God Hides Himself

Is 45:15 Truly, You are a God who hides Himself, O God of Israel, Savior!

Only those who seek Him with their whole heart shall find HIM. He does not reveal Himself unless we are sold out to HIM 100 percent

Jer 29:13 'You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

How do you know that you are seeking HIM with all of your heart.. well this will represent your behavior... a most ardent zeal and intense exertion in your pursuit of GOD.

Matt 11:12
And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time, the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize--a share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion].

Well, we should not expect GOD to just let himself be known to everyone.. .. only the truly serious, sincere and those passionate about the things of GOD, shown through their actions will really see GOD

Song 3:1 "On my bed night after night I sought him Whom my soul loves; I sought him but did not find him.

Song 3:2 'I must arise now and go about the city; In the streets and in the squares I must seek him whom my soul loves.' I sought him but did not find him.

Song 3:3 "The watchmen who make the rounds in the city found me, And I said, 'Have you seen him whom my soul loves?'

Song 3:4 "Scarcely had I left them When I found him whom my soul loves; I held on to him and would not let him go .............

Should Christians Judge Others ?

This subject has come up within my circle of friends and I was asked to provide clarity on the subject.. Our Lord stated very clearly that we are not to judge. However please understand that Jesus was saying we are not to Judge as natural men without the agency of the Holy Spirit.

This is what happens to us when we make judgements without the Holy Spirit:


Matt 7:2
"For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.

We find those who possessed the Holy Spirit prior to the day of Pentecost were primarily His Prophets and other GOD ordained agents of the LORD.. as shown in an earlier post. These were men who did have the spirit of GOD like John the baptist that was filled with the spirit in his mothers womb. And you will find countless instances were GOD's judgements were executed as part of the office of these men and women.. BUT...after the day of Pentecost things changed dramatically..


Acts 1:8
but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."

A Spiritual person.. one filled with the Spirit can and does judge because The Spirit of God judges all things..

1 Cor 6:3 Do you not know also that we [Christians] are to judge the [very] angels and pronounce opinion between right and wrong [for them]? How much more then [as to] matters pertaining to this world and of this life only!

1 Cor 2:15 But the spiritual man tries all things [he examines, investigates, inquires into, questions, and discerns all things], yet is himself to be put on trial and judged by no one [he can read the meaning of everything, but no one can properly discern or appraise or get an insight into him].

1 Cor 2:16 For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart

Because the church rarely judges anyone anymore we have actually defied Christ body and therefore we only see limited manifestations of GOD's power if we clean our act up GOD will move freely within HIS church . We know GOD is Holy and will not live in an unclean temple of which many of us have become.. unclean .. meaning we ignore and excuse sin and do not deal with the sin in our lives... and then we ask , where is GOD. We should hold each other to the standard of Holiness and as we have learned without Holiness no man shall see the LORD.


Heb 12:14
Strive to live in peace with everybody and pursue that consecration and holiness without which no one will [ever] see the Lord.

Is this not what we all want.. to see Jesus.. after all this shall we now fall short. My brothers and sisters these are serious matters.

Thank the Lord for mercy, lets us no longer live habitually in sin...if we need mercy today it is here!!!

Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

If you think we do not need the Holy Spirit please reconsider;

Rom 8:9 But you are not living the life of the flesh, you are living the life of the Spirit, if the [Holy] Spirit of God [really] dwells within you [directs and controls you]. But if anyone does not possess the [Holy] Spirit of Christ, he is none of His [he does not belong to Christ, is not truly a child of God]

So yes, for the sake of Christ's body we are to judge, for our own sake we are to judge and for the sake of others we are to judge. We are equipped for this task through and by the Spirit of the all knowing all merciful living GOD.

Matt 18:18
Truly I tell you, whatever you forbid and declare to be improper and unlawful on earth must be what is already forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit and declare proper and lawful on earth must be what is already permitted in heaven.

All this time many of us thought this scripture was talking about binding principalities and powers, the dark forces of this dark world but, no, this scripture gives us the authority to judge.

The Five Fold Ministry Gifts -The Prophet Continued

Today’s Bible Study – The Five Fold Ministry- The Prophet continued

As we look further into the gifts and the office of the Prophet we can find events in the execution of this service that reveal severe trial and sacrifice.

As explained in the preceding post, the Prophets role is to let people know when they are in violation of GOD's laws. While executing the duties of this office the cost can be great.. consider the Prophet John, the forerunner to Jesus many Prophets render a similar fate;

Mark 6:18
For John had been saying to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."

The consequences:

Mark 6:24
And she went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask for?" And she said, "The head of John the Baptist."

Mark 6:27
Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded him to bring back his head. And he went and had him beheaded in the prison,

In order to endure the demands of the office preparation is required. It is not unlike a soldier going to war that recognizes that there are difficulties ahead and is therefore required to train. Only after the training is completed is the soldier released into warfare. Preparation for this office produces discipline and obedience.

The Prophet cannot be carried away by the world’s lust; He is wholly devoted to GOD. The discipline for this ministry is not brought about by necessarily a self imposed discipline. God Himself is the disciplinarian for HIS servant. Through circumstances orchestrated by our LORD a purging of the carnal impulses will occur. This purging produces a Godly humility and a Godly discipline in the character of the Prophet.

I find the life of Moses to be a clear representation of the process of preparation for GOD's servants:


Num 12:3
(Now the man Moses was very humble, more than any man who was on the face of the earth.)

Did Moses decide one day that He was going to just be humble from now on..??? No, not at all, humility was something acquired and learned through circumstances in the life of Moses. The Prophet spent 40 years estranged from his people in the wilderness until the LORD called HIM from the burning bush..


I cannot emphasis enough that this office is an appointment solely from the LORD. Also, it is not unlikely that the Prophet remains single because of a lifestyle focused on pleasing the LORD alone.

Once the Prophet completes the necessary preparation we find someone very sensitive to the moving of GOD’s Spirit. We also find a person very obedience to the promptings of the LORD and we find someone the LORD can trust. The Prophet now moves in the authority of the Lord and in the accompanying power of the LORD. The results have produced a servant of the LORD to be both feared and respected.
GOD’s Prophet has a very close relationship with the Lord and because of this relationship the Prophet, endures challenges that are inevitably forthcoming. This ministry is so vitally important the LORD declares that the church is founded on the Apostles and Prophets, with Christ Jesus being the chief cornerstone.

We have seen that GOD's Prophet is oftentimes marked for death. Our world and the enemies of GOD, within this worlds system target the Prophet of GOD for extermination. The death of any servant of God can only happen however with GOD’s permission and for the ultimate fulfillment of GODs purposes.

