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.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
WHENCE CAMEST THOU
___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.
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.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
WHAT GOES AROUND
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?
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
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--.
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
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!
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
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.
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.
Monday, June 14, 2010
DOING OR BEING
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.
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
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
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
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.
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
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.
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.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
WHAT WE LEARNED
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_
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
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.
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
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--
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
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.
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
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
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
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?
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
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.
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.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
FIRSTBORN--FIRSTFRUITS
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"
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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