Posts Tagged ‘God’

Three Woes and Four Endings

Posted: June 13, 2026 in Shared Thoughts
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I believe the Lord would have me make my commentary on Revelation available online. The PDF is downloadable.

God is calling forth His watchmen, but will they hear?

It is time to open this book and “to read distinctly from the book,” and pray that the Spirit will give the shepherds courage and wisdom to endeavor to give “sense, and helped them to understand the reading,” (Nehemiah 8:8).

Therefore, I strongly urge pastors who are at fault here to repent and start redeeming the time, for Revelation has not been given us just to be superficially referenced. Rather, Revelation deserves an ongoing, open dialogue between the congregation and pastor. God’s people need to be fed with the whole counsel of God.

Consider again Israel’s history, for each time the nation was led into captivity, it was often the direct result of the sins committed by its pastors and shepherds. The leaders, entrusted with guiding God’s people had repeatedly failed in their responsibilities, which led to the spiritual decline and eventual judgment upon the nation.

This underscores why the Lord commanded that the delivery of His judgment must begin at His own house. The neglect and disobedience of those charged with spiritual oversight has always brought dire consequences, not only upon themselves but upon all those contributing to the shepherding of God’s people. God holds His leaders to a higher standard, and when they forsake their duties, judgment is first pronounced among them as a sobering reminder of their accountability. (See Ezekiel 9:6; 34:1-16, and Jeremiah 23:1,2).

I believe that if the church engages in open dialogue and seeks guidance through prayer, that it would by the Lord be richly rewarded with greater understanding and spiritual awareness. That, my brothers, would enormously surpass the occasional mere sporadic quote about it from the pulpit. Which in truth, amounts to little more than a gratuitous nod of recognition of the book’s existence.

I therefore make a plea for ministerial repentance. For pastors who fail to instruct their people in the truths of Revelation, and who do not help them understand and respond appropriately, will inevitably face substantial accountability and shame when they stand before the Great and Chief Shepherd, who commissioned them to faithfully oversee His heavenly flock.

Believe it, Revelation’s purpose is made very clear in the letters to the seven churches: it was given to be taught to all believers, so that every member of the flock might have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches of all ages. Whereby people could learn to recognize and respond to the voice of their Good Shepherd, and with understanding walk victoriously and faithfully in their time, and be found blameless.

Book – Revelation 3-23-26 – 2nd PrintDownload

But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you . . .

Posted: June 5, 2026 in Shared Thoughts
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 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.  But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake.  And it shall turn to you for a testimony. (Luke 21:11-13)

 For years I have frequently been told when reasoning with other “believers” I have met here in America how they don’t worry about the end times, because “We’re not going to be here anyway.” It has become painfully evident that there is this unscriptural confidence within the lukewarm church of America  that they are not going to have to suffer for their faith or go through much “tribulation,” because, as they quickly affirm, “God hasn’t appointed us for wrath.”

Sadly, that quote they use is improperly used out its context. The wrath which we are not appointed to is that which contrasts with the salvation of the Saints, damnation, eternal punishment and alienation from God. It is therefore my desire to stir up and awaken as many as possible who name the Name of Christ that they might be properly prepared and armored for the battle which believers have been forewarn they will have to endure.

 1Thessolonians 5:6 – Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.  7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.  8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.  9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,  10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.  11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

Now I would like to stress that this post is not a debate about the rapture or when. It is about what God’s word says, these things will befall those who love the Lord Jesus Christ and are therefore followers of Him. Because of my concern for “believers” in America I have submitted a congested review of most of the New Testament scriptures that address this persecution, tribulation, and trials which Jesus Christ said would befall His people.

Acts 5:40 – And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

May the Holy Spirit speak expressively to you –

 Matthew 5:10 – Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake.  12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Matthew 10:16 – Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.  17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; 18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for My sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.  19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.  20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.  21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.  22 And ye shall be hated of all men for My name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.  23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.  24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.  25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the Master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of His household?  26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.  27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.  28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Matthew 10:34 – Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.  35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.  36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.  37 He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me.  39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for My sake shall find it.

Matthew 23:29 – Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,  30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.  31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.  32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.  33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?  34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:  35 That upon you may come all the righteous bloodshed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

Mark 13:9 – But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.  10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations.  11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.  12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.  13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Luke 6:22 – Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.  23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

Luke 21:11 – And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.  12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake.  13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.  14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:  15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.  16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.  17 And ye shall be hated of all men for My name’s sake.  18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.  19 In your patience possess ye your souls.

John 15:18 – If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you.  19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.  20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept My saying, they will keep yours also.  21 But all these things will they do unto you for My name’s sake, because they know not Him that sent Me.

John 16:33 – These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

John 17:14 – I have given them Thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.  15 I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil.  16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

Acts 7:52 – Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers.

Acts 14:22 – Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Acts 28:17 – And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.  18 Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.  19 But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.  20 For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.  21 And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee.  22 But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.

Romans 5:3 – And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

Romans 8:16 – The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:  17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.  18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

 Romans 8:35 – Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.  37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,  39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1Corinthians 4:9 – For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.  10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.  11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place;  12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:  13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.

1Corinthians 15:30 – And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?  31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.  32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die.  33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.  34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

2Corinthians 1:3 – Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;  4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.  5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.  6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.  7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.  8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:  9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:  10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;  11 Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

2Corinthians 4:8 – We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;  9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;  10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.  11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.  12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.  13  We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;  14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.  15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.  16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.  17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;  18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

2Corinthians 6:4 – But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,  5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;  6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,  7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,  8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;  9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;  10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

2Corinthians 7:4 – Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.

2Corinthians 11:23 – Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.  24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.  25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;  26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;  27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.  28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.  29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?  30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.

2Corinthians 12:5 – Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

2Corinthians 12:9 – And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Galatians 4:29 – But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.

Galatians  5:11 – And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.

Galatians 6:12 – As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.

Galatians 6:17 – From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

Ephesians 6:10 – Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;  15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:  18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

Philippians 1:29 – For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake;  30 Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

Philippians 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

Colossians 1:24 – Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His body’s sake, which is the church:

I Thessalonians 1:6 – And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost.

I Thessalonians 2:1 – For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:  2 But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.

I Thessalonians 2:14 – For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:  15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:  16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.

I Thessalonians 3:3 – That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. 4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.  5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.  6 But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to  see us, as we also to see you:  7 Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:  8 For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.

2 Thessalonians 1:3 – We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;  4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:  5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:  6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;  7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels. 

2 Timothy 1:8 – Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

2 Timothy 1:12 – For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.

2 Timothy 2:8 – Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:  9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.  10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.  11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with Him, we shall also live with Him:  12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him: if we deny Him, He also will deny us.

2 Timothy 3:1 – This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 Timothy 3:10 – But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.  12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Hebrews 10:32 – But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;  33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.  34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.

Hebrews 11:25 – Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.  27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible.

Hebrews 11:35 – Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:  36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:  37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;  38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 

Hebrews 12:1 – Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,  2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  3 For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Hebrews 13:3 – Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

Hebrews 13:12 – Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.  13 Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach.  14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

James 1:12 – Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him.

James 2:6 – But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? 7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

James 5:1 – Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.  2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.  3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.  4 Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.  5 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.  6 Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.  7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

1Peter 1:6 – Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:  7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:  8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:  9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

1Peter 2:19 – For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.  20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.  21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps.

1Peter 3:14 – But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;  15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:  16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.  17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

1Peter 4:12 – Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:  13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.  14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified.  15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.  16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.  17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?  18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?  19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

1Peter 5:8 – Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:  9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.  10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

1John 3:10 – In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.  11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.  12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.  13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

Revelation 2:9 – I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.  10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Revelation  6:9 – And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:  10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?  11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow-servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

Revelation  7:13 – And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?  14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.  15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.  16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.  17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Revelation  12:11 – And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Revelation  13:6 – And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.  7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.  8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.  9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.

Revelation  17:6 – And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

Revelation  18:24 – And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

Revelation  20:4  -And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Having gone through the above verses, I was compelled to add these two from Daniel –

 Daniel 7:21 – I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; 22 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.

Daniel 11:35 – And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.

I leave you with the Apostle Peter’s exhortation to the church –

 2Peter 3:10 – But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.  11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,  12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?  13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.  14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless.  15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;  16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.  17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.  18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen.

Water Pots of Stone

Posted: April 6, 2026 in Devotionals, Shared Thoughts, Study!
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John 2:1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: 2 And both Jesus was called, and His disciples, to the marriage. 3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. 4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. 5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it. 6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. 7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And He saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. 9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, 10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. 11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth His glory; and His disciples believed on Him.

Years ago I was reading these verses about Jesus’ first miracle when I came to verse 6 and it just seemed to jump out at me.

“And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.”

For many years I had simply read through the passage, simply retaining how Jesus had turned water into wine, which without a doubt was truly a significant event. But I had failed to take notice of was what water it was that Jesus turned into wine, and the purpose for why it was there. Suddenly, every aspect of the event was suddenly more significant than I had previously appreciated. Everything from the location, the marriage, and all the steps involved in the miracle seemed filled with meaning. Hopefully, I will be able to share these things with you, details that require reflection if one is to truly appreciate all Jesus did with this “beginning of miracles,” when he began to “manifest forth His glory” at the wedding in Cana of Galilee.

This water was there because of the traditions of the Jews. It wasn’t there for consumption, rather for religious purification. See the Jews had taken a prophetic truth and turned it into a vain tradition. It was their opinion that nothing was truly cleansed unless it had been washed in “living water.” What that means is simply that the water needed to be in motion, such as a moving river, spring, or simply the pouring of water over their hands as they washed, thus allowing the impurities to be washed away. For to bathe in a basin would be washing hands in stagnant which would simply hold the impurities, leaving you merely washing in dirty water, consequently it was required to be living, or flowing water.

2 Kings 3:11b . . . Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah.

Consider also the imagery of the following verses as well–

Leviticus 14:5 And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water: 6 As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water: 7 And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field.

What tremendous prophetic action, one bird being washed in living water and the blood of another and then being set free to live. Another great example would be the design and function of the brazen laver which I hope to have time to write about soon. Now these were true prophetic things which God ordained to symbolize aspects of the Gospel, but they were never to become the object of faith or the confidence of men. Let’s look at an account in Mark –

Mr 7:2 And when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault. 3 For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. 4 And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables. 5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?”

Now it needs to be clarified that the Pharisees were not simply speaking of washing some things for the sake of physical cleanliness, they doing all these things in order to declare their spiritual pureness. Their confidence had drifted so far from what God had originally intended, that they were now actually accusing Jesus and His disciples of sin for they had eating “with unwashen hands.”

Listen to Jesus’ reply to them –

Mark 7:6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. 7 Howbeit in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. 9 And He said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

Jesus turned the accusation around and used it to address their sins in the light of God’s word, then publicly calls them hypocrites. Look at His list of their sins here:

  1. Hypocrites
  2. Lip service only, no true heart worship.
  3. Vain and dead religious worship established only upon men’s tradition.
  4. Rejection of God words by laying (casting) it aside to do their own little religious performance.