For example, if we take a moment to review GOD’s will in the death of Jesus we find the higher purpose of GOD being established. We find out that if the enemies of GOD had known the intent of GOD in the death of Jesus they never would have crucified our LORD. And this astounding wisdom from GOD is many times the will of GOD for the Prophet.

John the Baptist's (Who was Elijah the Prophet as well) death was fulfillment of Prophecy and therefore the purpose of GOD stands solid and infallible;


Matt 17:12
But I tell you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know or recognize him, but did to him as they liked. So also the Son of Man is going to be treated and suffer at their hands.


Matt 17:13
Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them about John the Baptist. [Mal. 4:5.]

Today Prophets, again do and did exist in the 20th century, There are countless names and stories ; but let me name a few;

Watchman Nee, Jesse Penne Lewis, and William Seymour for example.

Perhaps we can provide a short bio of these servants of the Lord at a future date.

The Five Fold Ministry Gifts -The Prophet

Eph 4:11
And His gifts were [varied; He Himself appointed and gave men to us] some to be apostles (special messengers), some prophets (inspired preachers and expounders), some evangelists (preachers of the Gospel, traveling missionaries), some pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers.

First before we move into the lesson, please note the title "Five Fold Ministry Gifts" . This heading is not based on a scriptural reference. It is derived from what is deemed common church vernacular of this present time. I see nothing in itself to be wrong with the term but I do want to be clear on it's origin.

In addition, I also want you to view the text as it applies to both men and women in the office of the Prophet, Yes the Bible shows women in this role and office as well.

Luke 2:36
And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,

Acts 21:9
Now this man had four virgin daughters who were prophetesses

Wow, that must have been some household, living with four daughters all prophets!!!!!!

It is also, the earnest motivation of this writer, to bring the subject of spiritual gifts to a place of clarity, through and by the Word of GOD, The Holy Bible.

And finally, ultimately, I hope we all will find our proper place and role ordained for us by GOD Himself, and thereby fulfill the call of GOD on our lives both as individuals and together as the church.

Now, lets us begin; Our featured verse tells us that Our LORD is in the practice of gifting men. In fact the scripture says He Himself, appointed men, no one else had a hand in the selection process.

It is very clear that this is a foundation truth, GOD is the source of these appointments and gifts

Notice the other confirming scriptures:

1 Cor 12:4
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.

1 Cor 12:5
And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord

Cor 12:11
But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

GOD either has or will confirm the gift seeded in you through the agency of His Spirit.

These gifts remain operational until GOD's purpose is fulfilled.

What is the purposeand goal of GOD?

Eph 4:13
until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

As long as people are being saved, the gifts remain to bring these very precious souls, whom Our Lord died to save, to a place of maturity in HIM.

The first gift that I will apply scriptural references to will be the "Prophet". I am not going in any particular order. This office was foremost in my spirit at this time. Each Post will focus on another office............

But let us continue; Let us define both the gift and then the office held by the gift holder.

Prophet: The Prophet proclaims future events as given to him by GOD, accurately without a single flaw, every event will occur exactly as the Prophet has said. The Prophet's office watches over GOD's covenant people for compliance with HIS covenant. The office yields authority to correct behavior, pronounce judgements and warnings to the people. And, it is a office GOD will use to proclaim favor and benevolence on us as well.

Deut 18:20
'But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in My name which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.'

The Prophet is our LORD's mouth piece. If a Prophet speaks a word outside of what GOD commands him the judgement is severe. When you read in the Bible about the Prophets proclamations it always begins with "Thus saith the LORD GOD".

The Prophet always speaks for GOD as the Spirit of GOD reveals to him what should be spoken.

2 Pet 1:21
For no prophecy ever originated because some man willed it [to do so--it never came by human impulse], but men spoke from God who were borne along (moved and impelled) by the Holy Spirit.

If men claim to be prophets and their words fall to the ground without coming true we are not to respect that person, we should not fear the person, because he or she has shown themselves to be false.

Deut 18:22
"When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.


Here is the Prophet Nathan serving in his office in the case of King David;


2 Sam 12:7
Nathan then said to David, "You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel, 'It is I who anointed you king over Israel and it is I who delivered you from the hand of Saul.


2 Sam 12:8
'I also gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your care, and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added to you many more things like these!


2 Sam 12:9
'Why have you despised the word of the LORD by doing evil in His sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the sons of Ammon.

GOD's Judgement given to David, through the mouth of the Prophet Nathan:


2 Sam 12:11
"Thus says the LORD, 'Behold, I will raise up evil against you from your own household; I will even take your wives before your eyes and give them to your companion, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight.


2 Sam 12:12
'Indeed you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and under the sun.'"


2 Sam 12:13
Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." And Nathan said to David, "The LORD also has taken away your sin; you shall not die.


2 Sam 12:14
"However, because by this deed you have given occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born to you shall surely die."

All in a days work for the Prophet of GOD. This is an example to solidify the role of the Prophet in GOD's Kingdom operating in the earth.

Many people today are declaring themselves Prophets for GOD. I can assure you the vast majority of them are false prophets. The evidence necessary to take many of them seriously is simply not there.

I can not tell you how many times I have seen so-called prophets proclaiming all sorts of blessings and prosperity on people and the end of the prophesy proved false, therefore proving them to be false as well. The amount of deception that has infiltrated today's church is shocking. Today's false prophet is a blessor primarily, rarely have we seen correction, warnings and or judgements being administered.

Well, GOD told me to tell 77 people...If you give......Seven Hundred and Seventy Seven dollars you will be blessed... how very very sad.


Lam 2:14
Your prophets have seen for you False and foolish visions; And they have not exposed your iniquity So as to restore you from captivity, But they have seen for you false and misleading oracles

Because of Today's media church business is all out in the street...We witness scandal after scandal but we rarely see correction being exacted by any of the so-called Prophets, the next day back in the pulpit and back on TV. Selling their souls to the World's appetite for gossip, instead of becoming contrite and repentant until they are restored to right standing with Jesus.

Matt 24:11
"Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.

Our Savior Jesus prophesied about the times we live in, Jesus is not only the SON of GOD, but the entire embodiment of the five fold ministry gifts , He served in every office, and we would be wise to take heed of HIS warning and very unwise if we choose to ignore HIS warning.

Luke 6:26
"Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way.

Many of these men and women have a loyal following and are treated by this following like Hollywood icons or people with royal credentials.. This is not the LORD we do not worship men.. we Worship GOD alone..

Genuine Prophets will have a prophets credentials in action. We will know them by the fruit they bear. He will be bold, He will proclaim prophecy's of correction and warning. And the real Prophet walks in the Authority ordained by GOD..He will hold us to the standard God mandates that we maintain. The Prophet provides structure and boundaries for the maturing Christian.

