For To This End, Christ Both Died, And Rose, And Revived That He Might Be Lord Both Of The Dead And Of The Living - Part 1824

Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit." (John 12:24)

Except that a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die it abides alone. But when it dies, as we know from watching a farmer's crop grow,  it brings forth multitudes of offspring. In this same way, JESUS -- wherein the Seed life of the Holy Ghost died -- brings forth SEEDED people who then become JESUS' offspring.

Therefore, no man "took" JESUS' life, as some might suggest, for at any time, JESUS could have called for a legion of angels to deliver Him. But as we now know, JESUS came to lay down His Life as a Son in order that we - the fallen sons of God - should be proclaimed free. For he who is set free by the sacrificial offering of the sinless body of the Holy Ghost is really free. Born again into the glorious liberty of the sons of God.

Weep now for it was for you and I that He said, "Father, why hast thou forsaken Me?" If JESUS had not spoken these words, then that sinless body would never have died. But then He said, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do!"

Yes, it is finished. The price for our sin paid for once and for all. The holy Spirit bore our sins in His own body on a dead tree. Why? Even the sun darkened when we crucified the Lamb of God - the Lord of Glory! We even shouted "away with Him" because we will not have this man to rule over us! For in our selfish modes, we do want another King to rule over us.

And there is no doubt about it -- Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords. He is the Great I AM. He is the Lord of hosts, the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending. God manifest in the flesh -- His glory for all the world to behold! He loves us as His beloved, and has chosen us in Him to become His offspring.

After the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared. (Titus 3:4-7) He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not. (John 1:10-11)

Because JESUS was crucified once and only once there is no more sacrificial offering required for sin. He is the Lamb of God. The true Light of the glorious gospel of God in the face of Jesus the Christ -- forever more shines. A light much brighter than even the noon day sun.

Further, nature teaches that we are spirit beings living our lives in a body, and appearing as sons or daughters. It is in these sons and daughter bodies that we bear our offspring. We father [and mother] all our children in a son or daughter body. GOD who is Spirit has done likewise FATHERING all His REDEEMED children in a Son's body. This is why He that has the Son has Life! Remember what the scriptures state - "I will never leave you nor forsake you Lo, I am with you always!"

Have you received His holy Spirit -- the Holy Ghost -- since you believed? If not, repent and be baptized into the Name of JESUS, going down into the water in the ‘likeness’ of JESUS' death and being raised up out of the water in the ‘likeness’ of JESUS' resurrection. (Acts 2:36-47) Yes, so that you too shall receive the promised gift of the holy Spirit of JESUS as He breathes His eternal life upon you!

"For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that He might be Lord both of the dead and living." (Romans 14:8-9)
To all my brothers and sisters in Christ from all nations, be victorious in our Lord God and Saviour. Peace be to you all in JESUS! 

Now All This Was Done That It Might Be Fulfilled Which Was Spoken Of The Lord By The Prophet - Part 1823

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

Again, there is NO OTHER NAME whereby men and women can be saved. There is a reason for this. God is One Spirit. He that descended is the same as He that ascended. For it was none other than God Himself who was veiled in sinful flesh whilst in the womb of His surrogate mother who herself was a descendant of Abraham's sin prone flesh.

And the angel answered and said unto [Mary], "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." (Luke 1:35)

In other words, God did not send another to bring salvation to you and I. God came Himself. The same Spirit of the Lord who moved upon the face of the waters in the beginning willingly clothed Himself in flesh so that you and I might experience life in Him. JESUS was the conceived SEED of the holy Spirit. For as the scriptures state, in JESUS, it pleased God that all the fullness of His Godhead should dwell bodily. (Colossians 2:9)

The SEED of Christ then is that spiritual which was manifest in the flesh (Christ). It is this same Seed in which all believing nations of the earth can be blessed.

"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins."

Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

"Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." (Matthew 1:18-23)

As the scriptures declare JESUS is God with us. (I Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6) JESUS is also declared to be the Word of God, which was with God, but now is with us. (John 1:1-4) The Light of the world. The Bread of life. The living water wherein if we taste of His goodness and grace, we will never thirst again.

Yes, JESUS then is the Word of God. This is why the people pressed toward JESUS. To hear the Word of God. Further, JESUS is the same Word that was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him. So if someone were to ask - who is the Word of God? The answer here is JESUS! Without JESUS who is the same Word that was with God in the beginning there is nothing made that was made. For the Word of God is the beginning of all things. The very worlds were framed by the Word of God.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through Him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lights every man that cometh into the world.