Jesus openly exposed how what was once founded upon the oracles of God, they had corrupted and thus reduced to a powerless, man centered religion. In their vain confidence they were now guilty of taking the Lord’s name in vain, by proclaiming to be the holy people of God, yet all the while casting His words away from them. If you really stop and think about it, this is really not too different from many “Christians” nowadays that likewise are professing to be followers of God. Regardless of all their talk about God and being the children of Abraham, God’s chosen people, they were no longer pursuing God or even trying to draw closer to Him. Therefore, Jesus rebukes them as those who’s “hearts are far from Me.”

Scripture warns us how the heart tends to be much like our eyes; it too tends to focus on one thing primarily.

Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

With hearts turned away from the Lord, they were only dedicated to themselves. No longer seeking God’s Kingdom or glory. Forgetting the things afar off, they became nearsighted, their were only concern was serving their own selves, and building each other up in their own eyes. No longer mindful of eternal treasures in heaven, their focus was reduced to whatever they could get now through their religious traditions, and so they caused the light that was within them, of which they boasted great confidence in as elevated teachers of the law, to become nothing more than a great blinding darkness. Such is the end of all prideful and covetous men who think they see clearly.

Matthew 6:10 For Moses said, Honor thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: 11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. 12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; 13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

They had fallen so far from the righteous precept of true faith working by love, they were now making void the fifth commandment.

Exodus 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

For Paul stated, “If any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” For now instead of encouraging men that they ought to be providing for their own family and aging parents, these greedy hypocrites actually created a religious way to excuse their followers from their godly obligations; thus permitting them to selfishly use their wealth for themselves as long as sufficient gifts were being made, and was ultimately going to be left to these blind guides.

But now, as the Apostle John said, the fullness of time has come and Jesus begins His ministry at the celebration of the greatest prophetic sacrament between a man and a woman, a wedding feast in Cana. For through marriage, husbands and wives are given what was denied to the angels, the privilege and responsibility to adorn the Gospel of God our Savor. For marriage is a holy covenant and union design to represent God’s ultimate plan for those who love Him. As husbands take unto themselves their own wives to love, provide for and to protect as weaker vessels, they reflect to the world how Christ so loved His church. Wives likewise by loving and submitting to their own husbands, present what the church should unto Christ, taking the name of thereof unto themselves not in vain. For more on this please read “Why God made us Males and Female.”

After their arrival at the wedding Jesus asked for wine and was told by His mother that there was none. Mary then turns and gives directions which have become known as “The Gospel according to Mary” unto the servants, “Whatsoever He says, do.” Jesus has them fill the water pots to the brim and then turns the water unto wine, now there is no ceremonial water whereby others could now wash their hands to partake of the festivities of the wedding. Jesus literally took this Pharisaic vain tradition of purification and brought it to an abrupt prophetic end.

What fabulous prophetic imagery! A wedding, union with Christ, wine, our atonement, a celebration, the marriage supper of the Lamb, all being put forth gloriously at the beginning of Jesus’ miracles and ministry. However, what is also sadly prophetic was the action at Christ’s crucifixion where they took and gave unto Him vinegar on the cross.

John 19:28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. 29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

This wasn’t just vinegar, as one might readily think of vinegar off the store shelf. This was soured wine which was permitted to turn into vinegar and was past the stage of being “good wine” such as was served at the wedding of Cana. This was neglected wine. Note the description given in Numbers-

Numbers 6:3 He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried.

This giving of the sour wine vinegar to Jesus was a witness against those who demanded His crucifixion, showing they had rejected His Gospel of the Kingdom simply because it threaten their own. They neglecting His gift of prophetic purification, they gave it back to Him soured by their rejection of both Him and His words, choosing rather to cling to their own vain traditions. They were doing just as Jesus said , filling up the measure of their fathers.

Matthew 23:25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. 26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. 27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. 29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, 30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. 31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. 32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. 33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

Yet this “vinegar” was given to Jesus, “That the scripture might be fulfilled.” That scripture is found in Psalm 69 –

Psalm 69:19 Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: mine adversaries are all before thee. 20 Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. 21 They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

Sometimes we fail to dwell upon the severity of God’s righteous judgment, tending to only want to see His mercy and forgiveness. However, we must consider the whole council of God, for only by knowing the terror of the Lord can we hope to successfully labor to persuade men to repent. God is not mocked, each will all reap what they have sown . . . and so therefore the judgment was prophetically pronounced upon those who crucified Him.

Psalm 69:22 Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap. 23 Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake. 24 Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them. 25 Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents. 26 For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded. 27 Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness. 28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

Some have taken these following words of Jesus as being directed to the people and the Jewish rulers, as a relieving them of their guilt and not laying their sin to their account.

Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

But these religious hypocrites were not ignorant in their actions, they knew full well what they did and why –

John 3:2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

John 12:42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: 43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

We too need to vigilant to guard our own hearts, lest these reproofs of scriptures should ever find application against us–

Ro 2:19 And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, 20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. 21 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? 22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? 23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?

No, these religious leaders were not being forgiven, they were being held accountable with their names being “blotted out of the book of the living, and not left written in with the righteous. For one cannot partake of Christ and then go on continuing to willfully sin against Him. That is not to deny we all will have moments of failure due to the violence of sudden temptation, or because we are ignorant of God’s perfect will. But confession and repentence upon understanding our sin assures us God’s mercy of forgiveness if we will so humble ourselves before our Savor. But we must never forget, judgment always begins in the house of the Lord and everything that can be shaken will be shaken.

So then, just who was Jesus praying for? Who was it that didn’t really understand what they were doing when they cast lots for His garments and nailed Him to the cross? Well, listen to the scriptures-

1 Corinthians 2:6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

Blessed are those of us who have come to the same understanding of the Roman centurion who stood by Christ side and so confessed after all he had witnessed –

Mr 15:37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. 38 And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. 39 And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.

What rich lessons we can learn through the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and His first miracle. The condemnation and discarding of vain traditions contrasted with the witness of of a promised wedding feast to which all have been bidden to come. All made possible through an abounding source of purification in the blood of our atonement which ripped wide open the veil into the Holy of Holies. Now, all the redeemed can come boldly before the Throne of Grace to petition and worship the Savor in spirit and truth.

No, He did not come merely to cleanse the outside of this earthen vessel of ours. He came to purify us from within with the washing of the water of His word and to cleanse us from our sins in His blood. Therefore, it is possible now for our Holy God to come and dwell in us, filling us with His Spirit, and impart the power of His seed of life whereby we are born again, His word.

1 Peter 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: 18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21 Who by Him do believe in God, that raised Him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

Like Jesus’ disciples, let us too truly “believe on Him” and drink freely of this new wine and rejoice in the God of our salvation. Blessed be the name of our Lord Jesus.

Live for the King.

For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.

Posted: February 12, 2026 in Shared Thoughts
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The marriage of the Lamb draws near, and it is essential for His bride to make herself ready. The preparation cannot be passive; it must be intentional, a commitment to spiritual growth and obedience.

So ask yourself: Are you truly prepared? Is there oil in your vessel to keep your lamp burning brightly? Are you diligently working out your salvation with fear and trembling? Are you perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord, knowing that without such devotion, no one will see the Lord favorably.

Are you completing the work God has entrusted to you? Have you ran or walked your race? Have you fought the good fight of faith? Do you genuinely try to love your neighbor as yourself? Have you been faithful as a watchman? Do you stand firm in the words He has spoken and abide in the vine of Christ? Are you growing there as you ought to and gladly accept the Father’s pruning? Or do the cares and pleasures of the world choke Him out?

Be honest with yourself before God, are you truly laboring in love to bring forth your fruit unto perfection? Are you keeping your eyes single and focused on Jesus? Do you love Him with all your heart, mind, and strength?

 How are your spiritual disciplines? Do you pray and fast regularly? Do you studied to show yourself approved, as a worker who needs not to be ashamed before God? Do you delight and meditate in His word? Do you labor in true prayer for others? Jesus said My sheep know My voice and they follow Me, so are you hearing and following His lead? Or are you dull of hearing? Do you forgive others? Is there any bitterness in your heart?

Seriously, how is your relationship with God? Is it cold, hot, or lukewarm? Do you truly have fellowship with Him and His Son Jesus Christ? Does your heart cry out to Him as your Father? Do you trust in Him completely? Do you draw near to Him and quietly wait in His presence? Do you practice stillness before Him? Are you quick to repent, and have an open heart to correction? Is Christ truly your life? Are you looking for and hastening His coming? Does your time bear a witness that your treasure is in heaven? Do you seek to redeem it more for His purpose and glory?

Are you keeping your spiritual garments unspotted and white? Have you been a godly and faithful spouse and parent? Have you honored your parents and loved them well? Generosity is a mark of Christ, so have you freely given to others, expecting nothing in return? Do you cultivate a spirit of thankfulness?

Are you striving toward the fullness of the measure of the stature of Christ? Do you hunger and thirst for righteousness, seeking first His Kingdom and glory? Are you meek, willing to go the extra mile without complaint? Do you daily pick up your cross and follow Him? Are you content with godliness, finding your satisfaction in a life devoted to Him?

Are you a bruised reed, or a tree of righteousness? A smoking flax, or on fire for the Lord?

Or have you received God’s grace in vain?

For only those who have made themselves ready for Him will truly “be glad and rejoice and give honor to Him.” For why would you call Him Lord and do not do the things He has said?

“Awake you who sleeps, arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light. Awake to righteousness and sin not. For some of you have not an intimate knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.” (Ephesians 6:14, I Corinthians 15:34)

Is New York City the “Cities if Nations” in Revelations 16:19?

Posted: January 8, 2026 in America, Prophecy
Tags: , , , , , , ,
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Those who have followed my blog for any length of time know that I believe that America is the prophetic “eight that goeth into perdition.” But for those who are here for the first time please let me briefly address a few points before we get in where New York City’s destruction may well be foretold in scripture as “the city of the nations fell.”

To Start, this very post was ran back on July 4th in 2015 under the heading “Will New York City be nuked this Fourth of July?” It was written was after Rep. Peter King, member of the Homeland Security Committee expressed to Megyn Kelly that New York City officials were concerned about a dirty bomb attack on the 4th of July. The following is usually my introductory passage  for those who may have never consider the possibility of America in scripture.

Revelation –  17:9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.  10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.  11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goes into perdition.

It amazes me that I rarely hear anyone else talking about the above passage in regards to the beast that rises out of the sea Revelations chapter 13, let alone connecting it to the rise of America as the eighth and final great empire undeniably connect to Israel and its rebirth. Yet because the angel says to John, “Here is the mind which hath wisdom…” I truly would think more people, if they were  wanting wisdom and understanding of who the beast is, would jump on this verse that they might be given understanding of what it all means. Yet, since the time of the reformation,  the only people who seem to look at the verse and discuss it are people who still think it all applies to the Catholic Church and that it deals with a succession of popes from long ago.