Good Credit

Rom 4:5
But to one who, not working [by the Law], trusts (believes fully) in Him Who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited to him as righteousness (the standing acceptable to God).

Believing and trusting fully in God, provides eternal credit with GOD. And, this credit produces a righteousness acceptable to GOD, which is absolutely necessary for the salvation experience.

Let me say this again for emphasis;

Believing and trusting fully in God, provides eternal credit with GOD. And, this credit produces a righteousness acceptable to GOD, which is absolutely necessary for the salvation experience.

Rom 4:3
For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed in (trusted in) God, and it was credited to his account as righteousness (right living and right standing with God).


Exactly how did Abraham believe fully in GOD;

Rom 4:21
and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.

Real trust in GOD comes about when everything else around you says this is impossible.. When people say.., no way.. when circumstances tell you your chances are null and void.. And you STILL, Trust GOD.. Now you are about to enter into that promise of GOD...

Rom 4:19
Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah's womb;

Can you imagine the ridicule that Abraham received, He was 100 years old and His wife 99..!!! Yet.. they were going to have a baby....AMAZING... But Abraham, relied on God, He trusted in GOD and He held onto GOD..

Because Abraham, Believed, in, Trusted in and relied on GOD, He received the promise a son Issac

Gen 21:2
So Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the appointed time of which God had spoken to him.

Rom 4:20
yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God,

Obtaining salvation requires this level of Faith.., The Faith demonstrated by Abraham...

It is not an on Sundays only faith or a faith on occasion... or having faith when it is convenient and you are not seeing any opposition. Or, when I am having an emotional moment listening to the preacher.. These are not examples of saving faith...

The kind of faith that will get righteousness credited to your account is an enduring Faith, a tested faith and a proven Faith..

It is like what a heard a preacher say one time.."Salvation is free, BUT, it is not cheap."



Rom 4:16
For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,

The promise is clearly spelled out to belong to those who have the faith of Abraham. The promise is to us who cling to GOD , to those who rely on God and to those who trust in GOD.

That is why our LORD Jesus says "Few are those who find it"...


Matt 7:14
But the gate is narrow (contracted by pressure) and the way is straitened and compressed that leads away to life, and few are those who find it.

We have become heirs of GOD, joint heirs with Jesus Christ.. Because we have a faith like Abraham's, declared to be the Father of faith.. We are His children if we have that same faith.. Then we obtain the same credit, producing in us a righteousness necessary for salvation...

Yes this faith is far beyond the sinners prayer... This kind of faith is real faith , tested faith and proven faith.. The faith that triumphs over circumstances and endures through trials... This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.


Your faith is your most valuable assest, it is far more valuable than the most precious metal or any material possesion on earth.

1 Pet 1:7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

Heb 11:17
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son;

If Abraham's faith had to be tested, to prove He trusted GOD, then we are no different, Yes our faith will be tested as well to verify that we indeed trust GOD as well.

Here is another example of proven faith;

Matt 9:2
And they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, "Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven."


They believed GOD and it was credited to there account as righteousness and therefore Jesus, seeing their faith in action, in corresponding behaviour, in spite of outward conditions, Jesus said, your sins are forgiven.. Can Jesus see your faith???

When we rely on God in this life, when we cling to GOD's promises no matter what things look like, when we trust in GOD no matter what the world is showing us... This faith is credited to our account as righteousness...

How ridicules this must seem to the world that we trust in a man said to be raised from the dead.. , the world says impossible.. And complete foolishness to the unsaved....

Cor 1:18
For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

But in this we rely on, on the Resurrection we trust.. and cling to that very reality ..living alive in the hearts of every believer.. , The faith of Abraham..

Rom 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;

John 3:16
For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.

Let us continue believing , continue trusting and continue clinging to Jesus, keeping our credit in good standing with Jesus.. our LORD and our Savior... Praise His Name now and forever..

Having Life More Abundently

John 10:10
The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

How might this abundant life be obtained and what exactly is life in abundance? I would refer to scripture for the definition. My opinion my definition or even my interpretation is worthless apart from what the Bible says..

John 6:53
So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves.

The Bible declares life is not found anywhere apart from Jesus. Unless Jesus has become your passover lamb you have no life in you.

Unless you drink the blood purchased for your soul we have no life in us.

And what does Jesus mean again when He says abundant life. The scripture confirms:

John 4:14
But whoever takes a drink of the water that I will give him shall never, no never, be thirsty any more. But the water that I will give him shall become a spring of water welling up (flowing, bubbling) [continually] within him unto (into, for) eternal life.

Abundant life is obtained by never being thirsty again.. It is the final answer to our restlessness and constant striving in this temporal world.. It is finally finding the salvation of our souls and having the satisfaction that no amount of money or any of the creature comforts of this world can provide.

Jesus came to rescue us from our vain, empty and futile existence and to bring us into life.. and life more abundantly. So much of our efforts are to get satisfaction, trying to feel loved, happy or powerful. we are thinking that these are the things we need to have satisfaction..

Eccl 2:11
Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun.

Yes once we have obtained life from our LORD we no longer are subject to the existence just described by Solomon

1 Pet 1:18
knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers,

Jesus is that abundant life.. He encapsulates it.. He is the Author of life and all that brings satisfaction and meaning for every endeavor. ..

So the world says "Can't get no satisfaction".. We know satisfaction , the abundant life can only be found in Jesus, let us tell the world.

John 6:35
Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.

John 6:63
"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.

A Perfect Peaceableness

When we talk about peace and well being usually it is based on a set of conditions; My bank account is healthy, My family is doing well, my career is on track, my children are secure and progressing according to my expectations, people love me, I drive a nice car and I live in a nice home. .. If these set of conditions, as an example, exist.. then peace, well being is at hand.... This would be a fairly accurate definition of peace and overall well being... The Hebrew word for this kind of peace would be Shalom...

Shalom defined = completeness, wholeness- safety, welfare, health, prosperity- quiet, tranquility, contentment, peace, friendship.

There is another kind of peace, not based on a set of outward conditions, not based upon or dictated by whatever is happening at the moment....I might call this a supernatural peace ..meaning this peace overrides whatever is happening in the natural realm.. It's source is from heaven and is not bound by earthly conditions ..


John 14:27
"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

The peace of Jesus is a state of well being imputed to Christians and this peace or Shalom allows us to live victoriously no matter our outward conditions.. This is what Paul was saying when He said I can do all things through Christ who straightens me.. , .. Generally this scripture shown in Philippians is used when we talk about an impending task .. and we say "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me".. However, the proper use of the text is more in line with.. , I can endure all things through Christ... , Or I have peace and it is well with my soul not matter the circumstances.. ,


Phil 4:11
Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am.

