THE WHORE, THE PROSTITUTE, THE BRIDE

 

THE WHORE, THE PROSTITUTE, THE BRIDE

STRONG WORDS AND THEY HAVE A DEEP MEANING.

THE WHORE

More than 30 years ago a doctor I once knew said "A prostitute sells herself for money and that is all she is interested in the money. I will say she represents Greed; that can be for money and even popularity. While a whore gives herself away to one man after another looking for love, looking for acceptance."

Throughout the Old Testament especially in the books of the Prophets, God's people were called in some writings Harlots and in many updated translations they are called Whores; said to be committing adultery and using words like whoredom. Looking at these words recorded for us in Jeremiah chapter 3 and in every book of the Prophets, as I said earlier.  It is also said that in the Old Testament God was the Husband to Israel. While in the New Testament Jesus is the Husband of His church, His bride.

Lets go back to the Old Testament, why was Israel called a whore? God has given specific instructions that they were to have no other gods before them, He reminded them over and over that when they entered into their promise land, they were not to worship the gods of the people in the land, and over and over they continued to do so, He would tell them He was a jealous God and at times they would repent and then once more they would turn from the one true Living God, and play the whore and seek after the other gods. The prophets of God called them whores, and creating their whoredom. Why would they do that? I have read somewhere in the O.T. scriptures they would ask "where is the God of Abraham, Jacob, does He not care for us?" So what were they seeking from other gods? Acceptance from the people of other nations, love, happiness! Those are just suggestions. Many years ago when my marriage ended I became angry with God and in my anger I ran from God and though I never ran after another God, I did run after seeking love, acceptance and happiness in the arms of men, I played the whore, because I preferred my sin over my God, therefore my sin became my God. Yet as did the prodigal son, one day I came to my senses and I ran back to the One who truly loved me and He welcomed me back into His loving arms, completely forgiven. Jesus is my first love and I ran from Him and because He never let me go, I returned to my first love. That was why the Prophets were sent to bring God's people to repentance and return to Him. 

Exodus 20:1-6, Deuteronomy 7:1-24, Judges 2:11-13, Isaiah 54:5, Jeremiah 3:6-8+14, Jeremiah 31:32, Ezekiel 16:1-22+, Hosea 4:12

Okay, we see how the children of God can commit whoredom, as we can today also; by chasing after the world, the flesh and the devil. Christians today can be entangled with sin and whoredom the same as Israel did in the Old Testament. They can make for themselves gods of their own imagination, fall into cult activities and beliefs (in doing this they have accepted another god other than what they had been taught by the true doctrine of Jesus the Christ.) And even now you can witness those who are selling themselves and attempting to sell God, because of greed for money, power and popularity. Remember a lifestyle of sin can become your god, your opinions can become your god (when we lift up our opinion of what is sin, what is love and it doesn't line up with God's biblical standards but in fact aligns itself with the culture around us.)

THE PROSTITUTE 

 So lets look at a prostitute, most you will find in God's house, false prophets, false teachers, false apostles and false pastors. These may sound good but eventually their true character will be revealed. It is written that Satan has his ministers producing lying wonders. Satan will sow tares within a church family for one purpose to sow discord and bring division. There are times that God Himself will send a lying spirit upon false prophets, as He did in the Old Testament. Most of the counterfeit will tell just enough truth to catch your attention and then suddenly you will find they will tickle your itchy years with what your flesh desires to hear. What are they selling? What is their goal? They ask for more money from gullible people because they add, God will bless you a 100 fold, the windows of heaven will be poured out on you, it is a perversion of scripture to gain for themselves wealth. Some will want to sell you something examples: anionting oil, books, promises of God if you give to their ministry. Let me clarify something here; there is nothing wrong with sowing into a ministry that is about the gospel of Christ, but be careful that one is not sowing into a ministry selling their version of the gospel of Christ, books buy books by all means, I guess for me when I hear one who calls themselves a prophet quoting from their books they are trying to sell so we can read the book and get the rest of what they are saying and meaning, that troubles me and perhaps I am wrong, but I go back to the called Prophet just speaks and declares the Word of the Lord, he tells us all of what God desires for us to hear. Because Jesus Christ cannot be sold, His word will not return void and as part of His five-fold ministry a Prophet is called to speak very clearly to God's people the word God has given them at no charge! Many attempt to build a following, a platform, a popularity, too shine in the spotlight. I am not talking about what is called a mega church many of them are declaring the truth of God's word and the people are coming because they desire to hear the truth. I must say small, medium and mega churches can house the genuine and the counterfeit. But how can we discern the difference? By staying in the word of God, by staying in prayer and by observing the character of the one we are listening to. We recognize error by knowing the truth of His word, by staying in prayer we seek guidance of the Holy Spirit who leads us to all truth, we observe how that one behaves when the spotlight is off of them, how do they talk, do they truly love others, or do their actions indicate otherwise. I will add right here, I do not listen to nor do I condone these YouTubers who want to put down pastors and call them fake, mainly because the majority of them are not even connected with a local church and they are slanders at best. If you are part of a strong believing church family, your pastors are your watchmen, they watch over their flock and guard what comes into the House of God, they do not try to be the watchmen for social media.

