Posts Tagged ‘Holy’

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.

Flee fornication . . .

Posted: February 13, 2023 in Devotionals, Shared Thoughts, Wake Up!
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That’s what God’s word tells us.  But many today aren’t “fleeing” from it, rather for all intents and purposes, the masses are contrarily running madly towards it. For some insane reason people are literally eager to expose and open themselves up to anything and everything sexual, no matter how deviant or abnormal, as if somehow it is going to be the answer to their loneliness, or boredom, or their oppressive sense of rejection and insignificance. It has become so maddening that even some who only call themselves friends are frequently engaging in sexual relations, and some will often make or accept challenges to do the most profane things with as many partners they can, only to see if they can outdo others. This is not only societal madness; this is literally as close as a society can get to committing mass suicide. Yes, you read it right, mass suicide.

But wait you say, that’s not me, I’m not just playing games or sleeping around.  I’m truly attracted to  and interested in the people I sleep with, and I’m looking for a possible life partner, a true soulmate. Well, if that is what you think, you’re going about it completely wrong and will never truly find what you think you want.

Proverbs 18:22 – Whosoever finds a [godly] wife, finds a good thing, and obtains favour of the LORD.

Proverbs 19:14 – Houses and riches are the inheritance of fathers, and a godly wife is from the LORD.

Proverbs 31:10 – Who can find a woman of virtue? For her value is far above rubies. 11 The heart of her husband trusts safely in her.

Maybe it is all simply because the churches have failed to rightly teach God’s word that people are just ignorant, or perhaps they are willfully ignorant, or possibly just insecure, having grown up in such a time in the midst of a self-centered generation where almost everyone seems infatuated with seeking their own gratification, possessing little or no concern of the expense of whoever or whatever. The awareness almost no longer shocks some people that there are people out there who are literally drugging their supposed “dates” and then raping them, as well as allowing others to rape them as well.

These human beasts are literally doing this openly amongst their select group of perverted friends in a celebratory fashion. Packs of humanity, who outwardly look like everyone else, are regularly behaving like wild animals actively preying on others, and we’re not even off the subject of “straight sex!”

There are others who seem far above all this, people in positions with significant power and authority, who are in ministry, big business, law enforcement, or government, who have meticulously sought to establish themselves as decent and respectable in the community. However, the truth is they are so slavishly engrossed in their own sexual decadence that they cannot but run to every opportunity of self-gratification, regardless of the risk to their families and careers. They place everything at risk, all for a brief moment of unrestrained indulgence that only promises to send their world crashing once they are exposed.

Nonetheless, even though we continually witness the damage and shame brought to society, families, and individuals everywhere, all this continues everywhere 24 hours a day and people are behaving none the wiser. It seems even when they have been openly exposed, people have no shame, and that these are truly the days that God said “they  could not blush.”

Jeremiah 6:15 – “Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed, nor could they blush. Therefore, they shall fall among those who fall, for at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down,” says the LORD. 16  So says the LORD, “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths where the good way is, and walk in it, and there you shall find rest for your souls.” But they said, “We will not walk in it.”

So, I ask, do you really think these people started off this enslaved and wicked? Or were they people just like you who simply experimented or yielded to temptation and their desires. If this is touching you, then please listen, because God’s word reasons with us and ask as plainly as it can, “Can a man carry fire in his bosom and his clothes not be burned? Or can one walk upon hot coals and his feet not be scorched? So is he who goes into his neighbor’s wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished.” Man cannot indulge in sexual sins and not do serious harm to his own self, physically (STD’s), emotionally and spiritually.

It is alarming to see just how many people, from religious leaders to politicians, close friends, and family members, who thoughtlessly allow their lives to be engulfed by this sin and have their whole family brutally impacted, if not completely destroyed by the certain consequences which always follow. Lives are regularly being forever changed, marriages broken, opportunities lost, and regrets abounding that will be carried to the grave.

Just look at the undeniable damage to society, the incredible unwed mother rate in America, four out of ten children born out of wedlock, up to 72% in some ethnic groups, the staggering growing fifty million-plus aborted lives of innocence all sacrificed on the altars of self-worship, personal convenience and self-gratification. When a society gets to this place of openly rejecting the sanctity of their own bodies, of marriage and human life, blatant worship of the creature instead of their Creator, how can a holy and just God allow such abounding wickedness to continue unpunished? Where is the terror of the Lord? How is it there is no fear? Do they really think God does not see? Oh, He does . . . God does see.