While I am not going to get into The Eighth Beast and America again now, I do want touch on Washington D.C. and New York City real quick again in this post because of late I have been compiling my own commentary on Revelation, and just reached chapter 16. So hopefully, I will be posting that study as a downloadable PDF soon.

But for now, since I’m here now visiting my notes for that reason, let me present a quick outline for those who may want to look into this further on their own about America in scripture before this posts gets into NYC as a subject matter.

My persuasion is Revelation chapters 13-18 are about the rise and fall of this eighth empire which can also be identified by its direct correlation with the nation of Israel. In chapter 13 the seven-headed beast rises up out of the sea which represents multitudes, nation and languages and tongues, meaning it is a nation of multiple ethnic backgrounds and cultures, a land of immigrants.

The eighth beast rises to its height of power the same time the preceding global superpower, England, is waning and declining from its zenith prior to the rebirth of Israel. All this happens because there was a war where one of the heads of the beast received a deadly blow but was able to recover and the second beast of Revelation 13 called down fire from heaven in the sight of the men and the consensus of the whole world was “Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?”

For the sake of brevity I am simply going to state for now that I believe there is strong scriptural and historical evidence the event of “fire from heaven in the sight of the men” was the world’s introduction to nuclear warfare as President Truman ordered the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki which brought an end to the WW2, at which time the British Empire was fading and Israel was about to be born again as a nation. For more information please review The Eighth Beast or America.

Let me be forthcoming in stating that I believe the position of the President Of The United States is that second beast which scripture states had “two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon” and “exercises all the power of the first beast before him, and causes the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.” For while the succession of POTUS’s have tried to maintain the image of (a lamb) being for peace, history reveals they have actually been promoting the agenda of the dragon and constantly given to meddling in other sovereign nations and promoting self-serving wars.

As Revelation chapter 14-16 continues they speak about the judgment of the beast and John having witnessed everything in a vision becomes so overwhelm that in chapter 17 an angel begins to explain to him “the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carries her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.” The angel then continues in chapter 18 expounding on the utter destruction coming to the beast and the apostate religious system riding it.

But back in chapter 16 we see that “the seat,” or capital “of the beast” is going to be destroyed with the outpouring of the 5th vial –

Revelation 16:10 – And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain.

It is worth recalling here how when President George W. Bush was  promoting his father’s “land for peace” agenda on Israel that the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated on its re-entry directly above Palestine Texas and had a very similar appearance to that of a shooting star or meteorite as it was disintegrating upon its re-entry. This tragic event was telecast live and witness worldwide. However, as many already know, shooting stars and comets are often considered bad omens. Therefore I have always considered this event to have been a harbinger and reliable witness to the prophetic verse above that eventually those in “the seat of the beast” would “gnawed their tongues for pain” then the “kingdom was full of darkness.” Such terminology could be an accurate description of the results of a nuclear detonation over a city. But we are talking about the seat of spiritual Babylon, which was actually the seat and capital of the Chaldeans. This makes the Space Shuttle Columbia tragedy all the more noteworthy here when we consider that the seat and capital of America is the District of Columbia.

But regarding New York City, I don’t think that destruction comes until the seventh vial is poured out.

Revelation 16:17 – And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.  18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.  19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath.  

These verse foretell the beginning of the torrent of devastation that befalls America as God unleashes His anger against America and destroys once again man’s vain attempt to rebuild Babel. But before God’s wrath is fully released I have come to lean toward the persuasion that it must be preceded by the destruction of Washington D.C., an event that will probably be a false flag event by the ruling elite as an attempt to utterly obliterate any trace American heritage and extinguish the legislative structure of America as some of us remember how it used to be.

Yet God is going to let these heathen rage and them imagine a vain thing as they continue to set themselves against the LORD and against His anointed. For “He that sits in the heavens shall laugh, and  the Lord shall have them in derision. For then shall He speak unto them in His wrath, and vex them in His sore displeasure.”

For I sense that the emptying of the fifth, sixth and seventh vails are not spaced far apart. For in order for the kings of the east to come against Israel, the way must be prepared and the great River Euphrates dried up. Yet as the things move at a steadily accelerating pace, God has already been preparing His armaments against the whore and the beast upon which she rides.

For when these wicked rulers rise up to fulfill their devilishly calculated scheme, they will find that God will simply allow them to fall into the ditch of destruction they have dug for others. For with “a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great,” God will shake the very refuged they have dug for their own safety and preservation, turning their DUMBs (deep underground military bases” into tombs and death traps as the great city will be divided into three parts.

The “great city” speaking of spiritual Babylon which represents the whole nation. For as surely as Babylon was synonymous with the Chaldean Empire so will Washington D.C. be with America, as the very geography of the nation will be ripped into three parts. It will most likely be during this weakened state that the ten kings will strike with nuclear weapons to absolutely destroy America so as to never arise again. And while some might protest that they would not do that because they would want to savage the spoils and great resources of America, I must remind you that they will be mad and drunkened from partaking of America’s cup of iniquity and that God Himself puts this in their heart in order to fulfill His will upon the great whore.

Revelation 17:16 – And the ten horns which you saw upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.  17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil His will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.  18 And the woman which you saw is that great city, which reigns [has dominance] over the kings of the earth.

It is then that God will announce His war upon all the nations of the earth as City of Nations falls into utter ruin by the wrath of God. Now some of you might notice that I said “city” and not “cities” as did the translators. That is because they did not understand how there could be a City of Nations back then. But for years God has persuaded me that it was not the “cities” of the nations, but one city in particular that was going to be focal point of His anger as He began His judgment upon the nations.

That is why God led me years ago to search this out lest I teach an untruth and led me to the Codex Sinaiticus which dates to the middle of the fourth century. According a web site hosting the Codex, “only one other nearly complete manuscript of the Christian Bible – Codex Vaticanus (kept in the Vatican Library in Rome) – is of a similarly early date.” According to the web site “The only manuscripts of Christian scripture that are definitely of an earlier date than Codex Sinaiticus contain small portions of the text of the Bible.”

cordex

“’Codex’ means ‘book’. By the time Codex Sinaiticus was written, works of literature were increasingly written on sheets that were folded and bound together in a format that we still use to this day. This book format was steadily replacing the roll format which was more widespread just a century before when texts were written on one side of a series of sheets glued together to make a roll. These rolls were made of animal skin (like most of the Dead Sea Scrolls) or the papyrus plant (commonly used for Greek and Latin literature).”

It was there that I was able to examine the text in the closest thing to the original and verify that what I had been persuaded of already was in fact true, that there was a prophetic City of Nations that would be destroyed and her location would be within the boundaries of The Eighth Beast that goeth into perdition. Not being a Greek scholar, I first had to verify that there was a visible distinction between the plural and the singular for city/cities and to start I looked up Jude 1:7.

Jude interlinear

Though in this interlinear they have the word “towns” instead of “cities,” you can still see the Greek word above it having six letters. Here it is in the actual handwritten Codex Sinaiticus-

Jude 7 Then I looked up Revelation 16: 19- 16-9 interlinear

As you notice, even those who compiled the interlinear were compelled to correct what was written originally as they inserted the plural Greek word for “cities” which has an extra letter compare to the first Greek word for the singular “city.” But look at it handwritten in the Codex Sinaiticus-

16-9 cordex

 The great city and the city of nations are the same singular Greek word even though the translators and the interlinear author felt it must in its context be plural, for how could there be a “city of nations?” Even those working with the Codex Sinaiticus highlighted it noting what seemed to be a error but to their credit left it nonetheless unchanged.

Yet the word of God is true and there is only one city that can be this City of Nations, New York City. For it is there that the United Nation houses 193 nations, and each having sovereign soil therein. It is here in God’s word that He has spoken that He will be the one that initiates the wrath upon all these nations by destroying the very City of Nations and cause that blasphemous Luciferian United Nations tower of Babel to fall one again never to rise. Regardless how clever the wicked elite think they have been in their scheming against God and His anointed, we must not forget that they have been completely deceived and blinded because they love not the truth and their father Lucifer has lied to them from the beginning and the truth is not in him.

John 8:44 – …He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

However, Christians today are guilty of lending the power of their faith to the powers of darkness by believing their lies and that they will accomplish what God has historically destroyed over and over again as clearly written in His word for our encouragement. Yes we will have tribulation, yes we’ll be persecuted and yes, some of us will be martyrs, but the wise will not accept deliverance that they might obtain a better resurrection. But regardless of what victory they might think they have gained over us, our God but laughs for He sees their day coming.

Yes, I believe New York City will one day fall, but I believe seat of the beast, Washington D.C. must fall first. If that is today, then blessed be the name of the Lord. If not, then let us redeem the time and quit believing these devilish lies ourselves and put our faith where it belongs, in the Author of all that was written for our comfort, exhortation and admonition. Never forget, our God is mighty in battle and that the Captain of our Salvation Jesus Christ has already defeat the adversary and put him to open same at the cross. The devil and his minions know their time is short and are terrified of the judgment that awaits them. Be bold saints, put on your armor, stand fast, and weld you sword confidently for the battle is the Lords.

Live for the King!! It’ll make it easier to die for Him...

Thanks for reading, hope to be posting that commentary very soon.
Stay blessable, on fire, and unburnable…

Is Donald Trump one Jesus warned us of?

Posted: June 10, 2024 in Shared Thoughts
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Is Donald Trump one Jesus warned us of, which if we are not prayerfully watchful and holding “fast to that which you have that no one takes your crown?”

Historically before God pours out His wrath upon a nation, He exposes its sins first, and what was done in darkness is brought to light, and that which was said in secret is broadcasted abroad. But still, when the time does come, “judgment must begin at the house of God.” Remember that a few truly righteous could have saved Sodom and Gomorrah. 

So seriously, what if Donald Trump is one of those “minister of righteousness” that Satan is cleverly sending forth as a false “messenger of light?” Can it possibly be that he is one of those, who not truly being born again spiritually, is deceived and therefore unwittingly deceiving others?

2 Cor 11:13 – For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

2 Tim 3:13 – But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

Are we not to have a singular “affection set on things above, not on things on the earth,” if indeed we are truly “dead, and our life is hidden with Christ in God?” However, what if many professing believers in America today are more like Peter was when the Lord rebuked him, and not rightly focused upon the things of God, but instead are more anxious about the things of men? You know, mostly concerned about their 401k’s, investments, prosperity, possessions, retirement, leisure and personal liberty? 

Wasn’t Peter more concerned about his own position and success in what he thought was about to happen, thinking that Jesus was about to make Israel great again? Was not Peter being guilty of being carnally minded, which is death, and not spiritually minded, which is life?
What if the eyes of these professing believers are not truly single on the Kingdom of God and are not faithfully “looking for and hastening the coming of the Lord?” as the corrected Peter later exhorted? Is not that a sign that their eye is evil, and that they are actually walking in a false light with a false hope? Does not a little leaven end up leavening the whole lump? There is the Gospel, but then again “there be some that will trouble you and pervert the gospel of Christ.” So, what is the prevailing “gospel” in America today?