Jeremiah 5:31, Deuteronomy 7:25-26 

2Thessalonians 2:9-10, 2Corinthians 10:12, 2Corninthians 11:14, Matthew 5:15-16, Matthew 24:11, Mark 13:22, 2Timothy 3:1-8, Revelation 2:20-23, Revelation 3:1-3, Revelation 3:15-17, Revelation 17:1-6, 1Kings 22:20-23

THE BRIDE

Who is the bride? The Ekklesia the universal followers of Christ who have received His gift of salvation by faith and in repentance changed their way of believing and living. These are all born again believers in Christ we call Christians (that is the real church). Yet, as believers we gather together in our local churches, united together in fellowship, in scripture that word means we are in a partnership with Christ to serve together as one body in the kingdom of God.

Jesus Christ established His church and He is both the Good Shepherd and the Chief Cornerstone. He calls His anointed ministry leaders, not man. He plants those He will use within His churches, we gather together to love and minister to one another, to use our gifts and callings that have been placed in our lives by God and through the Holy Spirit, as we serve in God's kingdom. We start out as babes but God will grow us as we continue in His word at home, in prayer at home, gathering and worshipping our Lord and Savior with our church family, listening to the anointed message from the pulpit. God desires that we love one another as He loves us and that we stay in unity.

How often do we as Christians forget who we are in Christ. We allow others opinions to cause us to belittle ourselves, we allow old childhood memories to keep reminding us what was said about us, we think who are we that God would use us, and often we neglect to step forward and do what God has asked us to do, because we think so little of ourselves how could we accomplish anything. Those are all lies that the enemy keeps speaking into our minds, the word says we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, and in another scripture we are told to cast out every argument that is against God's word, those are strongholds established in our minds that must be torn down by us. The bride, is to be without spot or wrinkle, we are to be holy (in and of ourselves we can't be holy, but in Christ we can be) what about this holiness, we put off that old man and its fleshly desires, we flee from the lust of the flesh, the pride of life, the lure of Satan. 

The bride of Christ loved by Jesus, He desires for us to pick up our cross and follow Him daily, this is our act of surrender as He surrendered to His cross for us, we surrender all we are, all we want, our will and we yield all to Him, we have to do it daily because daily our flesh will rise up if we allow it. He desires the best for us; yet, He tells us through scripture we will suffer, we will have troubles and tribulations, but He also reminds us we are His, we are joint heirs with Him, we are overcomers, we carry His anionting, we can do all things through Him, in our weakness He is our strength, He will never leave us nor forsake us, we have everlasting life from the moment of our salvation, His mercy is new every morning, in fact the word says "surely goodness and mercy follow after us". He took all authority away from Satan at the cross and He gave it to us, to bind and loose what is not in heaven and what is in heaven, OH I COULD GO ON AND ON!

He has promised He is coming back for His bride, that we will be saved from the wrath of God coming upon the nations. But He also says "When the Son of Man returns will He find faith?" We, His bride must stay in faith, we must not allow the world, our flesh or the devil to compromise nor corrupt us as we walk in this world we must remember we are not of this world. We are His own special people. We must keep ourselves unspotted from the world, and we must not become complacent and allow ourselves to fall asleep during our waiting. Instead we keep pursuing Jesus, seeking God, allowing His Holy Spirit to work in us and through us. Yes, we will sin but we will not stay there, we will repent and keep moving forward. Jesus came as a baby, died and rose again as the perfect lamb of God, and He is coming again, The Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Alpha and Omega, our King of kings and Lord of lords. Has His bride made herself ready? I will stop because I could talk about Jesus non-stop. ❤️❤️

1Peter 1:3-19, Luke 9:23, Colossians 3:1-14, Romans 6:12-14, Romans 8:17, Hebrews 4:15-16, Ephesians 2:1-10, Ephesians 5:25-27, 2Corinthians 5:7, 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

I believe this link will take you to the YouTube website to hear Michael Combs sing Not For Sale. Not tried this before so here is hoping.

https://youtu.be/gpY9WFvBCE8

IT'S NOT ORDINARY

 

WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR HAND?

GOD WILL TAKE WHAT APPEARS USELESS TO US AND USE IT FOR HIS KINGDOM PURPOSE 

I recently heard a short Instagram reel, that a lady asked that question and related it to scripture. It really spoke to me, so I began to look at different scriptures and reflect on this topic 

In Exodus 4:1-2 Moses was talking with God in the burning bush. God had just given him instructions to go get His people. Moses said "But what if they don't believe You sent me?" God asked "What do you have in your hand?" It was a shepherd staff, God told him to throw it down and when he did it turned into a snake, when he picked it up it returned to a staff. Through something ordinary God would use that staff in his hand to perform miracles.

Again in 2 Kings 4:1-2 the widow woman asked Elisha for help. Since her husband a prophet had died and the bill collectors were coming to take her sons. Elisha asked "What do you have in your house?" Just a jar of oil she answered, he told her to gather all the jars from the neighbors and they filled all the jars and the oil kept flowing until all the jars were full. She sold that oil and paid off her debt and the original jar with oil never ran out. God provided from just an ordinary jar of oil.

Again 1 Samuel 17:40 David meets Goliath, what did David face and bring down the giant with? A simple slingshot and 1 out of 5 smooth stones. Just an ordinary slingshot practiced with over and over, now became a weapon God used to bring down an enemy of Israel.