Here Paul is saying I have no lack of peace no matter my condition..


Phil 4:12
I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want.

The secret my friends is found in Jesus.. Paul had the heavenly peace.. a heavenly well being .. a heavenly Shalom..

Let us bring every concern, every care, every heart ache to Jesus, and He in turn will give you His peace, His well being and His state of restfulness..


Matt 11:28
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]


Matt 11:29
Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls


Phil 4:7
And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Some most sobering information

This may not be a popular post... But.. so be it..

I found this to be some most sobering information. Especially in light of the numerous Apostles and Prophets that are found in today's Church.. living in lavish homes and driving expensive cars.. forgive me if I am skeptical.

• Apostle
  Manner of Death
  Peter (Simon Peter),Bible writer
  Rome, Italy(Nero)
  54-68AD
  Homicide:crucified head down,at his own request
• 
  Andrew, son of a John & brother of Peter (Matthew 4:18)
  Edessa, Greece
  ?AD
  Homicide:severely scourged & tied by ropes on x-shaped cross where he hung 2 days to expire
• 
  James,son of Zebedee & Salome and elder bro. of John (not bro. of Jesus) the Bible writer
  Jerusalem, Israel(Herod)
  44 AD(the 1st martyred)
  Homicide:beheaded with sword; Mark 10:39 & Acts 12:1-2
• 
  John,son of Zebedee and bro. of James;Bible writer
  Ephesus, Turkeyor Turkish Isleof Patmos
  98 AD
  thrown in boiling oil but unharmed; died of Natural causes in Ephesus
• 
  Philip of Bethsaida
  Hieropolis, Syria
  Homicide:crucified
  Bartholomew (Nathaniel)
  India orArmenia
  Homicide:beaten/flayed, and crucifiedhead down
• 
  Thomas (Didymus)
  Edessa, Greece
  Homicide:lanced by idolatrous priests & burned up in an oven
• 
  Matthew (Levi), of Capernaumthe Bible writer
  Nadabah, Ethiopia
  about 60AD
  Homicide:axed to death with a halberd
• 
  James (son of Alphaeus);Bible writer(? half bro. of Jesus?)
  Jerusalem, Israel
  AD66
  Homicide:thrown down from the Temple tower & not dead so clubbed to death with a fullers club at age 94
• 
  Jude (Thaddaeus...Judas Lebbaeus)
  Edessa, Greece
  AD72
  Homicide:crucified
• 
  Simon the Zealot(the Canaanite)
  Brittainnia, Europe
  Homicide:crucified
• 
  Judas Iscariot
  Jerusalem, Israel
  Suicide:by hanging Matt. 27:5
• 
  Matthias (the 11 remaining Apostles chose him to replace Judas)
  Jerusalem, Israel
  Homicide:stoned and beheaded
• 
  Paul (chosen by Jesus on the road to Damascus)
  Rome, Italy
  66 AD
  Homicide:beheaded

The bigger the call, the greater the sacrifice... , that is why Jesus said

John 12:23
And Jesus *answered them, saying, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.


John 12:24
"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.


John 12:25
"He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.


John 12:26
"If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.


John 12:27
"Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour.

Eph 2:20
having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone,

Are there Apostles today, I would suspect until Jesus returns we will have the five fold ministry gifts. However I do believe there is a large number of imposters as well.. The call of GOD is not necessarily a glamorous call filled with material excess and with Hollywood type trappings..

Matt 11:8 "But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings' palaces! Matt 11:9 "But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet.

Matt 11:10 "This is the one about whom it is written, 'BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY BEFORE YOU.'

Matt 11:11 "Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

I must make a short comment here.. why does Jesus say that John is the least in the Kingdom of GOD??? It is simple, the day of Pentecost had not yet come.. when we would ALL have access to GOD through faith in Jesus and the agency of the Holy Spirit.. This was not in John's day.. nor did John have the measure of the Holy Spirit that we now have..

Acts 1:8
But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth.

What about Christians that deny the power of GOD being active today.. for some reason they say it has passed????? And that there are few demonstrations of GOD's real power in the earth..

Again a simple response;

Matt 13:58
And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.

2 Tim 3:5
holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.

GOD's power is clearly evident in the World today.. there are countless testimonies.. to substantiate this truth... But, nonetheless..

These are the last days .. and deception is rampant.. we must be in line with the LORD's Spirit in order to discern what is good and what is evil.. keep your spiritual antenna on high alert..

1 John 4:1
BELOVED, DO not put faith in every spirit, but prove (test) the spirits to discover whether they proceed from God; for many false prophets have gone forth into the world.

2 Cor 11:13
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.


2 Cor 11:14
No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.


2 Cor 11:15
Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.

Demonology 101

Acts 19:15 And the evil spirit answered and said to them, "I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?"
Acts 19:16 And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

Tell me, will the devil know who you are if you have the need to confront him? This subject often strikes fear in the heart of many people. But, for us there should be no fear, and if you fear or if you avoid the very thought of demons then you are unfortunately not equipped to face life challenges as a Christian.

The objective of this lesson is to acquaint you with the proper position all Christians should demonstrate on this topic.

Luke 10:19 Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and [physical and mental strength and ability] over all the power that the enemy [possesses]; and nothing shall in any way harm you.

This is our position, we have both authority over demonic activity and the necessary power to enforce that authority.

When we are Born Again, we operate under the authority of Jesus and in the name of Jesus.

I find it amusing now remembering how frighten I was when I saw the exorcist way back in 1974... I could have really used Jesus then.. didn't sleep a wink...LOL

We can contribute many very harmful events occurring in our world because of Satan..
His objective is to kill, steal and destroy;

John 10:10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

Many diseases are documented in the wholly true and completely accurate Holy Bible, as having it's root cause in demonic activity. Once the demon is gone the sickness is gone as well.

Matt 9:32 As they were going out, a mute, demon-possessed man was brought to Him.
8 Matt 9:33 After the demon was cast out, the mute man spoke; and the crowds were amazed, and were saying, "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel

Matt 12:22 Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus, and He healed him, so that the mute man spoke and saw.

What causes demonic activity in the world?? And how do people get themselves entangled by these evil spirits.

Acts 16:16 As we were on our way to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who was possessed by a spirit of divination [claiming to foretell future events and to discover hidden knowledge], and she brought her owners much gain by her fortunetelling.

One big entrapment today is the physic hotline. Never ever call them you will be inviting the devil into your life.

Acts 16:18 She continued doing this for many days. But Paul was greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!" And it came out at that very moment.

Notice Paul spoke to the spirit and not to the girl.

