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This podcast contains many bible study teachings to empower true disciples to walk in the steps of Jesus Christ.
Episodes
Wednesday Jan 31, 2024
Wednesday Jan 31, 2024
We Need To Check Ourselves (4)
David Eells 1/24/24
The Blessings Of Humility
Missy Pollock said, This is a quote from David’s book “The Blessings of Humility” at the very end of chapter 3. I thought it was such a good ending to the chapter because it greatly blessed me!
Jesus sought a simple life. He sought not to have and do the things that men thought were great. He didn’t mind speaking Truth, even if it offended the high and the mighty. He didn’t mind leaving the multitudes behind in order to go seek fellowship with the Father. (Matthew 14:13; Luke 4:42; Mark 1:35; etc.) We need to emulate Him.
Jesus had such a desire to meet the needs of the people, that in some cases, He was working night and day. (Matthew 8:24-25,13:2; Mark 3:9; etc.) Jesus said, (Mat.8:20) … The foxes have holes, and the birds of the heaven have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. He didn’t have any time for Himself and I believe that God has some servants down here who are doing the same thing. They see the need, they’re moved with compassion, and they go to meet the need, but not for the glory of man.
Jesus wasn’t doing it for the glory of man because He didn’t mind leaving the multitudes and going up into the mountains to pray. He’s our Example, and as the Bible tells us, (1Jn.2:5) But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily hath the love of God been perfected. Hereby we know that we are in him: (6) he that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked.
You Just Need Me
Debbie Fenske 1/19/24
Yesterday I decided to look for some very quiet worship music that I thought I'd have playing while having my quiet time with Jesus. I found what I really liked and started to play it. Then, as I began to sit with Jesus, I heard Him, very quietly, tell me something. He said, "You don't need sound." I said, "That is really good, Lord." And then, He continued to quietly say more to me. I turned off the quiet music and listened. This is what He said.
"You don't need sound. You just need Me. Listen for My voice. You don't need a plan. You just need Me. Desire Me. Desire to seek Me with your whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. You don't need a feeling. You just need Me. I will give you My peace. You don't need routine. You just need Me. I will lead you, and I will guide you."
Lord Jesus, thank you that you have not made it a hard thing to come before you, to get alone with you. Lord, please help us to kick aside all these preconceived ideas that say we need so much more. Please Lord, help us to desire just you, and to cast down the need for sound around us, and to cast down any inner thoughts and feelings, and our plans. Help us to just drop all these things, and just desire to sit with you. To desire only you. Thank you, Jesus that you are our peace, and that in that peace you will lead us and guide us. You will speak to us and let us know whether to open your Word to begin receiving from you there, or to just sit and wait on you. What you can do with us in our time alone with you, Lord, is limitless. Thank you, Jesus. We just need you. Thank you that you just want us, alone. Thank you, Lord. Amen.
Dying To Self
Winnie Osegueda 1/21/24
I read this and enjoyed it, and wanted to share it with you all. Thank You Lord for Your grace and for completing the work You started in us:
“When you are forgotten, or neglected, or purposely set at naught, and you don't sting and hurt with the insult or the oversight, but your heart is still happy, being counted worthy to suffer for Christ, THAT IS DYING TO SELF.
When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinions ridiculed, your best intentions misinterpreted, and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart, or even defend yourself, but rather take it all in patiently, loving silence, knowing that Christ alone is your defender, THAT IS DYING TO SELF.
When you patiently bear annoyance, disorder, inconvenience, irregularity, and even impunctuality from others; when you feel your time has been wasted and you’ve been treated harshly and unfairly and yet you still respond in love, maintaining your peace, and enduring these things with meekness as Jesus endured, THAT IS DYING TO SELF.
When you are unruffled with less than desirable accommodations, uncomplaining with meager food, difficult climates, re-arranged travel schedules, when you maintain cheerfulness even though others are grumpy, when you are loving, kind, and attentive even to those who can do you no benefit by their association, when you remain calm despite interruptions to your agenda and plans by the will of God, THAT IS DYING TO SELF.
When you don’t care to refer to yourself in conversation, when you don’t feel the need to boast of your accomplishments and record every good deed you do for the world to see, when you don’t itch after commendation and applause, when you don’t mind when others are acknowledged and your name is ignored, when you’re more concerned with being faithful to God’s call, when you are okay to be unknown, THAT IS DYING TO SELF.
When you see your brother prospering, when you see him succeeding with a project that you contributed to, and yet you can honestly rejoice with him in spirit, being happy to remain behind the scenes, not questioning God, but being grateful that the work is being accomplished so that God is glorified, THAT IS DYING TO SELF.
When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself and can humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart, THAT IS DYING TO SELF.”
"That I may know Him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death." Php 3:10
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.” Gal 2:20
Idols In The Heart
Anonymous 12/10/22
I sought the Lord regarding idols in our heart and heard:
“Be aware of idols of ‘insecurity’ and ‘selfishness’. You need to reshape and rethink on how you perceive life in Christ.” (We are accounted righteous when we believe we don’t live anymore, Christ lives in us. Rom 6:11 Even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus.)
Col 3:3-4 For ye died, and your life is hid with the Christ in God. 4 When the Christ, our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory.
Eph 4:22-24 that ye put away, as concerning your former behavior, the old man, that waxeth corrupt after the lusts of deceit; 23 and that ye be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new man, that after God hath been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
“Insecurity is where you want or require something, that when put to the test of eternity with Me, would be thrown out into the fire. I supply all your needs and desires of your heart. Continue to replace and put Me always first and keep a watch to the things that could be contrary to My Word.”
1Pe 5:7 casting all your anxiety upon him, because he careth for you.
Php 4:6 In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Php 4:19 And my God shall supply your every need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Psa 37:4-5 Delight thyself also in Jehovah; And he will give thee the desires of thy heart. 5 Commit thy way unto Jehovah; Trust also in him, and he will bring it to pass.
“Selfishness is where there is pride and misunderstanding, especially when what has been taught and learned through the world’s ways, comes between us.” Mar 7:13 making void the word of God by your tradition, which ye have delivered:
Php 2:4-5 not looking each severally to his own things, but each severally also to those of others. 5 Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus
“The renewal of your mind is the best place to begin, to be cleansed and sanctified. After these things are put into check and aligned back according to My Son and My Word, you can receive and manifest 100 fold!”
Rom 12:2 And be not fashioned according to this age: but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, that ye may prove what is the good and well-pleasing and perfect will of God.
“Like when a bath is filled with water. You get in, and the water rises. When you get out, you can fill up all the way. It is the objects of no value within, that are to be removed to enable more room to be filled with Me.
Aim and focus on the hardest and most hidden of evil. This is self. Learn to hate the concept and mindset of being an individual. Instead, you need to incorporate My Son as He is the perfect replacement.
To get past all of self and anything that is carnal and fleshly, you need to find and root them out. Keep an eye and ear on the self (watch out for outward evil manifestations) and bring it to the Light for full exposure.”
Eph 5:8 for ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord: walk as children of light.
Eph 5:11-13 and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them; 12 for the things done by them in secret it is a shame even to speak of. 13 But all things when reproved are manifested by the light: for everything manifested is light.
“Speak it out, and pray it out, and know that it is a process for it all to go. Believe that you are at the end from your current state, and are already perfected in Christ. It is just the flesh and soul with understanding that needs to catch up.”
Col 1:27 to whom God was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the nations, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Humility Brings Grace
David Eells
If there’s anything you need from God, humble yourself, and confess your sins. As the Bible says, (Psa.66:18) If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear. Many people are diligently attempting to exercise their faith, and yet they find no grace from God to hold on to their faith. Faith is a gift from God. If He doesn’t give it to you, you won’t have it. And you can try your best to stand in faith and you will fail, because the Word says, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not, will not hear.” He will not hear. Well, what choice do we have then?
God is telling us that He’s not going to hear unless we repent. (Pro.28:13) He that covereth his transgressions shall not prosper: But whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall obtain mercy. We just read unless we humble ourselves concerning any sin, we’re not going to receive grace. And here we see that, unless we confess our sins, we’re not going to prosper or have His mercy, therefore other things besides lack of faith can block us from receiving the blessings of God. God is very forgiving to us because, many times, we don’t know that we’re doing wrong and so God overlooks them. He puts them under the Blood because of our ignorance. (Jas.4:17) To him therefore that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
But if God is showing you something required of Him in your life, then you’re responsible to make corrections because it may block you from receiving what you need from the Lord. In this case, we can see that we have to confess our sins in order to receive our healing. Some may say, “That’s salvation by works, David.” Well, you can take it for whatever you believe it is, but the Bible says, “confess your sins one to another...that ye may be healed,” and that’s what we have to believe and act on. (Pro.16:18) Pride goeth before destruction, And a haughty (This is gobah meaning “lofty; high; height; pride.”) spirit before a fall. (The Hebrew kishshalon there is also translated as “stumbling; ruin.”)
That doesn’t sound like somebody is receiving what they want from the Lord! Destruction is not what we pray and believe for; it’s not according to the good promises. And possibly you’ve heard people say, “You Christians, you accept all the good promises but you don’t like any of the bad promises.” Well, this is one of them, right here: “Pride goeth before destruction.” So it behooves us to find out what pride actually is and how many ways it can be manifested in our life. That’s another reason why we need to read the Scriptures, because there can be things in our life that block us from receiving grace that imparts faith from God to bring us salvation.
Certainly we don’t pray to fall into destruction and ruin or these kinds of things; we pray for God’s blessings. But Jesus said in (Mat.12:30) He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. If you’re prideful, which is the opposite of humility, you’re going to be destroyed. And if you’re haughty, which is being self-promoting, you’re at the very least going to stumble, and possibly be ruined. All that is chastening upon the wicked, unregenerate old man, who is prideful and has to be crucified. He’s the one you’re supposed to be leaving on the cross. (Pro.16:19) Better it is to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, Than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Recently, I was giving some advice to a person who was forsaking running after the Lord with all their heart in order to get a “higher” education. I asked them, “Are you sure that’s what the Lord really wants for you? You know, we’re coming very, very close to the end times now. What is more important? Is it to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, which is what we’re commanded to do? Or is it to get a ‘higher’ education so you can earn a higher income?” I tell you, the most important thing is to humble yourself to the Word of God, now and forever. That “higher” education doesn’t matter in the least.
Personally, I’d rather be stupid and humble, and get what God gives me in His Word. Obviously, some of you may be contrary to my thinking there, but I would rather be of lowly spirit with the poor, and not worry about the “higher” education. I don’t know how many people come out of their so-called “higher” education anti-Christ in their thinking. They’ve lost God in the midst of it because a little leaven leavens the whole lump (1 Corinthians 5:6; Galatians 5:9). Also we have in (Pro.15:33) The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; And before honor goeth humility. There is it again, before honor must be humility. Do you want to be honored of the Lord or of man?
Humility has to come first before we can have the blessings of God, those great promises that we believe for. And, (Pro.22:4) The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord Is riches, and honor, and life. How many people have lost their lives, spiritual or physical or both, because they didn’t humble themselves to God’s Word? (Mat.6:33) But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. We need to seek first the Kingdom and His righteousness.
His Word needs to be put in our heart every day. The most important thing that we do, over and above and including going to “church,” is humbling ourselves to the Word of God. It is the Life of God. So many are caught-up in, and puffed-up by, false doctrines of false religion. They’re in idolatrous worship of false leaders and are being led astray from the faith.
Humility and the fear of the Lord go hand-in-hand. If you are humble, you fear the Lord. If you fear the Lord, you are humble, and this goes before “riches, and honor, and life.” If you want to manifest not just more of physical life, but more of the Life of Jesus, one of the ways to receive that is through humility. Many people pass away because they don’t humble themselves to the Word. They haven’t read the Word enough, and don’t believe the Word enough, to find out that God already provided deliverance from the curses that have fallen upon mankind.
Glory to God! It’s a wonderful thing to walk in that faith and to see that God keeps His Word! What do we have to be proud of? What do we have that we can claim is on account of our righteousness, our power, our wisdom? What do we have? As we’re told, (1Co.1:26) For behold your calling, brethren, that not many wise after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, [are called]… In other words, the people who are great in this world are not the kind of people the Lord calls.
And He says, “not many,” meaning He does call some of them. He likes to give a demonstration of His power because He’s able to save even these people by humbling them. Even Paul was humbled. But generally He does not choose the wise, the mighty, the noble. (1Co.1: 27) but God chose the foolish [things] of the world…
That word “things” was added-in all through this text, but is not found in the original Greek manuscripts and so it should be italicized in your Bible. There’s no numeric pattern in the word “things” here. This text properly reads, (1Co.1:26) For behold your calling, brethren, that not many wise after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, [are called]: (27) but God chose the foolish of the world, that he might put to shame them that are wise; and God chose the weak of the world, that he might put to shame them that are strong; (28) and the base of the world, and the despised, did God choose, [yea] and the things that are not, that he might bring to nought the things that are:
(So God chooses people who are foolish, weak, base, and despised by the world. Why?) (29) that no flesh should glory before God. “Glory” there is the Greek kauxáomai meaning, “I boast; I exult proudly.” It’s important to God “that no flesh should glory” before Him. The people that God chooses are not the wise or the great or the gifted or the necessarily handsome. And, although many times the people who are promoted to the top of Christianity are just like that, they’re not found to be faithful nor really gifted in the Spirit of God. It seems like a person has to be weak in the ways of the world before they will really have trust in God and lean upon Him.
I’m one of those people. For instance, I never considered myself a speaker, never liked to get up in front of people, and don’t relish it to today, but I do it. And I’m able to do it by the Grace of God, not that my speech is all that great today. But, you know, Paul’s on my side because he said that he wasn’t a great speaker either. Moses too. At any rate, when we’re made capable of doing something only by God, we have to trust in Him because we know we have no strength within ourselves to do it.
You may ask, “Why does God pick people that are weak?” Well, He says, so “that no flesh should glory before God.” And also in 2Co 12:9 ASV And he hath said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness. (Get this important principle:) Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. A person who seeks importance because of self confidence is not qualified. Where is Superman now? What has happened to the superstars? Where are all the factious leaders who thought they should have a position of authority that God did not give them. Carpenters know that the head that sticks up gets hammered. And here is why. Mat 23:12 ASV And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled; and whosoever shall humble himself shall be exalted.
He doesn’t want any pride in us. He doesn’t want us taking any credit for what He chooses to do through us. He wants us to give all glory to Him. (Isa.42:8) I am the Lord, that is my name; and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise unto graven images. God will not share His glory with another, and when you try to rob the glory of God because of your own personal gifts, then God has to humble you because you’re lifting yourself up. “Pride goeth before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.” Jesus Could Do Nothing of Himself It’s hard to even imagine it, yet Jesus said in (Joh.5:19) … The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father doing: for what things soever he doeth, these the Son also doeth in like manner.
Now, obviously, if Jesus could do nothing of Himself, we can do nothing of ourselves. Nothing of any importance in the Kingdom can we do of ourselves because self has no power to do the work of God. Self cannot walk in the Spirit. Self does not have the renewed mind of Christ with the renewed sight and hearing (Ephesians 4:23), having been washed with the water of the Word (Ephesians 5:26). Self has no power to walk in the Spirit or to do the works of God.
Question Yourself
Anonymous12/3/22
I was in prayer and I asked the Lord what He wants to tell me:
“A question to self: Am I doing what I know to do?” NENT Jas 1:23 For if any is hearer of the word and not doer, HE is like a man beholding his natural face in a mirror:
“Am I on the right side living by faith in the Word?” (I.e. Righteous by faith, abiding in Christ) NENT Rom 1:17 For herein is being revealed God’s righteousness from faith unto faith: as it is written, But the righteous man shall live by faith.
1Jn 2:5-6 but whoso keepeth his word, in him hath truly the love of God been perfected. Hereby we know that we are in him: 6 who saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as HE walked.
“Be on the perfect team, and you will never fail or lose. Believe you are not anymore, but Christ lives in you.” NENT Rom 6:11 Thus ye also reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
“This is an excellent choice, as the self-part of you is really the loser, and there is nothing you can do that is better than I”. Job 38:33 Knowest thou the ordinances of the heavens? Canst thou establish the dominion thereof in the earth?
Job 42:2 I know that thou canst do all things, And that no purpose of thine can be restrained.
“Admit it before men”. NENT Mat 10:32 Every one therefore who shall confess in me before men, in him will I also confess before my Father who is in the heavens.
1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
“Humble yourself and come to me”. (Being humble allows the Lord to utilize us as vessels of honor.) Num 12:3 Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men that were upon the face of the earth. NENT 1Pe 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he might exalt you in season;
“The more frequent you let go of self, and imitate My Word as Christ, then infinitely more My Love will manifest through you”. (I.e. We will progress from star to moon to sun glory manifesting Christ with 100-fold fruit.) NENT 1Co 15:41 One glory of sun, and another glory of moon, and another glory of stars; for star differeth from star in glory.
“I washed you in the Water of My Word to clean out all the lies. You can then have a clear mind which can do My Works”. Joh 15:3 Already ye are clean because of the word which I have spoken unto you. NENT Rom 12:2 And be not fashioned according to this age: but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, that ye may prove what is the good and well-pleasing and perfect will of God.
2Ti 1:7 For God gave us not a spirit of fearfulness; but of power and love and sobering.
“There is real life through the release of the carnal and worldly ways of men”. NENT 2Co 6:14 Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness?
Mat 11:29-30 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest to your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.
“I know you, and you know and will do as I say. And I can see that where we are, here in eternity.” NENT Eph 2:5-6 even when we were dead through the trespasses made us alive together with the Christ (by grace have ye been saved), 6 and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenlies, in Christ Jesus.
Finding Balance in Faith
David Eells
(Mar.16:17) And these signs shall accompany them that believe... (18) they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall in no wise hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
Should we always eat what we want, drink what we want and breathe what we want because we are not under the curse, according to Galatians 3:13? Possibly the key words here are "what we want" not "what we need". God said He would supply our every need. Some think that because we are not under the curse that we shouldn't tell people that certain things are poison. Where is the balance here?
No one should tempt God by taking poison on purpose when there is a choice. That is like the snake handlers who often die tempting God to prove who they are. Permit me to paraphrase the devil when he tempted Jesus: "Throw yourself off this temple, Jesus, because God said the angels would catch you". His answer was, "You shall not tempt the Lord your God". Like the angels' promise of safety, God also said you are not under the curse. Does that mean you should put poison in your mouth on purpose when you have a choice not to? That would be tempting God in the exact same way.
Notice the devil tempted Jesus to use His promise of protection and His deliverance from the curse to jump off the temple. He tempts you to use your promise of protection to eat known poison for no purpose or eat after your own lusts. There is no difference, unless that is all you have to eat, like the man who said to Elisha, "There is death in the pot," because in their foraging for food, poisonous gourds had been thrown in the pot. Since that is what they had to eat, he blessed it and they ate it.