Again John 4:7-15 Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at the well. What did she have in her hand? She came to draw water from the well so she was carrying her water pot to put her water in. Jesus asked her for a drink, and then salvation came to her and many more in the town. Jesus used her coming to get water to speak of the living water she would receive from Him.

Again in Matthew 15:33, over 4,000 had been listening to Jesus, having compassion on the people, He asked His disciples to feed them, they said how can we feed so many. Jesus said "What do you have?". They answered "7 loafs of bread and a few fish". Didn't seem like much but when placed in Jesus' hand it was much more than enough!

So again I ask what is in your hand? What is in your house? When we look at what we have we see insignificant, unimportant, what can I do? But God sees potential for great things if we will entrust Him with the ordinary in our hand. Every born again believer has been given talents and spiritual gifts to use for His kingdom purpose. And we all have something in our hand or home we are to surrender to Jesus that He might use it to bring Him glory. 

Let me share myself as an example please: After I was saved I had believed God had given me the gift of teaching, and He gave me many opportunities to use His gift. Yet, as I grew older, I found I wasn't using that gift as I once was, and truly believed I no longer had a purpose for His use. Many, many years ago, I began a web site as He asked and I would have Bible studies available through it, it was well received from around the world, but it cost me and the price increased so I discontinued and began this blog. Also I would use other means of social media, and though I knew God was using me I just couldn't visualize it as fulfilling His purpose. Twice since 2019 He has told me my purpose, I wrote it down, hung it up so I would remind myself. My purpose "Pray for my church, my family and others and share the truth of God's word with confidence." Confidence I realized today 11/30/22 is what I lacked, I was unsure that was what He wanted me to do. This morning as I was reflecting on all the scriptures and posting about Jesus on Facebook, I looked at my hand and I realized, I was holding my phone in my hand. Technology of today is available to be used to share the good news, to encourage others, to inspire others and lead the lost to Christ. What did I hold in my hand, that I had given to Jesus, just an ordinary phone to many would mean nothing, but when used for God's glory would be used by Jesus to fulfill that purpose "share the truth of God's word with confidence". Suddenly I had confidence because I knew God was using what was in my hand for His purpose.

What is in my home, in March 2021, God gave me an assignment to bake and give away cakes in my church family, to be willing and available for the children and the widows. Suddenly I realized the assignment shifted a third time just in the last couple of days, to be willing and available for my church family anytime (I have always been willing and available for my own family). At times church and friends have ordered and paid a small amount for a cake or pie, personally I am not trying to make money, but to get back what the cost of making it was. Many within my church have sowed into my life to help me to be able to continue to do what God has asked me to do. Did you hear what I said? I in my home had what I needed to bake cakes and pies, I have had experience from my working years, and I had a talent I had given to Jesus. And He has made sure I have not suffered any lose in baking anything and has even added more to me through the gifts of others. When God gives you an assignment, He will provide all you need to accomplish what He asked you to do and will use what you already have to accomplish it. Why did He give me this assignment? December 26,2020 my daughter, Angela, died of COVID, in March I asked God "how can I bless others?" And so He spoke what I was to do and in this He taught me how to love others without any expectation. Well I am still learning the expectation part, but I am learning and Jesus is patient and He is teaching.

So what ordinary thing do you have in your hand, in your home that God will use to make a difference in your life and in others lives? Look around it's there, it has just been seen as insignificant. 🔥🔥

TIME KEEPS MOVING

 

LIFE IS JUST A BRIEF MOMENT IN TIME!

ENJOY THE ADVENTURE!

When we were young it appeared as if time would never pass by. You know all the times waiting to grow up, waiting to be independent, waiting to find just that right person. And we would often think why does it take so long?

Then in this we find ourselves grown up, we found the right person (or so we think); I say that because sometimes we are in such a hurry to move on in life and be that independent person, we often make choices in haste and we settle for the wrong person and not waiting on the one God has for us. But there again is us hurrying time.

Then here we are young, married, broke, and waiting on time to catch up with us. Wanting a better job, more money, better car, better home and better furniture. We have grown weary of hand me downs and second hand things. Time barely moves, especially when we decide we want to have children, it's like the clock stopped and just sits there. Will there ever be a time when all the things I want will come into my life?

Then before we realize it here comes the children, the new home, new car, still using hand me downs, but now we call them antiques and thrift store bargains. And time moves on and before we even realize it the children are grown, and married having their own families, homes and watching time pass slowly by.

And then before you know it, you are a grandparent. Oh the love a grandparent for their grandchildren, words can never express the pleasure of every opportunity you get to spend time with them. Why it's like you suddenly turned back time and your children were young again, except now you have become more mellow, and allow them more room to be children, you know, you have really learned to show them grace and mercy because after all you get to send them back home to their parents. So you make sure of these important things:

1. They get to eat all their favorite things, you make sure you buy at the store their favorite junk food.

2. You desire to have many adventures together; for me I would take mine to Dollywood, the zoo, the pool, the lake, the picnics at the park and in the mountains.

3. Oh and sleep overs were the best, watching their movies and playing games.

Can all my friends who are grandparents identify with these times? 

You know when we do even the smallest of these things like buying their favorite foods, it is an expression of our love for them. I thought of my mother today and remembered when her grandchildren were coming she always made a point of having all they liked on hand to eat. She loved them.

