So Mightily Grew The Word Of God And Prevailed: The Lord Who Is Both Lord And Christ, The Restorer Of Soul - Part 2197

"Who [is] a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation His works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descended not from above, but [is] earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife [is], there [is] confusion and every evil work.

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." (James 3:13-18)

In so doing, we who believe in the resurrected Jesus -- who we (like Peter standing with the eleven on the day of Pentecost) know to be both Lord and Christ -- should be willingly showing His works through our conversations and deeds ... with meekness of wisdom. For we have come to know that in our day to day, Jesus is the only Way, the Truth and the Life. The One Absolute who never fails. He is the Rock which can't be moved -- the Christ who is and was and is to come. Moreover, in this current dispensation of grace, Jesus is the only Name whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12) And His Name -- the Name of JESUS is the Name above every other Name. (Philippians 2:9) 

As the scripture saith, "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 1:21-23)

Yes, the same Spirit of the Lord God who created all things willingly became our Saviour. He shed His blood on the cross for you and I. (Acts 20:28) The same Spirit of the Lord God who moved upon the face of the waters in Genesis is the same Spirit of the Lord God who dwells within our hearts this day. Because of His kindness and love toward us, we can know the true wisdom which only comes from the Lord. (Titus 3:4-7; Acts 20:28; Isaiah 9:6)

And, as the scripture saith, the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace because the Spirit in the holy dwells within. 

Stand in the offering plate. 

Who Also Hath Made Us Able Ministers Of The New Testament - Part 2196

" ... who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the Spirit: for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." (II Corinthians 3:6)

"Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifies. 

Who is he that condemns? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 

As it is written, "For Thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." (Psalm 44:22; Romans 8:36)

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:33-39)

In Romans we are assured that even in the confusion that is continually before us, we are conquerors through Him that loved us. And consequently, there is nothing that is able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:39) 

You see, when David wrote about the confusion in the Psalms, he was under the Old Testament, speaking forward to the promise which was yet to come. That is, the Son of man which is the Lord of glory! Thus, the absolute that we understand and believe is Jesus -- the prophesied Christ -- our Rock.  

From the scriptural account in Psalms, David writes about the confusion that is continually before him. 

"My confusion is continually before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me, for the voice of him that reproaches and blasphemes; by reason of the enemy and avenger." (Psalm 44:16) But David does not stop there. He offers hope and the promise of a coming Saviour who will never fail us, nor let us down in the day to day.

So, even in the adversities that we call life, David writes, "All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten Thee, neither have we dealt falsely in Thy covenant. Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from Thy way; though Thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death. If we have forgotten the Name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god; shall not God search this out? for He knows the secrets of the heart." (Psalm 44:17-21)

It is in this context that we understand that even in the trials and tribulations of life, we can also attest  -- "Yea, for Thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter" -- knowing also, that in all things the world devises against us, we have not forgotten the Name of our God. We have not stretched out our hands to a strange god, or conversely, as the modern religious culture, divided our One Lord God and Saviour into three. 

Rather, in all things we worship and give praise and honour and glory to God our Saviour for He is -- the Great I Am -- the Lord Jesus -- the promised Messiah -- the Way, the Truth and the Life, the Bread of Life, and as such He is victorious over the snares of the enemy, if we only keep our eyes focussed on Him.  (Psalm 44:16-23)

Stand in the offering plate. 

Unto Every One Of Us Is Given Grace According To The Measure Of The Gift Of Christ. - Part 2195

"[Whereof] the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that He had said before, "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days," saith the Lord, "I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more." Now where remission of these [is, there is] no more offering for sin.

Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh; and [having] an high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of [our] faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised;)" (Hebrews 10:15-23)

At the cross, the veil was torn in two, from heaven to earth, so that we could have salvation and everlasting life in our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ. He paid the ultimate price with His precious holy blood. 

"To wit, God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself." (II Corinthians 5:19) 

It was His desire that by a new and living way, His people would be consecrated. Redeemed. Made anew. Why? Because He is the Author and Finisher of our salvation. The King of kings and Lord of lords. And there is no other but Him. In this current dispensation of grace, His Name is JESUS, for He shall save His people from their sins. His promise to save you and I who believe on Him by faith and have our robes washed in His precious Name -- the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Yes, it is Jesus who adorns us, clothing His beloved in in His cloak of righteousness -- and yes, He will save His people from their sins. Emmanuel, being interpreted, God with us. Praise His precious holy Name.

