Him and our attitude correct. Our attitude can be a BIG problem.

Rom 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
Rom 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another;
Rom 12:11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
Rom 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
Rom 12:13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
Rom 12:14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
Rom 12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Rom 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
Rom 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
Rom 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

Mat 23:34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
Mat 23:35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zechariah son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
Mat 23:36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.
Mat 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
Mat 23:38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
Mat 23:39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Jeremiah gives us another very good example of what REAL persecution is all about.

Jer 17:18 Let them be confounded that persecute me, but let not me be confounded: let them be dismayed, but let not me be dismayed: bring upon them the day of evil, and destroy them with double destruction.

What is our goal as candidates for KINGDOM STATURE? Should we make a demonstration to demand our rights as citizens? Should we file for “minority status”?

Luk 21:12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.
Luk 21:13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.

BLESSED---RIGHTEOUSNESS

2008-10-20T07:31:00.000-07:00

BLESSED--- RIGHTEOUSNESS

Mat 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

We are continuing our pursuit of the meaning of ATTAINING TO KINGDOM STATURE.

In this segment we will explore what we have referred to as ACQUIRED RIGHTEOUSNESS, which we need to desire and seek for, after the Righteousness of Jesus has been IMPUTED to us at Calvary. Imputed righteousness will assure us a place in Heaven, but it will NOT guarantee us entrance into the Kingdom of God.

You see, Jesus came to earth to SEEK and to SAVE that which was lost. (Luke 19:10). All of humanity was lost in their sinful condition. Any human being can be saved by simply acknowledging Jesus to be the Son of God and accepting the forgiveness that He has offered to us.

We feel that right here is a good time to remind ourselves of what John 1:12 says. Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power (privilege, authority) to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (emphasis added)

As I have previously pointed out, a great gulf exists between having our sins (nature of sin—rebellion) forgiven, and having been really born again of the Spirit of God. We are forgiven in an instant, but the NEW BIRTH is a process of refinement of character and learning the Nature of God and the WAYS of GOD as the Holy Ghost teaches us.

Mat 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Mat 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and LEARN OF ME; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Mat 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Emphasis added)

1Jo 2:29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

1Jo 3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

Nothing that is degrading or harmful to others will ever gain entrance to citizenship in the Society of the Kingdom.

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick (alive), and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

I did, before my pacemaker was implanted, go through the airport scanners before a flight. They would detect anything they were designed to find—with unerring accuracy. GOD’S WORD will provide us with the same type of protection from “ourselves”. The Law of God in our hearts will protect us from others and protect others from what may be luring within us.

Jer 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; (if they seek for it) and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Jer 31:34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Luk 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait (difficult, confining) gate (hunger and thirst after righteousness) for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
Luk 13:25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: (I can not see My Own Likeness in you. I still see your self-life)
Luk 13:26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. (Attendance awards)
Luk 13:27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. (you did as you pleased—you did not desire character refinement)
Luk 13:28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. (sins forgiven, but could not enter the Kingdom of God)
Luk 13:29 And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, (all over the world) and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.

1Co 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
1Co 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
1Co 9:26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
1Co 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. (unfit for service)

1Pe 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
1Pe 3:9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
1Pe 3:10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
1Pe 3:11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
1Pe 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
1Pe 3:13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
1Pe 3:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

When I was a young man I tended to worry about some of these things—fearing that I might lose my Salvation if they were still a part of my makeup. I feel that many today are laboring under the same wrong impression about their relationship to God. While I realize that a person would be capable of “backsliding” and annulling the Forgiveness of God, John Dearing told us in 1939 that it would be much harder to do than many are teaching today. You would want to “bring your lunch”, because God will put every obstacle He can in your way to keep you from turning away from Him. It would take a strong, deliberate intent on your part to get the job done. He has a tremendous investment in you and me.