The word of God tells us to “Flee!” That means we are to recognize sexual immorality and fornication as a strong enemy that cannot be successfully engaged or defeated by any other means than removing ourselves from temptation’s seductive poison as fast as possible before it defiles our hearts and minds. We must flee before we stupidly believe the lie that we can eat and will not die, lest we imprudently sell ourselves to it as slaves unto death.

America’s morality has fallen so far from virtue and godliness that there appears to be no escaping the voracious nature of sexual immorality today. For if you desire to be celibate, you are then stalked as a prize waiting to be conquered, and seized upon, and then having been morally misused, are then casually discarded as longer desirable. How do people fail to see the devilish scheme to defile the pure and bring shame to the innocent? How is it that people are so blind and unaware of the tragedies that sexual sins are sure to bring into their lives, as well as damage the generations to come?

Perhaps, it is all because it has become so normal and acceptable to reject God and deny Him any place in our homes, schools, courthouses, and personal lives.  Yet even the few who will sheepishly acknowledge a God, often do so only in the most dismissing fashion, as if God is only a concept, or one who really doesn’t hear or actually care. But nothing could be further from the truth.

We have made two major blunders in our families and society. First, we have either forgotten or rejected that we were created in the image of God. Secondly, if and when society acknowledges there is a God, they perceive such a “god” to be like unto their own selves. People, friends, children, please hear me out, God created us in His own image for His own purpose and glory. God cares about us and we exist primarily for fellowship with Him, and not only for fellowship, but also for a glorious union whereby God intended to indwell us with His Spirit, uniting His with our very own.

It seems the entire world is like a drunkard running madly towards sexual immorality as if it were the answer to that void deep within every person, a void which will never be filled by any other than the One who customized its creation for His own indwelling. This is every member of humanity’s purpose for existing, your purpose for existing. How often the cry is heard, “What is my purpose, why am I here?” People, God is not like us, He cannot and will not ignore such sin nor excuse it.

God created us in His own image, but have you ever really tried to wrap your mind around that, or to understand it, “us” in His own image? We must diligently cry out to God if we are to have any hope of laying hold of this glorious truth, and give it opportunity to divinely transform us. You must lay hold of this truth if you wish to truly know God. Because your being made in that “image” transcends having a head, a torso, two arms and two legs; it is your having a soul and an eternal spirit needing to be recreated in holiness as well. For God created man in His own image so that we could have all the means whereby we could be reflections of His glory and understand God’s heart and desire for His people, including the great affection where with He loves us, and oh yes, yes, how He loves us.

God made Adam to be a righteous and holy being, but God also revealed it wasn’t good that man should be alone, so God created woman from the man, for the man. This infinite wisdom and royal design of God for man and woman was flawless for the woman was made the perfect mate for man, so much so that man could literally come into her and impart his seed and miraculously bring forth more life.  This is why men are told to love their wives as Christ loved the Church and women to honor and submit to their husbands.

The design of humanity, as male and female, was created such that as complementing genders capable of intimate union, so that in a proper and righteous relationship with their counterpart, together could adorn the doctrine of God our Savior, that man was created in the image of God to be the glory of God. Likewise, woman was created from substance taken from man, and made to be the glory of the man.

1 Corinthians 11:7 – For this reason a man should not cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man is not from woman, but woman from man. 9 Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man.

Titus 2:1-5, 10 – But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine so that the older men might be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience. Likewise, the older women, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things, so that they may admonish the young women to also love their husbands, to love their children, and to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed. …Not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.

It is only when a man and woman are in the holy covenant relationship of marriage with each other that we can see that blessed type whereby we can truly see that blessed relationship God desires, as well as mutually experience the uniqueness of His covenant love. For only in the covenant of holy marriage can we grasp the depth of intimacy God intended through His Son coming to us, and in us, and so imparting His Holy Seed of Life in us (Christ in us), that we can be divinely empowered to live the very life He earnestly desires all to have through Him and with Him, life full of joy and peace.