Many things that are highly addictive may have it's cause through demonic activity.
Drugs,Pornography,gambling just to name a few, are most likely urges brought on by evil spirits.

How do these oppressive influences occur??? Usually it is because we have opened a door through some activity we have thought to be harmless, like going to a physic or practising astrology,numerology,Ichang, palmistry tea leaves, tarot cards and the like or any of the quote "New Age" spirituality, actually they are not really new..same devil and the same old tricks. Very important caution..!!!!!!. never ever use a ouija board or even have one in your house... if you do, you will need an exorcist or just a truly saved child of GOD.


Acts 19:19 And many of those who had practiced curious, magical arts collected their books and [throwing them, book after book, on the pile] burned them in the sight of everybody. When they counted the value of them, they found it amounted to 50,000 pieces of silver (about $9,300).

I am always surprised when Christians ask me what is my astrological sign... well for future reference my sign?? It is in the name of JESUS..

Gal 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.


This is a very serious affair my friends. Much mental illness, depression for example may have been brought on by interacting with the realm of the devil.

Bringing into our house artifacts that carry with them spirits can also be cause for concern... A great deal of art we find in other countries are actually symbols of idol worship of some kind, little Buddhas all around your house and certain African arts that deal with ancestral worship, having symbols of snakes, frogs and other little trinkets are not as harmless as they seem. I could go on naming things but I'm sure you get the idea by now.

Let us worship GOD in our daily life and leave no occasion for works of darkness...


Matt 4:10
Then Jesus said to him, Begone, Satan! For it has been written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him alone shall you serve

What is in a name????

Our current culture often times will view names of people non-associatively to any part of the persons characteristics. We name children based on the sound of the name... or whatever name is deemed popular at the time.

Names by definition is a way of identifying behavior, function and or purpose. Our names should point to who we are in behavior and purpose and who we are in function. The Bible is a great book to study names relating to these items (behavior, purpose and function).

Did you realize that GOD has a name for you... A name specifically with you on the very mind of GOD... That name my friends came about during some milestone event in your Christian walk..

Rev 2:17
'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.'.

Let us continue with establishing our lesson..

Gen 32:27
[The Man] asked him, What is your name? And [in shock of realization, whispering] he said, Jacob [supplanter, schemer, trickster, swindler]!

Jacob's behavior was one of being manipulative, a con artist, someone not to be trusted, this was Jacob's behavior and therefore this was Jacob's name.

However Jacob encountered his destiny one day... GOD had chosen Jacob, called him to be the agent to bring Israel into being... Yes destiny.. predestination... The WORD of the LORD came true concerning Jacob..


Rom 9:10
And not only that, but this too: Rebecca conceived [two sons under exactly the same circumstances] by our forefather Isaac,


Rom 9:11
And the children were yet unborn and had so far done nothing either good or evil. Even so, in order further to carry out God's purpose of selection (election, choice), which depends not on works or what men can do, but on Him Who calls [them],


Rom 9:12
It was said to her that the elder [son] should serve the younger [son]. [Gen. 25:21-23.]


Rom 9:13
As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated (held in relative disregard in comparison with My feeling for Jacob).


Through Jacob, Israel was born...and ..THUS... a name change.


Gen 32:28
And He said, Your name shall be called no more Jacob [supplanter], but Israel [contender with God]; for you have contended and have power with God and with men and have prevailed. ]

Jacob was no more..!!! His behavior in the past was not just forgiven but also forgotten... Why..., Past behavior no longer applied to Him.. new behavior gets a new name....."contender with God]; for you have contended and have power with God and with men and have prevailed"..

Abram became Abraham, the Father of many nations, identifying purpose and function... What caused the name change.. , At the point He believed GOD..


Gen 17:1
WHEN ABRAM was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, I am the Almighty God; walk and live habitually before Me and be perfect (blameless, wholehearted, complete).


Gen 17:2
And I will make My covenant (solemn pledge) between Me and you and will multiply you exceedingly.


Gen 17:3
Then Abram fell on his face, and God said to him,


Gen 17:4
As for Me, behold, My covenant (solemn pledge) is with you, and you shall be the father of many nations.


Gen 17:5
Nor shall your name any longer be Abram [high, exalted father]; but your name shall be Abraham [father of a multitude], for I have made you the father of many nations.

Whoa...!!! Abraham was 99 years old when GOD made this promise..Now that took faith, and that is why we are called the sons of Abraham when our faith is realized and actualized ..when we have living faith.. relying on, trusting in and clinging to..JESUS..

Gal 3:7 Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham.

Somewhere along the way.. your faith caused your name to change change....smile..

We know GOD based on are experience with GOD... We Know GOD on how He has manifested HIMSelf to us.. in behavior, Function and Purpose... Here is a list names for GOD...And, how GOD has shown HIMself strong in our lives..




Seven Redemptive Names of God

JEHOVAH-JIREH

"The Lord our provider" - This is also the name Abraham gave to the place where the Lord provided a sacrifice in place of Isaac. (Gen. 22:14).

JEHOVAH-NISSI

"Our banner, a banner of love and protection" - Also the name Moses gave to the altar he built after defeating the Amalekites (Ex. 17:15).


JEHOVAH-SHALOM

"Our perfect peace" - Also the name Gideon gave to the altar he built at Ophrah (Judges 6:24)

JEHOVAH-TSID-KENU

"The Lord is our righteousness" - The name is applied to a future Davidic king who would lead his people to do what is right and thus bring peace (Jeremiah 23:6) and to the restored city of Jerusalem (Jeremiah 33:16). The name is possibly a play on the name of Zedekiah ("Righteous [is] the Lord") who reigned from 597 to 587 B.C..

JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH

"The One Who is with us everywhere for He is Omnipresent" - The Jerusalem of Ezekiel's vision (see Ezekiel 48:35 margin) was known by this name. Compare text at Isaiah 60:19-20 and Revelation 21:3.

JEHOVAH-SABAOTH

"The Lord of Hosts, our Protector." C.H. Spurgeon said this about the phrase "The Lord of Hosts:
The Lord rules the angels, the stars, the elements, and all the hosts of Heaven; and the Heaven of heavens is under His sway... [the Lord] is on our side -- our august Ally; woe unto those who fight against Him, for they shall flee like smoke before the wind when He gives the word to scatter them." See text at Psalm 46:7.

JEHOVAH-RAAH

"Our Shepherd Who tenderly leads us, loves us and will keep us safe." - the famous Psalm 23 tells us that "The Lord is our Shepherd and we shall not want...." Being illustrated as a shepherd implies a relationship with His sheep (His believers). The term shepherd appears approximately 80 times in the Scriptures, denoting meanings of: feeder, keeper, companion, friend, pastor and herdsman

Mismated Alliances - Continued...........