I believe we would all do well to heed the admonishment of the Apostle Paul to the Church, that “a good soldier of Jesus Christ” does not entangle himself with the affairs [politics] of this life in order that he may please Him who has chosen him to be a soldier”

Also, consider this, that if the prophets and apostles are as “sheep counted for the slaughter,” as was God’s own Son, for the purpose of the fulfillment of His will, do you think Satan will be more sparing of his own in his attempt to accomplish his will?

Do you not think or know that the reason so many in position of power and great wealth are because of Satan himself. Did he not say, “All this is mine to give to whoever I will?” Can it be that now for the accomplishing of his war against the saints, that Satan is readying to sacrifice many of them as his sheep for the slaughter? I believe that is exactly what is happening now in America…

Seriously, with all the insanity in the world with this tsunami of devastating hatred, perversion, chaos, division, and tyranny, the whole world is seemingly waking up and recognizing it all as evil. Even atheists are calling things evil. But are people really waking up? Or is this flood of wickedness merely an intentional choking darkness forced upon humanity for the sole purpose of causing them to accept the light, any light, any ray of hope?

What if all this Satan is doing is merely the same thing a jeweler does, the using a black velvet cloth to sell a diamond to the buyer? What if all this is happening now is simply to make the people demand a king, a deliverer, someone who will give them what they want? The problem is what they want is not of God.

Donald Trump is repeatedly saying that he alone is the only one that can restore the economy, bring peace, and make America great again.  This is not a humble man, and listen people, God always resists the proud without exception. For it matters not if he or other’s talk about God, if they are not humbly serving Him too. But regardless, all over the world other “conservative” leaders are openly stating that Donald Trump is the only hope for world peace.

As a believer it seems both contradictory and highly illogical to me that any nation, supposedly founded as “One nation under God,” could ever prosper with God’s blessings through a president who is not born of God. Can you point to a recent time where it evident in America’s history that God so did?

And yet, though it is true that God did raise up Nebuchadnezzar, Darius and Cyrus, and even Alexander the Great, and their particular nations, they all continued to served idols; and after having served God’s purpose in the judgment of His people, all their nations then failed. You know why? They were all heathen nations who failed to wholly embrace the true living God so as to rightly serve Him.

Meanwhile, we are witnessing Donald Trump is making many first-time records for American presidents, both nationally and internationally. So, what do you think God’s purpose is for allowing this if it isn’t to try the hearts of His people, to see who indeed has taken His name in vain by calling themselves “Christian” and yet not wholeheartedly seeking first His Kingdom and righteousness? You know, those religious people who call Jesus “Lord” and yet fail to do what His commands require…

Many Christians admit they are willing to vote for a godless man simply because you think he’ll make your life better, or as some say, he will “Treat you better.” But I caution you not to be flippant with your words here, for we are in serious times here. It is critical for God’s people to have an open ear to hear what the Spirit is saying to His church. Can you tell me that God is telling you to vote for Donald Trump? Because really all I’m hearing from most Christians is that their justifying voting for him comes across more like a willingness to compromised for the sake of personal gain, and not a godly motive for the glorification of Jesus Christ.

It should be biblically clear that no one could have any power unless it was given to them or permitted by God. For God raises up men for 3 purposes, first, to instruct and lead others into righteousness. Secondly, for the purpose of trying and judging the heart of the people. Thirdly, to punish and destroy the rebellious.

So, do you really think voting for a politician is any different than laying hands on someone and ordaining them into an office of the church? No, for just as surely as you are a partaker of another man’s sin by endorsing him for the church, or even just saying “Godspeed” to him, you will be both held accountable for your motive, as well as a partaker of the man’s sin through your endorsement of him for a public office.

So again, is God is telling you to vote for Donald Trump? Yes, or no?

If indeed Christians are to “do all things for the glory of God,” then please explain to me, and everyone else, the righteousness of your vote for a godless man, and exactly how it honors God and works to promote His Kingdom…

So once again people, are we in perilous times or not, and shouldn’t you now more than ever take heed no man deceives you? Remember, a good tree will not bring forth corrupt fruit, nor a corrupt tree good fruit, and therefore you ought to know them by their fruit.

Therefore, when it comes to favoring with a vote between the lesser of two evil persons to rule over you, why and how could a true Christian participate in such a vote? Now on a mandate or law between actual good and evil laws I can see taking a stand, but not between ungodly men. It just makes no sense to me. Maybe if your carnally minded it makes sense, but how does it work spiritually to the true honor of God? To me it is akin to “Let the dead bury the dead,” for what does it all have to do with the soldier of Christ in following Him?

But people, America’s problems, the whole world’s problems, they’re spiritual, and spiritual problems can only be successfully attended to by a people who will humble themselves before God with fervent petitions. For we are clearly told that “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, even against spiritual wickedness in high places.” And so, because of the spiritual nature of humanity’s adversaries that we have been instructed to “take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day.”

Have you, do you?

For “though we walk in [this world] in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh,” nor are “the weapons of our warfare are carnal.” The believer’s hope can only be in God when it comes to “spiritual wickedness.” Is He your sole confidence? Because you simply cannot vote wickedness out of the land. However, a truly surrendered, humble, and yet still fervent group of Godfearing believers may indeed successfully petition God to the relief of their oppressions. But where are these people? Where are the people weeping over the sins of their nations?

Psalm 119:53 – Indignation has taken hold of me because of the wicked who forsake Your law.

Ezekiel 9:4 – And the LORD said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.”

Jeremiah 13:17 – But if you will not hear it, My soul will weep in secret for your pride; My eyes will weep bitterly And run down with tears, Because the LORD’S flock has been taken captive.

Historically, the correction of a persistently rebellious people has often been their being placed under the oppressing rule of wicked men, and that simply because of a lack of reverence and gratitude to the God who once blessed them with freedom of religion to worship and a liberty to serve Him in Spirit and truth. When men do what is convenient or right in their own eyes, they become blind and go astray, wandering from the truth, and eventually give way for an oppressing government or religion over them, or simply wanting freedom from religion altogether.

Thus, one of the major problems with Christians, especially those who are not by God’s grace endeavoring to pick up their cross and deny themselves daily so as not to be distracted in their faithful service to Him, is their precious empty theologies. For wherever Christ is not exalted and foremost, one’s theology is empty and powerless, even though it might serve well as a temporary sedative for one’s having a rough time.

The written word is indispensable to the victory of life of a believer. But only if the believer has been faithful to ingest it through study it prayerfully, for only then can God write His laws upon our hearts. But still, what good is that if we don’t live it out faithfully?

Psalm 119:11 – Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You! 12  Blessed are You, O LORD! Teach me Your statutes!

Faith, that is a saving faith, works to produce faithfulness, but the energy of faith is a love of the Spirit of God who first loved us. For it is that Spirit alone which ought to be in us that is the empowering of God’s people, enabling them to not only to be walking in the Light as Jesus was in the Light, but to be having daily fellowship with Him. Simply read 1 John chapter 1 again. Faith without faithfulness is no faith at all, but merely a believism supported by theology of the letter and not of the Spirit, at least not the Holy Spirit.

Faith comes only by hearing, and that hearing the illuminated word spoken to our hearts by God’s own Spirit. Not everyone hears this way, for Jesus Himself said, “Hearing, they hear not.” As sheep and followers of Christ, we are expected to both know and hear His voice, and having been truly filled with His Spirit able to follow Him wherever He leads us. But how many professors of faith are truly being led by the Spirit?

Romans 8:14 – For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Is God leading His people to vote for Trump? No, I absolutely do not believe that is so. Rather, as to my OP I believe Trump to be Satan’s trump card, and being so, it is easier for the non-cross carrying “Christians” who boast in the surety of their empty theology, to trust in a carnal wisdom than the wisdom of God.

Jeremiah 17:5-7 – Thus says the LORD, “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the LORD. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, In a salt land which is not inhabited. But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is only in the LORD.”

 The most critical question I believe professing believers must be able to answer is whether they are truly living for Jesus Christ, and seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness? Not the right man to lead them. Is the focus and yearning of your heart looking for and hastening His coming? Or are you still somewhat at home and comfortable here, and hoping Trump will make all things great again?

Is “love” God?

Posted: June 24, 2020 in Devotionals, Shared Thoughts
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Everybody enjoys hearing about how “Jesus is a God of love,” and undeniably many sermons entitled “God is love” have brought much needed comfort to the heart of the truly repentant. Nonetheless, while these statements are certainly true, as believers we must remember that they are not complete statements of truth. An unwavering truth is that God is no respecter of persons and sometimes the holiness and righteousness of God requires a change in His posture with individuals, a concept some believers have a hard time believing. But consider the following two verses.

“And it shall come to pass, that as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it,” (Deuteronomy 28:63).

“After the number of the days in which ye searched the land . . . ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise,” (Numbers 14:34).

Certainly, God is a God of love, yet in Rev. 2:6 Jesus said “. . . this thou hast that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.” Again in Proverbs it says, “These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among the brethren.” Now, I am not trying to present God as a God of hate, just establish the fact that God is capable of hate.

If God’s people are to have true intimacy with Jesus Christ, coupled with a righteous boldness (not a religious cockiness), then we need a basic understanding of God’s precepts. Jesus conditionally told His disciples, “IF ye continue in My word, THEN are ye My disciples indeed; (THEN) ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” (John 8:31, 32). Jesus was not referring to the truth as certain “facts” which could liberate them. The truth He was referring to was Himself. Jesus said “I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father except by Me” (John 14:6). Jesus Christ is the polestar of all truth. If we are going to be “set” free then it is Jesus Christ personally who we must seek to know, not just mere biblical and historical facts. For “if the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36).

While God is perfect in the administration of His love, the Bible does say He still “judgeth the righteous, and is angry with the wicked every day,” (Psalm 7:11). It is this foundational precept that gives us understanding as to why, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,” (Proverbs 1:7, 9:11).

Proverbs 8:13 says “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: [therefore] pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the forward mouth do I hate.” Proverbs 16:6 says “By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.” Therefore, if believers are to live harmoniously with God they must strive to live according to the scriptures, “perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” We must abhor sin and all unrighteousness, no matter how slight it’s deviation from the truth, for “ALL unrighteousness is SIN,” (I John 5:17). This at times is very hard to do since we are often so easily deceived by the pleasures of sin. Of course, this certainly does not mean we are to be hating “sinners,” but rather the sin that has found root in their lives and hearts as if it were hell’s own death grip on them.

To further clarify the attributes of “God’s love” a contrast needs to be made between our natural humanistic “love” and God’s “righteous love.” Humanistic love (due to man’s fallen nature) is both erratic and temperamental. It changes with circumstances or emotions and often ceases without any apparent reason other than loss of interest. Humanistic love rarely subscribes to logic and when found to be so; it is only aligned with the laws of God out of coincidence and not truly governed thereby. When shaken and unsettled, it usually can only be tranquilized by a self-favorable compromise.