He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John bare witness of Him, and cried, saying, "This was He of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for He was before me. And of His fullness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him." (John 1:1-18)

In the same fashion as we read in Genesis, God spoke and lo’ it came to pass. JESUS' Word was with power but note that JESUS is also the power and wisdom of God. Yes, all that God is was revealed in the face of JESUS. How do we know this? Never a man spoke like this man spoke. In fact, even the winds and the sea obeyed Him. He fed the multitude of 5,000 from five loaves and two small fish. He cast out evil demonic spirits with a Word. He healed all the people who would come to Him.

Moreover, John declared that if all the things that JESUS began both to do and to say were to be written down, the world and likewise the universe too would not be able to contain all the books that would attest of Jesus. Note however, (as John alludes) that sufficient scripture was written so that you and I might believe in our hearts that JESUS is the Christ -- the Son of the living God!

JESUS - the Name above every other name in Heaven and on earth. For God declared that salvation could not be found in any other name. God was manifest in the flesh to destroy the works of the devil -- the reason there is sin, sickness and disease in the world. These are not of God. For God is not willing that any should perish but rather that all men should be saved. For God so loves you that He willingly sacrificed His life as a Son in order that we might be saved.

Indeed, the blood coming forth from JESUS' veins at Calvary was the life giving blood of the Holy Ghost, who fathered the man Christ JESUS. Yes, God laid down His humanity for us. He uttered the words, "It is finished." The price of man's redemption has been paid in full -- once and for all. As such, there is no more sacrifice for sin. Neither can we do good works to save ourselves.

Why? Because our salvation was paid for with His precious holy blood. All the world saw the glory of God ... His love inviting us to come to Him. As Thomas declared to JESUS, ‘My Lord and My God!’ He knew the truth, and given the time in which we live, wherein sufficient scripture is readily available to us, we can know that JESUS is Lord over all.

He is both Lord and Christ. The Son of man is the Lord of glory. The first Adam, earthy. The second Adam the Lord from heaven. After the kindness and love of God toward man appeared. (Titus 3:4-7)

Come to the Lord Jesus today and thank Him for His sacrifice on your behalf! Peace to all. Stand in the offering plate.

The Lord He Is God; A God That Hides Thyself, O God Of Israel, The Saviour; His Mercy Is Everlasting - Part 1822

"I and My Father are One!" (John 10:30)

Jesus saith unto him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by Me. If ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also: and from henceforth ye know Him, and have seen Him." Philip saith unto Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it suffices us."

Jesus saith unto him, "Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me, Philip? he that hath seen Me hath seen the Father; and how say thou then, "Show us the Father?" Believe thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of Myself: but the Father that dwells in Me, he doeth the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me: or else believe Me for the very works' sake.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believe on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in My name, I will do it." (John 14:6-14)
Why should we believe that JESUS is the Father? Because Jesus Himself said so. (John 10:30; John 14:6-14) So did the apostles whom Jesus, after He was taken up, through the Holy Ghost gave commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen.

"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." (I Timothy 3:16)
Note as well that the prophets also pointed to Jesus as God in the flesh, and that the Lord would come forth as a mighty man. (Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 42:13)

The Lord God said, "Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the Lord? and there is no God else beside Me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside Me. Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by Myself, the Word is gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, "That unto Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear." Surely, shall one say, in the Lord have I righteousness and strength: even to Him shall men come; and all that are incensed against Him shall be ashamed. In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory." (Isaiah 45:21-25)

God became our Saviour. "He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not." (John 1:10-11) 

In the beginning, God. (Genesis 1:1-2) This same God -- the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father. (John 1:14) The visible image of God -- Christ Jesus our Saviour.

"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the Word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high: being made so much better than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

For unto which of the angels said He at any time, "Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee?" And again, "I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son?" And again, when He brings in the first begotten into the world, He saith, "And let all the angels of God worship Him."

And of the angels He saith, "Who maketh His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire." But unto the Son He saith, "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows. And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of Thine hands ..." (Hebrews 1:1-10)

If you do not understand the Godhead, I encourage you to read God’s Word and study the scriptures for yourself. Let God’s Word come into you and fill your heart and mind with His glory. Why? Because we cannot both love JESUS and still reject His Word. For indeed the Word of God is embodied in JESUS, who is the WORD of God manifest in flesh appearing as a Son. If God had appeared in a different fashion, then we might suggest that an alien had visited earth. But this is not the case, and the scriptures are clear on this point.

Every single book of the Bible (both in the old and the new) points to JESUS. "Lo, behold, the volume of the book is written of Me!"  Not written of them, or us, as the modern day religious culture would have us believe, but One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism. One God and Father who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Ephesians 4:5-6) And this same Lord clothed Himself in flesh, so that He could become our Saviour, shedding His precious holy blood on a cross, so that we might have life abundantly. After the kindness and love of God our Saviour. (Titus 3:4-7)

But I digress. Continuing from the point above, note that on the contrary, it is us - you and I - who are the aliens. Totally alienated from God. We instead let evil captivate our imaginations rather than trust God for our blessings. But the good news is this.