I have drunk Pensacola water, driven my motorcycle through the chemtrails when I could smell them, ate whatever food was put before me because I needed to and was blessed. I knew an otherwise strong Christian who believed with all his heart that he could eat anything he wanted because he was not under the curse. I agreed with the principle but not the way he was using it to justify his eating habits. He was using the doctrine to eat in an unhealthy manner and was overweight and under-exercised. To make a long story short, he died with his arteries clogged and dying because of lack of circulation.
The Lord said we ask and don't receive because we want to consume it upon our lusts. The demons jumped on the seven sons of Sceva, who thought they had protection, but their own lives were not right with God and so they were under the curse.
The promise that, if you drink any deadly thing it will not harm you, is for those who have to drink the water and eat the food available to them, like when Moses blessed the bitter waters in the barren wilderness. When we are given poison secretly to kill us, as the powers that be are doing now, we are protected. When we know about it and have a choice between poison or pure, we should choose the pure. Of course, if you have something to prove, like the devil was tempting Jesus with saying, "If you are the Son of God," and then he went on to test him with prove who you are. Jesus had no such lust and He proved it. There was another way down from that temple roof. Some today would say to someone like him, "You don't have any faith". Who is the teacher here?
The man who said there was death in the pot was not wrong. Now they had a choice to make: believe God if you need to eat or opt out if you don't believe. Many Christians don't believe God will protect them from poison. Should we just let them die because they do not believe God's promise? Is it alright to say to them, there is death in the pot? They would die and never have a chance to grow up and learn that they are not under the curse. Of course God could give them a demonstration, like He did, of His power over the curse.
The Lord said in Hosea 4:6 that His people would die for lack of understanding. Let us have mercy on them and tell them that fluoride, chemtrails, chemotherapy, many drugs they take, etc., are poison but should they be forced to take them or deceived into taking them, they should believe they are not under the curse. Now we know serpents are also demons but Paul didn't take up that serpent on purpose. It bit him. But when it happened, he shook it off by faith and was none the worse.
I knew a couple who believed they were not under the curse but they were under a law of their own making, instead of grace through faith; they were under pride, Jezebel and a false Jesus. God didn't care what their doctrine was; He refused to answer and protect them.
In short, walk in holiness and under the protection of God but don't try to prove who you are in pride, don't put yourself under a law and don't be competitive with others, for God will humble you.
We are not looking to make or find the line in this balance for others; just share Biblical principles to help them find balance. Let everyone find their own line in their conscience and according to the measure of their faith. We don't want to be caught making laws for others here.
Sunday Jan 28, 2024
Wednesday Jan 24, 2024
Monday Jan 22, 2024
Monday Jan 22, 2024
Scripture-2021-05-12 Psalms 119:90 Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: Thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. Psalms 119:121 AYIN. I have done justice and righteousness: Leave me not to mine oppressors. Psalms 119:122 Be surety for thy servant for good: Let not the proud oppress me. Psalms 119:132 Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me, As thou usest to do unto those that love thy name. Psalms 119:137 TSADHE. Righteous art thou, O Jehovah, And upright are thy judgments. Psalms 119:128 Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; And I hate every false way. Job 42:2 I know that thou canst do all things, And that no purpose of thine can be restrained. Job 42:3 Who is this that hideth counsel without knowledge? Therefore have I uttered that which I understood not, Things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. Job 42:4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak; I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. Job 42:5 I had heard of thee by the hearing of the ear; But now mine eye seeth thee: Job 42:6 Wherefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes. Psalms 119:138 Thou hast commanded thy testimonies in righteousness And very faithfulness. Psalms 119:139 My zeal hath consumed me, Because mine adversaries have forgotten thy words. Psalms 119:140 Thy word is very pure; Therefore thy servant loveth it. Psalms 119:141 I am small and despised; Yet do I not forget thy precepts. Psalms 119:142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And thy law is truth. Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: John 8:32 and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Psalms 119:143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me; Yet thy commandments are my delight. Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Psalms 119:144 Thy testimonies are righteous for ever: Give me understanding, and I shall live. Psalms 119:145 QOPH. I have called with my whole heart; answer me, O Jehovah: I will keep thy statutes. Deuteronomy 4:27 And Jehovah will scatter you among the peoples, and ye shall be left few in number among the nations, whither Jehovah shall lead you away. 1 Peter 2:9 But ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Deuteronomy 4:28 And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. Deuteronomy 4:29 But from thence ye shall seek Jehovah thy God, and thou shalt find him, when thou searchest after him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. Deuteronomy 4:30 When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, in the latter days thou shalt return to Jehovah thy God, and hearken unto his voice: Deuteronomy 4:31 for Jehovah thy God is a merciful God; he will not fail thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them. Psalms 119:146 I have called unto thee; save me, And I shall observe thy testimonies. Psalms 119:147 I anticipated the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy words. Psalms 119:148 Mine eyes anticipated the night-watches, That I might meditate on thy word. Matthew 5:6 Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Psalms 119:149 Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: Quicken me, O Jehovah, according to thine ordinances. Psalms 119:150 They draw nigh that follow after wickedness; They are far from thy law. Isaiah 36:10 And am I now come up without Jehovah against this land to destroy it? Jehovah said unto me, Go up against this land, and destroy it. Philippians 2:13 for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure. Isaiah 10:24 Therefore thus saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, O my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian, though he smite thee with the rod, and lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt. Isaiah 10:25 For yet a very little while, and the indignation against thee shall be accomplished, and mine anger shall be directed to his destruction. Isaiah 37:3 And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of contumely; for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth. Isaiah 37:4 It may be Jehovah thy God will hear the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to defy the living God, and will rebuke the words which Jehovah thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up thy prayer for the remnant that is left. Isaiah 37:5 So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah. Isaiah 37:6 And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say to your master, Thus saith Jehovah, Be not afraid of the words that thou hast heard, wherewith the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. Isaiah 37:7 Behold, I will put a spirit in him, and he shall hear tidings, and shall return unto his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land. Psalms 119:151 Thou art nigh, O Jehovah; And all thy commandments are truth. Psalms 119:152 Of old have I known from thy testimonies, That thou hast founded them for ever. Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. Matthew 24:38 For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, Psalms 119:153 RESH. Consider mine affliction, and deliver me; For I do not forget thy law. Psalms 119:154 Plead thou my cause, and redeem me: Quicken me according to thy word. Colossians 1:27 to whom God was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Psalms 119:155 Salvation is far from the wicked; For they seek not thy statutes. Psalms 119:156 Great are thy tender mercies, O Jehovah: Quicken me according to thine ordinances. Psalms 107:20 He sendeth his word, and healeth them, And delivereth them from their destructions. Psalms 119:157 Many are my persecutors and mine adversaries; Yet have I not swerved from thy testimonies. 2 Corinthians 12:9 And he hath said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Psalms 119:158 I beheld the treacherous, and was grieved, Because they observe not thy word. Psalms 119:159 Consider how I love thy precepts: Quicken me, O Jehovah, according to thy lovingkindness. Psalms 119:160 The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth for ever. Psalms 119:161 SHIN. Princes have persecuted me without a cause; But my heart standeth in awe of thy words. Judges 7:7 And Jehovah said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thy hand; and let all the people go every man unto his place. Psalms 119:162 I rejoice at thy word, As one that findeth great spoil. Proverbs 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; But the glory of kings is to search out a matter. Psalms 119:163 I hate and abhor falsehood; But thy law do I love. Psalms 119:164 Seven times a day do I praise thee, Because of thy righteous ordinances. Psalms 119:165 Great peace have they that love thy law; And they have no occasion of stumbling. John 14:15 If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments. Galatians 1:6 I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel; Galatians 1:7 which is not another gospel: only there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. Psalms 119:166 I have hoped for thy salvation, O Jehovah, And have done thy commandments. Psalms 119:167 My soul hath observed thy testimonies; And I love them exceedingly. Psalms 119:168 I have observed thy precepts and thy testimonies; For all my ways are before thee. James 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and covet, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war; ye have not, because ye ask not. Romans 8:26 And in like manner the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity: for we know not how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered; 1 John 5:14 And this is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: 1 John 5:15 and if we know that he heareth us whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him. Psalms 119:169 TAV. Let my cry come near before thee, O Jehovah: Give me understanding according to thy word. Matthew 11:25 At that season Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou didst hide these things from the wise and understanding, and didst reveal them unto babes: Proverbs 13:20 Walk with wise men, and thou shalt be wise; But the companion of fools shall smart for it. Psalms 119:170 Let my supplication come before thee: Deliver me according to thy word. Psalms 119:171 Let my lips utter praise; For thou teachest me thy statutes. Psalms 149:6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand; Psalms 149:7 To execute vengeance upon the nations, And punishments upon the peoples; 2 Chronicles 20:21 And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed them that should sing unto Jehovah, and give praise in holy array, as they went out before the army, and say, Give thanks unto Jehovah; for his lovingkindness endureth for ever. 2 Chronicles 20:22 And when they began to sing and to praise, Jehovah set liers-in-wait against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, that were come against Judah; and they were smitten. 2 Chronicles 20:23 For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another. Psalms 119:172 Let my tongue sing of thy word; For all thy commandments are righteousness. Psalms 119:173 Let thy hand be ready to help me; For I have chosen thy precepts. James 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and covet, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war; ye have not, because ye ask not. Psalms 119:174 I have longed for thy salvation, O Jehovah; And thy law is my delight. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved entire, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 12:2 And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Psalms 119:16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word. Psalms 119:175 Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; And let thine ordinances help me. Psalms 119:176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; For I do not forget thy commandments. John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. Matthew 5:6 Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Romans 5:17 For if, by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; much more shall they that receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, even Jesus Christ. Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Psalms 119:90 Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: Thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. Psalms 119:121 AYIN. I have done justice and righteousness: Leave me not to mine oppressors. Psalms 119:122 Be surety for thy servant for good: Let not the proud oppress me. Psalms 119:132 Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me, As thou usest to do unto those that love thy name. Psalms 119:137 TSADHE. Righteous art thou, O Jehovah, And upright are thy judgments. Psalms 119:128 Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; And I hate every false way. Job 42:2 I know that thou canst do all things, And that no purpose of thine can be restrained. Job 42:3 Who is this that hideth counsel without knowledge? Therefore have I uttered that which I understood not, Things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. Job 42:4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak; I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. Job 42:5 I had heard of thee by the hearing of the ear; But now mine eye seeth thee: Job 42:6 Wherefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes. Psalms 119:138 Thou hast commanded thy testimonies in righteousness And very faithfulness. Psalms 119:139 My zeal hath consumed me, Because mine adversaries have forgotten thy words. Psalms 119:140 Thy word is very pure; Therefore thy servant loveth it. Psalms 119:141 I am small and despised; Yet do I not forget thy precepts. Psalms 119:142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And thy law is truth. Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: John 8:32 and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Psalms 119:143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me; Yet thy commandments are my delight. Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Psalms 119:144 Thy testimonies are righteous for ever: Give me understanding, and I shall live. Psalms 119:145 QOPH. I have called with my whole heart; answer me, O Jehovah: I will keep thy statutes. Deuteronomy 4:27 And Jehovah will scatter you among the peoples, and ye shall be left few in number among the nations, whither Jehovah shall lead you away. 1 Peter 2:9 But ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Deuteronomy 4:28 And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. Deuteronomy 4:29 But from thence ye shall seek Jehovah thy God, and thou shalt find him, when thou searchest after him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. Deuteronomy 4:30 When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, in the latter days thou shalt return to Jehovah thy God, and hearken unto his voice: Deuteronomy 4:31 for Jehovah thy God is a merciful God; he will not fail thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them. Psalms 119:146 I have called unto thee; save me, And I shall observe thy testimonies. Psalms 119:147 I anticipated the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy words. Psalms 119:148 Mine eyes anticipated the night-watches, That I might meditate on thy word. Matthew 5:6 Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Psalms 119:149 Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: Quicken me, O Jehovah, according to thine ordinances. Psalms 119:150 They draw nigh that follow after wickedness; They are far from thy law. Isaiah 36:10 And am I now come up without Jehovah against this land to destroy it? Jehovah said unto me, Go up against this land, and destroy it. Philippians 2:13 for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure. Isaiah 10:24 Therefore thus saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, O my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian, though he smite thee with the rod, and lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt. Isaiah 10:25 For yet a very little while, and the indignation against thee shall be accomplished, and mine anger shall be directed to his destruction. Isaiah 37:3 And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of contumely; for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth. Isaiah 37:4 It may be Jehovah thy God will hear the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to defy the living God, and will rebuke the words which Jehovah thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up thy prayer for the remnant that is left. Isaiah 37:5 So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah. Isaiah 37:6 And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say to your master, Thus saith Jehovah, Be not afraid of the words that thou hast heard, wherewith the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. Isaiah 37:7 Behold, I will put a spirit in him, and he shall hear tidings, and shall return unto his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land. Psalms 119:151 Thou art nigh, O Jehovah; And all thy commandments are truth. Psalms 119:152 Of old have I known from thy testimonies, That thou hast founded them for ever. Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. Matthew 24:38 For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, Psalms 119:153 RESH. Consider mine affliction, and deliver me; For I do not forget thy law. Psalms 119:154 Plead thou my cause, and redeem me: Quicken me according to thy word. Colossians 1:27 to whom God was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Psalms 119:155 Salvation is far from the wicked; For they seek not thy statutes. Psalms 119:156 Great are thy tender mercies, O Jehovah: Quicken me according to thine ordinances. Psalms 107:20 He sendeth his word, and healeth them, And delivereth them from their destructions. Psalms 119:157 Many are my persecutors and mine adversaries; Yet have I not swerved from thy testimonies. 2 Corinthians 12:9 And he hath said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Psalms 119:158 I beheld the treacherous, and was grieved, Because they observe not thy word. Psalms 119:159 Consider how I love thy precepts: Quicken me, O Jehovah, according to thy lovingkindness. Psalms 119:160 The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth for ever. Psalms 119:161 SHIN. Princes have persecuted me without a cause; But my heart standeth in awe of thy words. Judges 7:7 And Jehovah said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thy hand; and let all the people go every man unto his place. Psalms 119:162 I rejoice at thy word, As one that findeth great spoil. Proverbs 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; But the glory of kings is to search out a matter. Psalms 119:163 I hate and abhor falsehood; But thy law do I love. Psalms 119:164 Seven times a day do I praise thee, Because of thy righteous ordinances. Psalms 119:165 Great peace have they that love thy law; And they have no occasion of stumbling. John 14:15 If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments. Galatians 1:6 I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel; Galatians 1:7 which is not another gospel: only there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. Psalms 119:166 I have hoped for thy salvation, O Jehovah, And have done thy commandments. Psalms 119:167 My soul hath observed thy testimonies; And I love them exceedingly. Psalms 119:168 I have observed thy precepts and thy testimonies; For all my ways are before thee. James 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and covet, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war; ye have not, because ye ask not. Romans 8:26 And in like manner the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity: for we know not how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered; 1 John 5:14 And this is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: 1 John 5:15 and if we know that he heareth us whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him. Psalms 119:169 TAV. Let my cry come near before thee, O Jehovah: Give me understanding according to thy word. Matthew 11:25 At that season Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou didst hide these things from the wise and understanding, and didst reveal them unto babes: Proverbs 13:20 Walk with wise men, and thou shalt be wise; But the companion of fools shall smart for it. Psalms 119:170 Let my supplication come before thee: Deliver me according to thy word. Psalms 119:171 Let my lips utter praise; For thou teachest me thy statutes. Psalms 149:6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand; Psalms 149:7 To execute vengeance upon the nations, And punishments upon the peoples; 2 Chronicles 20:21 And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed them that should sing unto Jehovah, and give praise in holy array, as they went out before the army, and say, Give thanks unto Jehovah; for his lovingkindness endureth for ever. 2 Chronicles 20:22 And when they began to sing and to praise, Jehovah set liers-in-wait against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, that were come against Judah; and they were smitten. 2 Chronicles 20:23 For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another. Psalms 119:172 Let my tongue sing of thy word; For all thy commandments are righteousness. Psalms 119:173 Let thy hand be ready to help me; For I have chosen thy precepts. James 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and covet, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war; ye have not, because ye ask not. Psalms 119:174 I have longed for thy salvation, O Jehovah; And thy law is my delight. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved entire, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 12:2 And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Psalms 119:16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word. Psalms 119:175 Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; And let thine ordinances help me. Psalms 119:176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; For I do not forget thy commandments. John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. Matthew 5:6 Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Romans 5:17 For if, by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; much more shall they that receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, even Jesus Christ. Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Sunday Jan 21, 2024
Thursday Jan 18, 2024
Thursday Jan 18, 2024
We Need To Check Ourselves (3)
David Eells 1/17/24
Manifesting Christ In Us Through Suffering
David Eells
Many have been going through suffering and the Church is about to go through great suffering. We need to learn how to handle suffering because it’s one of God’s greatest tools for bringing about the righteousness of Christ in us. (1Pe.2:18) Servants, [be] in subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward (or “unreasonable”). (19) For this is acceptable (Greek: “grace”), if for conscience toward God a man endureth griefs, suffering wrongfully. It’s alright with God for you to endure griefs and suffer wrongfully because of the fruit you will bear.
(1Pe.2:20) For what glory is it, if, when ye sin, and are buffeted [for it,] (There’s no reward for that, is there?) ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer [for it,] ye shall take it patiently, this is acceptable (Greek: “grace”) with God. (21) For hereunto were ye called (In other words, you have been called to suffer for doing right.): because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow his steps: (22) who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: (23) who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, threatened not; but committed [himself] to him that judgeth righteously. So Jesus left it all in the Hands of His Father. When He suffered, He didn’t threaten.
When you suffer is when your lowest, most base instincts rise up and especially when you’re suffering at the hands of another person. All kinds of pride and anger and rebellion come up in your heart. And it happens in circumstances, too. You become angry at circumstances and you sometimes even become angry at inanimate objects or you can get angry when there’s nobody else involved except God for it all comes from Him. Suffering has a way of bringing out our basest instincts. God is bringing us through suffering because of the lusts of our flesh and just as our example, Christ, suffered for doing good, we are to suffer for doing good, too. (1Pe.3:14) But even if ye should suffer for righteousness’ sake, [blessed are ye:] and fear not their fear, neither be troubled; (15) but sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord….
You know, your first temptation when you suffer at the hands of a person or circumstance is not to make “Christ as Lord” in your heart. It’s every other fleshly desire that comes up first. But Jesus “committed himself to Him that judgeth righteously” when He was suffering. In other words, He wasn’t thinking of taking vengeance; He wasn’t falling into the flesh; He was leaving it up to God. And Peter tells you the same thing, to “sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord.”
(1Pe.4:1) Forasmuch then as Christ suffered in the flesh, arm ye yourselves also with the same mind…. Do you have a mind like that? Not naturally. Our mind is to run from any kind of suffering in the flesh, isn’t it? Our mind is to avoid it at all cost. You know, the thing we need the most, the thing we run from the most, is suffering. Christians in America especially need suffering and suffering is coming. It’s coming because God wills it and it’s coming because people need to be delivered from their selfish interests, their self-centeredness. Suffering has a way of delivering you from self-centeredness.