Humanistic love usually has a high toleration of sin in another when something desirable for self might be obtained, or else their sins may not likewise be tolerated. If there is no personal profit to be had, then the response is usually judgment and criticism. “For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these not having a law, are a law unto themselves: which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the meanwhile accusing or else excusing one another” (Romans 2:14,15).

Contrary to fallen man’s own love, the love of God is not governed by His emotions, but is directed by His righteousness. This is clearly seen in Matthew 23:37, “0 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee, how often I would have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold your house is left unto you desolate.” Had God’s love been controlled and subject to emotions, He would have forgiven everybody. He would have gathered them (with all their wickedness) unto Himself whether they repented or not. But God’s love transcends emotions and is founded in holiness and truth.

Likewise, our emotions are God given and can work for good when they’re used correctly as the expressions of our hearts and not the rulers of our lives. Paul instructed the Corinthians saying “the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they have none; and they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possess not; and they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.” Certainly Paul wasn’t forbidding marriage any more than he forbidding us to weep or rejoice. Rather, he was warning us not to allow ourselves to be controlled by our marital statuses, emotions, possessions, or the world.

If we are to fully answer God’s call to be holy as He is holy, we must cease to be ruled by our emotions and seek, ask and knock in diligent pursuit of knowing God and His will in our lives. We are to be ruled by His righteousness and live to fulfill His will, not our own. If we foolishly continue to indulge ourselves in the luxury of self-government we jeopardize our relationship with God an run the risk of being unfruitful.

2 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.

“Righteous love” in one’s life is evidence of a contemplated surrender to God and His will. Since true love is governed by the authority of the Holy Scriptures, it is not easily swayed by human emotions, but still enjoys full emotional expression. This kind of holy love is conceived in our minds as a result of a personal conviction and revelation of God’s love for us, and birthed into being through the surrender of our hearts.

1Peter 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

Jesus reminds us that true love is undeniably evident by our obedience as we see in John and carries with it the promise of reward.

John 14:21 He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Mme shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him.
22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him.
24 He that loveth Me not keepeth not My sayings . . .

Just like faith and hope, righteous love is based upon and therefore governed by God’s word, for God has said, “Come now and let us reason [intellectually] together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye are willing and obedient [surrender in your hearts], ye will eat the good of the land: but if ye refuse and rebel, ye will be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it.”

Absolutely, God commands us to love one another and for that love to be effective it must be within the confines of God’s will as revealed by His word. We must remember that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God,” and that faith “works by love,” (Ro. 10:17, Gal. 5:6). While we are to be longsuffering with immaturity, ignorance and other human frailties and limitations, we must not and cannot tolerate willful sin in ourselves or in each other. If one is overtaken by a fault, then those who are able to instruct must go and do so. If such a one defiantly rebels against God, he is to be rebuked. Should he repent of his wickedness, then let him be forgiven and embraced as a brother. If he doesn’t, he should be removed from the fellowship of believers for he has obstinately forfeited his fellowship with God, for what fellowship has light with darkness? None.

Nowadays, too many believers are being seduced into accepting a “feeling” as love. Because they found acceptance in a church social circle, they are deceived into believing a spirit of churchianity as true Christianity. Love is more than a feeling of warmth, such a feeling is often no more than emotional satisfaction. Since they “feel” good where they are, they are persuaded this is evidence of righteous love. Yet righteous love is maintains an uncompromising commitment to God, His precepts and His church. Remember it is not what we “feel” at a church that confirms truth, but what we hear, “For the word of God . . . is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Likewise, Mercy is too often presumed to be something it’s not. Mercy is a fruit of love, yet, like love for mercy to be effective and redemptive it too must be founded in the righteous judgments of God. People often mistake mercy to be a softness or tenderness exhibited toward someone, or they mistake longsuffering for mercy. These are actually compassion, kindness and gentleness. Mercy is not suffering the consequences of one’s sins which they truly deserve. It is the pardon for an offence which as been exposed, acknowledged, and repented of.

Before the mercy of a pardon can happen however, there needs to be a conviction of righteous judgment first. This too is where many mistake God’s judgment for His wrath, but these are two distinctly different events. God’s judgment is the accurate evaluation of one’s life in light of His righteousness. Should one be found contrary to God as revealed through His word and yet truly repent, pardon is then possible inasmuch as the law was satisfied by the shedding of Christ’s blood. But, when one is evaluated to be a transgressor and refuses to turn from his wicked deed, Jesus Christ re-dying again on ten thousand crosses would not save him, all he has to look forward to is wrath, or “judgment without mercy.”

One must acknowledge his transgressions for what they are with a true godly sorrow and by departing from his sin. The only time an immediate departure from sin may not be required is if it is due to ignorance as a direct result of natural (not willful) Christian immaturity. Therefore, the believer is instructed to diligently seek the will of God in their lives.

2Pe 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
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.
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that [or why] he was purged from his old sins.
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

If we are to effectively love one another so as to minister to and build each other up, we must each devote ourselves to the knowing of both God and His word. We must never compromise our convictions of truth for the sake of church unity, yet we must never cease to labor in love for it. We must dig deep and seek the solid ground of truth, not common ground. While we are commanded to be both submitted and committed to each other in the fear of the Lord, we are not to be not loyal. Loyalty to a man will eventually result in a sinful compromise. We can not afford to “love” anyone, family or otherwise, so much that we unwittingly cast away our pearl of great price. Yes, we can and should suffer long with the frailties of each other and/or with the fallen condition of one seeking the truth, but not with a stubborn hypocrite. Effective and redemptive mercy always requires a surrender to the true evaluation of one’s condition by both the Spirit and Word of God.

Remember,

“Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” (Proverbs 27:6)

“He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.” (Proverbs 28:23)

“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous.”
(1 John 5:1,2)

Peace

Do you love me more than these?

Posted: July 15, 2018 in Devotionals, Shared Thoughts, Wake Up!
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“Do you love me more than these,” Jesus asked of Peter who had not too long before boldly stated before all the disciples “Though all men forsake Thee, I will not.”

Here Jesus was graciously administering some much needed comfort and healing to Peter because of his earlier three denials with three precious opportunities to confirm his love for Christ. Yet Jesus takes Peter further as He continues with His instruction to Peter as to how He wants Peter to love Him; 1. Feed my Sheep and 2. Follow me. What a blessing it is that the Lord instructs us how to pray, love, serve and worship Him.

Certainly nobody could deny Peter loved Christ in view of the fact that he had been willing to lay down his life for Jesus who tells us there is no greater love than that . . . however, love needs to be . . . no, actually love must be given to the honoring of its proclaimed point of affection. Godly love doesn’t merely seek its own expression; rather it pursues the gratification of the other. (more…)

If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them . . .

Posted: May 24, 2018 in Devotionals, Shared Thoughts
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Matthew 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.

A brother and I were praying for another person a while back when he quoted parts of the verses above in his prayer. That got me to thinking about how these two verses are possibly the ones which I hear taken out of context most when praying with others. Each verse seems to have their own catch phrases that tend to be quoted by young or untrained believers. Even believers who appear mature and seasoned are still only repeating without evaluating what they’ve heard from some preacher, trying to “claim” the promises of God. However, I need to ask, is that really Jesus’ intent here? Was He merely trying to teach us the formula of what and how things need to be done so we can then successfully claim His promises and get our prayers answered?

So, when I hear people misused verse 19, it is actually quite troublesome to me, because they really believe that by getting me or another to stand in agreement with them that they’re more likely to have their prayer answered. This flawed understanding literally keeps these believers in a position of trying to perfect the way they do things so they can have faith for their prayers… rather than simply praying because of faith.

Sadly, I am absolutely certain there are many Christians out there who cannot even understand what I just said. Because they been taught things incorrectly, they are left believing “faith” is something they must somehow muster up to compel God to move on their behalf, or even to hear their prayers.

We often witness another naive, though popular tactic to apply faith to prayer. This happens when people conclude their prayer request with that notable fluctuation in their tone as they say, “In Jesus name!” It kind of reminds me of when I was a kid and we would see another kid aspiring to be a magician wave his plastic wand and say “Abracadabra!” That’s because that was the magical word that was going to make the magic trick work.

However, scripture says faith comes by hearing and that hearing the word of God, so obviously many are hearing the word of God incorrectly and are failing to discern when they do. Faulty hearing leaves people trying to apply another kind of “faith” to their prayers, rather than permitting the word of God to be the vehicle whereby true faith is given unto them. That is why scripture states over and over, “He that has an ear to hear, let him hear.”

Regarding verse 20, it is evident it is being misunderstood by someone when you can sense they feel the need to verbally remind the Lord that there are “two or three are gathered together” in the His name. When I hear such usages of the scriptures it saddens me; because these are not the context in which the scriptures are given. Therefore I am writing this post to go over these verses to show how they are misused and address an error that is too common among those professing to know and walk with the Lord of Glory.

First, let’s look at this belief that if “two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything” then they will get whatever they are praying for. This misunderstanding is one reason why a lot of Christians hold hands when praying corporately. That doesn’t mean holding hands is wrong, but rather believing there needs to be “touching” is wrong. Most believers have witnessed this on religious TV shows, and perhaps that is where they were taught this erroneous belief.

While I discourage viewing the whole video, this is an example of what many preachers do when they call on the people and those out in the viewing audience to come into an agreement together. Sometimes they will use the added touch of encouraging the people to reach their hands forward towards the pulpit and those at home to lay hands on their TV sets, as they pray for everything from financial prosperity, a revival, the salvation of family members, physical healing, and once again, some more financial prosperity.

It seems the more people can “do” while they are praying the more likely they are to have the faith for what they are praying about. What these preachers are doing is literally asking the people to make a conscious decision to willfully consent to surrender their minds and use their bodies to accept whatever is being told to them to do.

However, Jesus’s reference to “agree . . . as touching anything” is actually to imply an indication that such faith is authentic; and was not issuing an instruction to make physical contact. “As touching” is the proof faith is already present in their hearts; the kind of faith spoken of in Hebrews-

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Substance is tangible; it can be held and thus touched. Such is the gravity of true faith, evidence that has undeniable weight with God. But this faith comes only by correctly hearing, or rightly dividing, the word of truth. A hearing that receives understanding into the heart whereby we firmly lay hold of the promises of God.

Heb 11:2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

When “two of you shall agree ” it is an indication that there exists a like-mindedness and unity of faith. Jesus wasn’t teaching us that we should solicit others to agree about issues of prayer so it will be more likely they will be answered, He was explaining when believers truly come together in a unity and faith regarding something (to be discussed later) then He will hear and their prayers will be answered by Him. Of course, the “agree as touching” or unity of faith will be dependent on each yielding to the Holy Spirit as He imparts to them a correct understanding of a matter through their”hearing” of His word.