Stand in the offering plate. 

Hearken Your Heart This Day To The Greatest Love Story Ever Told - Part 2194

Jesus breathed on His disciples, saying to them, "Receive the Holy Ghost." It is of His Spirit that we as believers have received. This also also explains why if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to the family of God.

There is only one Spirit. God is that one Spirit. God’s Spirit is holy. The Spirit of God has made all things. He made the things that are seen and those things which are not seen with our eyes - the visible and the invisible. All things were made by Him. In doing so, God counselled with Himself. There were no advisors. He, God purposed all things.

Indeed, the Almighty God does not throw dice. Out of nothing came forth God Himself. Creation declared God’s eternal power and Godhead displayed in created form. Further, God Himself is the beginning of the Creation. God declared that He was going to reveal Himself in visible fashion and that is what He did. This is why it is written, "That all things were created by Him and for Him. He, God, is before all things and by Him all things in the world exist.

Indeed, the Word of God reveals the Wisdom of God. Through His Word, we receive and understand. God made us in His own image. However, we were all born into this world with blank slates. First created and then born in created form into a beautiful world.

God’s plan right from the garden was that man and women would be fruitful and multiply. Before our appearing on earth, God has revealed that there was war in heaven. Angels who were a different creation than Adam’s race were warring big time. Lucifer desired to be the chief. He persuaded other angels that he was chief because Lucifer had an agenda. He wanted to dethrone God.

But as the scriptures point out, that was just not going to happen. So the war raged on. One third of the angelic host aligned themselves with lucifer, and the other two thirds with God. Please note here that angels cannot die. Angels can only be subjected to suffering. This is why God prepared a place called hell, a place located in an space called outer darkness, especially prepared for lucifer (satan) and his demonic followers.

God never intended man to go to that place. The war raged on. We read that during this period, the earth was without form and void. Planets became deserts, uninhabitable and void of any beauty that may have previously existed. However, as we discover in Genesis, God had created a beautiful little planet called earth, in which did dwell man who was an earthly visible form of God Himself - called the son of God in created form.

The potential inside that visible form is called the breath of God, which causes man to be called a living soul. All that was needed was time to move into those hidden potentials within. God teaching the blank slate, the blank slate through God’s teaching, and growing to become spiritually a son of God.

Because of the raging war satan and his hordes arrived on this paradise earth. From that moment on, he has endeavoured to increase his one third in number by enticing men and women to follow him. Admittedly, humans have messed up and succumbed to his lies. It is the same situation as the one third of angels who thought that they were not created. These also believed in the big bang theory and that there was no God.

As often, history repeats itself, so is satan alive and well. But now, he is so active that he has planted himself in high places,  planting his vices on the main streets. The scripture saith that in the last days satan and his angels will run to and fro to devour whom he can -- those who will succumb to his twisted message. And as in the garden, he is subtle in his approach. Remember Eve.

But in spite of satan's attempts to misrepresent the scriptures, the Word is clear. And yes, as the Word declares, here will come a time when every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Herein this message is the Spirit of God glorified. For God was the Spirit in the man Jesus. God Himself manifest in the flesh as a Son. In Jesus dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Jesus is the God who made all things and wants to have fellowship -- friendship -- with His beloved creation.

Jesus -- the Great I AM -- the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Stand in the offering plate.

Behold, What Manner Of Love Is This - Part 2193

"(For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.) Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, "Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, "TO THE UNKNOWN GOD." Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, Him declare I unto you." (Acts 17:21-23)

This message is more relevant today than ever, given the increasing terminology cited toward our Lord God and Saviour -- descriptive words that are not even scriptural. First and foremost is the increasing use of the term Father God -- which is never cited anywhere in the scriptures. Another religious term is emerging -- Father Lord which is even more confusing for those who believe in Jesus by faith, given that we are commanded to worship only one Lord God, who willingly as well became our Saviour. It is clear -- as Paul points out in Acts 17 -- that the modern day religious community is worshiping an unknown God. Or, as we have alluded to before -- worshiping a three headed God, or an Almighty God that these (full of half truths) have decidedly divided into thirds.