(1Pe.4:1) Forasmuch then as Christ suffered in the flesh, arm ye yourselves also with the same mind; for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin. When your flesh is suffering, it’s because it’s not getting its way. When it’s not getting its way, it’s because you’re not sinning. It’s so simple, isn’t it? When the old man’s not getting his way, you’re not sinning and so we’re called to suffer in the flesh. Jesus left us an example to suffer in the flesh. We want to avoid it, yet suffering is our most precious friend. Why? (2) That ye no longer should live the rest of your time in flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
We need suffering so that we can live the rest of our life free from the bondage of the flesh, as a servant of Jesus. That’s why we need suffering in the flesh. When we understand God’s purposes in suffering, that makes it a lot easier to endure. And, when we see the purpose behind it, we’re not so deceived by Satan into wrestling with flesh and blood, or into blaming, or into anger, or whatever.
(1Pe.4:12) Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial among you, which cometh upon you to prove you…. When we fall into the midst of suffering, we think it’s strange. We think there’s something not quite right about it, but we need to change our mind about that. We need to have the mind that was in Christ; we need to expect that we’re going to suffer for the name of Christ. What I mean by “suffer for the name of Christ” is suffering so that His nature and character, which is what “name” means, can be manifested in us.
And it comes upon you to prove you, perfect you and purify you. (1Pe.4:12) Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial among you, which cometh upon you to prove you, as though a strange thing happened unto you: (13) but insomuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, rejoice; that at the revelation of his glory also ye may rejoice with exceeding joy. If you can manage to rejoice in the midst of suffering, it will be a lot easier.
As the Bible commands us in (Rom.5:3)… we also rejoice in our tribulations: knowing that tribulation worketh stedfastness (“perseverance”); (4) and stedfastness, approvedness (“character”); and approvedness, hope. All these things come from rejoicing in tribulation. We’re told in (1Pe 4:14) If ye are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are ye; because the Spirit of glory and the Spirit of God resteth upon you. This is what suffering is all about: to bring about the revelation, or revealing, or the manifestation, of the glory of God in us.
Peter goes on to say in (19) Wherefore let them also that suffer according to the will of God commit their souls in well-doing unto a faithful Creator. We’re like the clay in the Creator’s hands (Romans 9:21) when we do this. It says “Creator” for a purpose because that’s how God creates in us the righteousness of Christ.
But suffering can be wasted for he said that in the midst of suffering or a trial, we need to commit our soul in well-doing; meaning doing what is right in the midst of that trial. Otherwise, we can be wasting the suffering. The suffering is coming upon us for a reason and the reason is to refine us and to bring about the righteousness of Christ in us. One thing we don’t want to do is waste any suffering because we don’t want to go through it again. We need to make it all useful in God’s Kingdom and the way to make it useful is to commit our soul in well-doing in the midst of it. We can’t stop the suffering but we can do what’s right in the middle of it.
(1Pe.5:8) Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (9) whom withstand stedfast in your faith, knowing that the same sufferings are accomplished in your brethren who are in the world. The world suffers with the same things we suffer with, but here’s the difference: (10) And the God of all grace, who called you unto his eternal glory in Christ, after that ye have suffered a little while, shall himself perfect, establish, strengthen you. God’s promise is that He will perfect us through suffering. If we look on suffering as God’s method of perfecting us, that makes it much easier to take, doesn’t it? And it also makes us not so willing to run away from it.
If we have a mind to please the Lord in the midst of suffering, if we have a mind to live Godly, first of all, we’re going to suffer. (2Ti.3:12) Yea, and all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Persecution is just one area of suffering. Those who desire to live godly are going to suffer because it’s God’s method of deliverance and setting us free.
I remember a guy from when I used to work at Exxon years ago, back before I was a Christian. He was a tool man in one of the tool trailers that they hauled over to turnarounds. Whenever they were overhauling a section of the plant, they would pull one of these big tool trailers over there and they would station a man in the trailer who would give out tools. And this one particular man really stuck in my mind because I never could understand him before I became a Christian.
He was disliked throughout the plant and it wasn’t because he was evil. He was one of the most diligent worker at that time I had seen. He was righteous; he would actually check the tools out, since they had to keep records, so that the plant would be sure to get their tools back. Otherwise, if they just gave you the tool, you might take it home with you. And a lot of people did. And I did it myself, too, in those days. (I actually brought my set of tools back years later after I came to the Lord.)
Anyway, this guy’s name was Major Pace. I’ll never forget him. He was just so diligent. You couldn’t get the guy to be emotional one way or the other. You couldn’t get him to laugh, but you couldn’t get him to cry and he never cursed. He never told ugly jokes like the rest of the guys. He was just diligent in doing his job. If you needed something, he’d run back there and get it, and he’d put it in your hands. He was as quick as he could be and did his job right. But everybody disliked him.
When we’d go up to the tool trailer and we’d see Major Pace stick his hand out for the tool, we would cuss because everyone wanted to get their tools for keeps. Everybody cursed the poor guy and I’m sure he heard people do it. I wondered as I studied this guy, even while I was still a heathen, “What makes this guy tick? He’s so diligent and what he does is right.” I never heard him cuss. I never heard him say anything about the Lord, but he did things right and he suffered for doing things right. He suffered the loss of friendship among the people for doing things right.
One day, I found out, I think, what made Major Pace that way and, besides, I have a sneaking hunch that he was a Christian. I learned that when he left work he went home to an invalid wife. He spent the rest of his day cleaning his house, doing things that needed to be done, taking care of his wife who couldn’t walk or even get out of bed. And he did this year after year. He suffered in this way for many years and I suspect that suffering put such peace in him that he didn’t mind if people didn’t like him, as long as he was doing what was right for the Lord.
Of course, as a heathen, I couldn’t understand what made the man tick. What would drive a man to do what was right when everyone hated him for it? It was suffering; I’m convinced it was suffering.
Why do you think the Lord tells us to “resist not him that is evil” (Mat.5:39)? I’ll tell you what, if you do that, you’ll suffer, won’t you? You’ll suffer internally and you’ll suffer externally. First of all, you’ll suffer internally because when you “resist not him that is evil,” every lust of your flesh is going to rise up on the inside of you. You know what I’m talking about; it happens, doesn’t it? You suffer. You suffer on the inside and you’ll even suffer on the outside. For example, I’ve had people rebuke me because I wouldn’t do something to somebody that they thought I should’ve done as payback. People were really angry with me and fell out with me, not wanting to talk to me anymore.
You’ll suffer when you “resist not him that is evil.” God designed His commandments and His principles so that they’d cause you to suffer. If you obey God’s Word and sanctify in your heart Christ as Lord in the midst of that suffering, you are going to bear the pain of that in your flesh; you’re going to feel it in your flesh.
The Christian church has made a big thing out of martyrdom and rightly so because martyrdom is a big thing. But what do you think is greater: to have a sudden end of your life for standing up for Jesus or to go through a slow process of death because you’re continually standing up for Jesus? For example, faithfully bearing with some unthankful, obnoxious people for years. You know what that brings? A slow death. It is suffering that brings death. Or how about an abusive husband? You put up with that for years and you stayed faithful to the Lord in that. Well, that suffering is going to bring about a death in you.
Or it can be a nagging wife, or obnoxious neighbors, or fellow workers, factious people who abuse all around them with slander, etc.,. That’s your opportunity right there. It can be circumstances that keep coming against you causing frustrations to rise up. That’s your opportunity. That suffering has come in order to work Christ in you, in order to bring the glory of God in you. That’s what it’s all about.
God has designed everything, even sickness. The Lord also designed healing! But we don’t have to take redemption at the expense of suffering and we don’t have to take suffering at the expense of redemption because they work hand-in-hand. You may have faith that God has healed you at Calvary and between here and when your healing manifests, there may be some suffering. It’s during that suffering where you’ll have a chance to deny or accept Christ and His ways. You can patiently take suffering, rejoicing like the Scripture tells you, or you can fail in it, all the time believing that you’re healed. And if you believe that you’re healed, healing is going to come. It may happen in days, hours, immediately, or it may take years but God still expects you to confess what the Word says while you’re suffering.
Don’t waste the suffering that you go through on self-pity, or animosity, or anger, or rebellion. Especially don’t waste the suffering that you go through with rebellion. When Jesus was going to the cross, He said in (Luk.22:42) Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done”. The cup of what? The cup of suffering at the hands of the wicked. Jesus wasn’t going to take it away or run from it. But He said, “Father, if it’s Your Will, take it away.”
And we know it wasn’t God’s Will to take away His cup of suffering. Jesus went through it patiently. He didn’t stand up for Himself. (1Pe.2:23) when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, threatened not; but committed [himself] to him that judgeth righteously. He just put Himself in Father’s Hands and He suffered patiently. That’s suffering that’s not wasted. Suffering that’s wasted is if you act in the flesh in the midst of it. It’s wasted because it’s just coming around again.
We need to have the mind of Christ. (1Pe.4:1) Forasmuch then as Christ suffered in the flesh, arm ye yourselves also with the same mind; for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin. (1Jn.1:9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. So you get a cleansing either way. If you’re humble enough to confess your sins, He is faithful enough to cleanse you of all unrighteousness. You’re going to get your cleansing; have faith in that.
You cannot waste suffering in depression and self-pity, if you’re rejoicing. You can’t do both at the same time; that’s why He commands you to rejoice in the midst of suffering and He says to give thanks. And if you realize what suffering is for, then you can give thanks because it is for your perfecting. Jesus became perfect through the things that He suffered (Hebrews 5:8).
(1Jn.3:16) Hereby know we love (agape), because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. This is your old life, it’s the lusts of the flesh. This is your anger, your resentment, your rebellion, etc. This is what you’re laying down and this is agape. It is agape to lay that down. It says, “Hereby we know love (agape), because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” Agape love is to lay down our life. Agape is the opposite of the flesh-life. Love is the opposite of the flesh-life.
The Bible says in (1Jn.4:7) beloved, let us love (agape) one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is begotten (born) of God, and knoweth God”. You must be born of God to have Agape Love. If you don’t agape, you don’t know God.
What is this agape? Well, first of all, this agape is God. (1Jn.4:8) He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. Agape is God. Now let me show you what else agape is. (1Jn.5:3) For this is the love (agape) of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. Agape is God and it’s obeying the Word. Who is the Word? God. Obedience to the Word, submission to the Word, that is love. That is agape love. Agape is different from the other two common types of love: eros which is sexual love and philos which is a friendship-kind of love.
Both of those are contingent upon other people’s activity toward you, but agape is not. It’s only contingent upon the life of Christ on the inside of you. You can agape somebody who doesn’t even like you. Agape is not emotion. Sexual love and friendship love can be emotion and emotions are very unstable. But agape is not emotion. Don’t worry about feeling really emotional about loving God. He has commanded you to agape Him and agape is obedience to the Word. Jesus said in (Joh.14:15) if ye love (agape) me, ye will keep my commandments”. And He also said in (23) if a man love (agape) me, he will keep my word: and my Father will love him.
Agape is the only love that you have to learn. You have to learn to obey God, so you learn agape. Agape is bringing your old man to the cross; it’s laying down your life for other people; it’s giving up your self-centeredness (1 John 3:16). All that is agape.
You understand now why Peter couldn’t give what the Lord wanted him to give in John 21:16 when the Lord asks Peter, “lovest thou me?” The Lord was asking, “Do you agape me, Peter?” Now think about it. Peter had just come through the biggest failure in his life, or at least he thought so, because he denied the Lord three times (John 18:27). He failed completely to obey, to humble himself to what was right. And after this failure, the Lord asks Peter in (Joh.21:15) Simon, [son] of John, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love (phileo meaning “friendship”) thee.
Peter knew that he couldn’t confess to being obedient, to loving the Lord enough to be obedient to what was right because he had just failed the Lord. And I’m sure he was having to overcome this weakness in himself; he had lost his self-confidence. I’ll bet before he lost his self-confidence that he would’ve said, “Oh, yes, Lord, I agape you.” In fact, in a way, he did. He said in (Mat.26:35) even if I must die with thee, [yet] will I not deny thee. He believed that he could obey of himself, but after that, he lost all of his self-confidence and he wasn’t even willing to speak the word “agape.”
The Lord asked him three times, “Do you agape me?” But Peter said, “I phileo You,” and it grieved Peter. Why do you think Peter was so grieved? He was feeling condemnation by the fact that he knew he couldn’t; he knew he hadn’t been able to agape the Lord. Peter was learning through suffering to agape. We become perfect. Perfect is obeying the Word, isn’t it? And perfect is agape. We learn to agape by obeying the Word through suffering. Agape comes from the inner nature of the spiritual man and it is conquering the carnal man; it is giving up your life (1 John 3:16). Suffering brings about this agape love. Agape is the nature; it is the way of God’s Kingdom. If that is God and what we’re looking for is godliness, then we can’t help but be, as an end result, agape. We can’t help but be love.
When Paul described agape, he said it’s more important than speaking in tongues, more important than knowledge, more important than faith. In fact, he said if you had these things but didn’t have love, you were nothing. (1Co.13:1) If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. (2) And if I have [the gift of] prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. (3) And if I bestow all my goods to feed [the poor], and if I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profiteth me nothing.
The end result of everything that God wants to do in you is agape. He said in (1Co.13:13) but now abideth faith, hope, love, these three: and the greatest of these is love. The most important thing that’s going to get you into God’s Kingdom, is love. (1Co.13:4) Love suffereth long (How do you get longsuffering? That’s right, you suffer a long time. You get longsuffering by going through a lot of suffering with people and circumstances. There’s no other way.), [and] is kind; love envieth not (Why? Because self is the opposite of agape.); love vaunteth not itself (In other words, it doesn’t put itself forward; it’s not self-centered or egotistical.), is not puffed up, (5) doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not provoked…
How do you stop being provoked? You believe Jesus bore that sin on the cross so you would have power over it. That may be the end of it. But also you may become hardened to being provoked by having an opportunity over and over again to be provoked and denying it. You may suffer with it until you give it up. You may overcome by degrees; this failure is not as bad as the last failure. And overcoming is that way sometimes. But suffering can last for years, if you jump out of the fire, if you aren’t like Ephraim, a cake unturned (Hosea 7:8). The quickest way is to walk and talk by faith while you stay in the fire.
All who desire to please the Lord and are willing to suffer are going to overcome. “Believe you have received everything” Mark 11:24, as Jesus said, but even then it’s not always manifested overnight. Suffering is necessary to crucify the flesh; that’s why we cannot escape it. Here is some crucifying words. Love in (1Co.13:5) Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not provoked, taketh not account of evil; (6) rejoiceth not in unrighteousness, but rejoiceth with the truth; (7) beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. (8) Love never faileth…. Love for God and man motivates us to crucify the self-life.
Love is obeying the Word of God; this is love. Agape is not the mushy feelings of eros or phileo; agape is mostly obeying. Feelings will come later. If you want emotional feelings toward God, well, then, agape Him. Your emotions more subject to the flesh than they are to the Spirit. You just keep following the Lord and the Lord will bring your emotions to serve Him, but it doesn’t always happen at the first but it will. Obey first; let the emotions follow the Spirit.
What does he mean by “believeth all things”? I guess it’s not being willing to think the worst of someone. You can always believe for people and try to think that somebody has a good motive for what they’re doing. It’s easier to think that than to always think the worst because you’re going to deal falsely with people if you always think the worst of them. You’re not going to be able to believe for them and turn the other cheek.
It’s best just to “think on these things.” (Php.4:8) Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Paul says it is better to just “think on these things” because you can deal with people like that. If you’re meditating on what is evil about them, you’re going to fail in your reaction to who they are. Love in 1Co 13:5 doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not provoked, taketh not account of evil;
Eternal Relationship
Anonymous 3/28/23
I was in prayer and heard the following:
Do You forgive Me? Look past everyone and everything, and I Am. (Our perspective is beyond the superficial, to the eternal treasures beneath, to the Source and Creator of All.) When you don't forgive someone, or when you have regret for something in your past. Have you forgiven sins, or are you wishing your life had been different? Then you are shaming Me. You aren’t forgiving Me when you do this. (Unforgiveness leads to separation from God.) I Am behind everything, and I am the Creator of all and I have written all. I know more than you could ever understand and My ways are greater than yours. Isa 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith Jehovah. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
I perfectly and intricately designed each and every aspect of your entire life and existence, the good and the bad. Joh 3:27 ASV John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it have been given him from heaven. Nothing I do is evil as I Am Love, but I created the evil out of Love. (The contrast of the two, shows how Perfect and Awesome our God is!) Isa 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness; I make peace, and create evil. I am Jehovah, that doeth all these things.
Trust Me and forgive Me. When you don’t forgive anyone or anything, you are rebelling against Me. 1Sa 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim. Because thou hast rejected the word of Jehovah, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
Just like Lucifer. Do you really think you can live without me? I know you know that you can't, so, forgive Me. If you don't forgive Me, I can't forgive you. And I have already done everything for you, I paid the price for you, and you will forever eternally be grateful for all I have done, and everything you have gone through. (Including all evil and suffering.)
All the evil and hurt you have experienced, seen and known about, hurts Me more than it hurts you. (Isaiah 53) But focus on Me and My goodness. I had to create and allow the evil so that you could appreciate Me forever, and so you could see how good I Am. (Also evil in you reaps evil, a cause for repentance. Evil chastens evil and causes us to count the cost.) This is not just for you, but for all of My creation. That all My creation could see My grace, My Mercy, My eternal Love. (Through you as a testimony.)
My ways are much higher than yours and I know that you will forever be grateful. All the evil is to humble you and for you to lean on Me 100% as only I can help you and heal you and save you, and I have already done these things, but you need to believe and receive My finished works. In praising and thanking Me, you receive your greatest joy, and heart's desire, and any other pleasure outside of Me is false and not true and not eternal. Ecc 1:2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; vanity of vanities, all is vanity.
Look at the fallen angels, they have no real pleasure, no peace, no satisfaction, no joy, they have nothing without Me. They had to be let go (because of rebellion) for you to fully appreciate Me and receive Me and praise Me and to see that I Am all Good and there is no one else. You will understand more overtime, the more you open to Me, the more understanding you receive.
But right now, you need to forgive Me in full for everything. To all people who have ever hurt you and all the people doing evil out there, I say, forgive Me. All the past regret you have from your old life and all the mistakes and failures you make, in forgiving yourself, you forgive Me. For you will have complete freedom and completeness in Joy when you forgive Me. I have been with you for your whole existence, through the good and evil, I have been there with my hand on your shoulder. I know all the pain and suffering you have endured, only I understand. But I only know the freedom and satisfaction you can and will have when you let go and completely forgive Me. Let Me search your heart and let Me reveal and open your eyes to the full truth, which I can only do when you allow it.
I can only show you and allow you to understand what you allow Me too. I want to manifest the complete 100% deliverance and cleansing and sanctification from all evil, which the price has already been paid for. You all are one in Me now and for eternity. Let go of all the things that are hindering you from being one with Me and My people. Everyone here with Me is one and I desire for ALL (I felt “all” meant 100%) of you to be with Me in full.