Which brings us to verse 20, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.” Perhaps what I would like to do first with this verse is address what it is not saying. It is not saying that there needs to be “two or three gathered together” to have Jesus in our midst. His promise to all His children is evident in the verses below–

Ge 28:15 And, behold, I am with you, and will keep you in all places whither you go, and will bring you again into this land; for I will not leave you, until I have done that which I have spoken to you of.

Mt 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.

Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as you have: for He has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you.

There are many other passages that confirms the Lord is with each of His children. Remember, we are the temple of God, so to think Christ would not be with us when alone would be a rejection of the greatest promise of God to never leave or to forsake us. So then, if we are to be good “workman that needs not to be ashamed” and rightly walk in the light of this word, we must determine what Jesus was in fact speaking about.

To start, keep in mind the whole of Matthew 18 from verse 7 to the end is dealing with “offenses.” However, from verses 15 to 35 Jesus begins dealing specifically with one “brother” or believer being offended by another. When that happens we are instructed by the Lord Jesus Christ here to go and “gain” our brother back. That is because sin separates men from God and each other, causing a breach in the unity of faith and the bond of peace to be broken. Jesus begins by telling us to first go privately and explain to our brother how he has “trespassed” against us.

Matthew 5:23 – Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has ought against you; 24 Leave there your gift before the altar, and go make your way to first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Matthew 18:15 – Moreover if your brother shall trespass against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone: for if he will hear you, you have gained your brother.

Sometimes people don’t even recognize that the thing they did offended someone, or perhaps know what they did or failed to do was actually a sin. This instruction of scripture requires us to be willing to humble ourselves and to go seeking to remedy the situation by lovingly reasoning with our brother regarding the nature of their offense. Should they fail to hear us individually we are further instructed to take another brother with us so that these truths which are given to guide our love and behavior towards each other “may be established” according to God’s word.

If the brother continues to be unwilling admit or unconvinced that they have truly sinned, then Jesus says we are to tell it unto the whole church so that the whole body can judge the matter and together attempt to persuade the transgressor of his sin. However, the success of this will only be achieved through unfeigned love together with fervent prayer and often times requires fasting; thus placing the whole focus on restoration of unity and the bond of peace so the body might remain fitly joined together in service and worship to the glory of God.

Again, this all comes down to the transgressor humbling himself to correctly hear the word of God regarding the nature of his actions (or lack thereof). If he hears you, or the multitude of witnesses, then we have gained back our brother. If not, then we are clearly told that a willful sinner who continues to reject God’s word is to be unto us as “an heathen man and a publican.”

This “retaining” of their sin isn’t placing the brother in a state of condemnation, for his own continuance in sin has done that. Rather it is the churches responsibility to not enable sin by allowing people to continue in a known sin by permitting them to continue with us in a false fellowship. Yet this is what churches do all the time under the banner of “Love the sinner, Hate the sin.” Light and darkness have no meeting place for godly fellowship. However, if he acknowledges the truth and repents of his sin, then we can “loose” him from his sin with prayer and forgiveness.

When the sinner acknowledges their offense, it is here that we see the agreement “as touching anything” that Jesus was speaking of. All the parties involved have come to an agreement and a unity of faith regarding both sin and righteousness; the issue having been rightly divided and the offender humbled thereby and now seeks forgiveness. It is here at this precious moment we truly see how “two or three” are gather in Jesus name for righteousness sake and the petition that would be foremost upon their lips and hearts is for the Lord of Glory to forgive and heal the body of believers by strengthening the bond of peace and increasing our passionate charity one for another. Jesus’ promise assures us that He is there in our midst to heal us and bind us together in His Spirit, for He loves when we acknowledge His word and repent of our sins.

To take these verses and reduce them to a willful consent to accept another’s notion or desire about anything else and to pray holding hands to accomplish such, does enormous damage to the true intent of Jesus’ words. He has instructed us to love one another as He loves us and to humble ourselves, even when we are in the right. We are to go seeking restoration of that one who has perhaps ignorantly slipped out of the path of righteousness. Brothers and Sisters, what incredible healing God could work in His church if only they would correctly hear His words that were sent to heal us.

Concerning our praying “in Jesus name,” we do so as the qualifier of the object and reason of our faith; for it is because of Him and what He has done that we can exercise faith and come boldly before His throne of grace in our times of need, such as a holy reconciliation. We know “as touching” that we have our petitions because what we ask is according to His will and not our own, for His glory and not our wants. And thus faith does work, for faith works by love. It comes from hearing and that hearing the truth of God’s heart, love and will for us.

Therefore, faith’s focus is always God and His steadfast faithfulness to His word. Faith exists solely because of what He has wrought for us and desires to complete in us through Christ Jesus our Lord. Faith finds rests only in His word and believing what He has done and what He has said He’ll do; never depending upon anything within or from ourselves. Faith is given to us simply because we believe what “He has said…”

Heb 13:5 – Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as you have: for He has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you.

1 Peter 1:13 – Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as He which has called you is holy, so be you holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, “Be you holy; for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on the Father, who without respect of persons judges according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: 18 For as much as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21 Who by Him do believe in God that raised Him up from the dead and gave Him glory, that your faith and hope might be in God. 22 Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that you love one another with a pure heart fervently. 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and abides for ever. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower thereof falls away: 25 But the word of the Lord endures for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

Jesus is always with all His Children. But He is especially there in their midst as a healer to strengthen and bond us together again when in love we strive for the unity of the faith, confess our sins and pray for one another; for this is truly one of the greatest witness of the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ the LORD.

John 13:35 By this shall all men know that you are My disciples, if you have love one to another.

So, go and “gain” back your brother…

Is “love” God?

Posted: January 16, 2018 in Devotionals, Shared Thoughts
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Everybody enjoys hearing about how “Jesus is a God of love,” and undeniably many sermons entitled “God is love” have brought much needed comfort to the heart of the truly repentant. Nonetheless, while these statements are certainly true, as believers we must remember that they are not complete statements of truth. An unwavering truth is that God is no respecter of persons and sometimes the holiness and righteousness of God requires a change in His posture with individuals, a concept some believers have a hard time believing. But consider the following two verses.

“And it shall come to pass, that as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it,” (Deuteronomy 28:63).

“After the number of the days in which ye searched the land . . . ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise,” (Numbers 14:34).

Certainly, God is a God of love, yet in Rev. 2:6 Jesus said “. . . this thou hast that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.” Again in Proverbs it says, “These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among the brethren.” Now, I am not trying to present God as a God of hate, just establish the fact that God is capable of hate.

If God’s people are to have true intimacy with Jesus Christ, coupled with a righteous boldness (not a religious cockiness), then we need a basic understanding of God’s precepts. Jesus conditionally told His disciples, “IF ye continue in My word, THEN are ye My disciples indeed; (THEN) ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” (John 8:31, 32). Jesus was not referring to the truth as certain “facts” which could liberate them. The truth He was referring to was Himself. Jesus said “I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father except by Me” (John 14:6). Jesus Christ is the polestar of all truth. If we are going to be “set” free then it is Jesus Christ personally who we must seek to know, not just mere biblical and historical facts. For “if the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36).

While God is perfect in the administration of His love, the Bible does say He still “judgeth the righteous, and is angry with the wicked every day,” (Psalm 7:11). It is this foundational precept that gives us understanding as to why, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,” (Proverbs 1:7, 9:11).

Proverbs 8:13 says “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: [therefore] pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the forward mouth do I hate.” Proverbs 16:6 says “By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.” Therefore, if believers are to live harmoniously with God they must strive to live according to the scriptures, “perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” We must abhor sin and all unrighteousness, no matter how slight it’s deviation from the truth, for “ALL unrighteousness is SIN,” (I John 5:17). This at times is very hard to do since we are often so easily deceived by the pleasures of sin. Of course, this certainly does not mean we are to be hating “sinners,” but rather the sin that has found root in their lives and hearts as if it were hell’s own death grip on them.

To further clarify the attributes of “God’s love” a contrast needs to be made between our natural humanistic “love” and God’s “righteous love.” Humanistic love (due to man’s fallen nature) is both erratic and temperamental. It changes with circumstances or emotions and often ceases without any apparent reason other than loss of interest. Humanistic love rarely subscribes to logic and when found to be so; it is only aligned with the laws of God out of coincidence and not truly governed thereby. When shaken and unsettled, it usually can only be tranquilized by a self-favorable compromise.

Humanistic love usually has a high toleration of sin in another when something desirable for self might be obtained, or else their sins may not likewise be tolerated. If there is no personal profit to be had, then the response is usually judgment and criticism. “For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these not having a law, are a law unto themselves: which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the meanwhile accusing or else excusing one another” (Romans 2:14,15).

Contrary to fallen man’s own love, the love of God is not governed by His emotions, but is directed by His righteousness. This is clearly seen in Matthew 23:37, “0 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee, how often I would have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold your house is left unto you desolate.” Had God’s love been controlled and subject to emotions, He would have forgiven everybody. He would have gathered them (with all their wickedness) unto Himself whether they repented or not. But God’s love transcends emotions and is founded in holiness and truth.

Likewise, our emotions are God given and can work for good when they’re used correctly as the expressions of our hearts and not the rulers of our lives. Paul instructed the Corinthians saying “the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they have none; and they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possess not; and they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.” Certainly Paul wasn’t forbidding marriage any more than he forbidding us to weep or rejoice. Rather, he was warning us not to allow ourselves to be controlled by our marital statuses, emotions, possessions, or the world.

If we are to fully answer God’s call to be holy as He is holy, we must cease to be ruled by our emotions and seek, ask and knock in diligent pursuit of knowing God and His will in our lives. We are to be ruled by His righteousness and live to fulfill His will, not our own. If we foolishly continue to indulge ourselves in the luxury of self-government we jeopardize our relationship with God an run the risk of being unfruitful.

2 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.

“Righteous love” in one’s life is evidence of a contemplated surrender to God and His will. Since true love is governed by the authority of the Holy Scriptures, it is not easily swayed by human emotions, but still enjoys full emotional expression. This kind of holy love is conceived in our minds as a result of a personal conviction and revelation of God’s love for us, and birthed into being through the surrender of our hearts.

1Peter 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

Jesus reminds us that true love is undeniably evident by our obedience as we see in John and carries with it the promise of reward.

John 14:21 He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Mme shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him.
22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him.
24 He that loveth Me not keepeth not My sayings . . .

Just like faith and hope, righteous love is based upon and therefore governed by God’s word, for God has said, “Come now and let us reason [intellectually] together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye are willing and obedient [surrender in your hearts], ye will eat the good of the land: but if ye refuse and rebel, ye will be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it.”