Ephesians 5:22 – Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.  23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So ought husbands to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. 30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

It is here in marriage where we uncover and begin to see with illuminated clarity the great love wherewith God so loved the world and the very reason He sent the promised Son, who humbly came down and clothed Himself in the frailty of our humanity with the intention that He would free from sin all those of fallen humanity who  would receive a love in this truth and rejoice in Him. It is also here where we discover the severity for His wrath in rejecting Him, through the choosing of darkness over light, and sin over righteousness.

2 Thess. 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; Because They Received Not the Love of The Truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie, 12 and that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Jesus Christ willingly shed His redemptive blood to satisfy the unrelenting demand of death that our sins brought against us by providing the only acceptable, pure, and holy blood atonement whereby He alone can wash the guiltiest of sinners clean. All this wonderful and necessary atoning and cleansing work of Calvary’s cross was planned in heaven from eternity’s past and executed here on earth through Christ, so the Spirit of the Holy One can come in us and dwell in these fleshly temples made clean again by God alone.

So, look again at God’s word for you,

Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which belong to God. (1 Cor. 6:18-20)

Take heed, for to thoughtlessly give oneself to sexual immorality is not only to sin against God, but against yourself as well. For our bodies were intended to be temples for God’s Spirit, as a place for His dwelling in united harmony with our own spirits. This is why Jesus paid the price of your redemption, so that you can be forgiven, washed clean, indwelt, and thereby empowered to be godly, holy and glorifying to God “in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

Please, for the love of God, because of the mercy He is desiring to show unto the repentant, because of the many exceedingly wonderful and great promises He has for those who will come to Him and diligently seek Him, please, please, flee sexual immorality and run to God. All who seek will find and all who call upon Him will He answer . . . while there is still time, turn away from sin and come back to your Father who loves you.

May you find His 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…)

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.



Flee fornication . . .

Posted: January 30, 2016 in Devotionals, Shared Thoughts, Wake Up!
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1

That’s what God’s word tells us.  But many today aren’t “fleeing” from it, rather they for all intents and purposes are running madly to it and embracing all sorts of sexual perversion. Nowadays, for some insane reason people are literally racing to expose and open themselves up to anything and everything sexual, as if somehow it is going to be the answer to their loneliness or boredom or their oppressive sense of rejection and insignificance. It has become so maddening that even so-called “friends” now frequently engage in sexual immorality and openly make and accept challenges to do the most profane things with as many partners to see who can outperform the other. This is not only madness; this is as close as a society can get to mass suicide. Yes, you read it right, mass suicide.

Perhaps it is because people are just so willfully ignorant of God’s word, or maybe so insecure after having grown up in such a self-centered generation. It seems almost everyone is infatuated with seeking their own gratification regardless the expense of whoever and/or whatever. The thought of it almost no longer shocks some people that there are those who are literally drugging their supposed “dates” and raping them and then allowing others to rape them as well. These human beasts are literally doing this openly among their select group of perverted friends in a celebratory fashion. Packs of humanity who outwardly look like everyone else yet actively prey sexually upon others, and we’re not even off the subject of “straight sex!” All the while there are others in more acceptable positions that have established themselves as “respectable” in the community that are literally so slavishly engrossed in their own sexual decadence that they cannot stop themselves from running into every opportunity of fornication, regardless the risk to their families and careers. All for a brief moment of unbridled indulgence that promises nothing more than to send their world crashing to the ground all around them while the whole world sees and continues to be none the wiser. Do you really think these people started off this enslaved and wicked?

If this is touching you then please listen, God’s word tells us as plainly as it can, “Can a man carry fire in his bosom and his clothes not be burned? Or can one walk upon hot coals and his feet not be scorched? So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife; none who touches her will go unpunished.” Man cannot indulge in sexual sins and not do serious harm to his own self, physically (STD’s), emotionally and spiritually.

(more…)

Do you love me more than these?

Posted: June 9, 2015 in Devotionals, Shared Thoughts, Wake Up!
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
0

“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…)

faith, faithfulness and forgiveness

Posted: December 9, 2013 in Shared Thoughts, Wake Up!
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Sometimes it seems life takes you in circles, different people but the same ole’ situations whereby you witness other believers hearts being harden against the truth because of their pride. That is why I am reposting this article again. Brothers and sisters, we must always remember our battles must always be fought in a spirit of humility if they are to truly be won, for that is the path of righteousness the Captain of our salvation showed us as he openly defeated His enemies by willingly enduring the cross. Therefore, let us too pick up our crosses and follow Him into victory.