When JESUS' empowered His disciples to go into the harvest field of the world, commissioning them to heal the sick and to cast out demonic spirits in HIS NAME, He did so in order for you and I to return to Jesus. And then as the scriptures state, upon returning to JESUS the apostles were rejoicing declaring that even the demonic spirits were subject to the disciples in JESUS' NAME. Later, we read that JESUS commissioned and empowered another 100 disciples sending them also to heal the sick and cast out demons. This was Jesus' way of showing that the Kingdom of God is near. Then Jesus instructed the disciples to deliver this good news gospel message - the same gospel message contained in the scriptures - and declare this very same gospel message to one and all.

Further, JESUS said at the time that it was not Him (His flesh) that was performing the miracles. Rather, it was the Father who dwelt within Me - it is He who does these things. Yes, God was in the man JESUS the Christ endeavouring to reconcile the world back to Himself (God). JESUS being the SEED of the holy Spirit (and therefore God) implanted into the womb of a willing surrogate mother named Mary, whose sin prone flesh was to veil the Holy Ghost coming forth from her -- E/Immanuel or God with us. (Luke 1:35; Matthew 1:18-23; Isaiah 9:6)

Although admittedly, all bodies are sin prone, commencing from the time that Adam and Eve rejected God’s instructions in the Garden of Eden. However, when they were banished from the Eden Garden, the two entered into an unknown -- an untamed natural world. But JESUS dwelt in such a sin prone body capable of sinning even as we are but totally without sin. The difference being that inside JESUS dwelt the Holy Spirit. "To wit, God was in Christ ..." (II Corinthians 5:19)

Therefore, even though tempted by sin, JESUS did not sin. God’s pure and holy spiritual humanity indwelt JESUS!

You see, JESUS did not come to dazzle us. Rather, JESUS came to save us from ourselves. Jesus came to save us from the strong delusion of unbelief that Adam and Eve experienced. The delusion of unbelief and pit of ignorance that we have fallen into, professing ourselves to be wise and instead becoming as fools. And in our ignorance declaring that dumb matter could bring forth intelligent life.

Is it any wonder then that God winks at such ignorance on our part? We ought to save ourselves from such dark nonsensical unbelief.

Thus, to go full circle, we need to understand that reverential fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom! Why? Because JESUS is the wisdom of God! And Jesus is the wisdom of God now being delivered to those who have hearing ears. Our Heavenly Father who is one Spirit speaks to us -- His Wisdom -- but in a Son's body. Similar to our spirit that talks through our physical bodies God who is Spirit is inviting us to come to Him through His own body.

His Name is JESUS in this current dispensation of grace.

Stand in the offering plate.

Jesus Said, "Rejoice With Me For I Have Found My Sheep Which Was Lost!" - Part 1821

"Behold My servant, whom I uphold; Mine elect, [in whom] My soul delighteth; I have put My Spirit upon Him: He shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall He not break, and the smoking flax shall He not quench. He shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till He have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for His law." 

Thus saith God the LORD, "He that created the heavens, and stretched them out; He that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; He that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and Spirit to them that walk therein: I the LORD have called Thee in righteousness, and will hold Thine hand, and will keep Thee, and give Thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles ...

To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, [and] them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. I [am] the LORD: that [is] My Name: and My glory will I not give to another, neither My praise to graven images.

Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them. Sing unto the LORD a new song, [and] His praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof. Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up [their voice], the villages [that] Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains. Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare His praise in the islands.

The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, He shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: He shall cry, yea, roar; He shall prevail against His enemies. I have long time holden My peace; I have been still, [and] refrained myself: [now] will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once. I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools.

And I will bring the blind by a way [that] they knew not; I will lead them in paths [that] they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.

They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye [are] our gods. Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see. Who [is] blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger [that] I sent? who [is] blind as [he that is] perfect, and blind as the LORD'S servant?

Seeing many things, but thou observes not; opening the ears, but He hears not. The LORD is well pleased for His righteousness' sake; He will magnify the law, and make [it] honourable. But this [is] a people robbed and spoiled; [they are] all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivers; for a spoil, and none saith, "Restore."

Who among you will give ear to this? [Who] will hearken and hear for the time to come? Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the LORD -- He against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in His ways, neither were they obedient unto His law. Therefore, He hath poured upon Him the fury of His anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set Him on fire round about, yet He knew not; and it burned Him, yet He laid [it] not to heart." (Isaiah 42:1-25)

Meditate upon these words -- the Word of the Lord -- and understand how much the Lord our God loved us, to have willingly become our Saviour, our Redeemer. His Name is Jesus. He is both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36) God manifest in the flesh. (I Timothy 3:16) He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. (John 1:10) But we know Him because His sheep hear His voice.