But it is not so when we consider an entrance into KINGDOM STATUS, or being “fit for the Kingdom” (see Luke 9:62) There is where we run into the “flaming sword” that guards the “Paradise of God” as the Kingdom is described.

1Jo 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

Heb 1:8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom.

Mat 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Mat 6:33 But seek ye FIRST the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Mat 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Act 10:35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

2Ti 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Heb 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

2Pe 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL

2008-10-19T15:04:00.000-07:00

BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL

Mat 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Gal 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

WHO ART THOU THAT JUDGEST?
(log of the Good Ship Grace)

Don't find fault with the man who limps
Or stumbles along the road
Unless you have worn the shoes he wears
Or struggled beneath his load
There may be tacks in his shoes that hurt
Though hidden away from view
The burden he bears, placed on your back
Might cause you to stumble too.

Don't sneer at the man who's down today
Unless you have felt the blow
That caused him to fall, or felt the shame
That only the fallen know
You may be strong, but still the blows
That were his, if dealt to you
In the selfsame way, at the selfsame time
Might cause you to stagger too.

Don’t be too harsh with the man who sins,
Or pelt him with words or stone,
Unless you are sure—yes doubly sure
That you have no sins of your own.
For you know, perhaps, if Satan’s voice
Should whisper as softly to you
As it did to him, when he went astray
It might cause you to falter too.
--the log

Mat 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
Mat 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
Mat 7:3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Mat 7:4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
Mat 7:5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

A reminder is in order here that we are NOT writing about SALVATION. Our subject is the KINGDOM OF GOD. THEY ARE NOT THE SAME SUBJECT.

SALVATION is obtained and maintained by FAITH in the integrity of Jesus Christ. But to gain entrance into KINGDOM STATURE requires much more.

2Pe 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, ADD TO YOUR FAITH virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
2Pe 1:6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
2Pe 1:7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
2Pe 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge (epignosis) of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2Pe 1:9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off (short-sighted), and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
2Pe 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election (choosing) sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
2Pe 1:11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the EVERLASTING KINGDOM of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (Emphasis added)

Mat 22:14 For many are called (invited), but few are chosen (selected).

Mercy is NOT a natural trait of human beings. It is a LEARNED RESPONSE, developed with the influence of the Spirit of God in our lives. Salvation does not require that we be merciful, but KINGDOM STATURE WILL require such a response in our lives (even to those who do not deserve it).

It is an attribute of God, and we must incorporate it into our lives if we hope to become citizens of the KINGDOM OF GOD.

Exo 34:7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation

Col 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

Col 3:14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

Pro 21:21 He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honor.

Hos 6:6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

The whole of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness seemed to be centered around the Mercy Seat. It was from off the Mercy Seat that God spoke with Moses, and Jesus now speaks with us from the Seat of His Mercy—Calvary.

Many of the scriptures give us clues about the importance of the attribute of “mercy” in our lives.

Pro 3:3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
Num 14:18 The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.

Psa 85:10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

“His Mercy endureth forever’—occurs with almost monotonous repetition.

We can Hope in His Mercy.

Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, by (grace ye are saved;)
Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Pro 21:21 He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honor.

Hos 6:6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

Mic 6:8 He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Zec 7:9 Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and show mercy and compassions every man to his brother:

Pro 14:21 He that despiseth his neighbor sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he

Mat 9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Mat 12:7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

Mat 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Luk 10:37 And he said, He that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

Rom 12:8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness.

Jam 2:13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath showed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

Jam 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

Psa 103:8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

Psa 116:5 Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.

Pro 11:17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.

Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Gal 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Luk 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS

2008-10-19T15:03:00.000-07:00

BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS
Another study in the Beatitudes

Mat 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

We are continuing the series on the PRINCIPLES OF THE KINGDOM. We are trying to “get a handle” on the ATTRIBUTES WE SHOULD HAVE IN OUR LIVES in order to qualify for KINGDOM STATUS. We use that term, for lack of a better one that will fit the situation. For, you see, there are no “admission tickets” as such. There are no “rites of passage” no “passwords” and no “entrance fees” But that is not to say that there are no “requirements” for a place in the KINGDOM OF God on Earth. There are, and they are listed at the very front of the Sermon on the Mount.