Did Paul stop at telling the men of Athens that they worship an unknown God? Of course not. Paul went onto declare Him whom these ignorantly worship. And so do we herein, where in we declare Jesus to be the Lord of glory, the King of kings and Lord of lords, Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending. (Revelation 1:8, 11; I Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6) 

"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 1:21-23)

"To wit, God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself." (II Corinthians 5:19) 

"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)

"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood." (Acts 20:28)

Yes, it is time to come out from among them/her -- those religious who have chosen to deceive believers, and get into the Word of God for His truth. Study to show thyself approved unto God who is the Lord. Why? Because there is an absolute, and when we repent and are water baptized in His Name -- the precious, holy Name of the Lord Jesus, we receive His Spirit, the Comforter, the Holy Ghost dwelling within. 

From the very beginning, God is the Great I AM -- the I AM that is I AM. (Exodus 3:14) 

Thus, when Jesus said unto them, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM" He was revealing Himself to those with eyes to see. (John 8:58) The visible image of the invisible God -- in whom the fullness of the Godhead dwelt bodily in Him. (Hebrews 1:1-12; Colossians 2:9) The Word made flesh that dwelt among us so that we could and would behold His glory. (John 1:1-14) 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)

There is only One Bread of life. There is One Way, the Truth, and the Life. And this bread of God is He which hath cometh down from heaven to give everlasting life to you and I. He is the Great I AM and He does nothing in thirds. And that included the cross, wherein He shed His holy, precious blood so that we might find the true purpose of life, by abiding in Him.

"For the Bread of God is He which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world." (John 6:33)

What did Jesus say? "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) 

"I am that Bread of life." (John 6:48)

"I am the living Bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." (John 6:51)

This is why Jesus told the Pharisees to "go ye and learn what that means, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I AM not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Matthew 9:13) The time has come also for those who teach to tell their congregations the true identity of the now resurrected Jesus, and that He indeed, was God manifest in the flesh. He told of us who He was when Jesus said to His disciples, "I and My Father are One!" (John 10:30) And if ye have seen Me, ye have seen the Father and know Him. (John 14:6-12)

This is why we study the scriptures so that we can discern between the truth and modern day religious deception that is prevalent everywhere. The so-called spiritualism wherein these worship an unknown god. 

Remember "all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness ..." (II Timothy 3:16) And know too that God is not the Author of confusion. For those with eyes to see, let His truth and light of the gospel shine in your hearts.

" ... for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: that we [henceforth] be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive." (Ephesians 4:12-14)

As John the baptizer so clearly said, "Believe on Him who is to come after me!" Yes, the Way, the Truth and the Life that only I AM had the power and authority to forgive us of our sins. Indeed, after the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared. (Titus 3:4-7)

Stand in the offering plate.

For As Many Of You As Have Been Baptized Into Christ Have Put On Christ - Part 2192

Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ." (I Corinthians 10:1-4)

These scriptures were part of apostle Paul's writings to the believers in Corinth -- speaking of Noah and how he and his family were saved by water. At that time, there were eight persons in total saved from the rains that flooded the world. As Paul alludes, the example of Noah and the ark is an important thread into salvation in the new testament. Let me explain.

Before the flood, onlookers resisted God's warning. Instead, they mocked and scoffed at God, pushing sin right to the edge. As in many other examples, the people worshipped other gods, but not the One and Only God who blessed them. The scripture from II Chronicles 36:16 comes to mind. "... but they mocked the messengers of God, and despised His words, and misused His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, till [there was] no remedy."

Prior to the earth being flooded, the people who eventually drowned were more than aware that Noah was preparing an ark. In fact, the ark had been 100 years in the making. The problem (apparently!) was that there was no water around to verify Noah's rationale for building an ark. This, in and of itself, led the onlookers thinking that Noah was over the edge. Still, Noah continued preparing the Ark according to the blueprints that God had provided him. And an ark Noah and his sons did build.