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." (Philippians 4:8)

Stand in the offering plate.

And Thou Shalt Know That I Am The LORD; Thy Saviour And Thy Redeemer, The Mighty One of Jacob - Part 1820

"Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is His Name: He shall thoroughly plead their cause, that He may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon." (Jeremiah 50:34)

Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and His redeemer the LORD of hosts; "I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God." (Isaiah 44:6; Revelation 22:13; Revelation 1:8; Revelation 21:6; Revelation 19:16; Revelation 17:14)

O, Lord, how we sorely need a disquieting of the inhabitants of Babylon, so that once again our land can be restored to its fullness, and healed from the false religious teachings in the land, that are intended to lead men and women astray. Lord, how we need to enter into the rest that you have promised for Your people, the latter rain, the rest which surpasses all human understanding. And Lord, fill us with your knowledge and wisdom so that we can once again proclaim to one and all that the same Lord God who created us in the very beginning willingly became our blessed Redeemer. 

"After the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared ..." (Titus 3:4-7)

Our Lord God and Saviour willingly became the perfect sacrifice on that cross so that none would perish. God manifest in the flesh. (I Timothy 3:16)

"All the fullness of the Godhead dwelt bodily in Him ..." (Colossians 2:9) 

And that You Lord, are still King of kings and Lord of lords, Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending. (Revelation 1:8) 

Right now, as the scriptures state about these last days, even all of creation is groaning because the people whom you loved enough to shed Your holy blood on the cross, have not turned to You in their hearts ... so that You Lord God can heal our land. The Lord told us through the prophet Hosea, "My people perish for lack of knowledge." But it does not have to be this way. How do we know?

For the Lord said, "And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, My great army which I sent among you. And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the Name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and My people shall never be ashamed." (Joel 2:25-26)

But in order for the Lord to turn man's heathenism and treachery against the Lord around, we the people need to stop drinking the wine of the wrath of her fornication -- the kings of the earth who have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth that are waxed through the abundance of her delicacies.

Instead, we need to begin heeding the voice of the Lord from heaven who is pleading with us, saying, "Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities .... how much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her for she saith in her heart, "I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow."(Revelation 18:3-7; Revelation 14:8, 10; Isaiah 47:15; Isaiah 48:20; Revelation 16:19; Genesis 18:20; Psalms 137:8; Ezekiel 28:2-8; Isaiah 47:7-8)

Jesus said, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me ..." (John 10:27)

Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live." (John 5:25)

And Jesus said this, not as the systems of this world will tell you, as a second person of a triune/triad/trinity g/God, but as the One and Only Shepherd who loved us (His sheep) so much that He became the perfect sacrifice -- the Lamb of God slain before all the world. 

"To day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation." (Hebrews 3:17-11, 15; Acts 1:16; Psalm 95:7-11)

For there is a promise that the Lord God Almighty has given to them who hear His voice -- the Holy Ghost having spoken afore by the mouth of David. That is, the Holy Ghost this signifying that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing, which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience ..." (Hebrews 9:8-9; John 14:6; Hebrews 7:19)

But now, in this current dispensation of grace, we have Jesus who will save His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21-23) 

"For then must He often have suffered since the foundation of the world; but now once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this life the judgment, so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation." (Hebrews 10:26-28)

Yes, only One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism. One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and now in you all -- who worship Him as God our Saviour. Jesus is His Name. And we need to understand and have the knowledge of the Son of God first, believing on Him -- the Word -- because the truth is in Jesus. (Ephesians 4:21) We are sanctified by His Word that is truth. (John 17:17)

Therefore, grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby we are sealed unto the day of redemption. Rather, learn of Christ, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, putting on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. For He is our all in all. And when we say we are followers of God, having repented of our sin, and gone on to be water baptized in the precious Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are filled with His Spirit -- the Holy Ghost in our hearts. (Acts 2:36-38; Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:27; I Corinthians 15:29; Colossians 2:12; I Corinthians 6:14)

And, as a consequence, we learn to walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour. (Ephesians 5:1-2; Luke 6:36; I Peter 1:14-16; I Thessalonians 4:9; Galatians 1:4; II Corinthians 2:14-15)

And let the following scriptures resonate in your heart. Meditate upon these life giving words in your heart. Worship the Lord God Almighty with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and know beyond a shadow of a doubt, that in this day and age, in which we live, His Name is JESUS.

And when we are buried with Him by baptism into death; the like [just] as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4) Stand in the offering plate. 