I desire to manifest my Holy Kingdom through you in full, not part, while on earth. Let Me. Allow Me. Ask Me to help you, ask Me for grace, ask Me to help you rest in My finished works. (Who could do better than the Creator of all?)
You have not because you ask not. You think you cannot hear or see Me now because of doubt and unbelief. But I Am always speaking to you. I desire to talk to you more than you speak to the closest person to you.
Who do you speak to the most? Is it your spouse or best friend? I Am your eternal husband and your eternal best friend. Talk with Me more, commune with Me more. I desire to do everything with you little and small. I created you for me every moment not just for a certain period of time each day, but for every moment of your breath.
I am your breath. Include me in everything, in the physical things and in the spiritual and in your mind. (When I take a walk down the mountain I ask my Father and His glorious Son to go with me and they do and they say because they are in me.) Let your mind stay on me. The devils will do anything to take your mind off Me. Stay focused on Me. When you realize you are thinking of something else, think on Me. (Mat 6:24 No one can serve two lords: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.)
I will always take care of all your needs, stop trying to do it yourself and in your own way. Get out of your familiar physical routines and let Me take control of your day. When you include Me in your day and seek Me and allow Me to take care of your needs, you will have a greater joy and peace and greater communion with Me than you have every experienced. Every day that you receive more of Me, will get more wonderful physically and spiritually than you could currently comprehend. There is so much I desire to show you and do with you each day, now and forever, but allow Me.
Come to Me for your daily bread and if you are hungry press into Me for more, I want to give you more. But I can only do what you allow Me too. Forgive Me and let Me do it and let Me live through you, My way. When you don’t let Me manifest through you it is because you don’t forgive Me. Let go of the evil and hurt that you are holding on to.
Allow Me to open your eyes to hidden rebellion, only I can heal and restore your soul, only I can put you back together in whole and fullness. I Am Life. Forgive Me My child, My son, My eternal wife, My friend; it is only you and I for all eternity. You and Me forever. I Am in all and through all eternal. Only My Spirit will be and already is. Forgive Me and commune with Me each moment, in the physical and spiritual. I love you beyond understanding and beyond words. Accept My Love and forgive Me. I Am all. (Joh 3:13 And no one hath ascended into heaven, but he that descended out of heaven...)
Sunday Jan 14, 2024
Sunday Jan 14, 2024
We Need To Check Ourselves (2)
David Eells 1/14/24
Pray Alone With God
David
The Man-child is coming to chose the Bride and we need to be in love with the Lord.
Did Jesus teach that we are to have a personal relationship prayer life with God? More than that He commanded it. Or did He call for prayer meetings?
Mat 6:5 And when ye pray, ye shall not be as the hypocrites: for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward. 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thine inner chamber, and having shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee.
Did Jesus also demonstrate this personal prayer life alone with God?
Mat 14:23 And after he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into the mountain apart to pray: and when even was come, he was there alone.
Mar 6:45-46 ASV And straightway he constrained his disciples to enter into the boat, and to go before him unto the other side to Bethsaida, while he himself sendeth the multitude away. 46 And after he had taken leave of them, he departed into the mountain to pray.
Mat 26:36-40 ASV Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto his disciples, Sit ye here, while I go yonder and pray. 37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and sore troubled. 38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: abide ye here, and watch with me. 39 And he went forward a little, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass away from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt. (So even when His life was threatened He sought God personally.) 40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
Luk 6:12 ASV And it came to pass in these days, that he went out into the mountain to pray; and he continued all night in prayer to God.
Others followed Jesus’ command and example to have a personal prayer life to God.
Act 10:9 Now on the morrow, as they were on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour:
Act 10:30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago, until this hour, I was keeping the ninth hour of prayer in my house; and behold, a man stood before me in bright apparel, 31 and saith, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.
Some are afraid their faith is never enough but it should be so; we should cast off this fear for He loves us and cares for us. Some had a bad relationship to a parent or spouse and see God in the same light and are not sure God loves them and wants to meet their every need as He said. An expectant bride should trust that her groom loves her enough to provide for her like it was with Esther.
We must seek this personal relationship in prayer alone with God not just in a crowd trusting in their faith. “Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to God.” When Jesus ministered to others he said, “be it unto you according to your faith.” And “As you have believed so shall it be unto you.” Ask Him for the gift of faith to love Him and respect Him as our provider, our Jehovah Jireh. Cast out double mindedness and doubt demons.
Father is asking us to seek this faith relationship with Him now before the return of the Lord to choose His bride. If you have this faithful relationship with him then adding your faith to others is of worth. Then if any two agree its powerful. Ask Him for this relationship and forgive everybody from the heart.
If you only feel comfortable in a crowd or an eating meeting, then you need to seek this relationship to Him now. He got alone with God for 40 days and forgot about the food.
My best talks with Father are when I am reading the Word or in the middle of the night alone when there are no responsibilities and all is quiet.
Father has been telling me that many are too busy, even religiously busy, to spend time alone with the Lord so check your heart and seek repentance if so.
What is the secret cause of the coming revival? Is it power? No that’s a result of the revival. Is it timing? Thats part of it. The Man-child anointing will bring revival and it won’t happen before. Is it “vain repetition” in prayer? Jesus said no. We are to believe we have received whenever we pray according to Mark 11:23-24.
How many times have we heard that past great revivals were traced to some old ladies praying on their own and believing God. :0) I have watched pre-promoted church revivals come and go for 54 years and its always the same. A few people get healed and delivered or just saved in some churches who don’t believe in the power today. This probably would have happened anyway but they still call it revival. But the people didn’t seek deliverance of their sins from and by the Lord. They trusted they were in good standing because of their association with an a church, a preacher, or “what we believe”, etc.
What is the foundation and preparation for the coming greatest revival? It is the condition so often repeated in scripture: “Repent and believe”. The churches are full of “just accept Jesus” converts who will miss this opportunity. Let’s look at the cause and foundation for this coming revival.
Exo 19:10-12, 10 And Jehovah said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to-day and to-morrow, and let them wash their garments, (So will it start with the multitudes? No it will start with the anointed Man-child represented by Moses here. No one can prime it until then, as it was with Jesus, The Man-child. But we can prepare to receive it by personal relationship with the Lord and sanctification from our sins.) 11 ASV and be ready against the third day (Here is some timing, plus 40 days (as we shall see). We are at the morning of the third thousand year day from Jesus.); for the third day Jehovah will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai. (He is coming in His Man-child reformers by Word and Spirit to begin revival and the timing is set.)
12 And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death: (To ascend the mountain of the Lord’s presence represents death to self, I.e. repentance and sanctification. So it is with Paul who said “ye are come unto mount Zion” Heb 12:22, with the presence of the Lord at the top.)
Exo 24:12-18 ASV And Jehovah said unto Moses (The Man-child, but it is true of all who want to come into his presence through death to self.), Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee the tables of stone, and the law and the commandment, which I have written, that thou mayest teach them. (Time alone with the Word prepared Moses to come to the people with the glory shining from his face.)
13 And Moses rose up, and Joshua his minister: and Moses went up into the mount of God. 14 And he said unto the elders, Tarry ye here for us, until we come again unto you: and, behold, Aaron and Hur are with you: whosoever hath a cause, let him come near unto them. 15 And Moses went up into the mount, and the cloud covered the mount. 16 And the glory of Jehovah abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day (More timing plus 40 days. We are at the 7th thousand year day from the first Adam.) he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud. 17 And the appearance of the glory of Jehovah was like devouring fire (Our God is a consuming fire; consuming the wood, hay and stubble of the old man.) on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.
18 And Moses entered into the midst of the cloud (Representing entering the glory of God), and went up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights. (Forty is the number of testing. Jesus, the Man-child, also got alone with God and was tested for forty days. Both got alone with God, heard Him, and then overcame the enemy, the flesh and the Devil. They both used fasting too in order to weaken the flesh. So why is food now days so involved with drawing near to God and seeking revival?
Busyness, even religious busyness, or constant fellowship, robs this most important time of soul searching with God and prevents the revival in one’s heart where it has to begin. I watched for years those who came to the Lord the same time as me and where are they? They spent no time with the two edged sword, one edge being for self.)
Once again the foundation and cause of revival is repentance and sanctification. Didn’t God tell Moses, Take your shoes off this is holy ground. He didn’t want Moses separated from holiness. He had to stand holy/sanctified to be in God’s presence.
Luk 3:2-8 ASV in the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. 3 And he came into all the region round about the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance unto remission of sins; (And he preached this to God's people many of whom turned against Jesus because their repentance from sin was skin deep.)
4 as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight. (Notice: The path from the Word of the Lord to your heart must be prepared by repentance.) 5 Every valley shall be filled (Meaning the humble will receive from the Lord), And every mountain and hill shall be brought low (The proud will hold to their sin and receive judgment instead of the revival of Christ in them just as the faction has.); And the crooked shall become straight, And the rough ways smooth; (Departing from crooked ways to follow the straight path without stumbling blocks of sin is necessary for the Lord to enter the heart.)
6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. (All types of men saw Him but not all men saw with the eyes of their heart.) 7 He said therefore to the multitudes that went out to be baptized of him, Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (The Pharisaical didn’t believe repentance was for them because of religious pride just as we can have now.) 8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father (You may think, “But I follow David or Michael or Jesus”): for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 9 And even now the axe also lieth at the root of the trees (Have you not seen them cut off? And we thought some were holy.): every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. (Fruit is proven through testing, which they failed.)
Luk 3:21-22 ASV Now it came to pass, when all the people were baptized, that, Jesus also having been baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, (John tried to stop Jesus from receiving the baptism of repentance but Jesus said, “thus it behooves us to fulfill all righteousness.” Without true repentance 3 out of 4 fall away.) 22 and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form, as a dove, upon him, and a voice came out of heaven, Thou art my beloved Son: in thee I am well pleased. Is He please to dwell beside willful sin?
Luk 4:1-21 ASV And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan (Where He received the baptism of repentance as a demonstration to us.), and was led in the Spirit in the wilderness 2 during forty days (Again timing + 40 days alone with God overcoming the devil as a type of the Man-child to come.), being tempted of the devil. And he did eat nothing in those days: and when they were completed, he hungered. (Fasting and prayer through alone time with God was the key to overcoming temptations that to us identifies sin that most don’t even know are there.)
3 And the devil said unto him, If thou art the Son of God, command this stone that it become bread. (To us this would be the temptation to prove our power for self-glory to feed our flesh in the next verse.) 4 And Jesus answered unto him, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone. 5 And he led him up, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said unto him, To thee will I give all this authority, and the glory of them (Representing temptation to have the glory of men.): for it hath been delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. 7 If thou therefore wilt worship before me, it shall all be thine. (Temptation to gain disciples and authority over them for self-glory like the factious and ambitious always do. This is always bowing the knee to the devil.) 8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, It is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
9 And he led him to Jerusalem, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple (Temptation in a very visible place for self-glory.), and said unto him, If thou art the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: 10 for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee, to guard thee: 11 and, On their hands they shall bear thee up, Lest haply thou dash thy foot against a stone. (Temptation to test God's ability to save while being self-seeking.) 12 And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not make trial of the Lord thy God.
As we can see, most of Jesus’ temptations were about seeking the glory of men, which He of course did not do. But there are many who do. There is jealousy, competition, exclusiveness, putting on shows, disrespect, self-seeking, etc., such as those who fall into faction among leadership people or otherwise.
Seeking self-glory is a common temptation for leadership and makes them unqualified for the Man-child status or any other leadership position. Joh 12:42-43 ASV Nevertheless even of the rulers many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess it, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: 43 for they loved the glory that is of men more than the glory that is of God. (Jesus said qualification is to reject the approval of men to confess Him before men.)
Joh 5:41-44 ASV I receive not glory from men. 42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in yourselves. 43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. (And the wicked with their fear of rejection did receive the wicked testimony of men.) 44 How can ye believe, who receive glory one of another, and the glory that cometh from the only God ye seek not?
Joh 7:18 ASV He that speaketh from himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh the glory of him that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. (So did God send you to say that against all of God’s commands or was it for your own glory?)
Mat 6:1-4 ASV Take heed that ye do not your righteousness before men, to be seen of them: else ye have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. 2 When therefore thou doest alms, sound not a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward. 3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 4 that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee.
Back to our text: 13 And when the devil had completed every temptation, he departed from him for a season. (After overcoming selfish temptations by drawing near to God alone the revival began through Him as a type for the Man-child today.) 14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and a fame went out concerning him through all the region round about. 15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.
16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and he entered, as his custom was, into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Isaiah. And he opened the book, and found the place where it was written, (After overcoming all temptations through fellowship with the Father He was anointed to bring the revival.) 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, Because he anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor: He hath sent me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovering of sight to the blind, To set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. 20 And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down: and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 And he began to say unto them, To-day hath this scripture been fulfilled in your ears.
So I say that God warned me to tell you this because your time to be chosen to be in the Man-child and Bride body is very short. As we saw with Jesus, when the Man-child came He chose the Bride. Go into your spiritual 40 days, representing a time of testing, alone with God and ask Him to seek out your sin and reveal it to you so you may reject it as Job did and be cleansed with the pure glowing white robe of the Bride. And the Lord and Baruch gave an Amen to this revelation!
We are told that there will be 10 days to 2 weeks of media darkness during martial law except to declass criminal activities in an 8 hour video playing over and over. This is mostly for those who listen to news on TV. The rest of us already know what is going on. I suggest you use this time to draw near to Father and ask Him to show you any sin. Then renounce and forsake them believing they were nailed to the cross as in Rom 6. Shortly after this time the Man-child reformers will begin to appear and the Bride will be chosen. God bless you my friends. The advantages of the Bride are tremendous.
Beware Be Watchful, My Glory
Debbie Fenske 1/8/24
It was on my heart to ask the Lord that in my time alone with Him this morning He would allow me to hear Him speak to me. Thank you, Father.
"Beware of the subtle one. Beware of the pretender who will try to come to you with a voice as the sound of My voice. Beware. He will try to come in your thoughts. He will come with a still small voice. He will come in your flesh. And he will come to try and deceive you in this time. I say to beware. Be watchful unto yourselves. Beware and be careful to do everything that you have been told to do. This time is crucial, and your light will soon shine forth as the stars. Intense, and in great brightness will it shine forth from you; My glory in you, shining forth through you, bringing attention to Me, your Glory and the lifter of your head. So be lifted up, My people.
You have been hearing that the time of My glory coming to be revealed in you is soon. I say, it is here. I am standing at the door ready to make My entrance. This is not the time to yield to temptation, lies, deceptions. Beware. For these will try to speak very loud to you, now, and in the days ahead of you. Much louder. So, as you have opportunity, hold one another up. Be strong for one another.
I say to you, My Glory, beware, be watchful, be obedient and steadfast with a single eye on My glory ready to shine through you. What glory awaits! Keep your eyes on me. Nothing else. What glory awaits!"
I asked Father if He would give me a couple scriptures about our seeking Him and waiting on Him in our times alone with Him, and, about us being His glory. The first place my finger landed in was Jeremiah 29:13 "You will seek Me and find Me when you will search for Me with all your heart." I landed on "for Me." Thank you for that, Lord,
The next scripture came to me a little differently. But it was exciting for me how Father did this. I first landed in Isaiah 47:6, which is about God's anger with His people who profaned His inheritance. (When the Lord returns in His Man-child reformers he will judge these Edomite haters of their chosen brothers.) I was like, "No. no. this can't be it!" I turned my eyes to look directly across to the previous page which was chapter 46. (The opposite of them is the chosen.) How awesome! Isaiah 46:13 "I bring near My righteousness, it is not far off; and My salvation will not delay. And I will grant salvation (The meaning of Jesus is “Jah is Salvation” and where is He >) in Zion, and My glory for Israel." Glory to your name Lord!
And I thought it very interesting how He spoke of His glory, "My Glory," in this word, because I almost didn't use it, thinking it may just be from myself. But then I heard, "Use it." Thank you, Lord! (He is the glory of the Lord and His people.)
Yes Lord. We want to seek You, to search for You with all our hearts, and come into Your very likeness from glory to glory. We are to be Your glory on this earth, and by faith we are Your glory, Your glorious Bride. Thank You for helping us to give You not just our time, but that all our time with You will be with You and You alone. I thank You for Your great mercy and Your great grace towards each of us. Thank You that in Your sovereignty You desire us to show forth Your glory, to be Your glorious spotless Bride.
Now help us to be obedient to You, to be to so watchful and aware of Satan's devices, his temptations to lure us away from our time alone with You. We can do all things through You, Jesus, Who strengthens us. We thank You that Your salvation and Your righteousness will not delay. Make us understand the urgency in what is required of us if we want to be in Your glorious Bride and be Your Glory as You shine through us on this earth doing the work You have called us to do, all for the glory of Your name. Thank You for Your grace given to all who are called to be in Your Bride, all over the world. Thank you, Father! Amen.
Bike Usage, A Prayer Life Vision
Anonymous 9/1/23
I had a vision of a standard BMX on the floor in a dank gloomy garage. There was clutter and items that had collected a large amount of dust. It was possible to make clear writing in the dust. (The bike ends up being a prayer life that is ignored and the consequences.)
Then I saw a young man, he was in his room reading and doing tasks. He would then occasionally pick up a manual on bikes and say he liked a particular model. Then he placed it by his side and slept. (A bike represents balance and the manual the Bible represents the same thing.)
Another day and not many changes. He grew old and rarely even considered looking at the bike manual anymore. (The Bible) He then got old, and declared to throw it all out, his time had gone for that. Then he never thought of it again, he was caught in his impending death.
Then I saw a fit young man who had stories and excitement every moment. All he wanted to do was ride his bike. He shared it with everyone. He rode everyday everywhere. And he was constantly happy.
He had accidents and was seriously hurt but never stopped riding his bike once he was healed. He never changed because of his age or his other life duties.
His family then rode too and independently had a love for it their own way. He got old and couldn't ride but passionately wanted to and would encourage everyone to ride. He spoke and wrote books and submitted articles to enrich lives with the use of the bike.
Then he donated it to young children all just before his death. He and his family all cherished the times together well spent.
I then realized; this is our PRAYER LIFE.
The bike is getting close to God. It’s a means and relationship. You can do much more when you use the bike and go places doing more amazing things than it laying on the floor. You could read about a bike but not ever think about where it could take you. Praying is an adventure. It's real and when you keep doing it, it will get easier and more in tune with God. Then when you connect with God, that is all you want to do is bathe in His presence and talk with Him and talk about Him with others. He becomes your all, your desires, wants, He is your only need.
I'm convinced, convicted and a flame kindled to go to the Lord and pray. Pray openly, pray about everything.
Be Ye Separate
David
In the New Testament, “sanctification” is the Greek word hagiasmos and it means “separated from sin and consecrated unto God.” This sanctification has been given to us as a gift through Jesus Christ; it is also something that we attain to through faith in that gift. In other words, the Lord will fulfill it in us, if we go after it by faith.