And the Lord said unto Noah, "Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before Me in this generation. Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female. Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth. For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth." And Noah did according unto all that the Lord commanded him. And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth. And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood." (Genesis 7:1-7)

There is much more herein, but the point being made is that Noah's experience sort of puts one in remembrance of the words spoken at the cross by those who mocked JESUS. They mocked Jesus too saying that He saved others but He could not save Himself. "If you are the Son of God," they said, "come on down from that cross!" But as we know now, Jesus was THE ARK OF SAFETY being prepared for our salvation.

You see, all future events were determined of God (when He counselled with Himself). This includes a criteria for redemption if Adam’s sin-prone fallen race were ever to be redeemed from a lost eternity. So, as it was in Noah's day, God provided an Ark of safety for those that believed in Him. And at the appointed time God closed the door of the Ark. The rains came, and water which had originally been no place in sight, became the SAVING means for those eight individuals in the Ark.

On the downside, the rain water led to the destruction of those outside the ark. The scriptures declare the afore-mentioned events as a figure of baptism. Water saved Noah and his family, who were now safe in the ark. The good news for us today is that we too have an opportunity to enter into the ark of safety - abiding in the Lord Jesus (in His death; burial; and resurrection). We are safe too because we willingly and gladly submit to what the Word of God tells us to do.

That is, according to Acts chapter 2 (which marked the beginning of the New Testament church), to repent and be baptized into the Name of Lord JESUS. He being the New Testament door of entry into the ark. As Jesus said, "I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by Me." (John 14:6)

Yes, JESUS is the One and Only Door to salvation. There are not two doors or multiple doors into heaven but One Only and that is through this same Jesus -- who is both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36-41) Indeed, there is only one name whereby any one can be saved -- the Name of JESUS. For Jesus is the Name above every other name. (Philippians 2:9) Jesus is the only name whereby we must be saved in this current dispensation of grace. (Acts 4:12)

In previous presentations, scriptural examples of water baptism by immersion were cited. For those of you who may not yet have had an opportunity to read them, we'll cover some of those references again.

Do you not know that as many of us as were baptised into JESUS the Christ were baptized into His death? For as many as have been baptized into JESUS the Christ, they have put on JESUS the Christ. (Romans 6:3-4; Acts 2:38; Acts 10:44-48; Galatians 3:27) This is where we are changed to be like Him. We are raised up to be like the second Adam, who is the Lord of glory.

Further, in the New Testament, we read that the apostles baptized believers the very same day, including Paul by Ananias after his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. The apostles were the forerunners of this faith. The faith that is now been delivered to believers who of God are called to be saints. For example, Philip went to Samaria and delivered to them words whereby they could be saved. As a consequence, these new believers obediently were baptized into the Name of the LORD JESUS.

The Philipian jailer and his household were also baptized the same night as they believed. Paul was instructed to arise and to be baptized, thereby washing away his sins whilst he called upon the Name of the Lord JESUS.

Cornelius as well was commanded along with his household to be baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Twelve of John the baptizer's converts were baptized into the Name of the Lord JESUS.
The Ethiopian eunuch said, "Lo, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized? For there is water here." So he, along with Philip went down into the water and Philip baptized him.

The same apostle's doctrine displayed in the early church is equally relevant and required for us today. We are to abide in our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ -- being circumcised in our hearts and our robes washed in His precious, holy name.

Most of all, we need to understand that today is the day of your salvation. Today is the day to Hear His voice and come unto Him, for He shall save you from your sins. Stand in the offering plate.

When He Had By Himself Purged Our Sins -- Part 2191

"To wit, God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself ..." (II Corinthians 5:19) 

"In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins: who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature..." (Colossians 1: 14-15)

"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..." (Hebrews 1:3)

"That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: which in His times He shall show [who is] the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen." (I Timothy 6:14-16)

When I consider these particular scriptures (both individually and in context,) I am drawn to apostle Paul's summary in Acts 20:28, which warns believers in the Lord Jesus Christ by faith to remain steadfast in the apostles' doctrine, taking "heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood." (Acts 20:28)

Too often, we view salvation and everlasting life as a prize, a benefit worthy of pursuit, without understanding how costly the purchase was -- paid for in full with His precious blood -- wherein after the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared. (Titus 3:4-7) In other words, the greatest love story ever told was when God decided (even before the foundation of the earth was formed) to become our Saviour. 