Ephesians 4:1  I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling.

James 4:5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? 6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

1 Peter 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 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.

Re-posted article –

It has been several months that I felt the Lord has been speaking to me about faith, faithfulness and forgiveness. Throughout it all I have found myself wanting to write about what He has been showing me regarding having “faith as a grain of a mustard seed” where Jesus tells His disciples, “you might say unto this sycamine tree, ‘Be you plucked up by the root, and planted in the sea,’ and it should obey you.” I have sought various opportunities of late to so write concerning faith and a few other topic concerning spiritual things that I might leave my own children a record of what I feel the Lord has revealed to me pertaining to the promises and conditions of the Kingdom of God of which Jesus testified “every man presses into it.” However, I have felt restrained by His Spirit prior till now that it wasn’t time to write. Why, I am not really sure, the Lord knows though. Perhaps so will I when I am finished.

(more…)

Its all about the wedding…

Posted: June 14, 2013 in Wake Up!
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(click link above to listen)

Revelation 19:6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! 7 “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.”8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 9 Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!'” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”

Capture

 `

Its all about the wedding…

(click link above to listen)

The above is a message I shared at a men’s fellowship regarding the wedding at Cana of Galilee where Jesus performed His first miracle beginning His ministry.

Hallowed Be Thy Name

Posted: May 3, 2013 in Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
0

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.



Flee fornication . . .

Posted: April 21, 2013 in Devotionals, Shared Thoughts, Wake Up!
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
1

That’s what God’s word tells us.  But many today aren’t “fleeing” from it, rather they are for all intents and purposes running madly to it. For some insane reason people are literally racing to expose and open themselves up to everything and anything sexual, as if somehow it is going to be the answer to their loneliness or boredom or their oppressive sense of rejection and insignificance. It has become so maddening that even some so called friends frequently engage in sexual immorality and openly make and accept challenges to do the most profane things with as many partners to see who can outperform the other. This is not only madness; this is as close as a society can get to mass suicide. Yes, you read it right, mass suicide.

Perhaps it is because people are just so willfully ignorant of God’s word or so insecure having grown up in such a self-centered generation where almost everyone seems infatuated with seeking their own gratification at the expense of whoever and/or whatever. The thought of it almost no longer shocks some people that there are those who are literally drugging their supposed “dates” and then raping them and then allowing others to rape them as well. These human beasts are literally doing this openly amongst their select group of perverted friends in a celebratory fashion. Packs of humanity who outwardly look like everyone else while actively preying sexually on others, and we’re not even off the subject of “straight sex!” All the while there are others in more acceptable positions that have established themselves as “respectable” in the community who are so slavishly engrossed in their own sexual decadence that they cannot but run to every opportunity of fornication regardless the risk to their families and careers . . . all for a moment of unbridled indulgence that promises only to send their world crashing to the ground all around them while the whole world sees and continues to be none the wiser. Do you really think these people started off this enslaved and wicked?

If this is touching you then please listen, God’s word tells us as plainly as it can, “Can a man carry fire in his bosom and his clothes not be burned? Or can one walk upon hot coals and his feet not be scorched? So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife; none who touches her will go unpunished.” Man cannot indulge in sexual sins and not do serious harm to his own self, physically (STD’s), emotionally and spiritually.

(more…)

God’s Unconditional Love

Posted: October 25, 2012 in Devotionals, Shared Thoughts, Study!, Wake Up!
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I hear it all the time, how God loves us all unconditionally. Over the years of having conducted services at a mandatory rehab for people whose crimes were drug related, ministered at homeless shelters and having countless conversations with “believers” who readily admit they are not walking with God as they should, I frequently run into those who enthusiastically confess to me how they know, absolutely know, that God loves them unconditionally and that He accepts them just as they are.