Judg 16:20
She said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" And he awoke from his sleep and said, "I will go out as at other times and shake myself free." But he did not know that the LORD had departed from him.

When we are aligned with someone intimately, who does not know our LORD..., we can become ineffective in service to the LORD and may lose the call of GOD on our lives . as Samson did being entangled with Delilah... Yeah she was fine and all... But look what it cost Samson... The Devil is always going to appeal largely to our flesh .., our carnal nature.. same old tricks then and now... nothing has changed.


Kin 11:4
For when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away after other gods; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been.

Solomon, a man with great wisdom and much zeal for the LORD.., lost His passion for GOD near the end of his days... because of his interpersonal relationships with Idolatrous women.. whom He married..

Who we fellowship with.., if they do not have a passion for Jesus..be careful..they can even draw us away from GOD.. We are then treading on very dangerous dangerous ground...


Kin 11:5
For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and after Milcom the detestable idol of the Ammonites.

1 Kin 11:6
Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and did not follow the LORD fully, as David his father had done

As a result of Solomons sin... Yes Solomon was tragically unequally yoked.. GOD took the Kingdom away from him..

1 Kin 11:11
So the LORD said to Solomon, "Because you have done this, and you have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you, and will give it to your servant.

Yes my friends if we do not repent and turn from those things that do not please GOD we can lose the favor of the LORD... A very frightening thought... If we are only playing church... GOD will not be mocked...

Gal 6:7
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.


Rev 3:5
'He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

Listen .. let's be reasonable... If your name is in the book of life now.. Let's keep it there..!!! ..

When we pair up with like spirited people who dearly love Jesus.. our lives will be enhanced.. we serve GOD without hindrance... , we bring about a wonderful harmonious and peaceful home life... a place of refuge.. from the everyday storms of life...

Is 4:6
There will be a shelter to give shade from the heat by day, and refuge and protection from the storm and the rain.

We can not have a place of refuge, a home of peace and harmony without having the same spirit ruling in our household.. Opposing spirits one saved and one unsaved will cause conflict and create a waring atmosphere .. We should live in far more agreeable circumstances.. Many disagreements occur not because we share different opinions or even different points of view.. , disagreements are caused often because we are dealing with two opposing spirits..

Eph 6:12
For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere

Our solution: ....Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed? Let us align ourselves with a spirit that agrees with our spirit, a spirit that is in harmony with our spirit.. In fact let us get together with like spirits.. and we will very likely create a symphony.. we can make beautiful music together.. In that union , in that marriage and in that home.. we will find Jesus.. the Great, I AM!!!


Matt 18:19
Again I tell you, if two of you on earth agree (harmonize together, make a symphony together) about whatever [anything and everything] they may ask, it will come to pass and be done for them by My Father in heaven.


Matt 18:20
For wherever two or three are gathered (drawn together as My followers) in (into) My name, there I AM in the midst of them



Let us honor GOD when choosing our life partner..., If we are not honoring GOD.. then let us start Today... Jesus is waiting with open arms for your return...


Heb 13:4
Let marriage be held in honor (esteemed worthy, precious, of great price, and especially dear) in all things. And thus let the marriage bed be undefiled (kept undishonored); for God will judge and punish the unchaste [all guilty of sexual vice] and adulterous

Mismated Alliances

2 Cor 6:14

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers [do not make mismated alliances with them or come under a different yoke with them, inconsistent with your faith]. For what partnership have right living and right standing with God with iniquity and lawlessness? Or how can light have fellowship with darkness?

We know this verse very well..isn't that right...??? It is very much key to having a harmonious union . And harmony is a certain sign of GOD's agreement within a relationship. GOD is not the author of confusion but of peace.

1 Cor 14:33
for God is not a God of confusion but of peace............


1 Pet 3:8
To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit;

Let me emphasize that we are not only talking about marriage... , Anything that we do should be guided through and in compliance with this spiritual principle.

Being part of activities with unbelievers outside the dictates of our faith will work to our detriment and not to our gain.. we are in the devil's backyard and serving the dictates of the flesh.... we can not partner with unbelievers in behavior that violate the commands of our LORD.

However let us view this in context, as instructed by the Bible....GOD knows unless we are removed from this earth we will have interaction with non-Christians..... but.. we can interact without dishonoring our LORD..

I have personally been in moral conflict on business trips or whatever and suddenly finding myself participating in conversations that normally would be far from my tongue... AND, so have most of us... I should have politely removed myself from the situation.... we are separate from the world and not part of the world.. although we do indeed live in the world..

1 Cor 5:10
Not [meaning of course that you must] altogether shun the immoral people of this world, or the greedy graspers and cheats and thieves or idolaters, since otherwise you would need to get out of the world and human society altogether!

Clearly we see that we are not to necessarily shun or act aloof..., since we are agents of salvation.. and the harvest is of course leading sinners to righteousness...But in the process we must not lose our testimony and delude or even destroy our witness for Jesus by again falling into behavior patterns that our LORD has saved us from.....

2 Pet 2:22
It has happened to them according to the true proverb, "A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT," and, "A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire

Living a discipline christian lifestyle is not optional it is a requirement...So if you did not know that... well as they say...Now you know..


Rom 12:1
I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.

1 Cor 9:27
but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

Lets elevate the subject... we should also be very much concerned and aware of our brother's and sister's spiritual condition... since those who confess the name of Christ will likely be viewed as a most suitable partner.. we consider them people we are safe to align ourselves with... But herein lies even a greater caution....

1 Cor 5:11

But now I write to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of [Christian] brother if he is known to be guilty of immorality or greed, or is an idolater [whose soul is devoted to any object that usurps the place of God], or is a person with a foul tongue [railing, abusing, reviling, slandering], or is a drunkard or a swindler or a robber. [No] you must not so much as eat with such a person

Now lets be honest ... we all have fallen on occasion.., so let's not feel condemnation when you are not continuing in the sin... BUT.. when this behavior is a lifestyle.. then we know to separate ourselves from those immoral persons who yet still call themselves christian...we shall know them by their fruit.....

1 John 3:9
No one born (begotten) of God [deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin, for God's nature abides in him [His principle of life, the divine sperm, remains permanently within him]; and he cannot practice sinning because he is born (begotten) of God.

THEREFORE: Being with the right partner especially in the marriage covenant is extremely important.., and you will escape much sorrow and pain....when you obey this command from GOD..

Our heavenly nature produces :

Gal 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Gal 5:23
gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.


Unsaved unregenerate man's nature produces:


Gal 5:19
Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,


Gal 5:20
idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,


Gal 5:21
envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.