How can this be, you ask? For as Jesus said, "God [is] a Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth. (John 4:24) Moreover, this is confirmed when in the beginning, the Spirit of the Lord God moved upon the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:1-2) The God of this universe who made all things was invisible and therefore, no man could see Him. Still, this same God existed in all His glory and majesty -- even before the world was created. It is this same God who commanded the Israelites to harken to His instruction which includes the first/greatest commandment -- "Hear O Israel, the Lord thy God is One!" (Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29-31) 

Further, the Bible tells us that this same God that is Spirit manifested Himself as a man so that mankind could clearly see Him. The Bible tells us that Jesus was God manifest in the flesh. (I Timothy 3:16) The Bible tells us that "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) The Bible tells us that the Lord would come forth as a mighty man -- the everlasting Father, the Prince of peace. (Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 42:13) 

In this current dispensation of grace, His Name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins ... Emmanuel, being interpreted, God with us. (Matthew 1:21-23)

Indeed, Jesus was the Word made flesh that dwelt among us. (John 1:1-4) The fullness of the Godhead dwelling bodily in Him. (Colossians 2:9) The "God my Saviour" that Mary rejoiced in when she visited with Elizabeth. (Luke 1:47) The Lord's Christ. (Luke 2:26) As it is written, "The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam [was made] a quickening Spirit." (I Corinthians 15:45) 

The good news gospel message is written from cover to cover, and as we study the scriptures further, we realize that God is not the Author of confusion. Every scripture aligns with another so that no-one who desires Jesus as both Lord and Christ is without. (Acts 2:36-41) In that context too, every scripture confirms the gospel -- as it is written -- that is forever settled in Heaven.

Thus, when the Holy Ghost overshadowed Mary, it was so that she could bring forth a s/Son at the appointed time. (Luke 1:35; Hebrews 9:8) Yes, God clothed Himself in humanity (and yet without sin) so that we might have everlasting life. Further, Jesus was born of a virgin woman, revealing while on earth His dual nature -- the inextricably intertwined humanity and divinity of God -- fused into One. This means Jesus was the exact representation of the invisible Spirit that spoke the world into existence. 

Does this mean the Son of the invisible God the Father is a second person? Of course not. How do we know? Because the Lord God declared in prophecy from afore that the dayspring from on high would visit His people -- the prophesied Christ; the promised Messiah; the Lord's Christ; Redeemer; Prince of peace; everlasting Father.

As the scripture saith, "This day have I begotten Thee." (Psalm 2:7; Hebrews 1:5) 

"God, who at sundry times and in diverse 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." (Hebrews 1:1-6)

Like the angels, we are to worship Him -- JESUS! His Name above every other name. (Philippians 2:9) His Name above every other name. (Acts 4:12) 

But you are asking -- what about the right hand of God? Again, Isaiah prophesied that the Lord God would bring forth His right arm for salvation. "Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: Thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy." (Exodus 15:6) "His right hand, and His holy arm, hath gotten Him the victory." (Psalm 98:1) "Fear t/Thou not; for I am with t/Thee: be not dismayed; for I am t/Thy God: I will strengthen t/Thee; yea, I will help t/Thee; yea, I will uphold t/Thee with the right hand of My righteousness." (Isaiah 41:10) "My right hand hath spanned the heavens ..." (Isaiah 48:13)

The Word made flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:1-14) 

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, "All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth." (Matthew 28:18). As the Son (humanity) of God, He was the visible image of the invisible God, and indeed, all power in Heaven and earth belonged to Him. All power was and remains His because Jesus is the Almighty God! 

This is why Jesus could say -- I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by Me. (John 14:6) Because as Jesus said to His disciples in John 10:30 "I and My Father are One!"

Let those with ears to hear and eyes to see both hear and see. Stand in the offering plate.