Absolutely, God commands us to love one another and for that love to be effective it must be within the confines of God’s will as revealed by His word. We must remember that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God,” and that faith “works by love,” (Ro. 10:17, Gal. 5:6). While we are to be longsuffering with immaturity, ignorance and other human frailties and limitations, we must not and cannot tolerate willful sin in ourselves or in each other. If one is overtaken by a fault, then those who are able to instruct must go and do so. If such a one defiantly rebels against God, he is to be rebuked. Should he repent of his wickedness, then let him be forgiven and embraced as a brother. If he doesn’t, he should be removed from the fellowship of believers for he has obstinately forfeited his fellowship with God, for what fellowship has light with darkness? None.

Nowadays, too many believers are being seduced into accepting a “feeling” as love. Because they found acceptance in a church social circle, they are deceived into believing a spirit of churchianity as true Christianity. Love is more than a feeling of warmth, such a feeling is often no more than emotional satisfaction. Since they “feel” good where they are, they are persuaded this is evidence of righteous love. Yet righteous love is maintains an uncompromising commitment to God, His precepts and His church. Remember it is not what we “feel” at a church that confirms truth, but what we hear, “For the word of God . . . is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Likewise, Mercy is too often presumed to be something it’s not. Mercy is a fruit of love, yet, like love for mercy to be effective and redemptive it too must be founded in the righteous judgments of God. People often mistake mercy to be a softness or tenderness exhibited toward someone, or they mistake longsuffering for mercy. These are actually compassion, kindness and gentleness. Mercy is not suffering the consequences of one’s sins which they truly deserve. It is the pardon for an offence which as been exposed, acknowledged, and repented of.

Before the mercy of a pardon can happen however, there needs to be a conviction of righteous judgment first. This too is where many mistake God’s judgment for His wrath, but these are two distinctly different events. God’s judgment is the accurate evaluation of one’s life in light of His righteousness. Should one be found contrary to God as revealed through His word and yet truly repent, pardon is then possible inasmuch as the law was satisfied by the shedding of Christ’s blood. But, when one is evaluated to be a transgressor and refuses to turn from his wicked deed, Jesus Christ re-dying again on ten thousand crosses would not save him, all he has to look forward to is wrath, or “judgment without mercy.”

One must acknowledge his transgressions for what they are with a true godly sorrow and by departing from his sin. The only time an immediate departure from sin may not be required is if it is due to ignorance as a direct result of natural (not willful) Christian immaturity. Therefore, the believer is instructed to diligently seek the will of God in their lives.

2Pe 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
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.
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that [or why] he was purged from his old sins.
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

If we are to effectively love one another so as to minister to and build each other up, we must each devote ourselves to the knowing of both God and His word. We must never compromise our convictions of truth for the sake of church unity, yet we must never cease to labor in love for it. We must dig deep and seek the solid ground of truth, not common ground. While we are commanded to be both submitted and committed to each other in the fear of the Lord, we are not to be not loyal. Loyalty to a man will eventually result in a sinful compromise. We can not afford to “love” anyone, family or otherwise, so much that we unwittingly cast away our pearl of great price. Yes, we can and should suffer long with the frailties of each other and/or with the fallen condition of one seeking the truth, but not with a stubborn hypocrite. Effective and redemptive mercy always requires a surrender to the true evaluation of one’s condition by both the Spirit and Word of God.

Remember,

“Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” (Proverbs 27:6)

“He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.” (Proverbs 28:23)

“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous.”
(1 John 5:1,2)

Peace

The Strait Gate

Posted: November 3, 2017 in Shared Thoughts, Uncategorized, Wake Up!
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Jesus taught us that “all things whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do you unto them: for this is the law and the prophets.” This is one of the great distinctions from those of other belief systems clarified by Jesus’ teachings on the oracles of God. Many religions out there aggressively preach messages of constraint, i.e., don’t treat people the way you don’t want to be treated. Often such religions and institutes affix to their messages oppressive obligations of repetitious prayer, have vain ceremonies and require their followers to maintain a cultural appearance of (perceived) piety.

Here Jesus takes us immediately into servitude to others, “Do for others what you would want them to do for you.” All those out there who continually harp on the difference between the law and grace, they would do well to pause and consider Jesus words here “for this is the law and the prophets.” Jesus wasn’t throwing away the law and saying, “From now on, this is what we do.” He was actually warning everyone not to get caught up in mere religion, that this is what God has always really required.

In the Old Testament when Balak, king of Moab, consulted with Balaam what he needed to do that he might know the righteousness of the LORD. Being ignorant to the righteousness of God, he asked what was it he had to give. Listen to his question and Balaam’s reply –

 Micah 6:6 Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? Should  I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?  7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Should I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?  8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what the LORD requires of you, do justly and love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.

Sadly, because the churches are no longer teaching from the whole Bible, many people nowadays fail to understand the distinction between the two separate aspects of “The Law,” that part which was fulfilled and done away with, and that part of which not one jot or tittle will pass away until after all is fulfilled.  Let’s look at Jesus words –

(more…)

Hallowed Be Thy Name

Posted: July 30, 2017 in Uncategorized
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A timely re-share:

Hallowed Be Thy Name

This was a message God laid on my heart concerning the deity of Jesus the Christ, the Lord’s Prayer and its exhortation for us to petition that God’s name to be hallowed, revered and feared in this fallen world. God’s people need to recognize the necessity to daily seek first His kingdom and righteousness while the long-suffering of God’s waits as with one hand he holds His love and mercy while with the other hand holding back His coming wrath and judgment on a wicked world.



Why God Created Us Male And Female

Posted: July 10, 2017 in Shared Thoughts, Study!
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Whom shall God teach knowledge? And whom shall He make to understand doctrine? Them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breast. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little. (Isaiah 28:9, 10)

In order for anyone to understand anything, they must first be made aware of some basic principles. In math, for instance, one could not very well understand multiplication without first understanding addition.

True understanding can only come from knowledge founded upon God’s precepts. Therefore, this post is an effort to present those precepts that are necessary to know in order to understand the role of male and female, and “why” God created us such.

God created humanity to be both male and female so they could “adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.” In Titus chapter 2 there are many examples for this are given, husbands and wives, masters and servants, and the young with their elders. We can especially see it in children honoring and obeying their parents according to the commandment, the only commandment with a promise, and that of a long life, and the way it easily reflects how we as God’s children through our faith do honor and obey Him and likewise have the promise of eternal life.

To begin, we must first acknowledge how it was the male who was first created in the image of God with a position on the earth similar to God in the heaven. Even nowadays, when in a right relationship with God, a man will faithfully represent God in all his dealings, both in his own household and with his neighbor.

Since true love and commitment must be of one’s free will, God designed humanity with the ability to choose to be either His glory or His shame in the earth. When a man (male) humbles himself and chooses to submit to the precepts of God, he becomes the glory of God in the earth. His life will then both affirm and reflect both the righteous judgments and attributes of God.

Next, we need to acknowledge how the Bible teaches that the foundation for woman was taken from man and then perfectly made for the man. By God’s Royal design the woman should be to man what man was meant to be to God, his glory.

“But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man,” (1Co 11:3-9).

Since woman was created for the man, when a woman aligns her life with the principles that God established to guide the role of a wife, she truly does becomes the glory of her husband. However, if she rejects God’s order and challenges her husband’s position of authority as established by God, it only results in her becoming a shame unto him, for as it says in Proverbs, “A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that makes ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.”

When a woman is resolved in her heart to serve God by faithfully tending to her husband’s home and personal needs, she then represents that part of humanity (the true church) which has resolved to fear God and to keep his commandments. “This is the whole duty of man,” (Eccl. 12:13). Through her relationship with her husband the righteous woman literally preaches through her actions and life to all humanity the personal relationship God desires each of us to have with Him. The proof of our love is absolute trust and submission. The result of our love will be true and total intimacy.

In Ephesians we see how our role of man and woman, husband and wife proclaim the gospel.

“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, EVEN AS Christ loved the church, and gave Himself for it; that He might sanctify it and cleanse it by the washing of the water by the word. That He might present it to Himself a glorious church. Not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth it and cherisheth it, EVEN AS THE LORD THE CHURCH. For we are member of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.” (Ephesians 5:22-30)

At this point I believe it would be profitable for the sake everyone’s understanding the point I am trying to make to go to Genesis.

“So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He HIM, male and female created He them. And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living soul. And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and the Lord God took the man and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat of it: for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.’ And the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone; I will make a help meet.’ And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called each living creature, that was the name thereof. But for Adam there was not found a help meet for him. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and God took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof. And the rib which the Lord God had taken FROM MAN made He a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is bone of MY BONES [not God’s], and flesh of MY FLESH: she shall be called woman, BECAUSE she was TAKEN OUT OF MAN.”

By these scriptures we can see it was the man, who was created in the image of God, and is symbolic of God. It is also very important to point out here that, while even in the midst of a creation full of living creatures, man was alone. The woman was taken FROM man and is for the man. Therefore, if man is symbolic of God, the woman is symbolic of humanity and should rightly represent humanity.

But here is a question that needs to be asked, why didn’t God create man and woman at the same time?  No doubt God could foresee Adam’s need. Why therefore was woman taken from man and not made from the dust like man?

Because it was God’s intention to placed the male in a position parallel to His own–with an authority over his (man’s) kingdom and alone with no suitable mate. God did this so Adam could identify with God, both positionally and emotionally. God brought all the animals to Adam not only to name them, but so he could see that among all of them there was no suitable helper for him. Because God in His realm of the heavens, like Adam in the earth below, found none among the angelic beings suitable to be His helper. It was only after Adam realized just how alone he was, after his naming all those animals, that God finally created for him the woman. From a place close to his heart woman was taken. For it was man’s heart, and not his strength, that was incomplete.

The creation of humanity was prompted out of a yearning of God’s heart for His own bride, a suitable helper and mate. Adam being created first and living among all the animals alone, and then God creating Eve gives us a great picture into the whole divine purpose of humanity and why we must be holy. It even reveals why the greatest commandment God has ever given to man is to love God with all his heart, soul, strength, with the entire essence of man’s being, for this is the same commitment God requires a wife to have toward her husband. For the husband, God’s requirements are that he loves, protect, cherish and provide for her, honoring her as the weaker of the two, for such is God’s commitment toward man. “Therefore” as both Adam prophesied and Paul wrote, “for this cause shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (Gen. 2:24, Eph. 5:3 1).

Becoming “one flesh” reflects the merging of two hearts and minds in an endeavor to live as one through the covenant of marriage. This covenant is sealed and confirmed by the physical joining of a man and woman together through sexual intimacy. By Royal design the male and female bodies fit together as one, with the male (representing God) entering into the female (representing humanity), face to face and heart to heart. Then the man imparts his corruptible (able to perish) seed into the woman and life springs forth. But God causes us to be “born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” Yet this union of male and female is lawful only when the two have agreed to enter into a covenant, for better or worse, to be mutually committed to each other for the rest of their lives.

Humanity’s union with God can only be obtained alter there’s a heart resolve to serve God, as God has instructed the woman to serve her husband (Gen. 3:16). Without a commitment to pick up our cross and deny ourselves daily, we cannot be His disciples; true oneness can never be obtained.