"Doubtless Thou art our Father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: Thou, O LORD, art our Father, our Redeemer; Thy Name is from everlasting." (Isaiah 63:16)

"For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is His Name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall He be called." (Isaiah 54:5)

Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; "I am the LORD thy God which teaches thee to profit, which leads thee by the way that thou shouldest go." (Isaiah 48:17)

Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and His Holy One, to Him whom man despises, to Him whom the nation abhors, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and He shall choose thee." (Isaiah 49:7)

Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and He that formed thee from the womb, "I am the LORD that makes all things; that stretches forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself ..." (Isaiah 44:24)

Hereby, Know Ye The Spirit of God; Every Good Gift Comes Courtesy Of His Kindness And Love -- Part 1819

"For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me." (Job 19:25-27)

"And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer." (Psalms 78:35)

"As for our redeemer, the Lord of hosts is His name, the Holy One of Israel." (Isaiah 47:4)

Jesus said to Philip, "If ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also: and from henceforth ye know Him, and have seen Him." (John 14:6-12)

God manifest in the flesh. (I Timothy 3:16) He became our Saviour on the cross. Jesus -- the Bread of life!

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only beloved Son; that WHOSOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM should not perish but have everlasting life."

You see, we are to believe in Him who has saved us from our sin. Our redeemer. After the kindness and love of God our Saviour. (Titus 3:4-7) And this includes getting to know His name -- the precious Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. And yet, within today's modern day religious culture, there are many who say they know God, and pray, hoping to receive life eternal, and yet, these do not know His Name. These do not know whom to call upon in their time of need. For me, this is extremely sad, given that we have the scriptures readily available before us so that we can know Him personally.

The Lord Jesus (as Peter standing with the eleven declared) who is both our Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36-38) The same son of man on this earth became the Lord of glory at the resurrection. What does the scripture tell us? That the man created by God in the beginning was the first Adam, and that the second Adam -- He was the Lord from heaven. 

"His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)

The mystery of godliness -- Jesus was God manifest in the flesh. (I Timothy 3:16) 

He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not. (John 1:10-11) "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His Name JESUS, for He shall save His people from their sins ... Behold, a woman shall be with child, and shall bring forth a Son and they shall call His Name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is God with us." (Matthew 1:21-23)

And yet as we know, the traditions of men (with their entrenched religious systems of this world) still know JESUS only as the Son of God. In this context, many do not understand God's true identity, which He reveals to the seeker in Hebrews 1:1-13, among many other scriptures. A good read for those desiring to know the truth that will set you free. The truth that sanctifies those led by the Holy Ghost, and are sanctified by His truth -- Thy Word is truth. (John 17:!7) And, also, to those who receive the gifts of the Spirit, severally as He will. But I digress somewhat.

The bottom line is this. As believers in Jesus the Christ by faith, we need to repent for the forgiveness of sins. Then we need to be water baptized in His Name -- the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ -- as the answer of a good conscience toward God. (I Peter 3:21-22; Acts 2:36-38; Acts 10:44-48; Romans 6:3-4)

And also, if the Lord God and Saviour JESUS the Christ has revealed Himself to you, that is truly good news. (Matthew 1:21-23) Why? For there is healing in the Name of JESUS. (Mark 16:15-18) There is POWER in His NAME. And He -- JESUS -- is our all in all. Therefore, to know GOD is to know JESUS as Jesus so aptly told Peter when He said, "If ye have seen Me, ye have seen the Father."

Yes, Jesus is the express image of the invisible God. (Hebrews 1:1-13) All the fullness of the Godhead dwelt bodily in Him. (Colossians 2:9) "Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the Word of His power ... " (Hebrews 1:3)

Indeed, Jesus revealed Himself to us. In John 10:30, Jesus told them., "I and My Father are One!" (John 10:30) And had it not been so, He would have told us so. This is why Jesus said,  "Lo, behold, the volume of the book is written of Me. It is so that we would understand that Jesus is "Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." (Revelation 22:13)

Praise Him today. Stand fast in the liberty wherewith is Christ. Stand in the offering plate.

Worthy Is The Lamb That Was Slain; The Lion of the Tribe Of Judah; The Root of David - Part 1818

"I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels." (Isaiah 61:10)

Moreover, "lift up thine eyes round about, and behold, all these gather themselves together, and come to Thee. "As I live," saith the Lord, "thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind on thee, as a bride doeth." (Isaiah 49:18)

In the past, we have spoken often of believers in Jesus being clothed with the garments of salvation, and covered with the robe of righteousness. Why is this important? Because the prophets foretold of the time that would come wherein the Seed would be known among the Gentiles, "and their offspring among the people; all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed." (Isaiah 61:9)

And again, " .... for they are the seed of the blessed Lord, and their offspring with them, and it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." (Isaiah 65:23) 

But being covered with the robe of righteousness and clothed with His garment of salvation does not stop there. David reminds us that we are clothed with righteousness too. So much so, that we saints should shout for joy. 

"Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy. For thy servant David's sake turn not away the face of Thine anointed ... I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout for joy ..." (Psalm 132:9,16) 

In Revelation, Jesus refers, as well, to the few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments, "and they shall walk with Me in white for they are worthy ... he that overcomes the same shall be clothed in white raiment, and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels ..." (Revelation 3:4-5) 

And then later, Jesus speaks of the moment, in the twinkling of an eye wherein He comes again to gather His people, saying, "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame." (Revelation 16:15)

In other words, keeping our garments carries with it encouragement to continue watching for the coming of the Lord. 

However, in contrast, James also speaks of garments, in relation to those who are lost. For example,  "Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust other shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire, Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields which is of you kept back by fraud, cries; and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth [ hosts]. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton: ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the just, and he doth not resist you." (James 5:2-6) 

" ... his enemies will I clothe with shame ..." (Psalm 132:18)

"Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at Mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against Me." (Psalm 35:26) 

Nevertheless, as it most often is within His Word, there is a "but" that allows believers to quickly move forward in the grace and kindness of our Lord God and Saviour, without ever looking back. A "but" which turns even the bad things into good for those who love the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. The but that includes letting them shout for joy, and being glad, that favour His righteous cause; yea, let them say continually, "Let the Lord be magnified which hath pleasure in the prosperity of His servant, and my tongue shall speak of Thy righteousness and of Thy praise all the day long." (Psalm 35:27-28; Romans 12:15)

It is in this context, that no matter what is happening all around us, we are encouraged to be patient therefore brethren, "unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until h/He receives the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draws nigh. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned; behold, the judge stands before the door. 

Take my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the Name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful [persevering] and of tender mercy." 

In prophecy, Joel goes in a slightly different direction, writing, "And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repent him of the evil." (Joel 2:13)

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain for all the world to see, so that we whom believe in Jesus by faith can come unto the lord Jesus -- for He is our all in all. He is the One and Only King -- He is both our Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36-38; John 17:17; I Timothy 3:16)

And we rejoice in Him, for He alone cans save His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21-23)

Thus, "I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and He will make my feet like hinds feet, and He will make me to walk upon mine high places." (Habakkuk 3:18; Isaiah 41:6)  

Stand in the offering plate.

Go Tell Thy Friends The Great Things The Lord Hath Done For Thee - Part 1817

"I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; that the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus." (Philemon 1:6)

In some circles, one's life story is called a testimony, and for the believer in Jesus by faith, the experiences we have (both good and bad) are critical for sharing, because it reveals to us (and to those we know) that our life is for the glorification of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ. He is our all in all, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending. (Revelation 1:8, 11) 

In these last days, our testimony is even more important, because our testimony tells of the great things the Lord hath done for us. Why now? Because, as the scripture points out, "they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." (Revelation 12:11)

Because in the Lord Jesus, salvation has come, and our strength, and the Kingdom of our God --- the power of His Christ, so that "the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night." (Revelation 12:10)

Because at some point very soon "the kingdoms of this world [will] become the Kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign forever and ever." (Revelation 11:15; Isaiah 27:13; Exodus 15:18)

After these things, John who wrote Revelation while on an isle that is called Patmos, saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. 

"And I saw an angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God, and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, saying, "Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them which were sealed, and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel ..." (Revelation 7:1-3)

Again, so that we do not miss His promise to those that love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength the angel having the seal of the living God said, " ... till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads." (Revelation 7:3)

Continuing, John scribes what he is witnessing in the vision, saying,  "I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the Throne and before the Lamb clothed with white robes and palms [palm branches] in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation to our God which sits upon the Throne and unto the Lamb." 

And all the angels stood round about the Throne, and about the elders and the four beasts [living creatures] and fell before the Throne on their faces and worshipped God, saying, "Amen: blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God forever and ever, amen." 

One of the elders answered, saying unto me, "What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?" And I said unto him, "Sir, thou know." And he said to me, "These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, are they before the Throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple, and He that sets on the Throne shall dwell among them. 