Lead Me In Thy Truth, And Teach Me: For Thou Art The God Of My Salvation - Part 2190

"The Lord [is] my Rock, and my Fortress, and my Deliverer; my God, my Strength, in whom I will trust; my Buckler, and the horn of my Salvation, and my High Tower." (Psalm 18:2)

"But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour -- that He -- BY THE GRACE OF GOD SHOULD TASTE DEATH FOR EVERY MAN." (Hebrews 2:9)

Who is the He that tasted death for EVERY man? Who is the He that bore our sins on a cross so that we might have life everlasting? That when our sins were as crimson, He paid the ultimate price of death, shedding His precious holy blood for you and I. But the storyline of the greatest story ever told does not end there. Why? Because He was victorious, being raised from the dead, so that we might know His peace and love and joy and mercy forevermore.

Yes, His Name is JESUS, for He shall save His people from their sins. These are the words that were proclaimed by the angel -- announcing the coming of the prophesied Messiah, the Lord's Christ. Indeed, behold, the Lamb of God! He who knew no sin was made flesh, becoming the one and only mediator of the New Testament, that any means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. (Hebrews 9:8-28)

For the record, the coming of the promised Christ was not just happenstance. Up until this point, there had been over 400 years of silence, wherein the Israelites had not heard from God, because of their transgressions. But now, at the appointed time, when the Holy Ghost this signified, the Old Testament that had been the norm was about to pass away. All things new because the dayspring from on high was about to visit His people, bringing with Him a plan of salvation so great, so wondrous, so undeserved -- so that His beloved creation, whom He loved could abide in Him.

"He asked life of Thee, [and] Thou gave [it] Him,[even] length of days for ever and ever. His glory is great in Thy salvation: honour and majesty hast Thou laid upon Him. For Thou hast made Him most blessed for ever: Thou hast made Him exceeding glad with Thy countenance." (Psalm 21:46)

In the beginning and in fact even before the foundation of the world was formed, God had a plan wherein His spoken Word -- the same Word that spoke everything into existence -- would be made flesh and dwell among us -- with the sole purpose of bringing to those who believe on Him eternal life. This is why God Himself declared peace and good will toward ALL in this dispensation of grace -- because He Himself was about to personally deliver the greatest love story ever told. (Luke 2:13-14) 

The I AM of the Old Testament was still the Way, the Truth, and the Life in the New Testament. (John 14:6) The holiest of all was to be made manifest -- God Himself manifest in the flesh -- the fullness of the Godhead dwelling bodily in Him. As the scripture declares, "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; John 1:1-14; I Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6)

"To wit, God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself." (II Corinthians 5:19)

"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood." (Acts 20:28)

Believers in Jesus the Christ by faith need to understand the significant difference between the old covenant  and the new -- the appointed time in history wherein after the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared. (Titus 3:4-7) 

God Himself visited His people, having borne our griefs and carried our sorrows for one purpose -- so that we would turn to Him for our sustenance. As Jesus said, "I AM the Bread of life!" "I AM the Light of this world, the same Light which lights every man when they come into this world. 

It is He -- God Himself who clothed Himself in sin-prone flesh (and yet without sin) who made intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:1-12) He took on the form of a begotten Son, coming forth from the Father and returning hence after conquering the strongholds that we associate with death. 

But after the resurrection, wherein death could not hold our blessed Saviour captive, the One and Only King of kings and Lord of lords,  the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last is now waiting for you to call on Him this day. 

His Name is JESUS -- the Name above every other name; and the only Name whereby we must be saved in this current dispensation of grace. (Revelation 1:8, 11; Acts 4:12; Philippians 2:9; John 3:16) If you have not tasted and seen that the Lord is good, find yourself a New Testament Bible (preferably a translation like the original King James version, or Geneva, or Matthews, or Tyndale, and not a rewritten revision of a revision that has diluted His Word so much that the gospel is hid -- even to those who diligently search for truth) and when you do, read John and then the book of Acts. 

This marks the beginning of the New Testament church, and His Word therein will satisfy that yearning within your soul, the famine and drought that only the Lord God our Saviour Jesus the Christ can fulfill.  Give us this day our daily Bread -- Jesus -- the Bread of life.

Stand in the offering plate.