Our LORD explicitly directs us... NOT to walk in agreement with the works of the unsaved...


Amos 3:3
Do two walk together except they make an appointment and have agreed?

Hummmm... I find it truly interesting how even the numbers agreed in this scripture...smile...

Mercy Triumphs over Judgement...

...
James 2:13
For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.

A Spiritual principle..., Mercy Triumphs over judgement..... , We should face judgement.. But Mercy said NO..., Learning how GOD's kingdom operates is a process that is realized as we face daily the struggles of this life.. and learning about mercy and how GOD delivers mercy to us is Paramount to us understanding the nature of our creator. ,,, He is our judge in this life and in the next... Therefore I thank HIM for His mercy.....

God dispenses HIS mercy on condition, yes it is conditional.. meaning if you do one thing.. I will do another... If you are merciful then I will be merciful to you...,Additionally, Jesus says.. If you forgive others then I will forgive you... If you give to others then I will give to you...

There is such an overwhelming sense of fairness in HIS .. what I will term Kingdom laws... Laws that govern His Kingdom...

GODs mercy is infinite.. He never runs out of mercy...

Ps 103:11
For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great are His mercy and loving-kindness toward those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him.

Did you know that GOD would rather be handing out His mercy over and above His desire for your sacrificial offerings ... And, GOD will even override His very own laws when the opportunity to provide mercy is near... Yes He will... once we understand how and why GOD is merciful we are then well on our way of learning how to be merciful as we walk out our Christianity...

The following verse has had a tremendous impact on my life..., I earnestly hope and pray it's full revelation impacts your life as well...


Matt 12:7
And if you had only known what this saying means, I desire mercy [readiness to help, to spare, to forgive] rather than sacrifice and sacrificial victims, you would not have condemned the guiltless

How profound.. readiness to help.. rather than receiving our sacrificial acts ... We have been sooo programmed to performance based accolades.. Can we really see what our LORD is saying to us here????... Stop and take time to mediate on the above verse...., Pray over this verse... Have you sacrificed to the point that it hurts... when GOD wanted to provide you mercy.. so that you could then forego the sacrifice..??? ....Watch how GOD overrides HIS law in favor of mercy....


Matt 12:2
And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, See there! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful and not permitted on the Sabbath.


Matt 12:3
He said to them, Have you not even read what David did when he was hungry, and those who accompanied him

Matt 12:4
How he went into the house of God and ate the loaves of the showbread--which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for the men who accompanied him, but for the priests only


I think this is key to understanding Christ Jesus... Jesus says I desire mercy .. I have a desire to be merciful I want to be merciful...Why would GOD override HIS divine law.. ???? To be merciful... GOD has nothing so Holy or untouchable, be it show bread, the tithe, the sabbath.... or anything else... that He would rather HIS people... I am talking about .. US, the objects of HIS love...go hungry...

NOW.... YES.... GOD will judge us...... but only after He was made several attempts to be merciful.. and when we do not yield HE has no choice but to judge us..

Prov 29:1
HE WHO, being often reproved, hardens his neck shall suddenly be destroyed--and that without remedy.

Although GOD get's no joy out of us missing HIS visitation.. He gets no pleasure out of seeing someone miss out on His love..


2 Pet 3:9
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance

GOD is extremely patient with us..., and soo long suffering... I know this from experience .. in fact I must say that this is really the only true way to know Jesus.... It is through experience..
Being a recipient of the LORDs mercy myself..... helps me to look for the opportunity and gave me the desire to be merciful...and less desire to condemn.. I have had my ups and my downs.. and during the down times.. I have learned a measure of the mercy of our LORD.. I am forever grateful Jesus... My thanks will be heard forevermore...

I have to Forgive

Ever hear anyone say....... well the Bible says I have to forgive, So therefore, I forgive you...

It is as if we are forced to forgive or else!!!!! The Bible does not teach forgiveness in that manner........ We know that the letter kills but it is the Spirit that gives life. ....... , Without understanding the spirit behind the laws of GOD we die...

.It is the Spirit of LIFE that is in Christ Jesus. ... that has set us free from the "I have to do right, because the Bible says so",.... to our new state that declares... I want to do right and have been given the grace to enable me to do right...... That is evidence of the Spirit of Life coming from Jesus.


Rom 8:2
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.


2 Cor 3:6
who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Our GOD's motive for forgiveness is not because He has to forgive. ...GOD can do exactly as He chooses.. So why does GOD forgive???????


Ps 86:15
But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, Slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth



GOD forgives because HE wants to forgive..... He desires to forgive and because of His great love,... GOD,.... looks for opportunities to forgive.

Our desires should line up with GODs desires if we are indeed saved and now house the very Spirit of Jesus in our hearts.


1 John 4:17
In this [union and communion with Him] love is brought to completion and attains perfection with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him], because as He is, so are we in this world.

Forgiving because we HAVE TO forgive, ... reminds me of going to work everyday but I really would rather not go to work...I simply hate my job .. I must then present this front and pretend...that I have the right attitude when all along..I am only going through the motions. .. The job is not in my heart.. ....it is only the means to earn a living.

As Christians our behavior should not be a front.. we should not do things based on having to do obey GOD because the Bible says so... No not at all... Matured men and women in the salvation experience... want to forgive just as GOD wants to forgive US and because the Bible says so is in my heart by and through the Holy Spirit from GOD ..... .


Look as this example of someone caught in the snare of sin...

John 8:4
they *said to Him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act.


How does Jesus respond...

John 8:10
Straightening up, Jesus said to her, "Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?"

If anyone could have condemned this woman.. it would have been Jesus.. Jesus as we know is sinless... a lamb without spot or wrinkle or any blemish whatsoever...

John 8:11
She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more."]

Praise HIS NAME!!!! Truly it is the kindness and goodness of GOD that leads us to repent... I tell you on that day, this lady was restored to life, she was forgiven.. Can you imagine the relief she felt ..????


Rom 2:4
Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

At any moment GOD is ready and very much desires to forgive us..., He does NOT condemn those of us who seek forgiveness.. He is very near to restore us.. Yes very near... even in our very heart and speech .. If we ask with a sincere heart... MY friends then we are forgiven.

When someone has violated you .. sinned against you in anyway... and they ask for forgiveness do not do it because you have to forgive....

Let it be because... we know that the very act of forgiveness brings life and restoration...

Let it be because we desire to forgive ...

Let it be because we desire to be an extension of Jesus in this world.. looking for the opportunity to forgive.. AND FORGET!!!!..

Is 43:25
"I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins

That's right... remembers your sins no more... no record.. GONE.... and we should treat our brother and sister the very same way...