(Rom.5:1) Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; (2) through whom also we have had our access by faith into this grace wherein we stand; and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. We believe the Lord has given us this sanctification and holiness because of His promises. God can’t really bless an individual, nor can He bless a body of people, that’s been polluted by the world. If we walk in repentance and faith, the Lord will account it to us as righteousness, but if we walk in rebellion and self-will, the Lord’s chastening will be upon us.
The Bride will have special protection and provision from the Lord. The Bride is not all the people of God, as much of the Church says. (Son.6:8) There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, And virgins without number. (9) My dove, my undefiled, is but one.… He was speaking about the Bride. There are many people of God whom God loves, but the Bride is a special place because the Bride represents Zion, as we know from Revelation 21.
Zion, of course, was only a small part of the parable of God’s people in the Old Testament. There was all of Israel and there was all of Judah, and then there was Zion.
I’d like to briefly review a little about the protection that is afforded the Bride. In 2 Kings 18, we have the revelation of the end-time Beast’s attack upon God’s people. The Assyrian empire and the king of Assyria conquered all of Israel, and those whom they didn’t kill, they carried away captive. (2Ki.18:9) And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it.
(10) And at the end of three years they took it: in the sixth year of Hezekiah, which was the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken. (11) And the king of Assyria carried Israel away unto Assyria, and put them in Halah, and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes, (12) because they obeyed not the voice of the Lord their God, but transgressed his covenant, even all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded, and would not hear it, nor do it.
They conquered all of Judah next. (2Ki.18:13) Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fortified cities of Judah, and took them. (14) And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have offended; return from me: that which thou puttest on me will I bear. And the king of Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.
(15) And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the Lord, and in the treasures of the king’s house. (16) At that time did Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of the Lord, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria.
But we find that God zealously protected Zion, or Jerusalem, because it represented something for our day. Assyria was the second of the seven heads of the last Beast (Revelation 12:3, 13:1, 17:3,9), which consists of Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medio-Persia, Greece, Rome and the revived Rome. Every one of those Beast kingdoms represents a revelation that is going to happen in the end time because today all seven heads are a part of this Beast. Assyria, as that second head, gives us the revelation of God’s protection for His Bride, Jerusalem.
(2Ki.19:30) And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward. (31) For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and out of mount Zion they that shall escape (This is talking about escape from the Beast kingdom that is conquering God’s people.):the zeal of the Lord shall perform this. So the Lord is zealous, but why is He zealous over this particular part of His people and not the rest of His people? Why was He not zealous to protect and to destroy the Beast before it conquered all of Israel and Judah? It’s because of what Zion represents: it represents the Bride.
(Rev.21:9) And there came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls, who were laden with the seven last plagues; and he spake with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the wife of the Lamb. (10) And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem (New Jerusalem), coming down out of heaven from God, (The Bride is manifestly born from above.)
(11) having the glory of God: her light was like unto a stone most precious, as it were a jasper stone, clear as crystal: (12) having a wall great and high; having twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: (13) on the east were three gates; and on the north three gates; and on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. (14) And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. Amen!
What is it about Jerusalem that represents something so holy and so perfect? Well, the wall of Jerusalem represents something. In the Song of Solomon, the bride, the Shulamite, which means “perfected one,” said (Son.8:10) I am a wall.... A wall represents sanctification; it represents separation from the world. Jerusalem was encompassed with this wall and it was a separation, a protection, from the Beast. And the bride also said of her immature little sister, (Son.8:9) If she be a wall, We will build upon her a turret (or “battlement”) of silver.... “If she be a wall” sounds strange. Why would the bride be a “wall”?
And why would this be something to protect her little sister? It’s because God will defend us, if we are sanctified, if we are separated. He will defend us, if our hedge is not let down for the enemy to come in and dwell in us, either individually or as a body of people. God defends the Bride and He will even defend the little sister before she comes to maturity, “if she be a wall.”
(2Ki.19:32) Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come unto this city, nor shoot an arrow there, neither shall he come before it with shield, nor cast up a mound against it. (33) By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and he shall not come unto this city, saith the Lord.
(34) For I will defend this city to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake. (35) And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the Lord went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred fourscore and five thousand (185,000 men): and when men arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies. There is a place of safety in holiness and separation from the world, but there is none for those who walk in their own self-will and rebellion.
Then, after Hezekiah became ill, he pleaded with God for his life, saying that he had served the Lord. (2Ki.20:1) In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thy house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live. (2) Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the Lord, saying, (3) Remember now, O Lord, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.
(4) And it came to pass, before Isaiah was gone out into the middle part of the city, that the word of the Lord came to him, saying, (5) Turn back, and say to Hezekiah the prince of my people, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee; on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of Jehovah. (6) And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.
That’s exactly what the rest of the Bible says about the regenerate daughter of Zion. God promises to defend them. When they walked in righteousness and purity, that wall represented separation and sanctification. (Pro.11:4) Riches profit not in the day of wrath; But righteousness delivereth from death.
Again, the Greek word for “sanctification” is hagiasmos, which means “separation unto God”; in other words, “purification and separation from the world and from sin unto God.” The word for “saints,” hagios, is the root word for “sanctification.” “Saint” means “sanctified ones.” “Saints” are those people who are “separated from the world unto God” and all through the New Testament the Lord addresses the “saints,” the separated and sanctified ones.
(Heb.12:14) Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord. We certainly want to see the Lord, don’t we? We want to see Him after this life, but we also want to see Him in this life. (2Co.3:18) But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit. Without sanctification, we are not going to see the Lord. We won’t see Him in the mirror, we won’t come into His image and we won’t ultimately see Him.
However, even the little sister can be sanctified and separated from the world. Even the little sister can be running after the Lord with all of her heart. The Shulammite was seeking to bring her little sister into the presence of the king, Solomon, who represents our King. She was protecting and raising her up, just as the Bride will do in these days.
And Paul says, (Heb.12:14) Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord: (15) looking carefully lest [there be] any man that falleth short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble [you,] and thereby the many be defiled. Many so-called “Christians” in these days are being defiled by roots of bitterness or by other people who have roots of bitterness. Those who are slanderers, gossipers, back-biters, these people are defiled. They are like Esau who sold his birthright through bitterness.
You need to be careful to remain sanctified and separated from them, as we’re commanded. (Tit.3:10) A factious man after a first and second admonition refuse. In other words, separate yourself from them. (Heb.12:16) Lest [there be] any fornicator.... “Fornicator” has a spiritual aspect here: this is someone who has relations with the world and not the Lord. Esau was ordained, as a son of Abraham, to have relations with the Lord, yet he was having relations with the world and receiving the seed of another kingdom. He was receiving this root of bitterness which was, of course, from the devil and not from God. (Heb.12:16) Lest [there be] any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one mess of meat sold his own birthright.
Now I know “meat” here just means “food,” but it also brings to mind the thought of “flesh” because Esau followed, or “sought after,” the flesh. He found that “meat” was more important than his birthright, which was the inheritance he received because he was a child of Abraham. (Heb.12:17) For ye know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected.... There isn’t going to be a blessing to those who refuse sanctification through the Word. There isn’t going to be a blessing to those who choose to receive the seed of the world, instead of being separated from the world, its nature and its curse. Esau was “rejected.” He sold his birthright and forfeited the double-portion blessing of the first-born.
There are people who are considered to be people of God, but who have been reprobated. They do not know the ways of peace and do not “follow after peace with all men,” as the Scripture says here. They have a root of bitterness and they spread their root of bitterness, so God has rejected them. (Heb.12:17) For ye know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected; for he found no place for a change of mind (which is basically the meaning of “repentance”) [in his father,] (“In his father” was added in by the translator, according to his own understanding, but it’s not in the original.) though he sought it diligently with tears.
In other words, Esau himself wanted deliverance from this curse, but he was defiled by a root of bitterness and, of course, his seed after him was defiled because the sins of the parents are passed on to the children of the third and fourth generation (Exodus 20:5, 34:7; Numbers 14:18; Deuteronomy 5:9). We know that Jesus came to break genetic curses that have been passed on, but Esau, even though he was a seed of Abraham, refused the inheritance that he had received through his father and traded it away just like Judas. Remember how Jacob, Esau’s brother, was greatly blessed after he separated himself from Esau. The Lord gave Jacob so much fruit and such great abundance that it surprised Esau when, after many years, Jacob returned with his wives, children, herds and flocks (Genesis 32, 33).
Bearing much fruit and receiving many blessings is a symbol of being sanctified and separated from that which is unholy, corrupt and bitter. It’s a symbol of being separated from that which has been rejected as “accursed.” Jacob bore much fruit and received much blessing because he separated himself from those who were not sanctified. We find this pattern repeated all the way through the Bible. We are all sons of Abraham through faith and we receive our inheritance through faith, but God demands of us separation and we see many types and shadows of this in the Scriptures.
There are actually two stages of separation: First, God separates His people from the world and then, second, He separates from His people those who are worldly. After Abraham was called out from Ur of the Chaldees, which was Babylon, Abraham was later separated from Lot and his family, who initially came with him out of Babylon. Lot unwisely chose to settle in Sodom, which obviously was not a place of sanctification or separation from the world, and that decision brought a great curse upon Lot and his family. So notice that God called Abraham to separate from the Babylonians and then Abraham was separated from those who were not living a life that was as holy as his.
Another good type is when God separated His people, Israel, in the land of Egypt. He separated them from the Egyptians through the judgments that Moses, the Man-child, brought upon the Egyptians. Goshen represents that land where the Israelite was separated from the Egyptian. We know the first three judgments came upon both the Israelites and the Egyptians, but after God’s people had once again received the fear of the Lord, then the rest of the judgments fell only upon the Egyptians. (Exo.8:23) And I will put a division between my people and thy people: by to-morrow shall this sign be.
A different representation of that is the Israelites’ crossing of the Red Sea, where God made a separation of His people from the Egyptians, a separation of the spiritual man from the carnal man. (Exo.14:21) And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all the night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
(22) And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. (23) And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. (28) And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, even all the host of Pharaoh that went in after them into the sea; there remained not so much as one of them.
Apostle Paul used that parable to show that in the Red Sea there was a baptism unto death for the Egyptian, who represented the old man that had been keeping Israel in bondage. (Heb.11:29) By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were swallowed up. Folks, in these days God’s people are once again in bondage to the old man. And, once again, the Lord is going to send deliverance by the hand of the Man-child in the form of judgments on Egypt. Those judgments are going to cause God’s people to realize that they need to depart from Egypt and stop submitting to the old man, who has been keeping them in bondage.
So God separated the Israelites from the Egyptians and brought them into the wilderness, but now He still had to separate the unbelievers from among them. You know, people like to think that only Egyptians are unbelievers, yet the unbelievers who complained in the wilderness were the unbelievers of His Own people. God could not bring Israel, even the faithful Israelites, into the Promised Land of blessing that was “flowing with milk and honey” (Deuteronomy 31:20; Numbers 14:8; Exodus 33:3; etc.) until all the unfaithful and unbelieving had died in the wilderness.
The righteous people among the Israelites, whom Joshua and Caleb represented, had to endure a time of trial and tribulation so that these unbelieving, murmuring Israelites would be separated from them. The righteous didn’t get to see the blessings they should have received until that happened because God wasn’t going to bless the unrighteous among the righteous. Who entered into the Promised Land? Other than Joshua and Caleb, it wasn’t those Israelites who left Egypt; it was their children who entered the land of milk and honey, the blessings, the provisions of God. Their old man shall die in the wilderness but their fruit will enter in.
This is a process that God does in each and every one of us, too. We need to learn to come out from among the world and be separate because there is no place of blessing without sanctification. God wants us to separate ourselves from the “leaven” of wicked people. (Mat.16:12) Then understood they that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Even if they call themselves “Christians,” He wants to separate them from us so that we can receive the blessings.
I once asked the Lord, “Why are there so many Judases and Jezebels rising up? You know they can’t help themselves; it is demons in them that rise up and torment the Church, speak and rail against the people, argue about doctrine, take authority they don’t have and all these things. Why is this happening?” And the Lord told me very plainly, “I’m doing you a favor.” I said, “How so, Lord?” The Lord answered, “Because you don’t want all these people going into the wilderness with you, do you?” I replied, “No, I don’t.”
I do know that in the wilderness there will still be some of these people to try the people of God because when Jesus chose the 12, one of them was the “son of perdition,” Judas. Of course, Judas had a ministry, but there are many more than we evidently need, from what the Lord told me. He is certainly revealing and separating them from His people in these days. God’s people also need to understand and cooperate with God in this process of separation because this wasn’t a job for only Moses or just the elders of Israel. This was a job for all of Israel to do. We are going to see from the Scriptures that we need to separate ourselves from those who are “leaven” and are keeping us from being sanctified.
Sanctification is needed individually and corporately. First of all, individually we are to (2Co.6:14) Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness? (15) And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what portion hath a believer with an unbeliever? (16) And what agreement hath a temple of God with idols? for we are a temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (17) Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean thing; And I will receive you, (18) And will be to you a Father, And ye shall be to me sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
And then, corporately, we are to be sanctified as the body of Christ. The Bride is so beautiful to God because it is a body of people who become separated from the rest of Israel because of their purity and holiness. By the way, the Greek word hagiasmos is translated as both “holiness” and “sanctification” in the New Testament. “Holiness” and “sanctification” both mean “separation from the world and from that which is impure, unto God.”
When Israel went into the wilderness, they had already been separated from the Egyptians, which basically represents salvation. When you go through the Red Sea, the Egyptian is cut off; it is your water baptism. So these are people who are what we call today “saved”; however, they still weren’t sanctified as a body. Yes, there were people among them who were sanctified and always walked in righteousness, but as a body, they weren’t sanctified and couldn’t come into the blessings of God.
So God brought them through trials in the wilderness to prove them. He was going to show who was a part of the sanctified body and who it was who would refuse being sanctified and separated from the world.
(Exo.32:1) And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods.... The word for “gods” there is Elohim and it’s the same word that they used for the true God because what they really wanted was something visible that the flesh could follow. Our God is invisible for a reason. He doesn’t want us making pictures or statues of Him to bow down to or follow. He wants us to know Him by the Spirit and not by the flesh; the flesh won’t obey God. He wants us to walk by faith and faith is when you don’t see, but you obey anyway.
(Exo.32:1) And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him. Well, God delayed this in order to try them, to see if they would turn aside out of the way and that’s just what they did.
(Exo.32:2) And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden rings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me. (3) And all the people brake off the golden rings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron. (4) And he received it at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, and made it a molten calf: and they said, These are thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. Obviously, it was just a pile of gold. They had made a god after a fleshly image that impressed them, but had nothing to do with Elohim.
(Exo.32:5) And when Aaron saw [this,] he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To-morrow shall be a feast to the Lord. (6) And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt-offerings, and brought peace-offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play. You know, there are many false gods that people proclaim to be the Lord God because they permit them to live in a way that pleases their flesh.
(Exo.32:7) And the Lord spake unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people (Notice they aren’t God’s people anymore.), that thou broughtest up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves: (8) they have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed unto it, and said, These are thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. This molten calf was probably a replica of Apis, the calf god of Egypt. They knew of a god in Egypt and when Moses wasn’t around to lead them, they quickly reverted back to their Egyptian god.
(Exo.32:9) And the Lord said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people (Not all of them were stiff-necked, but a majority of them were.): (10) now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation. So we see that when they were all together as a body, God condemned them. There needed to be a separation of that which was good in their midst and God agreed to this a little further on.
(Exo.32:11) And Moses besought the Lord his God, and said, Lord, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, that thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? (12) Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, saying, For evil did he bring them forth, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath and repent of this evil against thy people.
(13) Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it forever. (14) And the Lord repented of the evil which he said he would do unto his people.
The Lord didn’t consume them at that time, but He did lay down some conditions: (Exo.32:26) Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Whoso is on the Lord’s side, [let him come] unto me. (This is interesting; evidently, there were some who were on the Lord’s side during all of this. There were people who didn’t believe the golden calf was God.) And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.
The Levites represent something in the New Testament: (Exo.19:5) Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be mine own possession from among all peoples: for all the earth is mine: (6) and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. God’s true people are a “holy” people, meaning “separated from the world and sanctified.” The Levites were separated to be God’s own possession and in this situation the Levites were not in agreement with the rest of the body of Israelites about the golden calf.
Moses said, (Exo.32:26) Whoso is on the Lord’s side, [let him come] unto me. And all the sons of Levi (the holy nation, the priests of God) gathered themselves together unto him. (27) And he said unto them, Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel, Put ye every man his sword upon his thigh, and go to and fro from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbor. (28) And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.
What does this represent? It represents a sanctification of the people who had not fallen into this worship of a false god. Now we know in the New Testament that we are forbidden to use a physical sword against our enemies: (Mat.26:52) Then saith Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into its place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. But we do have a sword which we are commanded to use. Our sword is the Word of God.
(Eph.6:13) Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. (14) Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, (15) and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (16) withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil [one]. (17) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
When you are in the midst of a body and some of those people are unholy, they are what is blocking you from receiving the blessing as a body because God cannot bless the body without also blessing these evil, wicked people. We just read that it was Moses and all the priests of God who were called to sanctify the body. And as a kingdom of priests of God, we’re all called to use the sword of the Word to separate and sanctify the body.
If someone who is called a “believer” comes unto you but is walking in willful sin, the Bible tells you what to do about it: (1Co.5:9) I wrote unto you in my epistle to have no company with fornicators; (10) not at all [meaning] with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous and extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world: (11) but as it is, I wrote unto you not to keep company, if any man that is named a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no, not to eat.
(12) For what have I to do with judging them that are without? Do not ye judge them that are within? (13) But them that are without God judgeth. Put away the wicked man from among yourselves. You are to separate from them, (Eph.5:11) and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them.
In other words, you take your sword and you point out to this person that they are one of the people who is stopping the body from receiving the great blessings that God wants to pour out. God couldn’t bless Israel while they were in Egypt; He had to separate them from that body. But then there was still something that was blocking them from receiving the great blessings from God in the wilderness and it was those unbelievers in their midst. Even though they were Israelites and they would today be called “Christians,” they were blocking the blessings from the body and something had to be done about it.
Would you take the sword? The Bible says we are cursed if we don’t use our sword. (Jer.48:10) Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord negligently; and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood. Would you sit on that sword? Or would you use it to correct the brother or sister who comes to you with slander, gossip, hatred or judgment against the body? Would you obey the Word and correct that person?
(Mat.18:15) And if thy brother sin against thee, go, show him his fault between thee and him alone: if he hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. (16) But if he hear thee not, take with thee one or two more, that at the mouth of two witnesses or three every word may be established. (17) And if he refuse to hear them, tell it unto the church: and if he refuse to hear the church also, let him be unto thee as the Gentile and the publican.