And Call Upon Me In The Day Of Trouble: I Will Deliver Thee, And Thou Shalt Glorify Me - Part 2189

These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, "Father, the hour is come; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee: as thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him. And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee -- the only true God and Jesus Christ -- whom Thou hast sent. I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gave Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine own self -- with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was. I have manifested Thy Name unto the men which Thou gave Me out of the world: Thine they were, and Thou gave them Me; and they have kept Thy Word." (John 17:1-6)

For understanding, please note that Jesus was praying herein "before" He shed His precious holy blood on the cross for our transgressions. Similarly, to understand this passage, we need to understand that this is Jesus' humanity praying to the Father for strength-- "Not My will but Thine!" God’s will is “to have all men saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4)

Indeed, as Jesus said, "I have manifested Thy Name unto the men which Thou gavest Me out of the world: Thine they were, and Thou gavest them Me; and they have kept Thy Word." (John 17:6)

Now they have known that all things whatsoever Thou hast given Me are of Thee. For I have given unto them the words which Thou gavest Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from Thee, and they have believed that Thou didst send Me. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which Thou hast given Me; for they are Thine. And all Mine are Thine, and Thine are Mine; and I am glorified in them. AND NOW I AM NO MORE IN THE WORLD and I come to Thee. Holy Father, keep through Thine own Name those whom Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, as we are. [Holy Ghost]

Jesus continues ... "While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Thy Name: those that Thou gavest Me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. And now come I to Thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have My joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them Thy Word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy Word is truth. As Thou hast sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; that they all may be one; as Thou, Father art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me.

And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me. Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me: for Thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, the world hath not known Thee: but I have known Thee, and these have known that Thou hast sent Me. And I have declared unto them Thy Name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them, and I in them." (John 17:1-26)

The same that whispered in the ear of John the baptizer said what? "And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon Him. And I knew Him not: but He that sent Me to baptize with water, the same said unto Me, Upon whom Thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, the same is He which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost." (John 1:32-33)

A failure to rightly divide the Scriptures will only bring confusion and discouragement. But God is not the Author of confusion. Therefore, in understanding Jesus' example of prayer herein, one needs to acknowledge the context of the verse/passage: the author, the audience, and the circumstances. At this juncture in the scriptures, Jesus knows the time has come, when Judas would betray Him in the Garden of Gethsemane. His nailing to the cross was imminent; His plan of salvation to redeem His people on the horizon.

Still, Jesus (God manifest in the flesh) had to ensure that His disciples understood His words, while similarly ensuring that satan never uncovered His true identity. The I AM that was and is and is to come. His Name JESUS for He shall save His people from their sins ... Emmanuel, being interpreted, God with us. (Matthew 1:21-23)

"To wit, God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself." (II Corinthians 5:19; Isaiah 9:6)

Through Thy Word are we sanctified; justified; our sins once red as crimson made white as snow because of the precious, holy blood shed on the cross for you and I. The greatest story ever told that the same God who created this world and all that is within loved His creation as beloved, and thus, willingly, after His kindness and love God our Saviour toward man appeared. (Titus 3:4-7)

When He returns one day soon for His beloved, then will will recognize that this same Jesus whom ye once crucified in your heart too, is now both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36) King of kings and Lord of lords, Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. (Revelation 1:8, 11)

It is for this reason that we are "looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ!" (Titus 2:13)

Let those with ears to hear, hear the truth of the good news gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Stand in the offering plate. 

And The Temple Of God Was Opened In Heaven, And There Was Seen In His Temple The Ark Of His Testament - Part 2188

"And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened ..." (Revelation 15:5; Revelation 11:19)

In the New Testament, there are several references to the heavens being opened. In Noah's time, the fountains of the great deep broke up, and the windows of heaven were opened. (Genesis 7:11) In the Psalms, David writes, "because they believed not in God, and trusted not in His salvation: though He had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven, and had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven." (Psalms 78:22-24) And also from the prophet Ezekiel -- when he saw visions of God when the heavens were opened. (Ezekiel 1:1)

In the New Testament, both Stephen and Peter witnessed the opening of heaven. (Acts 7:56; Acts 10:11)    Likewise John (who saw the vision that reveals Jesus as King of kings and Lord of lords in the book of Revelation), and also, in the opening of the seventh seal in Revelation, when there was silence in heaven -- for about half an hour. (Revelation 8:1)