This has led me into many discussions with people about what it means to “believe” and what exactly this “grace” is that these people are boasting about since they know they are saved because of it.  Sadly, many have no real understanding of what grace really is, they simply repeat what they were once told, “It is unmerited favor.” It is as if people are convinced that when God looks at them He has on some special “Jesus only” colored glasses because they think God only sees Jesus when He looks at them and not themselves for how they truly are.

Grace is truly an amazing gift of God given to the believer, but there are four things about grace we can readily know from scripture –

1. Grace is sufficient

2. Grace can be frustrated

3. Grace while working similarly in all God’s children, still has a uniqueness to it purpose as it is given to each of us

4. Grace can be received in vain.

(more…)

Christianity is not passive

Posted: March 4, 2012 in Coffee House, Wake Up!
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While finishing up my next article I wanted to submit this exhortation I gave one night at the Coffee House.

~

We are instructed by the scriptures to be vigilant in our faith, to strive to enter the strait gate, fight the good fight, run the race, be good soldiers, finishers of the faith.

faith, faithfulness and forgiveness

Posted: February 27, 2012 in Shared Thoughts, Wake Up!
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
4

It has been several months that I felt the Lord has been speaking to me about faith, faithfulness and forgiveness. Throughout it all I have found myself wanting to write about what He has been showing me regarding having “faith as a grain of a mustard seed” where Jesus tells His disciples, “you might say unto this sycamine tree, ‘Be you plucked up by the root, and planted in the sea,’ and it should obey you.” I have sought various opportunities of late to write so concerning faith and a few other things that I might leave my own children a record of what I feel the Lord has revealed to me pertaining to the promises and conditions of the Kingdom of God of which Jesus testified “every man presses into it.” However, I have felt restrained by His Spirit prior till now that it wasn’t time to write. Why, I am not really sure, the Lord knows though. Perhaps so will I when I am finished.

(more…)

The Goodness and Severity of God . . . Do you believe?

Posted: February 23, 2012 in Shared Thoughts, Uncategorized, Wake Up!
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~

Understanding how God’s grace saves us.

Why we need faith, why we must hear and believe God’s word to us . . .


Ro 11:18 Do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you.
19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.”
20 Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear;
21 for if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will He spare you.
22 Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.
23 And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in; for God is able to graft them in again.

Test yourselves to see if you are truly in the faith.
Examine yourselves!
Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you
–unless indeed you fail the test?
(2Co 13:5)

Stay free, be not entangled, keep focused, run the race.

Posted: December 30, 2011 in Shared Thoughts, Uncategorized, Wake Up!
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0

There are many things that still must come to pass before the Lord returns, things that are clearly written in scripture that we might be aware of the time and season in which we are living. These things were written so that we the Church could stand fast, and keep our focus on our responsibility of each of us perfecting our call to holiness while endeavoring to fulfill the purpose for which we have been elected/enlisted/chosen by the Captain of our salvation.

2Ti 2:4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. (KJV)

2Ti 2:4 No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. (NASB)

We all have not only been called to be holy for the Lord is holy, it is both a commandment and a necessity; for without holiness no one will see God on favorable terms. Equally true is that each of us have been given a certain rank and file in the army of God whereby we are to . . . no, whereby we must labor together with other members of the body of Christ according to the effectual working of His grace given each and everyone of us. None of this has to do with God being a respecter of persons, rather it is in His wisdom that He has dispersed His gifts unto men with the seemingly greater gifts also bearing the greater responsibility. Nonetheless, regardless the uniqueness of our individual calls to ministry given by our Father, every believer’s priorities should be for His name’s sake to be wholeheartedly seeking and doing His will “according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, making increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”

2 Pe 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brothers, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if you do these things, you shall never fall.

Sisters and brothers, we must make our callings certain (not in vain), for there has been given to each an everyone of us “grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ,” meaning our Lord has equipped each and every one for a unique function in His body that by having ears that hear what the Spirit is saying we can collectively work together making Christ known and warning men to flee the wrath to come. This is why we study to show ourselves approved, that we might not only rightly divide the  Word of truth, but be applying it as well, thereby proving all things as we submit ourselves one to another in the fear of God . . . for there is no place for rouge independent “Christian ministers.” That is not to say that true men and women of God at times will not feel alone, but their hearts are ever seeking others with whom they may labor to God’s glory.

Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.

(more…)

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