For instance, would you tell the brother who is assaulting the elders, “Look, it is forbidden for us to receive an accusation against an elder without witnesses”? Would you correct a brother or sister in your midst who is committing fornication and yet they are sitting right next to you in a church pew, being accepted by the rest of the body? Would you be the one with the sword and do what was necessary for the local body to be blessed? Is your allegiance to your friend or is your allegiance to God? Is it more important to build up the body to receive the blessings of God because it is holy or is it more important to keep the friendship you have with your friend? I believe most of Christianity would think, “That’s not my job. That’s the preacher’s job.” No, that’s not what we are seeing here and that’s not what we see in the rest of the Scriptures, either.
Let’s read on. (Exo.32:28) And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men. (29) And Moses said, Consecrate yourselves to-day to the Lord, yea, every man against his son, and against his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day. There wasn’t going to be a blessing until there was this separation and the sword was applied to these people who had caused the problem.
(Exo.32:30) And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the Lord; peradventure I shall make atonement for your sin. (31) And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. (32) Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. (33) And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.
He pardoned. He did not bring wrath upon the whole body because He wanted to bring wrath upon those who sinned. The trials that they were about to go through were going to reveal those murmurers and unbelievers among them, and through these trials, those people were put to death in the wilderness. So those who sinned against Him, those who worshipped the false god and polluted the body, these people bore their judgment. He said, “Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book,” and God is still doing this in the New Testament.
(Rev.22:18) I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto them, God shall add unto him the plagues which are written in this book: (19) and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book. (Rev.3:5) He that overcometh shall thus be arrayed in white garments; and I will in no wise blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
(Exo.32:34) And now go, lead the people unto [the place] of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine angel shall go before thee; nevertheless in the day when I visit, I will visit their sin upon them. Those people died in the wilderness because of their unbelief, their murmuring and their lack of sanctification. God was their provider that whole time, but they still rebelled against the Lord. (Exo.32:35) And the Lord smote the people, because they made the calf, which Aaron made.
The truly righteous people in their midst had to suffer for these other people because there had been no sanctification of the body. Think about the Joshuas and the Calebs, who were going through the wilderness with these people and suffering along with them. They actually deserved to go and walk into the Promised Land, yet they were suffering.
There has to be a separation so that we can come into the great miracles, great revival and great blessings of provision that are just ahead of us for the people of God.
Another trial that God used to separate between the righteous and rebellious Israelites was the Korah rebellion. If you remember, Korah took it upon himself to be a leader in Israel, even though that position wasn’t given to him by God. Yet Moses was someone who never wanted the authority that the Lord gave him. (Exo.4:10) And Moses said unto the Lord, Oh, Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant; for I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. (11) And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? Or who maketh [a man] dumb, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? (12) Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt speak. (13) And he said, Oh, Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.
Moses considered himself to be inadequate and was trying to convince God to send someone else. So why did so many people follow Korah? I’m suspecting that Korah was a smooth, persuasive talker and maybe even good-looking. The people followed him, but think about all the miracles that God had done through Moses, who was slow of tongue, evidently not quick-witted and not eloquent. (Num.16:19) And Korah assembled all the congregation against them (Moses and Aaron) unto the door of the tent of meeting: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the congregation. (20) And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, (21) Separate yourselves (this represents sanctification) from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.
The Lord didn’t want to consume all of them; He wanted to consume those who were taking sides with Korah. (Num.16:22) And they (Moses and Aaron) fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation? Obviously, the people had the choice of whom to follow, but while they were one body and in rebellion, the Lord was considering the whole body as perpetrators. (23) And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, (24) Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. In other words, separate yourselves from among these people so I can protect you, so I can bless you, so I can chasten them.
(Num.16:25) And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him. (26) And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs (Be separate from all their thoughts and doings.), lest ye be consumed in all their sins. If you’re touching something, you are not separated, are you? (27) So they gat them up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood at the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little ones.
(28) And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the Lord hath sent me to do all these works; for [I have] not [done them] of mine own mind. (29) If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the Lord hath not sent me. (30) But if the Lord make a new thing, and the ground open its mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down alive into Sheol; then ye shall understand that these men have despised the Lord. (We have certainly seen the wicked going to hell while alive.)
I’ve shared with you in the past that being swallowed alive by the earth represents being swallowed up by the flesh. (1Ti.5:6) But she that giveth herself to pleasure is dead while she liveth. We’re not here to please the flesh or to be consumed by the flesh, yet people who are in rebellion against God will be delivered over to their flesh. They will be unable to overcome that flesh because of their rebellion. The Lord is saying to separate yourself from people who live after the lust of their flesh, so that you’re not swallowed up by the curse that’s upon them.
It has to be important to us that God’s body be holy and separate from these people because people in willful disobedience need to be judged. Of course, if they are repentant, if they are turning away from their sin, then we should encourage them. But if they are happy to sit in the midst of their sins and want to use doctrine to justify themselves, then they need to be separated. Paul said, (1Co.5:6) ... Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? (7) Purge out the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, even as ye are unleavened....
He commands us there to separate from these people so the whole body is not leavened or considered by God to be leavened. In whatever place you are, you always want that body to come into the blessing and provision of God. But when God reveals these people, and you can see that He has turned them over to be consumed by their flesh, then you need to make a separation. If you don’t, their curses will be upon you or, at the very least, you will not enter into the blessings.
God wants a holy people, a holy body, holy individuals. If you know people who are committing sins such as those mentioned in 1 Corinthians 5, the Lord demands that you separate yourself from them. If you don’t separate yourselves from them, a little leaven will leaven the whole lump.
Wednesday Jan 10, 2024
Wednesday Jan 10, 2024
Christian Maturity (2)
David Eells 1/10/24
I’m going to share with you about manifesting our Sun (Son) Glory. We’re all sons of God through faith, and faith is accounted as righteousness until righteousness is manifested.
(Gal.3:26) For ye are all sons of God through faith, in Christ Jesus. (27) For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ. (28) There can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female; for ye all are one [man] in Christ Jesus.
We begin our life as children, who are sons by faith, and the Bible says that we come into the manifestation of sonship. (Pro.29:21) He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child Shall have him become a son at the last.
(Gal.4:6) And because ye are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (7) So that thou art no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God. Again, this is speaking that we are sons of God through faith, which “calleth the things that are not, as though they were” (Rom.4:17). God sent the Spirit of His Son into us in order to bring us to this adoption of sons.
The word “adoption” used here is not adoption of children. It is huiothesia and it means “son placing.” So, according to the term “adoption,” we don’t adopt children; we adopt sons. Beloved, now are we children (teknon) of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be (1Jn.3:2). It should never be translated “son” because the word teknon is “children.” We haven’t yet come to the place that God calls us “the manifest sons.”
Notice that God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, in order to bring us to adoption. Now, what is the Spirit of the Son? Let me point something out to you. (Rom.8:9) But ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit if so be that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you. But if any man hath not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Two Spirits are mentioned here: the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ. He even puts a “but” in there, so that we will know that he’s talking about two different things.
Not everyone has the Spirit of God, but everyone who is born-again has the Spirit of Christ. Jesus told His disciples, “the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit” (Joh.6:63). These words came out of Him and were creating His Spirit in His disciples. And He told them, Already ye are clean because of the word which I have spoken unto you (Joh.15:3). What did that mean? It meant they had a new spirit because Jesus spoke those words into them and His Spirit was recreated in them. The Spirit of Christ is the born-again Spirit. This is the Spirit of the Son which is to bring us to adoption, the adoption of sons.
The Spirit of Christ is the first thing that you receive. Next you need the Soul of Christ and then, ultimately, a body like unto His Body. A born-again spirit, a born-again soul and a born-again body are the three stages of this adoption. Notice the warning: (Rom.8:9) … But if any man hath not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (10) And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the spirit is life because of righteousness.
(11) But (here it is again; he’s switching back) if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwelleth in you, he that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead shall give life also to your mortal bodies through his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Paul is talking about receiving the Holy Spirit. When you get born-again, you don’t necessarily receive the Holy Spirit. Sometimes that happens afterwards. But you do get the Spirit of Christ because you believe the Word of God and you accept that He died for you and gave you His life.
So, these are the two steps that every Christian ought to go through – receiving the Spirit of Christ and receiving the Holy Spirit. That was commanded but today most Christians don’t do that. You need the Holy Spirit because the Holy Spirit will empower you to walk in the steps of Jesus. As Jesus was both human and divine, He had a born-again Spirit and you need a born-again human spirit. You need that for the communication and for the access to the Holy Spirit.
He comes to dwell in your Holy of Holies, which is your born-again spirit. He comes to rule in your Holy of Holies. So, you who are born-again need to invite the Holy Spirit to come with all the signs and wonders that the Bible talks about. That’s part of it. (Act.1:8) But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
(Rom.8:14) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. God gives us first the Spirit of Christ and then the Holy Spirit, so we can hear His voice and follow Him “withersoever he goeth.”
(15) For ye received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear; but ye received the spirit of adoption (huiothesia, meaning “son placing”)…. We’re coming to that place. God manifests His perfection in us – spirit, then soul and then, ultimately, if you have borne fruit in the soul, you will receive a new body like unto His body. (15) … Whereby we cry, Abba, Father (adoption, son placing). (16) The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God.
So, even after you have the Spirit of adoption which, according to Galatians chapter four, is the Spirit of His Son, Jesus Christ, you are a son of God by faith. And since faith is accounted as righteousness, we receive the end from the beginning, we call the things that be not as though they were because “by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified” (Heb.10:14). By accepting this, we are walking from the place of being children of God to the place of being sons of God.
If you want to know what a son of God is, you have to look at Jesus. That’s what a son of God is – “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” So Christ is coming to live in us – first spirit, then soul, which is your nature, your character and so forth; and then, ultimately, you will have a body like His Body! (Rom.8:16) The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God. (17) And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him,] that we may be also glorified with [him]. Now, if we’re joint-heirs with Christ of His glory, which we are, it’s another way of talking about perfection. Glory is just another way of saying, “Christ in you.” The glory is the “shining forth from you” of the life of Christ, “that we may be also glorified with [him].”
We’re joint-heirs with Christ, having received the Spirit of adoption and, although we’re manifestly children, we are seeking this glory of God to come and dwell in us. But it says, “If so be that we suffer with him.” See, part of this is knowledge because you have to exercise faith and part of this is cooperation, in the giving up of our old life, in order to gain our new life. Both of these are necessary for sonship. Both of these are necessary to have the glory of God in you.
(2Co.4:16) Wherefore we faint not: but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day. So as the carnal man is dying off, we manifest our death, burial and resurrection and the spiritual man is coming to life. (17) For our light affliction (notice he calls it a “light affliction”), which is for the moment (meaning this very short time that we have to go through to be perfected), worketh for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory. (18) While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen…. This means we call the things that be not as though they were. That’s what God has taught us to do and that’s what faith is. You claim to be a son of God and you know now that a son of God is Jesus Christ. (18) … For the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
We have to hold fast to and believe and see the things that are not, as though they were. As we’re doing this, while we’re walking by faith and giving up our life, this is working “for us more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory.” Paul says, And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him,] that we may be also glorified with [him] (Rom.8:17). The manifestation of our sonship is being “glorified with [him]” as we suffer the death of self.
God’s people are glorified in this life. (18) For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us-ward. The suffering is not even comparable to the new life that we receive, this new glory that we receive by going through this suffering. However, we don’t enter into this new life with glory. (Rom.3:23) For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God; (24) being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (25) whom God set forth [to be] a propitiation, through faith, in his blood, to show his righteousness because of the passing over of the sins done aforetime, in the forbearance of God.
So we don’t start into this with the glory of God. We accept it by faith and we’re justified freely because of that faith and the life of Jesus that was given to us at the cross. We were crucified with Him and we were given His life. There was an exchange made. Our old life was put upon that cross and He gave us His life.
(Gal.2:20) I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me: and that [life] which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, [the faith] which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me. We accept that by faith. Now God says that faith is accounted as righteousness, so we are imputed as sons of God through our faith. If you continue to walk by faith, you’re always going to receive the manifestation of what you’re believing. He’s going to manifest His Son in you.
This is a progressive thing. You don’t get anything instantaneously in the Kingdom, except by faith. By faith you accept everything as instantaneous. (Heb.10:14) For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. He perfected us at the cross. We accept the whole, free gift of sonship, of the life of God, of the purity, of the holiness, of the total redemption that He has given to us.
Let’s look at these verses again: (Rom.8:18) For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us-ward. (19) For the earnest expectation of the creation waiteth for the revealing of the sons of God. Now, I know some people would like to put that way off in the bye-and-bye so they can live any way they want to live down here, but if you’re not manifesting fruit, Jesus said that you aren’t going to get there.
What is fruit? Jesus Christ. It’s also His glory manifested in you. The whole “creation waiteth for the revealing of the sons of God” down here, not just up in heaven. Down here is where we need the glory of God. Jesus walked in the glory of God and when He came, “the people that sat in darkness Saw a great light” (Mat.4:16). When Jesus came, He set the captives free, He opened the prison to them that were bound, He healed the sick, He cast out demons and on and on. He was the body of Christ. He left in order to come back in the corporate body of Christ, so He could touch the whole world. The glory of God is needed now and it’s needed here. This is what this passage is talking about. The manifestation, the “revealing of the sons of God” has to do with manifesting sonship down here, in spirit and in soul with a physical body that is no longer under the curse.
We know that Jesus’ body was the Son of Man, but the One Who dwelt in that body was the Son of God. (Rom.1:3) Concerning His Son who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, (4) who was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness. So we see that Jesus was made “in all things … like unto his brethren” (Heb.2:17), and the whole of creation is waiting because the creation itself fell under the curse when man fell under the curse. Only when man comes out from under the curse is the creation delivered.
When Jesus came, He was the One Who lived out from under the curse and He set the creation free all around Him. (Rom.8:20) For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but by reason of him who subjected it…. God subjected us to vanity. This is how sons are created, by being subject to vanity and yet choosing the good and understanding grace, because unless you’ve been a sinner, you can’t understand grace. Even the angels don’t understand grace. They desire to look into these things (1 Peter 1:12).
We’re fallen and we appreciate God very much because we’ve been fallen. We appreciate that He’s lifting us up and setting our feet on the Rock. We appreciate it; we love Him. (Luk.7:40) And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Teacher, say on. (41) A certain lender had two debtors: the one owed five hundred shillings, and the other fifty. (42) When they had not [wherewith] to pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most? (43) Simon answered and said, He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
Sinners appreciate God. They love God. So there was a reason for the creation to be subject to vanity. Some people may not believe that. But Christ was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Why would we have needed a sacrifice slain from the foundation of the world before Adam sinned? Stop and think about that.
Creation was subject to vanity for a purpose: (Rom.8:21) That the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of God. This is the plan: Fallen man gets saved and appreciates it so much that we love God. (22) For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. (23) And not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for [our] adoption (that is, “son-placing”), [to wit,] the redemption of our body. We’re waiting for the manifestation of our adoption.
This manifestation is not going to be complete until you are totally God’s possession – spirit, soul and body? But there is a way that it’s complete while you’re on the earth and that is in spirit and soul. The ultimate fulfillment, of course, is the body, as he goes on to say, “[to wit,] the redemption of our body.” That’s the fullness of adoption. Adoption of the body is in two stages. First for those who have manifested Jesus in spirit and soul their physical body is not under the curse and the second stage is when they receive their spiritual body when their work on earth is done. (24) For in hope were we saved: but hope that is seen is not hope: for who hopeth for that which he seeth? (25) But if we hope for that which we see not, [then] do we with patience wait for it.
We do not see the manifestation of sonship, but we do hope, we do wait for it and we do walk by faith for it. “Hope” is a “firm expectation.” It’s not hoping for something that you think will never happen. It’s hoping for something you believe is coming. Those who believe they are going to walk in the glory of God, firmly expect that God will keep His promise to us and that He will finish the good work He started in us. We will be complete; we will be perfect, as He said.
There are many people today, Christians and Jews alike, who don’t understand that the Old covenant was done away in Christ. (2Co.3:14) but their minds were hardened: for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remaineth, it not being revealed [to them] that it is done away in Christ. They have a veil on. Many Christians have a veil on because they’re still under the Law. They’re either under the law of men or they’re under the Law of the Old Covenant. They don’t understand that God made a New Covenant making the first one old.
(15) But unto this day, whensoever Moses is read, a veil lieth upon their heart. (16) But whensoever it shall turn to the Lord, the veil is taken away. So we see that when you turn to the Lord, the blindness that the devil puts on all of mankind is broken from you. Even as a Christian, if you turn to the Lord, God will break the veil off of your spiritual eyes. No matter what kind of legalism you’re under, no matter what following of your own mind you’re under, God will break that off of you and you’ll be able to follow the Spirit of God. (17) Now the Lord is the Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, [there] is liberty. This is freedom – freedom from bondage, freedom from the Law – because you naturally fulfill the Law.
We’re looking in the mirror and seeing Jesus by faith, so that God will take that faith, which is the substance of things hoped for, and bring it to pass. Also notice that he calls it “the glory of the Lord.” We’re going to discover what this glory is and that it’s in this life that you get this glory. (18) But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image (Where? Here.) from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit.
As we accept that we no longer live, that the One Who looks in this mirror is now Jesus Christ, Who now lives in us, we’re changed “from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit.” What glory is he talking about? The three glories mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:41 are star, moon and sun. God offers to His saints three heavenly bodies. He calls them star, moon and sun glory.
We start out as a star glory because we have self-righteousness. The glory that comes forth from stars separates them. They’re different; they’re distinct from one another. That’s the first stage of Christian growth. We have our own glory – self-righteousness. The second stage of Christian growth is moon glory because the moon is one. The Bible says that we become united with Him in the likeness of His death. The moon is dead; it’s one and it’s dead, having no light of its own, only reflecting the light of the sun.
We who have moon glory shall also be of the resurrection, which is sun glory. We’re going from our own righteousness through death-to-self and resurrection life of Christ in us. These are the three stages. We grow into His glory “from glory to glory, as from the Lord the Spirit.” Notice that glory is the brilliance that shines forth from us, the light of Christ’s life. It’s “the glory of the Lord.” They saw a great light in the shadow of death, didn’t they? Yes, and it was Jesus. They will see that again on this earth, very soon, because God’s planning on lighting that light again!
(2Co.4:3) And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled in them that perish. Literally, it says, “are perishing.” If you don’t have the revelation of “Christ in you,” you are perishing. This revelation of Christ coming to life in you is the same Jesus Who walked on this earth 2000 years ago, not another Jesus, not a weak and worthless Jesus Who sits up on a cloud and does nothing for anybody – doesn’t heal the sick anymore, doesn’t cast out devils anymore, on and on. No, this is the real Jesus! This is the glory that God is resurrecting in His people in these days. (2Co.4:3) And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled in them that perish: (4) in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ….
Notice that this glory of Christ is a light, not in a physical world, but in the spiritual world. It’s a light that shines forth. (4) In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn [upon them]. The devil doesn’t want “Christ in you,” or sonship or the glory of the Son manifested in you. We need to obtain this glory, which is Kingdom glory. The people who walk in the Kingdom walk in this glory. Now we all may be walking into it in a certain percentage, but Jesus wants us to fully manifest that glory 30-, 60- and 100-fold. He offers us 100-fold. We need to believe Him and take Him at His Word.