But the scriptures most known in terms of the heavens opening is the moment in time when Jesus has just been water baptized by John the baptist [baptizer] in the Jordan River. Therein, as the scripture states, when Jesus was praying, the heaven opened. "And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him." (Mark 1:10)

In Matthew's account of the same baptism -- And Jesus answering said unto John, "Suffer [it to be so] now: for thus it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he suffered Him. And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and he [John] saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him: and lo a voice from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:15-17)

From Luke's account -- "Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened ..." (Luke 3:21)

For clarity, note that the Spirit descending like a dove upon Jesus was for the benefit of the baptizer, and perhaps too, those standing on the banks. Although misunderstood by many in the modern day religious community, Jesus tells the people the voice was for the benefit of the people (John 12:30) What happens next? As Luke tells us, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted forty days of the devil. From Luke 4:

"And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days He did eat nothing: and when they were ended, He afterward hungered. And the devil said unto Him, "If Thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread."

And Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word of God."

And the devil, taking Him up into an high mountain, shewed unto Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto Him, "All this power will I give Thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it -- If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine."

And Jesus answered and said unto him, "Get thee behind me, satan: for it is written, "thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve."

And he brought Him to Jerusalem, and set Him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto Him, "If Thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down from hence ... For it is written, "He shall give His angels charge over Thee, to keep Thee: and in their hands they shall bear Thee up, lest at any time thou dash Thy foot against a stone."

And Jesus answering said unto him, "It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God."

And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from Him for a season. And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of Him through all the region round about. And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. (Luke 4:1-15)

Observations? Jesus was tempted of the devil after He was water baptized. There was also a beginning and an end to the temptation that lasted 40 days. Interestingly, the scripture informs that He did not eat in those days, but was hungry afterward. And that the devil always referred to Jesus as the Son of God. As well, Jesus cited scripture (the Word of God) in response to satan's false promises. I say false because the world and everything within was not for the devil to offer. But as we know, the devil is the father of all lies, and thus, could not be expected to act differently on this particular occasion.

But there is much more to ponder. The Holy Ghost is New Testament only, beginning with John the baptizer who was full of the Holy Ghost from birth, and his father Zacharias too. (Luke 1:65-67) It was the Holy Ghost who overshadowed Mary so that she could bring forth a son. (Luke 1:35) The Holy Ghost this signified, as we read in Hebrews 9:8 -- confirming the foundational teaching of the "doctrine of Christ" -- but that subject is for another post. (Hebrews 6:1-2; II John 1:9)

The point that I would like to dwell herein is the Son of God -- wherein the devil only understood Jesus to be an heir. As Jesus shares in the parable, "But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, "This is the heir; come, let us kill h/Him, and let us seize on h/His inheritance." (Matthew 21:38) Indeed, satan could not believe that God's love for His beloved creation could include God becoming clothed in humanity to deliver to His people salvation.

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

Neither did satan believe that this same Jesus, whom He had allowed to be crucified, is both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36; Revelation 1:8) Or that the "He that was in the world" was the same He that created the world in the beginning. (John 1:10-11; John 1-14) Or that Jesus was God manifest in the flesh. (I Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6) Or, to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself. (II Corinthians 5:19; Acts 20:28) Or even that the dayspring from on high visited His people.

Thus, because satan was duped into not understanding what Jesus meant when He said, "thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God" in the desert, he doesn't want people in this current dispensation to understand the greatest love story ever told either. This is why satan is so determined to deceive those in the modern day churches into believing that Almighty God sent a Son (outside of His own flesh/humanity), making the One and Only God into a Spirit with three heads. Sigh! 

Nevertheless, for those who seek the I AM that is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, we have an assurance that if we have seen Jesus, we have seen the Father and similarly know Him. (John 10:30; John 14:6) That after Jesus was taken up, He through the Holy Ghost gave commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen. (Acts 1:2-3) As well, that Jesus had to go (and we would see Him in the flesh no more) in order for the Comforter -- the Holy Ghost to dwell within. 

So much here to understand, but the key is knowing that Jesus said,  "All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth." (Matthew 28:18) The first man Adam -- earthy, but the second the Lord God from heaven. This is why Jesus could say, "I AM the Bread of Life!" And "I AM the Light of the world!" Let those with ears to hear, hear. Stand in the offering plate.