When they are young we never consider slowness of time because in reality we don't want to see them grown up and not enjoy these grandparents adventures. Yet, suddenly time speeds up and before we know it they are grown, working, lives of their own, moved away, married with their own children. Now we have become great grandparents and some how even that has changed, we love them, but age has slowed our bodies down and adventures no longer come. 

Where did time go? What kind of legacy will we leave behind? Did we tell them "I love you each day?" 

Suddenly we are young no more and time no longer moves slowly, it's like the clock is racing ahead, and each day we realize that day, that moment will never come again. Did we make the most of the time God has given us? Or did we waste it chasing after the worthless things?

Apart from our salvation and our relationship with Jesus Christ, our families are our best gift from the Creator of Life. Let us never forget to love them even when we discipline them, enjoy them, laugh with them, have fun with them. Because time will pass and we will never have those opportunities again. None of us are perfect parents and I had many personal learning experiences that at times my children were blessed by them and at other times they were hurt by them. Now my grandchildren that's a different story, I am a good Mamaw 😂.

No real reason for this blog, just wanted to say, Time passes quicker than we think; at twenty I never saw myself at forty, and at forty I sure never saw myself at seventy five. But in a twinkling of an eye here we all are at a time and age we never imagined ourselves being. So savor every moment of time you have been given because in just a blink of an eye it will be gone.

Be blessed, may God's favor go before you.

KNOWING GOD'S WILL

 

WHAT IS YOUR WILL? HOW AM I TO LIVE? WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?

IS GOD SPEAKING TO ME ?

I have heard many messages on Hearing The Voice Of God. Now the ones I have listened to, including my pastors, I am in complete agreement. I have taken some time to just spend more time with Jesus that the Holy Spirit may reveal truth, insight and bring scriptures and sound teaching to my remembrance. 

John 10:27 My sheep hear My voice and follow Me.

Before that Jesus explains the role of the shepherd and how the sheep recognize the shepherd's voice and will not follow a stranger's voice but only His voice the one they recognize. Much like our pets in our homes today, our dogs and cats know our voice and respond to our voice. Reading this in the gospel of John I ask myself "Then how can a believer in Christ be deceived and find themselves following the counterfeit?" Do I have an answer for that question, no I don't. All I know is that it happens, were they in a true relationship with Jesus as His follower or just a religious experience, I have no answer for that either. None of us can know the heart of another all we can know are the actions. But I got sidetracked thinking about knowing the voice of our Good Shepherd. So let's move forward.

We must understand that in God's written (Logos) word, God has already told us what His will for our lives is. Below are just a small amount of scriptures among many that reveal God's will for our lives.

EXAMPLES: These are only a few of many, many more

1. He has already told us "if we see a brother or sister with a need and we have the means we are to help them" 1John 3:17, James 2;14-16

2. We are to love one another 1 John 4:7-21

3. We are to be generous 2 Corinthians 8:2-5

4. We are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, spirit, and  mind and we are to love our neighbor as ourselves Matthew 22:37-39

5. We are to forgive others Matthew 6:14

6. We are to have no other gods before Him Exodus 20:30, Romans 1:20-23

7. We are to live by faith Romans 1:16-17, Ephesians 2:4-10

8. We are to be a praying people, Luke 18:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, 1 Timothy 2:8, James 5:16

9. We are to surrender our will, our wants and our ways to Jesus. We do this by picking up our cross daily and following Jesus (this is us crucifying our flesh). Matthew 10:37-38, Mark 8:34-35

10. He desires for all to be saved and  come to  repentance 2 Peter 3:9

11. We are told to abide in Him, bear much fruit (His fruit) that will glorify God the Father. John chapter 15

12. We are to be His witnesses and we are to make disciples Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:15-16, Acts 1:8

13. We are to believe in His Son. John 14:1, Acts 16;31

THE WORD OF GOD WARNS US OF BEING DECEIVED: This also may appear as a warning but it is His will, that we do not allow ourselves to be deceived by the counterfeit.

We are warned about false prophets, false teachers, false apostles who come carrying a counterfeit doctrine, a strange fire, a cult practice. Anyone coming saying that Jesus Christ is not the Son of God, not Deity in the flesh, denying who He is and what He has done, is a false doctrine and of the antichrist. 

2 Corinthians 11:1-15, 2 Timothy 3:5-6, Galatians 1:6-9, 2 John 1:8-11, 2 Corinthians 6:14-18

I want to say something about false prophets, those who speak generic prophecies into your life, example in 30 days you will receive (a certain amount of money), if you do whatever they require this is a false prophet. A true prophet not only foretells coming judgments, but leads one to true repentance. In 1 Corinthians 12 it speaks of the gifts of the Spirit, there is one gift called "a word of knowledge", when God is dealing with us about something in our lives, He may choose to send someone across our path that will speak a right now word to us, as my pastor once said, when they speak that word and it is a true word of knowledge you will already identify with what is said because God is already speaking to you privately about this. Remember this, there is always a counterfeit sent by Satan to copy the truth, it has just enough truth to draw us in and yet it is a lie from the pit of Hell. Below will begin to show us how we can discern what spirit is behind the person speaking to us. 

How can we know the will of God and His purpose for our lives, read His word it is His word that renews our minds as we do this daily. Romans 12:1-2, it is His word that guides our steps, Psalm 119:105. We can never identify error from truth as well as know what the will of our Abba is if we neglect reading His word.