They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them , nor any heat .... for the Lamb which is in the midst of the Throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters, and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." (Revelation 7:9-17; Revelation 5:9, 12-14; Revelation 3:5, 18; Revelation 4:4, 6; Revelation 6:19, 1; Psalm 3:8; Revelation 5:13; Revelation 11:16; Isaiah 4:5-6; Isaiah 49:10; Psalm 121:6; Psalm 23:1; Isaiah 25:8; Revelation 21:4)

You see, it was never intended that we who believe in the Lord Jesus by faith should be ignorant of the mystery that was held in the bosom of the Father from the beginning of time. That is, that the Lord God Himself said to His beloved, "For this is My covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins." (Romans 11:26-26; Matthew 1:18-23) 

Therefore, "how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause, He is the mediator of the New Testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance ..." (Hebrews 9:14-18)

The promise, if we decidedly refrain from the captivity and bondage and idols of this world, is eternal life in our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ. And one day very soon, He is returning to this land for His beloved people, who know from whence comes their salvation. (Titus 2:13) Those who have repented and had their robes washed in His precious Name -- the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 2:36; Acts 10:44-48; Romans 6:3-4; I Peter 3:21-22)

Sadly, however, the Lord's vineyard since the beginning has been tainted and as Isaiah prophesies, His people gone into captivity, "without knowledge ... their honourable men famished, their multitude dried up with thirst. In this, hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure, and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and all those that rejoice in it, shall descend into it, and the mean man shall be brought down and the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty" as well. (Isaiah 5:13-15)

Isaiah further elaborates, explaining how the Lord did build His vineyard in a very fruitful hill, and planted it with the choicest vine because of His love for His beloved creation. It is us who are in the process of destroying all the good things within, but I digress.

From Isaiah 5:

"Now I will sing to My well beloved a song of My beloved touching His vineyard in a very fruitful hill: and He fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein; and He looked that it should bring forth grapes, [but instead] it brought forth wild grapes. And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge I pray you, betwixt Me and My vineyard. What could have been done more to My vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?

And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to My vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up, and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: and I will lay it waste; it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it ... for the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah His pleasant plant; and He looked for judgment, but behold oppression: for righteousness, but behold a cry. Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth. 

"In Mine ears," saith the Lord of hosts, "Of a truth many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitant ..." (Isaiah 5:1-9; Isaiah 22:14; Micah 2:2; Isaiah 7:19-25; Psalm 80:12; Psalm 89:40-41; Matthew 21:33)

Still, in spite of what is happening all around us, and them that call evil good and good evil, and put darkness for light and light for darkness, and put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter, those that are wise only in their own eyes, and prudent only in their own sight, and are mighty to drink wine, and mingle strong drink, justifying the wicked for reward, and taking away the righteousness of the righteous from Him, these will have their reward because they have cast away the Lord of hosts, and despised the Word of the Holy One of Israel. These have despised our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ. (Isaiah 5:20-24)

Nevertheless, as we have tasted and seen in our hearts, and handled the Word of life (as the apostles confirmed) there is a well which never runs dry. There is a stream in the midst of the desert inviting us into the most elaborate wedding feast ever. And in that day to come, shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely. 

Yes, as Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man comes unto the Father but by Me!" (John 14:6) "I am the Bread of life; he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believes on Me shall never thirst." (John 6:35)

And it was He who said, "Come now, and let us reason together," saith the Lord, "though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool ... if ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat of the good of the land!" (Isaiah 1:18-19; Isaiah 43:26; Psalm 51:7; Titus 1:2)

Indeed, after the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared. (Titus 3:4-7) It was He who willingly shed His precious holy blood on that cross for you and I. It was He who bore our sins so that we might have life more abundantly in Him -- our Lord God and Saviour. 

Consequently, only He is worthy of all honour and glory and praise. His Name is JESUS for He shall save His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21-23)

And, in Revelation, Jesus said, "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending," saith the Lord, "which is, and which was, and which is to come -- the Almighty." (Revelation 1:8, 11)

Stand in the offering plate.

Blessed Is The Man That Endures Temptation For When he Is Tried, he Shall Receive the Crown of Life, Which The Lord Hath Promised To Them That Love Him - Part 1816

"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally, and upbraided not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. " (James 1:1-6)

As believers in the Lord Jesus the Christ by faith, having been enlightened by the truth of the gospel and His Word, we should no longer desire the whims of this world, because the Lord Jesus has become in our hearts our all in all. He is the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending. the King of kings and Lord of lords. 

Indeed, in this current dispensation of grace (the time in which we live) God has given us His Name -- the Name of JESUS, for He shall save us from our sins. Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited His people. (Luke 1:78) He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not. (John 1:10-11; I Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6)

Mary, the mother of Jesus, heartily rejoiced in God her Saviour. "And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For He hath regarded the low estate of His handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For He that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is His Name." (Luke 1:47-49)

Indeed, holy is His Name! The precious Name of the Lord Jesus. The ONLY Name whereby we must be saved in this dispensation of grace. (Acts 4:12) The Name which was given to us for this time in which we live -- which is above every other other Name, including those names assigned to and by God Almighty in times past. (Philippians 2:9) 

How do we know? Because the angel of the Lord declared, "and ye shall call His Name JESUS for He shall save His people from their sins ... Emmanuel, which being interpreted, God with us!" (Matthew 1:21-23)