That old cliche .. I will forgive you but I will never forget...., IS not from the heart of GOD...


Mic 6:8
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, and to love kindness and mercy, and to humble yourself and walk humbly with your God?

God Revealed

When we have no knowledge of the existence of God we begin to theorize about HIS very existence. I remember feeling like... hummm, I have to believe in something.., and so what shall I believe...

When I was young we all thought of ourselves as Christian. I was not a Christian, but, I thought hey, whatever we say we are that’s what we are right... We choose a religion based on our understanding of what makes sense to us.. or we choose because father or mother made us go to that church down the street... I remember becoming catholic because I went to a catholic school for a year.... knew all the prayers .. the rosary everything.. But I did not know GOD.. I was only giving GOD lip service..


Matt 15:8
'THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME.

The reality of GOD becomes dramatically true, when you find out GOD really does indeed exist… .. But knowing GOD does not necessarily come about as a great discovery down some long spiritual path…and then suddenly..after much effort we find GOD….Many people have done that and found Buddha, or Mohamed or perhaps another religious deity...

These religious icons are a substitute for knowing the real GOD and a hindrance from knowing the true and Living GOD as known through the revelation of Jesus Christ.. ... They are what I know to be -anti-Christ spirits. Religions denying Christ as the only way to GOD and holding themselves up as a substitute for Christ

We can therefore define an anti-Christ spirit as being against Christ and instead of Christ.


1 John 4:3
And every spirit which does not acknowledge and confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh [but would annul, destroy, sever, disunite Him] is not of God [does not proceed from Him]. This [nonconfession] is the [spirit] of the antichrist, [of] which you heard that it was coming, and now it is already in the world.

Any religion that does not knowledge that Jesus is indeed GOD incarnate is a religion being operated through an anti-christ spirit.. .. Saying Jesus is a god, rather than GOD..or saying Jesus was only a prophet or just another righteous man is false religion .. it is blasphemy.


John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Let us have scripture again reveal this immovable foundational truth;


Phil 2:6
Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained,



When we, as saved people explain to the world that Jesus is GOD..They are offended, they repel you and can often become angry with you..

Matt 7:6
"Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces

.We can talk about any religion, but when the name of Jesus come up.. there is likely to be an unwelcome response.....What is behind this reaction..

I would have to say in many cases it is an anti-Christ spirit.... The reaction to Jesus is .., there are many ways to GOD.. this is your way but we have ours... Again such thinking can result in a grave error with damnation of their soul being the eternal consequence.


John 14:6
Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me.


Knowing GOD is an act solely initialed by GOD Himself..., Through GOD revealing himself... Yes it is GOD who reveals Himself .. and not man who finds GOD.. we are at best blind men wondering through life and until GOD opens our eyes we do not see HIM ..until GOD reveals HIMSELF.


Nicodemus , was considered a religious man, a leader of GOD people the Jews.. yet He knew NOT ..GOD..


John 3:1
NOW THERE was a certain man among the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler (a leader, an authority) among the Jews,


John 3:2
Who came to Jesus at night and said to Him, Rabbi, we know and are certain that You have come from God [as] a Teacher; for no one can do these signs (these wonderworks, these miracles--and produce the proofs) that You do unless God is with him.

Nicodemus saw Jesus as a teacher but not the Holy ONE of GOD... And Nicodemus with all his authority and all his education.. someone who undoubtedly spent his lifetime reading scripture.. YET.. He knew NOT GOD


John 3:10
Jesus replied, Are you the teacher of Israel, and yet do not know nor understand these things? [Are they strange to you?].

While in the meantime ..Peter a fisherman.. not a particular religious man at all... Was given the Revelation of Christ Our Savior..….

Matt 16:17
Then Jesus answered him, Blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) are you, Simon Bar-Jonah. For flesh and blood [men] have not revealed this to you, but My Father Who is in heaven.

Just as things are today , things were the same in the time period of Jesus ministry.. Many People had theories about who is this Jesus...


Matt 16:13
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"


Matt 16:14
And they said, "Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets."


GOD can only be known in reality through an actual experience with GOD.., Yes a revelatory experience. We have come to call it a personal relationship with Christ..., the phrase "personal relationship".. is not to be found anywhere in scripture.. But we know it to mean.. an actual experience with knowing Jesus through Revelation knowledge.. In our case through .. His revealed WORD..., Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the WORD of GOD...


In what we thought was our search for GOD was in reality GOD drawing us to HIMSELF..

John 6:44
"No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.

GOD is not apparent to everyone, People hope that they know GOD they hope they are going to heaven... But only when GOD reveals Himself to you can we be certain.

To the World God is hidden… their questions are always... does GOD exist?????

Is 45:15
Truly You are a God Who hides Himself, O God of Israel, the Savior


Yet our LORD does leave a multitude of clues that bear out HIS existence.., the creation itself testifies of the existence off GOD… The intelligent design of our world and the very universe speaks about the existence of GOD…

Ps 19:1 The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.
Ps 19:2 Day to day pours forth speech,
And night to night reveals knowledge.
Ps 19:3 There is no speech, nor are there words;
Their voice is not heard.

We can look up at the Sun, the moon and the countless stars in the sky.. And if we are reasonable people we must say…Who put all this together???? Someone had to do this..
It’s like walking into a vast wilderness and stumbling upon a Mansion…,..The first thing we look for is someone to be there.. This structure did not build itself....We have stumbled upon something far greater than a mansion in the wilderness .. who's maker is the LORD our GOD...


Ps 115:15
May you be blessed of the LORD, Maker of heaven and earth.

Ps 121:2
My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.

Ps 124:8
Our help is in the name of the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.

Ps 134:3
May the LORD bless you from Zion, He who made heaven and earth

.
John 1:3 All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being.


The evidence is overwhelming.. , GOD does exist… Seeing GOD in creation is much like seeing a completed mansion and knowing someone had to construct this house… but not meeting the builder…until one day the builder decides to come out and say hello… …

God revealing Himself to Paul

Acts 9:3
As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him;

Acts 9:4
and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"

Acts 9:5
And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" And He said, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting

GOD revealing Himself to Moses

Ex 3:3
So Moses said, "I must turn aside now and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burned up."


Ex 3:4
When the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am."


Ex 3:5
Then He said, "Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground."


Ex 3:6
He said also, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." Then Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God

One day,..... only known perhaps between you and the LORD.. GOD revealed Himself to you........... And your life has been forever CHANGED......

This my friend is how you were Born Again....

John 1:13
Who owe their birth neither to bloods nor to the will of the flesh [that of physical impulse] nor to the will of man [that of a natural father], but to God. [They are born of God!]