His written word is His Logos word, and that still small voice He speaks into us is His Rehma word.

We have a lot of voices fighting for our attention going on in our mind, our carnal/fleshly voice that reasons things out, relives pain and problems, and insults and offenses over and over again, as found in Romans chapter 7. We have the darts of our enemy Satan coming against us in our minds, accusing, condemning, arousing. I have heard it said that we cannot stop the darts from coming, but we can rebuke those ungodly lies. When we allow ourselves to dwell on these lies it becomes as a fiery dart or adding mortar between bricks that will imprison us in a self made prison Ephesians 6:16. Then there is the voice of the world, demanding us to conform to their value system 1 John 2:15-17. And in all that mess and clutter there will come that voice of God to speak into us. We must understand this  isn't an audible voice, but it speaks so clearly, when we tune out all the thoughts cluttering our minds and in our prayer time, in our time of reading His word, when we wait and purposefully listen, He will speak. Know this His Rehma word to us will never go against His written word and He will lead us to scripture to confirm His word.

 

TESTIMONY

Me personally I don't always hear Him speak a Rehma word daily, but I know He is with me. When I wake up I invite Him into my day and to guide my day, asking for wisdom as I go about the day. I have conversations all during the day, along with that time of intimacy and often He will speak a word with an assignment for me to do. There are times when I may be struggling to learn what He desires for me and in the early morning hours I will hear Him speak and give me scripture to read. When that happens I sit up read and write down both the scripture and the word. Then there are times that I am studying something and because I love to write and share the goodness of God, I will wake up in the early morning hours with all I was desiring to say just flowing through my mind. And at times, often, my Lord chastises me and I welcome that, because the word says those He loves He will chastise. Just like a father, out of their love for their child will correct them when they see them heading into danger.

We are told in the word that we are to be the salt and the light in this world. This is quiet simple; the words we speak are the salt, they are to be seasoned with truth, love, grace and mercy, or it will be words of our flesh, the world and a tool to tear down and destroy from the devil. We are to be light, a reflection of the light of Christ within us, this light will reveal who we are in Christ, it will be a light or a beacon that will lead the lost to Jesus Christ the Son of God, our Redeemer, our Savior. Our words and the light shining through us will draw people to us asking "You are different, how is that". At this point we simply share how by God's grace and goodness we are not who we used to be. Never find yourself in a situation where you enter into an argument over scripture. Just simply say "Let me tell you about my Jesus". 

The gospel message is simple it is about the virgin birth of Jesus Christ, His sinless life, His death, and His resurrection. If Jesus Christ was not Deity there would be no salvation, if He had not led a sinless life there would be no salvation, if Jesus had not bore our sins and died on the cross for us taking God's judgement for sin on His own body, there would be no salvation, if there had been no resurrection then there would be no salvation and there would be no hope for mankind. JESUS CHRIST is not just a man but He is the Son of God, He is God in the flesh, there is a Trinity, a Godhead, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, these three are distinct yet one. If anyone comes bringing another Jesus, another doctrine other than what the word of God teaches then do not receive them.

Let me just add this small bit. There are times in our lives we have to make a decision; jobs, home, marriage etc. And we seek God for His guidance, His wisdom, His help in helping us and we need to. I go back to that scripture in

 Proverbs 3:5-6  Trust in the LORD with all your heart , and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make straight your paths.

God will give us His peace and we just take one step at a time in faith. I remember many years ago I had come to a place where I needed to sale my home. Seeking God in what I needed to do and where I needed to buy a smaller place. I received a Rehma word from God " I will be with you wherever you go"! And that word is confirmed in scripture in Deuteronomy 28:1-14 and Hebrews 13:5

In closing we know that Jesus could return at any time and it is written there will be a great falling away (an apostasy) from the church and from the truth of God's word, which we are witnessing. Oh but there will be a great outpouring that will begin with a revival of God's people that we will come back to our first love and be the church we were intended to be, with this homes will be changed, the wayward will come home, we will see salvation burst forth. And the Glory of God will be manifested. We are living in exciting days. Amen

WHAT DO I DO WITH JESUS

 

SALVATION IS ABOUT A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON AND GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT. IT IS A MUTUAL RELATIONSHIP.

The final segment of this short teaching, is simply this; have you received the gift and call of Jesus to, through faith and repentance, receive His gift of eternal life? If you have what now?

1. Knowing there is no salvation in any other name but Jesus, we in faith have placed our Hope in who He is and in His promises. According to 2 Peter 1:3-11, we are told that His divine power has been given to us, concerning all things that pertain to life, godliness, through the knowledge of Him and when we abide in His promises we become partakers of His divine nature. It goes on to talk about the qualities that are ours through Jesus Christ.

2. Jesus doesn't come in part, He comes complete as Savior and as Lord. The problem is many Christians want heaven but not surrender themselves to His Lordship. See what the word says:

Ephesians 3:14-21 this is a prayer for the believer that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith, that we would be rooted and grounded in love. Among many other things that are prayed in the apostolic prayer we find this verse:

Verse 19 "to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." When we look back to the Old Testament at the first Passover they were told to take a lamb without blemish and roast it and eat it all (leave none). In 1Corninthians 5:7 "we are told that Christ our Passover, was sacrificed for us."