The importance of this commitment was given by Jesus Himself, “He that hath My commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves Me: and he that loves Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him and will manifest Myself unto him and We will come and make Our abode with him” (John 14:21,23).

Jesus said” “Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord,’ shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven. Many [so-called Christians] will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works?’ And then will I profess unto them, ‘I never knew you, depart from me ye that worked iniquity”‘ (Matthew 7:21-23).

Should Jesus one day say to us, “I never knew you,” He won’t be saying, “I’m sorry, I don’t believe I’ve made your acquaintance.” Jesus knows every person who has ever lived and has all the hairs on our heads numbered. What Jesus meant by “knew” was “total intimacy and oneness”. It’s in this manner that the Bible refers to how Joseph “knew” not Mary till alter Jesus was born Matthew 1:25).

We know this intimacy (spiritually) is Jesus’ desire by His prayer to the Father –

“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; that they ALL may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be ONE IN US, that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me. And the glory which Thou hast given Me [the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit] I have given them; that they may be one, EVEN AS we are one: I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in oneness]; that the world know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, even as We are one,” (John 17:20-23).

In regards to the marriage of man and women we do well to remember that their intimate sexual union is only a shadow of the greater spiritual intimacy God desires. The intimacy God desires with His church is infinitely greater and rewarding than a man and women’s mere physical union of flesh because it’s the fulfillment of God’s desire and man’s purpose. In Ephesians we see this confirmed, “A man . . . shall be joined unto his wife, and the two shall be ONE flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning (Jesus) Christ and the church!!!” (Eph. 5:31, 32).

Because of the churches their failure to clearly teach the righteous precepts of God and just saying “no sex before marriage” that few nowadays realize what it is sexual intimacy prophetically represents and why exactly God hates fornication, or “free sex.” Fornication is man’s vain attempt to satisfy that void without making a commitment which can only be satisfied by God Himself. Nevertheless, humanity foolishly attempts to satisfy that void through their sexual misconduct, or as they profess, “their sexual liberties.”

Because man’s true needs are spiritual, and not physical, his sexual endeavors can never accomplish more than a momentary gratification of his flesh. His sin will only worsen his state while true need remains unfulfilled. Therefore, his momentary gratification soon fades and he returns to his unsatisfied condition. Like an addict, seduced by today’s reprobate morality, man becomes a hopeless slave to this vicious cycle.

Yet, like the scriptures ask us, “Can a man take fire in his bosom and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals and his feet not be burned?” Can a man be fulfilled by casual sex with another which no commitment? No. Not only does he commit sin by neglecting God’s precepts, but he then becomes accountable for contributing to the other person’s sins as well.

One major problem preachers have had in presenting AIDS as the judgment of God when it first became an epidemic was the lack of infection in the female homosexual community. Way back in 1988 a lesbian wrote to a religious columnist pointing out Romans 1:26: “Even their women exchanged the natural relations for unnatural ones.” She then asked, “If AIDS is the judgment of God, then why are there so few reported cases of AIDS among us?” This was a question which stumped both the columnist and me as well for some time. But God is faithful and He’ll enlighten any man who diligently seeks understanding. Just let him ask God with the intention of embracing His wisdom and faithfully obeying it, (James 1:5-7).

To understand and explain the error in the homosexual’s sin it is necessary to review so as to understand the true purpose for God creating man. Otherwise we will never recognize that the sin God is judging is not the homosexual’s sexual perversion, rather it’s their misrepresentation of God as men created in His image. Likewise the lesbian’s error is their failure, as women, to represent the church’s uncompromising love for God by their lack of affection to the male.

Romans chapter 1 exposes the foundation of the homosexual’s of error in sin.

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men [the male part of the species], who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, BECAUSE WHAT MAY BE KNOWN OF GOD IS [is to] MANIFEST IN THEM [the male], for God has shown it to [or through] them. For the invisible things of Him [God] from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made [the male and female roles], even [God and] His eternal power and Godhead [are made apparent], so that they [male and female] are without excuse: because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were they thankful [for the glorious life God gave them and called them to], but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing themselves to be wise they became fools, and CHANGED THE GLORY OF THE INCORRUPTIBLE GOD into an image made like corruptible man and birds and four-footed beasts and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies between themselves, who changed the TRUTH OF GOD INTO A LIE, AND WORSHIPED AND SERVED THE CREATURE MORE THAN THE CREATOR, who is blessed forever. Amen,” (Romans 1:18-25).

The “truth of God” that males homosexuality changed into a lie is how “God so loved the world” (John 3:16). God loves the world so much He gave His only Son to die for its redemption. Yet when men reject their natural passion for women and turn to other men to satisfy their God given desire for “oneness through intimacy,” their actions present to the world the lie that “God has no affection for humanity! God only loves Himself!” This is blasphemy!!!

There’s no greater love than a man laying his life down for his friends, and Jesus laid down His life on the cross for all humanity; homosexual, straight, black, white, and green!! There is no greater love anywhere than God’s love or His commitment to man!!!

“For this cause God gave them [men] up unto vile passions: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature. And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another; men with men working that which is unseemly [anal intercourse], and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet,” (Romans 1:26,27).

Again, the error of the homosexual is not their profane method of sexual intercourse. That is only a “fruit” of their error. The “root” is their failure to correctly represent God as a lover of the weaker vessel. By Royal design, man’s role in life is to be that of affectionate concern for woman–loving her, cherishing her, protecting and providing for her. The woman in turn, is to return her love through willful and uncompromising service to the man, even as unto the Lord, thus adorning “the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.”

Homosexuals fail in all these areas. But that still doesn’t explain why the female counterparts of the homosexual community have not contracted AIDS in like proportion, if indeed AIDS is a judgment of God.

Let’s review Romans 1:20: “For the invisible things… are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are…” Now please bear with me, I’m not taking this scripture out of context, rather I’m using the principle of the scripture for understanding. The principle is this; a man (male) when in a right relationship with God will be a righteous representation of God in the earth. This will be evident by his effectiveness as both a covering and instructor of righteousness to his wife and children. The woman, in turn, will happily love her husband with submissive service. The children, if properly instructed in righteousness from their youth, will not depart from it when they grow old (Proverbs 22:6).

However, when men who are to be the image and glory of God, reject God as their covering and forsake the natural affection they should have toward God–then “even their women” will “change the natural use into that which is against nature.” Although bearing like fruit of error, the female’s error is merely evidence of the man’s. And yet, though the man’s error may blasphemously misrepresent God, the lesbian’s life-style sadly proclaims the truth about humanity, they have become lovers of their own selves instead of lovers of God! On the other hand, God does not afflict the lesbian because in the midst of her sin she does accurately represent today’s mass of humanity.

Still, it is very important that as Christians we understand that AIDS is God’s judgment and not His wrath, there is a difference. God has so judged the male homosexual for the reproach they’ve brought to God’s glory, both on earth and in heaven. The fallen angels rejoice at the lie of the homosexual’s lifestyle, mocking and accusing God of being a lover of “self” more than a lover of humanity.

Nevertheless God stands justified. Yes, “great is the mystery of godliness; God was manifested in the flesh [and became obedient to His own precepts of righteousness, even to the death of the cross redeeming humanity back to Himself. By the cross, [God] was justified [of angelic and human accusation] in the Spirit, [His unselfish love was confirmed by His death] seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, [because God loves man so much, He left His throne to become clothed with human flesh to die for our redemption and therefore He was] received up into glory!” (I Timothy 3:16).

“Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord,” (Eph. 3:8-11).

“Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into,” (II Pet. 1:2).

I know by now those who have read this far are asking the question, “If AIDS is the judgment of God on the homosexual, then why do heterosexuals get AIDS?” The answer is found in II John 6-11.

“And this is love, that we walk after His commandment. This is the commandment, that, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed): for he that biddeth him God speed is a partaker of his evil deeds.”

When liberal minded heterosexuals stand up for the “rights” of homosexuals who improperly “adorn the doctrine of God our Savior,” they too will be identified with the homosexuals. We cannot stand up for the unrighteousness of the wicked and still stand with Jesus. The two are opposed to each other. We are either with and for Jesus, or we’re against Him.

God has allowed AIDS to take its course in the heterosexual populace because they demanded their government to “protect” the “rights” of homosexuals. God has warned us, “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Nevertheless, there are in fact many AIDS patients who are indeed truly victims, just like the casualty of a Red Cross worker in a war zone. They are not at fault; rather they are victims of another man’s sin. God knows it and will do what is right by the victim.

Still, we must be careful how we sympathize with those whose affliction of AIDS is brought on by their sin. While we are always to be compassionate and labor in love to recover the sinner back to God, sympathy can cause us to feel that their affliction is unfair. Remember, God in His righteousness has rewarded the sinner according to their sin. To side with the sinner in feeling that their “reward” is unfair would foolishly put us in the position of judging God. With God there is no “fair” or “unfair,” only justice and mercy. Let us always be compassionate to all men, but let us reserve our sympathy for the true victims of the HIV virus, the hemophiliac, the health care worker, the policeman, the patient infected because of a HIV positive doctor or dentist, etc.

Nevertheless, we must be compassionate, for compassion has divine redemptive qualities. With AIDS, effective compassion can only be a humble presentation of the truth, that they might see their error, repent, and be reconciled to God. “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves, if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil,” (Tim. 2:25,26).

Blessed are the undefiled in the way, which walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart! They also do no iniquity; they walk in His ways. You have commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently. Oh, that my ways were directed to keep your statutes! Then would I not be ashamed, when I look into all your commandments. How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Thy word. With my whole heart I have sought you; oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against You, (Psalm 119:1-6, 9-11).

Live for the King!

Do you love me more than these?

Posted: June 9, 2015 in Devotionals, Shared Thoughts, Wake Up!
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“Do you love me more than these,” Jesus asked of Peter who had not too long before boldly stated before all the disciples “Though all men forsake Thee, I will not.”

Here Jesus was graciously administering some much needed comfort and healing to Peter because of his earlier three denials with three precious opportunities to confirm his love for Christ. Yet Jesus takes Peter further as He continues with His instruction to Peter as to how He wants Peter to love Him; 1. Feed my Sheep and 2. Follow me. What a blessing it is that the Lord instructs us how to pray, love, serve and worship Him.

Certainly nobody could deny Peter loved Christ in view of the fact that he had been willing to lay down his life for Jesus who tells us there is no greater love than that . . . however, love needs to be . . . no, actually love must be given to the honoring of its proclaimed point of affection. Godly love doesn’t merely seek its own expression; rather it pursues the gratification of the other. (more…)

A simple study on “Faith”

Posted: May 16, 2015 in Study!
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Here is a simple study on Faith.

  • What Faith does.
  • Where does Faith come from?
  • Is Faith necessary?
  • Who/What is our faith in?
  • What God has done that we may have faith and hope?
  • Result of Faith.
  • The main benefit of faith.

(more…)

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