But the world does not like the Name of JESUS, except as a name to curse. And, as Jesus instructed -- we can expect to be separated from those in the world because the world hated Him first. Nevertheless, we know from whence comes our salvation, and in whom we trust. And when we love Him -- our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, He dwells within as the Comforter -- the resurrected Spirit of our Lord Jesus -- the Holy Ghost, leading and guiding us into all truth. (John 14:26; John 15:26; Acts 1:2-3; II John 1:9; I Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6; Titus 2:13; Titus 3:4-7)

He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. (Revelation 1, 8, 11)

However, conversely, as the scriptures also declare, "... he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: but the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withers the grass, and the flower thereof fall, and the grace of the fashion of it perishes: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways." (James 1:8-11)

But the promise to them that believe -- "Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him." (James 1:12)

Therefore, let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempts He any man: but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it brings forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death. But our hope is in the Lord God who has already paid the price for our sins and transgressions. He paid the ultimate price with His shed blood on a cross, beaten and whipped, and wearing a crown of thorns, so that we might have abundant life in Him.

Thus, "do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of His own will begat He us with the Word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of His creatures. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted Word, which is able to save your souls.

Be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves, for if any be a hearer of the Word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: for he beholds himself, and goes his way, and straightway forgets what manner of man he was. But whoso looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

And just in case there are some of you who believe Jesus is akin to organized man-made religion / traditions of men, James writes -- "If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridles not his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is vain [for] pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this -- To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." (James 1:13-27)

Stand in the offering plate.

Who Hath Believed Our Report? And To Whom Is The Arm Of The LORD Revealed? Part 1815

"Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavy loaden; they are a burden to the weary beast. They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity. Hearken unto Me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by Me from the belly, which are carried from the womb: And even to your old age I am He; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you." (Isaiah 46:1-4)

Herein, the Lord God Almighty is speaking through the prophet Isaiah, warning of times such as these, when we behold everything and anything rather than the Word of the Lord. So what does the Lord say, that would encourage us to understand that He has a higher purpose for His people?

"To whom will ye liken Me, and make Me equal, and compare Me, that we may be like?" (Isaiah 46:5)

There is no hand carved idol which can take away our sin. There is no prophet from afore that could become the perfect sacrifice. And those pieces of gold and silver -- all worldly constructs -- cannot fill us with the peace and joy that can only come from worshipping our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ. And yet, sadly, we in the world, continue to chase the things of earth and the wisdom of this world over the marvellous handiwork of our Lord God. And, as Isaiah points out, we are missing the calling and purpose that He placed in our heart whilst we were still in our mother's womb. 

Isaiah scribed our dilemma this way -- "They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship.They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble. Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors.

Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, "My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure: calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executes My counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken [it], I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed I[t], I will also do it.

Hearken unto Me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness: I bring near My righteousness; it shall not be far off, and My salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel My glory." (Isaiah 46:6-13)

We are called to hearken unto the Lord God and to obtain our instruction from Him -- the very same Him who loved you and I enough to become our Saviour. Oh, how we miss out on life when we fail to heed His voice in all things. Nevertheless, those who love Him will -- as the scripture declares -- in all things -- both word and deed, do all in the precious Name of JESUS. 

As an aside, we know the world is changing quickly. In fact, all creation is groaning at man's excessive indulgences, and now (as should we also) be awaiting the appearance of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ. 

Hosea said, "My people perish for lack of knowledge!" (Hosea 4:6) And while the self-proclaiming authorities in the world attempt to keep us in bondage and captivity, there is still One Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ who wants us to stand fast in His liberty. (Galatians 5:1) To understand that the love of God surpasses anything that this earthly journey can provide. But we need to come to Him -- the Lord Jesus -- and ask Him to be both Lord and Christ in our hearts.

Time is short. Even so, if we (His beloved) would only turn to Him -- the same God who willingly allowed His humanity to hang on that cross so that we might have life in Him -- how quickly could things turn around. 

Because "every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of His own will begat He us with the Word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of His creatures ..." (James 1:17-18)

If you currently do not know the Lord Jesus as your personal Saviour, today is the day of salvation. Ask Him to be both Lord and Christ in your heart. Be water baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:36-41) Find a New Testament Bible and begin reading (preferably a King James version, or a similar New Testament that has not been revised and/or rewritten). Study His Word to show thyself approved unto God so that you too can rightly discern His Word, and the signs of the times.

And know that when the Lord gave His right arm, He did so in order that we might have eternal life in Him. The mystery that was held in the bosom of the Father from the beginning of the world. God manifest in the flesh. (I Timothy 3:16) He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not. (John 1:10-11) After the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared ... (Titus 3:4-7)

Stand in the offering plate.