3. Jesus said in Luke 9:23 "If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me". And again in Colossians 3:5-14 we are instructed to continually put off the old man and put on the new man, and again in Romans 12:2 we are instructed to "not be conformed to the world but be transformed by the renewing of our mind daily.'

These scriptures basically mean we surrender our will, our way and our desires to Christ Jesus our Lord. We do this daily and how we renew our mind and our thinking is by staying in His word daily. Simply put: we remove self from the throne of our heart and lift up Jesus Christ to His rightful position in our lives

4. Being a follower of Jesus Christ is a commitment to consecrate our lives to Him. Romans 12:1 tells us we are to be a living sacrifice. A life surrendered. In John 15 Jesus begins to talk about the vine, the vinedresser, He says He is the true Vine, the Father is the Vinedresser. We are told we are to bear fruit, whose fruit? Christ's fruit not ours, we says that He prunes us so we will bear more fruit. Old things, even good things that need to come off our lives that we may bear much fruit.verse 8 As we bear His fruit, much fruit the Father is glorified and we shall be His disciples. The word also tells us there is the fruit of the Spirit, these are given to us when the Holy Spirit indwells us, they are seen in us as they are exercised in our lives. These are found in Galatians 5:22-23. I could tell you the do's and don't's of sin. But I won't, because the word is very clear as you read the whole word of God particularly in the New Testament you will see that as a follower of Christ our life is a long process of learning and trusting and aligning our lives up with who Jesus Christ says we are to be and putting off the sins that so easily entangle us. Just a couple more scriptures: as followers of Christ Jesus we are a people of faith, faith is trusting in Jesus even when we cannot see what will happen. In Hebrews 11:6 we are told without faith it is impossible to please God and again in 2Corinthians 5:7 we walk by faith and not by sight. Love is the other characteristic of a follower of Christ, throughout the New Testament Jesus instructs us to love one another, especially read John 13:35 and 1John, time would fail me to mention how often in every epistle we are told not only to love but what love looks like. 

In Romans 13:10 "Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law". 

As a true believer in Christ Jesus our Lord, we have this promise of what is coming; He came the first time as promised and He is coming again to catch His church, you and me up to meet Him in the skies. Amen brothers and sisters one day in the near future we are going home.

DEATH, BURIAL & RESURRECTION

 

JESUS WAS WILLING TO GO TO A CROSS FOR YOU

1. Because Jesus was resurrected we now have the Hope that these natural bodies will be resurrected again. 

1 Corinthians 15:13-17 I recommend reading all of chapter 15.

2. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead, lives through the Holy Spirit within every true believer. Read John chapter 14

3. Jesus is our living Hope 1 Peter 1:3

4. We have been bought by the precious blood of Jesus 1 Peter 1:18-19

5. We are now heirs and joint heirs with Christ Jesus, our inheritance is to be in His presence for all eternity. Romans 8:17

6. We have been delivered from the kingdom of darkness and we have been forgiven of our sins Colossians 1:13-14

7. On the cross He cancelled our debt that stood against us, He nailed it to the cross. He disarmed Satan and took all authority away from him. Colossians 2:14-15

8. He has given us authority over Satan and his demons, through the power of binding and loosening. Matthew 16:19 the word "Keys" in this scripture means "authority".

So much more I could say, but that is enough for now. Once we were saved our position changed, we are now seated in heavenly places. We have been given the power to say no when tempted. When we do sin we have an advocate, Jesus and when we repent and ask for forgiveness, we are forgiven. We are now children of the kingdom of light when we walk in love as children of the light. We have been cleansed by the blood of Christ. Found in 1 John 1:7

The word tells us that we were once dead but we have been made alive by His grace, not by our works but by His grace. We are now a new creation. Now begins a time until our lives here ends, called sanctification, maturing in our relationship with Jesus Christ. Christ blood cleansed us and saved us, and God will grow us, our part is to abide in Him, stay in His word, stay in fellowship with our Lord. We are instructed to put off the old man and put on the new man, this is done daily. Tomorrow Lord willing we will look at "What are we suppose to do now?"

JESUS WHO?

 

STANDING AT A CROSSROADS 

There is coming a moment when Jesus will ask each of those who profess to be followers of Jesus a question just as He asked His disciples:

Matthew 16:13&15 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "who do men say that I, the Son of Man am?" He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"

1. Jesus said He is the Great I Am, that before Abraham He was.

2. Jesus said He was the Way, the Truth, and the Life no one comes to the Father but through Him

3. He is the door, the gate, the Light of the world, the good Shepherd, the bread of life, the resurrection and the life, the living water

4. He is the ultimate Teacher, Prophet, Evangelist, Apostle, Pastor, Healer, Provider, Head of His church, the Rock of our salvation, the Chief Cornerstone, the Author and Finisher of our faith and much much more 

Hebrews 13:2 "looking into Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

NOTE: See what it says "who for the joy that was set before Him", the cross was not a joy, but the outcome of the cross was His joy, that through the cross, eternal life would be given to all who believe and the fellowship that was lost in the Garden of Eden was restored. In our life sufferings we too have joy, that joy is knowing this will pass we have hope that the unbeliever cannot have.