He goes on to say, (2Co.4:5) For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. (6) Seeing it is God, that said, Light shall shine out of darkness…. This is the light of the glory of Jesus Christ. This is a spiritual light that’s in you. God opens the eyes of some people to see this light. I’ve known people who have seen it on me and other Christians, who walk in the light of God. They’ve told me so. There is a light seen in the spirit realm “Light shall shine out of darkness” is the light of the glory of God manifesting in your old life, your soul, that outer man that’s decaying day-by-day, so that the inner man may be renewed.
(6) Seeing it is God, that said, Light shall shine out of darkness, who shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. You’re not looking at your natural face in the mirror anymore; you’re accepting that now Jesus lives in you. It’s only those of you who accept that His righteousness is now yours, that you don’t live any longer. That’s the Gospel! That’s the Good News! It’s not something that you can do; it’s something you can believe God to do. And He will do it.
We’re told that God Himself is the Father of glory: (Eph.1:17) that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory…. He’s the Father of Jesus and the Father of glory because Jesus is the glory and “Christ in you” is the glory. (17) That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. This is a good prayer! He can do it. He’ll do anything that you need to give to you this gift, but first we need the revelation of what God has given unto us.
That’s why we study this, to have that wisdom of knowledge. So we see He’s the Father of glory, He’s the Father of the Son, He’s the Father of sonship and He’s the Father of the spiritual man in you, which is the glory of the Son. This is “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Col.1:27) To whom God was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. The glory of Jesus Christ is coming to be manifested, that is, sonship, being manifested in His people. And it’s progressive, but we receive it by faith.
Back to: (2Co.4:7) But we have this treasure in earthen vessels (this is the treasure of the glory of God that needs to continue to grow in us), that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves. Well, we have this treasure of the Word being manifested in God’s people, and the Word is also that light that shines out of darkness!
(2Pe.1:19) And we have the word of prophecy [made] more sure (we know that to be the Word of God); whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts. This “lamp” is the shining forth of the light. The Bible says of this “lamp shining in a dark place,” The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord (Pro.20:27).
The “dark place” is your old man that’s keeping this hidden. You must be broken so that the light can come forth, “as unto a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts.” “Day star” is an archaic term that was used for the sun. The light is shining in this dark place until the day dawns and the Son arises in your heart.
(2Pe.1:20) Knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of private interpretation. (21) For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit. We have a more sure word of prophecy. It’s the Word of God. All the Word of God is prophecy and it’s powerful to come to pass, if we believe it. We have to hold diligently to it to believe it. We’re seeing that the Father is the Father of glory and that the Word, which is also Jesus Christ, is the Son of the Father and is also that glory.
We have this treasure of the Word, of the Son, of the glory, in us, by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, the Spirit of adoption that brings us to the adoption of sons. The Spirit of the Son is to take us over, just as the devil seeks to take us over. The Spirit of the Son seeks to bring forth His glory in us, as Paul tells us: (2Co.4:7) But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves. Meaning that we have a weak vessel that’s not able to walk in the glory of God, but the power that’s of God is that Spirit that dwells in us.
(8) [We are] pressed on every side yet not straitened; perplexed, yet not unto despair; (9) pursued, yet not forsaken; smitten down, yet not destroyed; (10) always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus (the glory is the life of Jesus; it is the Word of God and it is born of the Father) may be manifested in our body. Manifested in this body, which will then not be under the curse. This is God’s plan. You get the glory here by looking in the mirror now, with an unveiled face now.
The word “manifested” means “to cause to shine, to make visible” in our body. Phaneroo in Greek means “to cause to shine.” The very word “manifestation” is talking about the shining of the glory inside you! (11) For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus (there it is again, the life of that glory lives in us) may be manifested in our mortal flesh. Again, the word here is phaneroo: to cause to shine, to become visible.” Where? “In our mortal flesh”.
The Son of God is being birthed in us, in this physical life. That’s the manifestation of sonship in spirit and in soul. The person who has walked in the manifestation of sonship in spirit and in soul will ultimately have the manifestation of sonship in their body. That’s the fullness of adoption, “that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh,” shining forth out of us.
Also in: (Col.3:3) For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. You need to remember that you don’t have a problem with sin anymore. You died. The old man died, the old sinner doesn’t live anymore. Christ is our life. (4) When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory. The very life inside of us is Christ growing in us, just like Mary had Christ growing in her. Jesus said, For whosoever shall do the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother (Mat.12:50).
Every one of us is pregnant with Jesus Christ. (Col.3:4) When Christ, [who is] our life, shall be manifested (caused to shine), then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory. As Christ is manifested in us, the glory is manifested in us because He is the glory and the Father is the Father of glory, and everything that’s born of the Father is glory. So the glory that’s shining forth from, that’s manifested, is glory of the star, moon and, ultimately, sun glory shining forth from God’s people.
John calls us “children” by manifestation, because that’s what we are until we manifest His sonship. (1Jn.2:28) And now, [my] little children, abide in him; that, if he shall be manifested (meaning - in us), we may have boldness, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. What is it to “abide in him”? He tells us, “If that which ye heard from the beginning abide in you, ye also shall abide in the Son” (24). What did we hear from the beginning? The truth. Not necessarily what we hear nowadays, but what we heard from the beginning; if this abides in you, you abide in the Son.
And it clearly says, he that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked (6). How did He walk? He walked to His cross, for one thing. He walked in righteousness for another thing and He walked by faith for another thing. So, he says, (1Jn.2:28) And now, [my] little children, abide in him; that, if he shall be manifested (phaneroo) …. The word is “if,” not “when.” Some versions say, “when he shall be manifested,” but none of the ancient manuscripts or the numerics say “when.” They say “if.” It’s not talking about the physical coming of the Lord; it’s talking about His coming in you.
Watch carefully: (28) And now, [my] little children, abide in him; that, if he shall be manifested (caused to shine, become visible in you), we may have boldness, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. What’s going to cause you not to be ashamed before Christ, except Him living in you? The word there is “manifested,” just like everywhere else. It is phaneroo: “cause to shine.” And the second word used here, in “at his coming,” refers to the physical coming of Christ. The first one is His coming in you. The second one is His second coming. So now it makes sense.
If the translation you see is “when he shall appear” and “coming,” then you see Him coming twice there in the same verse. It doesn’t have anything to do with that. It has to do with Him coming in you and then coming for you. The parousia, the second word used here in “at his coming,” means He’s coming for the ones in whom He is phaneroo’d. He has become manifest. They have manifested 30-, 60- or 100-fold of their sonship and of the glory of God. That’s what it’s talking about. This is awesome!
(29) If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that everyone also that doeth righteousness is begotten of him. The One in you Who’s coming forth, “that doeth righteousness,” that one is born of Him. (1Jo.3:2) Beloved, now are we children (teknon, not sons) of God, and it is not yet made manifest (phaneroo; it’s not yet fully shining forth from you; that glory of God is not complete) what we shall be. We know that, if (again, it’s “if” and not “when”; it has nothing to do with the physical coming of Christ) he shall be manifested (become visibly shining from you), we shall be like him; for we shall see him even as he is. If it’s shining forth from you, you’re going to be like Him and you’re going to see Him in the mirror as He is, manifestly, this time and not by faith.
Another word, epiphania, is very close in meaning to phaneroo. It’s still “a shining forth” but it’s “to shine forth from, or upon.” (2Ti.4:8) Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing (epiphania-ing). It’s not talking about the coming of the Lord; it’s talking about His shining forth from you. He’s coming for all those who have loved His epiphania, the “shining forth from.”
(Tit.2:11) For the grace of God hath appeared, bringing salvation to all men, (12) instructing us, to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world. This is the proving ground; this is where the fruit is born.
It is here that we are manifesting His glory, coming into the image of Jesus Christ, the Son, and manifesting His sonship. (Tit.2:13) Looking for the blessed hope and appearing (epiphania, the “shining forth from”) of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. Are you looking for the shining forth of the glory of the great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ? That’s our hope! Hold fast to the Word of God. Find out what it says about you and believe every Word!
Sunday Jan 07, 2024
Sunday Jan 07, 2024
Christian Maturity
David Eells 1/7/24
(Heb.10:18) For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. That is, through the offering up of Christ, all of those who were separated from their sins were sanctified. So, in this we see what we have by faith, what we have by position in Christ. Now God is expecting us to bear the fruit of what we have in Christ. He’s given it to us as a gift. We have to reach out and take it by faith, and accept it, and confess it! We have to believe with our heart and confess with our mouth unto this salvation that we’re speaking about.
We can see that sanctification has already been given and that’s our position. But look at 1 Thessalonians 3:11, where it speaks about the manifestation of sanctification, or holiness. In most places in the Bible, “sanctification” and “holiness” come from the same word – hagiasmos. (1Th.3:11) Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way unto you: (12) and the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we also [do] toward you; (1Th.3:13) to the end he may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness….
“Holiness” here is one of the words for “sanctification.” Well, if there’s an “end” that we’re coming to and it is to be established in holiness, or sanctification, then this is not the same thing he was just talking about in Hebrews 10. There he says we “have been sanctified.” Here he is saying that we’re looking forward to being sanctified. This is talking about the manifestation of sanctification, or the manifestation of holiness. As a matter of fact, this particular word for “holiness” is hagiosune and it means “sanctification manifested” in our actions, in our works. That’s what God desires, not just sanctification in heavenly places, which was given to us as a gift from Christ, but manifested in our works.
So He has commanded us to partake of what He’s already provided, as our position in Christ. This is hagiosune. (1Th.3:13) To the end he may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. What he’s saying is, “You have to be ready for that time, when the Lord comes with all of His saints.” He’s talking about those who have passed on before, the dead in Christ. He’s saying, “You have to be unblameable and in holiness at that time, sanctified to the purpose that God has for His Church, that spotless, blemishless Church.” We have to be ready for the Lord when He comes. Now we’re seeing that this happens through the manifestation of sanctification, this word hagiosune, which is a derivative of hagiasmos. It specifically addresses the manifestation of the works of sanctification in a person’s life.
Let’s look at another place where hagiosune is used: (2Co.7:1) Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. This verse uses the same word hagiosune. (Heb.12:14) Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord…. Holiness, sanctification: this is something that God has given us to do. We exercise our faith in the promises and through this we perfect sanctification.
So we see that there is a way in which we’ve been given sanctification and holiness by position, and there is a way in which God is telling us, “Okay, since I’ve given this to you, now take it by faith.” The only way we can apprehend what God has given unto us is to take it by faith.
1 Thessalonians agrees with this: (1Th.4:1) Finally then, brethren, we beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as ye received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, even as ye do walk, that ye abound more and more. (2) For ye know what charge we gave you through the Lord Jesus. (3) For this is the will of God, [even] your sanctification…. But we just read in Hebrews 10 that this has already been given to us as a gift. We need to understand that God is proving who the true believers are. Many people are religious and quite content to say, “Okay, I’m holy.” That’s simple. But they don’t realize that God wants that holiness of Christ, that hagiosune that we just read about to be manifested in our life, in our heart and in our works.
God has called us in sanctification and He wants us to apprehend all of what sanctification is. (1Th.5:23) And the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly … (or “completely” or “perfectly”). It’s the same word. This is what perfection is, friends. (23) … May your spirit and soul and body be preserved entire (in other words, no garment spotted by the flesh), without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (24) Faithful is he that calleth you (that is, invites you to partake of this), who will also do it. In other words, the Lord will manifest it. He expects us to walk by faith, but He will manifest this in us. He will manifest the gift that He has given us through Jesus Christ.
This same truth is “manifested” in quite a few other places, for instance, where Paul speaks of our Passover, Who is Christ. (1Co.5:7) Purge out the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, even as ye are unleavened. For our Passover also hath been sacrificed, [even] Christ: (8) wherefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
He goes on to question, “What are we to do if we’re to be unleavened and leaven comes into our midst?” Malice and wickedness come into our midst, which he was talking about in the previous text, when he spoke of a man who had his father’s wife. Paul turned him over to the devil for the destruction of his flesh so that the spirit might be saved in the Day of the Lord, so he’s telling us to cast out these people.
In other words, God is expecting a manifestation of sanctification for those who have faith. He’s making these people responsible. (9) I wrote unto you in my epistle to have no company with fornicators; (10) not at all [meaning] with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous and extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world: (11) but as it is, I wrote unto you not to keep company, if any man that is named a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no, not to eat. He’s talking about eating the Passover. He’s talking about partaking of the Word of God.
People who are coming to God, who repent, who change their mind and believe the Gospel, walk away from immorality. His warning is here: (1Co.6:9) Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men, (10) nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. He’s talking to Christians; he’s not talking about the people in the world. He said the church judges those who are within.
I’d like to point out another Scripture, as well: (2Th.2:13) But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, for that God chose you from the beginning unto salvation (Here it is again!) in sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. This is the way to manifest our salvation. We’ve been saved by faith, but now it has to be manifested. Salvation is Jesus Christ. If we want to know what it looks like, it looks like Jesus Christ. (Col.1:27) … Christ in you, the hope of glory. The only hope of glory is “Christ in you,” 30-, 60- and 100-fold.
He says here, He “chose you from the beginning unto salvation in sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.” This is part of it. We can’t have sanctification by the Spirit unless we believe the truth. Believing the truth is what gives us grace. Grace is what gives us sanctification.
Grace is God’s unmerited favor. We don’t take one step toward God without His favor, and that comes by exercising faith in the truth. It’s very important whom we sit under, whom we believe, whom we let sit next to us. The Bible is very plain that [a] little leaven leaveneth the whole lump (Gal.5:9). If you’re sitting in a church where they permit the grossest of sinners in there, and they call it grace, what they’re doing is “turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness” (Jud.1:4), a license to do what you want to do. ‘If it’s okay for the next guy to do it, it’s okay for me to do it.’ And everything that comes out his mouth, and everything that witnesses to me of his life is going into me. He says, A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump (Gal.5:9). So He’s warning us.
(2Th.2:14) Whereunto he called you through our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. We’ve been given this glory from the sacrifice of Christ, but He wants us to obtain the glory, or, in other words, for it to be manifested in this realm. “Manifestation” means “becoming seen; becoming visible” in this realm. The Lord is demanding that we obtain His glory. It can only come through the truth and our faith in the truth, which brings us sanctification. (Heb.12:14) Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification (or “holiness,” hagiasmos) without which no man shall see the Lord.
So now he speaks to Christians, to whom he just got through telling, “By which will we have been sanctified” (Heb.10:10). (14) For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. Sanctification is this process of perfection. He’s saying that this has been given to us freely, and now we are to follow after this, to Follow after … the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord (Heb.12:14).
It’s not good enough for us to just believe in the position that we have in Christ, although that position affords us great benefits, and without that, we have no way to obtain sanctification. (15) Looking carefully lest [there be] any man that falleth short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble [you,] and thereby the many be defiled; (16) lest [there be] any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one mess of meat sold his own birthright.
What was his birthright? Well, obviously, according to the text, sanctification, but because of following after the flesh, or meat, he sold his birthright. He was a son of Abraham, he had birthright, but he lost it. That’s what Esau represents, a Christian who lost his birthright. Some don’t believe that can happen, but they’re wrong. (17) For ye know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected; for he found no place for a change of mind [in his father], though he sought it diligently with tears. He found no place for a change of mind. He desired it, he knew that he needed it. He wanted fire insurance, but God wouldn’t give it to him.
In the Parable of the Sower, it was the seed, which was the Word, that brought forth the fruit. (17) Sanctify them in the truth: thy word is truth. Not man’s theology, nothing other than His pure Word is truth. (18) As thou didst send me into the world, even so sent I them into the world. (19) And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. What is Jesus saying? He was saying that He was sanctifying Himself so that His disciples could be sanctified in the truth that was manifested through Him.
We can’t get sanctification from someone who doesn’t speak the truth, or someone who’s not walking in sanctification themselves. They’re just leaven and they’re going to leaven you. Don’t sit underneath them and don’t fellowship with those who are walking in sin. Fellowship is giving and receiving, and you don’t want to receive things from these people. It’s like partaking of unclean beasts. We’re forbidden to do this. So Jesus said, “I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in the truth.” While walking with Jesus, it sanctified those disciples pretty quickly.
We have a method given to us by God to help us be able to imagine sanctification, to imagine that it is our gift and that we can walk in it. (Rom.6:1) What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? I tell you, a lot of people believe that. They believe, “Oh, it’s the grace of God. I’m a sinner saved by grace and my sins just magnify His grace.” But He says, not so. If you were sanctified, you’d better walk in it. (2) God forbid. We who died to sin, how shall we any longer live therein? (3) Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
That’s for the death of the old man. When you went down in that water, the old “you” died. The One that came up was Jesus Christ. (4) We were buried therefore with him through baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life. So when you come up, you should be able to walk in newness of life. You have the authority over sin that you didn’t have before, by this act of faith.
Baptism is an act of faith. It’s a way in which our imagination can connect our faith with what God has given. It’s the faith that does the work, not the water. The water represents the washing with the Word of God, but it’s not the water that cleanses you physically. It’s your faith that does it, you see, (Rom.6:4) … so we also might walk in newness of life. (5) For if we have become united with [him] in the likeness of his death (the likeness being baptism, buried in water, the Word of God, which puts to death the old man), we shall be also [in the likeness] of his resurrection.
We’re accepting this gift by faith when we’re baptized. (6) Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be done away, that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin. Notice that he said it “might be done away.” It’s not a surety that it will be done, even though this gift has been given to all of the saints. All of God’s people have received this gift, but we have to fight to grasp it. (2Co.7:1) Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
(Rom.6:7) [F]or he that hath died is justified from sin. (8) But if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him; (9) knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death no more hath dominion over him. (and neither does it with us) (10) For the death that he died, he died unto sin once: but the life that he liveth, he liveth unto God. (11) Even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin (in other words, consider it done, accept it by faith), but alive unto God in Christ Jesus. (12) Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey the lusts thereof. So we see we have the authority to say no to sin; and notice that it’s through our faith because we “reckon” that we’re “dead unto sin” and “alive unto God.”
Are you a believer? Do you believe that Jesus took away the sin that you’re struggling with right now? Do you believe that you can cast this thing down by faith in Jesus Christ? (18) And being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness. You don’t have to “any longer live therein” (Rom.6:2). You can cast it down. (19) … Present your members [as] servants to righteousness unto sanctification. … (22) But now being made free from sin and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto sanctification…. You have it already. It’s been given to you. Glory be to God!
Usually I study the Parable of the Sower out of Matthew 13, but I would like us to look at Luke this time. (Luk.8:4) And when a great multitude came together, and they of every city resorted unto him, he spake by a parable: (5) The sower went forth to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden under foot, and the birds of the heaven devoured it. (6) And other fell on the rock; and as soon as it grew, it withered away, because it had no moisture. (7) And other fell amidst the thorns; and the thorns grew with it, and choked it.