It can not be said too often that Salvation is the first requisite to being in the Kingdom, but the two are different. Salvation is free to humans, having been paid for in full by Jesus at Calvary, but it only gives us the PRIVILEGE or CONSENT to become the SONS OF GOD and achieve (yes, I wrote “Achieve”) Kingdom Status.

KINGDOM STATUS consists of having incorporated certain attributes, such as the ones listed by Jesus in the Sermon, into our own lives by seeking God for the Refinement of Character that He desires to see in our lives. We probably will never attain to Perfection, but we can make enough progress to satisfy our God, who knows our individual capabilities and incapabilities.

Today we are focusing on the attribute that is called “Peacemakers” in the KJV. It is translated thus in Mat 5:9. It is also used once, in Rom 12:18 “peaceably”. Three times it is used to denote “peace” . In Mar_9:50 it means “to have peace”. In 2Co_13:11 it means to “live in peace”, and in 1Th_5:13 it means to “be at peace”. Those “uses” of the original word would tend to “flavor” its meaning toward a condition of our OWN character, rather than being a go-between in a dispute of some kind. I believe that to be closer to the proper understanding of what Jesus is recorded as having said.

Most of us would look at ourselves as being a “person of peace”, but it is NOT a natural human trait. We only have it when things are “going our way” Neither is it a result of training or discipline. It is something that must be acquired from the Spirit of God. It is a FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT. The Spirit produces it, or we don’t have it. Yet, the real PEACE OF GOD will be necessary for us to enter into KINGDOM STATUS. Perhaps we could use another term that might be more easily understood, How about ROYALTY STATUS? Actually, Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance uses the term “Royalty”.

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace (quietness rest), longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

1Th 4:11 And that ye study (labor) to be quiet (at peace), and to do your own business,----

What is the recipe for obtaining the trait of “peace—rest” in our lives? Since we can not achieve it from our own efforts, we must seek it from its source—the Spirit of God. We must ask God to give it to us. In our asking, we must maintain a willingness to be obedient to the Spirit as He begins to produce the desired qualities in our lives. For me, it has sometimes been a “wild ride”, because peacefulness (peacemaking) has not been a natural forte. I dare not consider the “ride” over with yet. But, the Spirit has made a lot of progress (with my consent and co-operation) since we embarked on the project many years ago. Simply put, “I can not do it by myself, but the Spirit will not do it without my consent and co-operation.” It MUST be a joint operation.

2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE (Holy Ghost), having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
2Pe 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, ADD to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
2Pe 1:6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
2Pe 1:7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
2Pe 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the KNOWLEDGE of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2Pe 1:9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off---
2Pe 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall NEVER FALL:
2Pe 1:11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting (eternal) kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Phi 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Phi 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Look at Isaiah 66:21 And I will also take of them for priests [and] for Levites, saith the LORD.

Isaiah was speaking of a group of people, who "tremble at My Word" (vs 2), and were not mentioned as being of the tribe of Levi.

What does it mean to tremble at the Word of the Lord?
Whatever it means, there will be a people who qualify for the category.

It is doubtful if their qualifications are based as much on the sovereignty of God as on their response to the Word of God. Our response is very crucial.

I wonder sometimes, if we should not be more diligent in seeking the face of God for an inward purification, rather than going after material prosperity. One endures-- the other will perish.

Mal 3:3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

What does it mean to "offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness?" In my book, it means that we will always be able to do the RIGHT thing in any given circumstance. That quality is absolutely foreign to the human being. It is an ability that can be acquired from God alone. It is a product of our obedience to, and reliance on, the Spirit that “worketh in us”.