5. He set His face to go to Jerusalem knowing what awaited Him there, He was hated, betrayed by a friend, denied by Peter, spit upon, had His beard pulled out by the hands of others, beaten, lied about, turned over to Pilot, a rebel was chosen to be released, the people who once shouted hosanna were now shouting CRUCIFY HIM, CRUCIFY HIM, was scourged until unrecognizable, nails driven through His hands and feet to hang on a cross. WHY DID HE DO IT! BECAUSE HE SAW VALUE IN US, ME AND YOU. At anytime He could have stopped what was happening yet He stayed on the cross, all sin imaginable was placed on Him. It is written "By His stripes we are healed"! 

Isaiah 53:10a "yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He put Him to grief. When You make His soul and offering for sin."

Go back and read of Jesus in Isaiah 53:1-12

QUESTION: Do we see value in others, do we see value in ourselves? When we see value in others we will find to love and show kindness. We must learn that our value is not based on anyone's opinion, not in our gifts and talents but in our relationship with Jesus Christ 🔥

The world hates Jesus and the world hates His followers, that is why the world attempts to silence the voice of the Ekklesia. Some say He was just a Prophet or just a Teacher, or a good Man but not Deity. But who do you say He is. We are at a crossroads, time to decide,

 Who is this Jesus to you? 

THE LIFE OF CHRIST JESUS

 

JESUS THE CHRIST BEGINS HIS MINISTRY

1. At the beginning of His ministry, Jesus allowed Himself to be baptized by John the Baptist. John the Baptist bearing witness saying "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world", and again he said "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and remained upon Him."

FOOTNOTE: God ordains not man, man confirms by witnessing what God has already done 

2. Immediately Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After 40days and no food the humanity in Jesus was tired and weak, here is when the devil began to tempt Him, yet with each temptation Jesus responded with the word of God. Jesus was tempted in three ways: a. In His hunger, He was hungry had been fasting so a "if" question was asked "if You are the Son of God", b. Again in His identity, "If You be the Son of God throw Yourself down" then the devil quoted scripture, c. Then His position, the devil said "All these things I will give You if You fall down and worship me". Silly devil all the kingdoms of the world already belonged to the Creator of all things, Yeshua, see Colossians 1:16. After this the angels literally came and fed Him. 

FOOTNOTE: If Jesus at had at any time given into the temptation of the devil, then there would have been no salvation for anyone. But read Hebrews 2:17-18 & Hebrews 4:15. Because He was tempted He became our Kinsman Redeemer, and He can understand us when we fall into temptation.

3. Began His ministry by calling His ministry team to "Come follow Him".

4. He taught in the synagogues, on the mountain top, and by the sea. 

FOOTNOTE: It is written that the people were astonished at His teaching because He did not teach as the scribes, but He taught with authority.

5. He fed the multitudes, the blind received their sight, the deaf could hear, the mute could speak, the lame could walk, the dead were raised, demons were cast out and infirmities were healed. And He was worshipped by those He healed and by the witnesses who saw and believed.

Matthew 15:31 so the multitude marveled marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing, and they glorified the God of Israel.

6. Two things, a. The Pharisees were unbelieving, they were always questioning Jesus, they were jealous of Him and they were continually plotting against Him. b. The only place He did very little healing was in His hometown and He said "because of their unbelief".

FOOTNOTE: The religious will always question all God is or does, but those of faith will follow Him. Faith is the opposite of unbelief, though in faith we believe and we keep praying for our loved ones healing here on this side of heaven and as hard as it might be to us, God is still sovereign and it is written "there is a time to be born and a time to die". That is the hardest thing to know when we watch our loved one breath their last breath. Yet, I believe miracles of life happen everyday. When my daughter was dying I held on to this word God gave me, "this is not unto death", when she died I asked God about that word I held onto, He in His mercy replied "She can never die, she just came home"!

Again these are only highlights of His life.

 John 21:30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book. Now open your word and read John 21:31

JESUS DEITY IN THE FLESH

 

YESHUA OUR SAVIOR

This post may make you think it's Christmas already, but no it is to tell of His coming.

1. In Luke chapter 1 we see that the angel Gabriel came to a young woman by the name of Mary, he came with good news; she would give birth to the Son of God. In their conversation, she asked how can this be? Gabriel replied "The Holy Spirit will come up on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore, the child to be born will be called Holy---The Son of God. NOTE: The Son of God did not have either Mary nor Joseph's DNA in Him.

2. In Matthew chapter 1 when Joseph knowing the child was not his, was contemplating how to privately put Mary away, in his sleep the angel spoke to him in verse 21 and said " She will bear a Son, and you will call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins ". All of this was to fullfil what had been prophesized about His coming.

3. In the Hebrew and in the Greek His name is Yeshua which means "Savior", in our English translation Yeshua is translated Jesus and means Savior.

4. We are all familiar with John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life". NOTE: when it says "so loved the world", it is speaking of humanity.

5. Jesus said in Matthew 5:17 (my words) that He did not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets but to fullfil them 

6. The Law can never justify nor save anyone, because every man, woman and child is born a sinner, the Law was our tutor that showed us our sins. Jesus came to do what we could never do, fullfil the Law for us that we might be justified through Him. The Prophets announced His birth was coming and He came. Born of a virgin, born under the law. The Lamb of God laid in a manager in a little town of Bethlehem, announced to the shepherds who came to worship Him, and the Wise Men who traveled from afar, arrived sometime later to bring gifts and worship the newborn King. The religious leaders didn't care, didn't come, and Herod tried to kill Him. But praise God, Jesus was born and tomorrow we will look at His life.

P.S. I know these posts are only highlights but it is always good to share the Good News.

JESUS WHO!

 

LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT MY JESUS 

May I spend a little time doing a little teaching? This blog reaches many people and as we are seeing a coming to an end of the church age, and the spirit of the antichrist working harder and harder to destroy who Jesus is, I would like to spend a little time on this subject "Who is Jesus"?

Just a few of the names used for Jesus:

1. Messiah, promised to be coming throughout the writings in the Old Testament, means in the Hebrew "The Anointed One".

2. Christ, not Jesus' last name, but in the Greek translation means the same as Messiah "The Anointed One"

3. The Son of God 100% Deity and 100% man you can read of His birth in the gospel of Matthew, Luke and even Galatians 4:4

  NOTE: if Jesus were not 100% deity He would not have been sinless, and there would be no salvation 

4. Jesus is the second person of the Trinity/Godhead. First mentioned in Genesis 1:26 "Let us make man in our image and after our likeness."

5. One God in 3 distinct persons; God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

John 10:30 Jesus' words "I and the Father are One."

6. Immanuel which means "God dwells with us"

7. Yeshua which means Savior is both the Hebrew and Greek name for Jesus. Jesus is the English translation for Yeshua and it also means Savior. Next blog post we will look more into this.

Just a start at identifying who is this Jesus. Before we can go any further I wanted to establish this absolute truth.

Jesus the Christ is the promised One that would be coming, as promised in the Old Testament. Just setting a foundation for the following blog posts.

WHAT IS LOVE?

 

WHAT DOES LOVE LOOK LIKE?

 In Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus said we were to love the Lord God with all our heart, soul and mind. And the second commandment was to love your neighbor as yourself. Wait Jesus didn't stop there in John 13:34-35 He told His disciples He was given a new commandment that we should love one another as He loves us and then all will know you are My disciples (that includes us) if we love one another. Wait, Wait there is more in Romans 13:10 it is written that love does no harm to his neighbor therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law. Wait let's go to 1 John 2:9 it is written that whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. But what does love look like then open up James 2:14-17 and he starts speaking about a brother or sister in need and if we have the means to help then we help. Right here I will add some insight that many of us have been putting into practice within our church fellowship; when we cannot on our own meet the entire need, then we enlist the help of others and we give according to our ability and God gives the increase. It is not the sole responsibility for the establishment of the church to meet every need in the body, but for the body of believers to come together, first out of our love for God then out of our love for one another. Love always puts action behind it. Love does not slander, or gossip, or criticize someone else. And of course what we find in 1 Corinthians chapter 13, in picture below

The Bible, the Word and Heart of God is written for the believer, so when we see or hear the words brethren, brother or sister it is speaking of the Ekklesia, the whole body of believers. There are scriptures that teach us and tell us to love our enemy and that we shall also look at. But first let's look at the Love of God for All:

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 12:9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

FOOTNOTE: God is not saying He loves the world's value system, but He loves mankind. We are the pearl of great price that Jesus spoke of in the parable. Jesus came to save ALL who would receive His gift of salvation, but ALL do not accept His gift of eternal life.

1 John 3:16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

FOOTNOTE: Look at how that verse ties in with John 3:16. When Jesus came 100% Man and 100% Deity, He came surrendered to His Father's will out of His love for His Father and His love for mankind. In verse 17 in 1 John it tells again, as we have read before, that whoever has the ability to meet the need of his brother but shuts up his heart from them and their need, how does the love of God abide in him. Think about that and go read this, this is not a complete quote but written in my words. When one who has plenty is not willing to help another meet their need then where is God's Agape Love in them? Go back to Acts, where the early church had all things in common and no one did without.

1John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth 

1 John 4:7-8 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves us born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love 

1 John 4:17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgement; because as He is so are we in this world.

FOOTNOTE: His love matures in us. When the love of God is in us and working through us we will see: 1. Obedience to God's word 2. Faith will be seen in our lives and 3. Love will be active in our lives. 

Romans 12:9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Romans 12:13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works

Hebrews 13:1 Let brotherly love continue

So many more scriptures about love would be a good word study for those who enjoy that kind of study. Tolerance and love are not the same thing; we are brothers and sisters in Christ, family, and family loves irregardless of our personalities, we forgive and we do not carry an offense. We pray for one another, we encourage one another, we lift up and not tear down, we come together to help meet needs that come up, we have each other's backs. Amen

Now Jesus told us in Matthew 5:45 that we are to love our enemies. You do realize our enemy doesn't have to be someone we don't know but in fact, can be a friend, a brother or sister in Christ, even a family member.

We simply show grace and mercy to the one who has made themselves our enemy. We pray and if we have done wrong we humble ourselves and ask for forgiveness. And we just love without any expectations.

Romans 12:18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peacefully with all men.

FOOTNOTE: Many may make themselves our enemy but we should never make ourselves an enemy to anyone

Hebrews 12:14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.

What about the lost, the unbeliever, well I will simply say this; love them, show them the light of Christ in you, be kind, but never compromise our core biblical values. We can love without condoning their lifestyle. Be love and light in a dark world filled with hate, evil and darkness.

That's all I got, love you ❤️❤️