(8) And other fell into the good ground, and grew, and brought forth fruit a hundredfold. As he said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. (9) And his disciples asked him what this parable might be. (10) And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to the rest in parables; that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. (11) Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
(12) And those by the way side are they that have heard; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word from their heart, that they may not believe and be saved. (13) And those on the rock [are] they who, when they have heard, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. (14) And that which fell among the thorns, these are they that have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of [this] life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
So obviously, we’re talking about the manifestation of perfection, which is to bring fruit to perfection. Notice, even though they were receiving the seed, they didn’t bring the fruit to perfection. (15) And that in the good ground, these are such as in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, hold it fast, and bring forth fruit with patience. These bring forth fruit unto perfection. Glory to God! That’s our hope, that the Lord Himself will manifest His fruit in us.
It’s the seed that brings forth the fruit unto perfection; it’s not us. It’s the seed, the Word of God in us, that has power. One of the points is that we have to hold it fast, hold fast the seed. We see that the seed is being sown in the heart (verse 11) and the seed is the Word of God. If the heart holds it fast, it will bring forth fruit unto perfection. (12) And those by the wayside are they that have heard; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word from their heart, that they may not believe and be saved. Here the Word is not held fast so that it bears fruit; this is a miscarrying womb.
The heart is the womb that brings forth the fruit, just like the womb of a woman has to hold fast the seed in order for that seed to come to birth. (1Jn.3:9) Whosoever is begotten (the word “begotten” here is the same word for “born”) of God doeth no sin, because his seed abideth in him…. In other words, it stays, it’s being held fast, it “abideth in him.” He cannot sin because he is born of God. So, when the seed abides, it can come to birth, it can bring the fruit to perfection. And we know, since the seed is the Word of God, and Jesus is the Word of God, that the fruit that is born in us is “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col.1:27); that is, Christ manifested in His people.
We know that we were perfected at the cross, that His life was given for ours, and that we don’t live anymore – Christ lives in us by faith. But as we hold fast the promise in the midst of the many trials of riches, temptations, and so on, as we hold on to the Word, that Word will bear fruit. Many times in the trial, our mind wants to revert back to the things of the world. Our mind wants to walk by sight instead of by faith, but in the trial, we have opportunity to hold on to the Word and not turn it loose, so that it bears the same fruit of Jesus Christ in us, the same faith, the same miraculous power, the same sanctifying power, manifested through His saints.
When we’re in the midst of the trial, we are tempted to go back to our old thinking, but what we have to do is hold fast to the Word and cast down everything else. (2Co.10:5) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. That’s the whole point: we are to hold fast to the Word and cast down everything else. Cast down the seed of the devil, which is his word. Cast it down, cast it out of our mind. We only want the one seed that can bring forth the fruit of Christ. That’s the only seed we want to accept and we have to hold fast to it, because the devil is seeking to take away the seed that’s been sown in our heart. He desperately has to do that, or we will bear fruit and it will be too late.
When you’re in the fiery trial and you know what the promise is, remember, that promise is the seed that you have to hold to in order to bear the fruit. We don’t want to have a spiritually-miscarrying womb. Remember, Jesus said, The words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, and are life (Joh.6:63). Any other word besides the Word of God is also spirit and is also life, but not the spirit and life of Christ. We don’t want another life.
We don’t want to have “strange children,” as the prophet spoke: (Hos.5:7) “They have borne strange children”. We read the Scriptures in order to become familiar with the Father, Jesus said, He that hath seen me hath seen the Father (Joh.14:9). In other words, He Himself manifested His Father. He was a seed which was in line with His Father, and we have to also be a seed. The fruit in us has to also be a seed which is in line with our Father.
Remember the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares? The word there for “seed” is the word sperma, letting us know this is not just talking about plants here. The Word, sperma, is what’s going to bring forth this wheat. When a person sows good seed in their field, the Lord’s sperma is there. Who sowed those tares among the wheat? Jesus said, “an enemy hath done this” (Mat.13:28). Two seeds sown in the same field is not supposed to be. The field He is talking about is in the Kingdom of God on this earth. But in our life, it’s up to us to make sure we cast down the bad seed, which is, “imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God” (2Co.10:5). Receive only and hold fast to the good seed because the good seed will bring forth the birth.
Belief gives fertile ground to the seed, which will bear fruit when a person agrees with it, accepts it and walks in it by faith. We fight a battle with the devil, who has an ally, the old carnal nature, working with him and against us. The devil can steal the seed because he has agreement in the carnal nature, which washes the seed away. The carnal nature won’t let that seed be held fast, so that it can bear fruit. We must hold to the Word of God, as 2 Thessalonians says: (1:10) When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be marvelled at in all them that believed (because our testimony unto you was believed) in that day. Why? “Our testimony unto you was believed.” Jesus is coming to be glorified in His people because that testimony of “Christ in you, the hope of glory” will be believed “in that day.”
When was this spoken? This is talking about the time immediately before the coming of the Lord; look at the text. So, right before the coming of the Lord, God’s people are once again going to believe in the Gospel that has been spoken to the “woman” church. Remember what Jesus said: (Mat.9:29) … According to your faith be it done unto you. (Mat.8:13) … As thou hast believed, [so] be it done unto thee. Do you believe that the seed of the promise of the Word of God can bring forth Jesus Christ in you? If you do, it will happen.
Also, we have this word: (Luk.8:14) And that which fell among the thorns, these are they that have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of [this] life, and bring no fruit to perfection. The word “perfection” here is a strange word not used anywhere else in the Bible. It’s the word telesphoreo. There’s a common word for “perfection” – teleios – but this word is telesphoreo and it means “to bring to perfection” or “end in view.” In other words, we have to see the end from the beginning. We have to call these things that be not as though they were.
We’re “beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord” (to look in the mirror and see Jesus; that’s having farsightedness) and “are transformed into” that “same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit.” And Paul prefaces that with, “But we all, with unveiled face,” so this telesphoreo we see from the beginning. We’re seeing it, accepting it and we’re walking toward it, and we’re going to receive it by faith. Cast down the words of man.
This revelation of perfection will be restored. (Luk.8:14) And that which fell among the thorns, these are they that have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of [this] life, and bring no fruit to perfection. (15) And that in the good ground, these are such as in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, hold it fast, and bring forth fruit with patience.
This phrase, “They … bring no fruit to perfection,” obviously implies that that’s the end result, this bringing forth “fruit to perfection.” The common word in Greek for “perfection” is teleios, which means “having reached its end; finished; complete; perfect.” But the particular word here in this passage is the only word in the Bible like this (and this is the “perfect” place for it, by the way). It’s the word telesphoreo and it means “to bring to completion, or perfection, with an end in view.” This is the key to manifesting God’s perfection. It’s nothing that we in ourselves have any possibility of doing, but the Father is giving us the key to take hold of His power, so that He Himself is the One Who perfects us.
This key has been hidden for many generations, as it was, according to Paul, before him for many generations. In these days, it’s being revealed again, not that it ever was snuffed out, but in large communities of God’s people, it has been snuffed out for the last 2000 years. The key is “the end in view,” seeing the end as something that God already provided for you. You are accepting as a free gift the finished work of Christ.
Now let’s look again at: (Heb.10:10) By which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. We have sanctification both by faith and by manifestation. The Scriptures speak of both things: (14) For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. So He sanctified us and perfected us by that one offering up of the body of Christ. The Lord wants us to accept His free gift that we’ve been delivered from sin, that we’ve been separated from the world and that we’ve been perfected. That’s what the Bible says. To deny that is to deny the Gospel.
What is perfection? What is maturity? What is salvation? What is the end in view? (Luk.6:40) The disciple is not above his teacher: but every one when (notice that “when,” not “if”) he is perfected shall be as his teacher. Who was the teacher here? Obviously, the teacher was Jesus. He really means “when he is perfected shall be as his teacher,” so we have something to look forward to, don’t we? (2Co.3:18) But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit. God is the One Who’s going to do this through our faith (and even that’s a gift from Him).
We have to renew our mind first and see the gift of Jesus Christ that God has given to us. We’re accepting His free gift, not on the grounds that we’ve earned it or have any ability or power to partake of it, but on the grounds that God has promised to give it to us, as a gift. And now Jesus is telling us that when we are perfected, we’ll be as our Teacher. This tells us that it’s very important who our teacher is.
If we make religion our teacher, we’re going to be far short. If we make a certain denomination our teacher, we’re only going to go to that level and we’re going to stop, because they won’t let us go beyond them. They’ll judge us pretty harshly if we try. But if we make the Word of God our Teacher, and “Word of God” is just another name for Jesus Christ, then we can come into that image. So the best thing to do, of course, is to dig and study the Word, to find out exactly what it is to be like Him and to be a disciple.
The disciple is not above his Teacher. He promised that a disciple, when he is perfected, shall be as his Teacher. Not all people called Christians will ever be perfected, but disciples will, because they’re learners and followers, mathetes. They study the master. They want to walk as the Master walked. Notice the promise is “when.” But that’s for a disciple. There are many, many Christians, but not many disciples. Jesus made conditions for discipleship and we need to study those conditions, too.
Here’s a similar verse: (Mat.10:24) A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his lord. (25) It is enough for the disciple that he be as his teacher, and the servant as his lord. Wow! Again, an awesome word that the Lord has given unto us. Many people would call that blasphemy, but the Lord Himself is the One Who spoke it. It’s not our power.
See, Jesus is “the firstborn among many brethren” (Rom.8:29). We, too, are being “born” into His image: spirit, soul and, ultimately, body. But while we’re here, we’re called to come into His image in spirit and soul. (Mat.10:25) It is enough for the disciple that he be as his teacher, and the servant as his lord. (1Jn.2:6) He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked. To abide in Christ means to be coming into that place where you are walking as He walked, more and more. You’re growing in the image and stature of Christ and you’re coming into that place.
Let me also point out another verse: (Joh.8:34) Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Every one that committeth sin is the bondservant of sin. (35) And the bondservant abideth not in the house for ever: the son abideth for ever…. So there are some people who are considered bondservants who will not enter the Kingdom; they will not be “in the house forever.” They will not have eternal life because they’re also bondservants of sin; only “the son abideth forever.”
There’s a difference between a bondservant and a son. Let me explain something to you that the Lord explained to me. Every son is a bondservant and every son serves his lord diligently, but not every bondservant is a son. A son is a special relationship. This is the heir we’re talking about; they’re not just a slave. Servants serve for one reason; sons serve for quite another reason. Sons want to promote their father’s kingdom because they’re also heirs of that kingdom, and they want to please their father. He’s their father!
Bondservants serve, many times, because they have to. Sometimes it might be just fire insurance to them. But to a son, it’s different; it’s personal when you’re a son. And there are far fewer sons than there are bondservants.
I’d like to further point out the difference between a servant and a son: (Gal.4:1) But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a bondservant though he is lord of all. Let’s say that all who are called Christians are heirs. Some are children and some are more and more manifesting sonship. Right now, he says, so long as the heir is a child, he’s no different than a bondservant, even though, in reality and according to position, he’s lord of everything.
God has given us perfection at the very beginning of our walk. It’s a free gift He’s given unto us and because we accept it by faith, we walk more and more in that position. What is perfection? It’s Christ, it’s sonship, it’s the manifestation of the Son in you. This is God’s plan. Reconciliation is an exchange of Christ’s life on the cross for your life. “Reconciliation” means “an exchange.” God has given you His life and His blessings and taken your curse and your sin and put it upon the cross. Now we are entering into this because we believe in this. (Mat.9:29) … According to your faith be it done unto you. The Lord is manifesting this in us freely because we believe that we’ve been given sonship and not just the position of a servant.
Here’s another confirmation: (Pro.29:21) He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child Shall have him become a son at the last. Servants and children are equal, but the end result, which we’re looking in the mirror to see, is sonship. (Gal.4:1) But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a bondservant though he is lord of all; (2) but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed of the father. That’s true; we all start out in kindergarten, which is a lot of religions out there, friends. They are just kindergarten.
The Lord told me one time that religions are like playpens that are meant to be outgrown – we’re supposed to climb over the bars. They build all kinds of bars around you to keep you in, but you can outgrow them. You can be mature, but in the meantime, there are “guardians and stewards” who keep the baby from getting in trouble.
(3) So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the rudiments of the world. “Rudiments” here means “elements.” The Greek word stoicheion means “first principles in a series.” Many people are really hung up under the “first principles.” They’re staying right there; they’re not moving from the “first principles.” But if you stay there, you’re not going to bear fruit. Some people are going around in little religious circles with the same old things, not stretching forth to grow in the fullness of the Word of God.
(Gal.4:4) But when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, (5) that he might redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. (Heb.7:19) (For the law made nothing perfect)….If you’re under the Law, you’ll never come to perfection. We’re all in a relationship with God, brethren. Grace is the right relationship. We need His grace and His power to work in us.
The Law is actuated by our own works, but we receive grace through faith and then God works the work in us. (Php.2:13) For it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure. We need to get out from under the Law, otherwise, we’ll always stay a child and bondservant. (Gal.4:6) And because ye are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Now, what does “because ye are sons” mean?
The answer is here: (Gal.3:25) But now that faith is come, we are no longer under a tutor. (26) For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus. (Rom.8:19) For the earnest expectation of the creation waiteth for the revealing of the sons of God. That’s the manifestation of the sons of God. This is the son of God by faith. We’re sons of God by faith because now, in the New Testament, out from under the Law, we’re justified by faith in believing that we don’t live anymore – Christ lives in us.
(Eph.1:4) Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him in love: (5) having foreordained us unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. Remember, He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child Shall have him become a son at the last (Pro.29:21).
This comes from both the Jews and the Romans. They had a procedure whereby they would adopt servants in whom they had particular pleasure, maybe if they didn’t have a child of their own. They would adopt them as sons, the point being that the word for “child,” teknon, only emphasizes a birth, but the word “son,” huios, emphasizes a particular relationship with the father. There are many people born into the Kingdom, but they never manifest sonship. They remain children all their lives. They never mature and don’t bear fruit.
One thing that keeps us from bearing fruit is the Law, living under legalism. This is illustrated here: (Gal.4:7) So that thou art no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God. So we see that, by faith, we are no longer bondservants; we’re no longer children. We’re sons because we come out from under the Law and into grace to enter into this.
(8) Howbeit at that time, not knowing God, ye were in bondage to them that by nature are no gods: (9) but now that ye have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how turn ye back again to the weak and beggarly rudiments (there’s “first principles” again), whereunto ye desire to be in bondage over again? (10) Ye observe days, and months, and seasons, and years. (11) I am afraid of you, lest by any means I have bestowed labor upon you in vain.
They were going back under the Law and seeking to be justified by the Law, through their own self-efforts to keep the Law, instead of by faith. (Gal.3:11) Now that no man is justified by the law before God, is evident: for, The righteous shall live by faith. So our life comes from faith. The Law is just our tutor to bring us to Christ. He has to take us from that point on.
(Gal.4:19) My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you (in other words, until sonship is formed in you). You’re a child if you’re under the Law in any form. If your religion is putting you under legalism, whether it’s the legalism of the Old Testament Law or their own laws, rather than being able to follow the Spirit, you’re going to stay a child. You’re never going to grow up.
He goes on to talk about the “son of the handmaid” and the “son of the freewoman”: (21) Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? (22) For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one by the freewoman. Now that’s clear. If you’re under legalism, you’re not free to hear the voice of Christ and follow Him, and to submit to all that Scripture has to say – not just the little box that your religion has made. It doesn’t matter whether it’s man’s legalism or of your own church rules, or even as far as going back under the Old Testament Law. You’re not free and you’re not justified by faith like that.
Sons of the handmaid are servants; sons of the freewoman are sons. He warns us in the next verse, (30) Howbeit what saith the scripture? Cast out the handmaid and her son: for the son of the handmaid shall not inherit with the son of the freewoman. Yes, they were both children of Abraham, but Paul is making a type and a shadow here to show us that the bondservant who is not a son will not have the eternal life like the son will.
The devil has a lot of people walking in bondage, thinking that they’re justified by their works, thinking nobody else is obeying this particular part of the Law but them and they’re seeking to be justified by that. They’re not free and it’s sad. (Rom.8:14) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. The Spirit of God is not going to lead you back under the law, a covenant that God never made with you. The Spirit of God is going to lead you under grace.
(Gal.4:31) Wherefore, brethren, we are not children of a handmaid, but of the freewoman. Yes, that’s exactly right by faith, not necessarily by manifestation, but by faith. So we need to repent. If you are listening to men who are dragging you back under the Law, you need to repent because this is going to stunt your growth. You will be called a son of the handmaid and not of the freewoman. You’ll be a bondservant, but you’ll never be a son. A bondservant is a child, the Bible says.
We’re waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God. The whole of creation waits. The whole purpose of God is to create His children into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. That’s the manifestation of the sons of God. There are false doctrines about the manifestation out there and some are scaring away people from the very words “manifestation of the sons of God,” but it’s in the Book. It was taught by the Lord and taught by the apostle Paul. We need an understanding of what “manifestation of the sons of God” means, which is what we’re entering into.
I’d like to remind you that John says exactly what we read in Galatians: (Joh.8:34) Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Every one that committeth sin is the bondservant of sin. (35) And the bondservant abideth not in the house for ever: the son abideth forever. Ishmaels do not have eternal life; Isaacs do. We are the seed of promise, through Isaac. Ishmael wasn’t; that was a work of Abraham. By type and shadow, we understand what this means.
The Parable of the Talents is very clear: (Mat.25:14) For [it is] as [when] a man, going into another country, called his own servants (these are not the people of the world; these are the people of the Kingdom), and delivered unto them his goods. (15) And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his several ability; and he went on his journey. So he gave forth his talents, and he expected them to bear the fruit of this.
(16) Straightway he that received the five talents went and traded with them, and made other five talents. (17) In like manner he also that [received] the two gained other two. (18) But he that received the one went away and digged in the earth (in the flesh), and hid his lord’s money. (19) Now after a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and maketh a reckoning with them. (20) And he that received the five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: lo, I have gained other five talents.
(21) His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord. (22) And he also that [received] the two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: lo, I have gained other two talents. (23) His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
(24) And he also that had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou didst not sow, and gathering where thou didst not scatter; (25) and I was afraid, and went away and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, thou hast thine own. (26) But his lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I did not scatter; (27) thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back mine own with interest. So when the lord returned, he judged the two who brought forth fruit and they entered into the kingdom and were blessed abundantly.
But he also judged the servant who had only one talent and didn’t bear any fruit: (28) Take ye away therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him that hath the ten talents. (29) For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away. (Mat.25:30) And cast ye out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.
The unprofitable servant who doesn’t bear the fruit, the servant who doesn’t manifest sonship 30-, 60- and 100- fold, is cast forth into the outer darkness. They took the one talent away from that person and gave it to the servant who had 10 talents. Remember that because we’re going to see it again. In other words, if you have fruit, you’ll get more. If you have less, you’ll get less.
If we go to Ezekiel, we see a revelation concerning the rewards given to the sons, not to the servants: (Eze.46:16) Thus saith the Lord God: If the prince (“Prince” was the name given to the High Priest and we know that’s Jesus Christ) give a gift unto any of his sons, it is his inheritance (whatever the Lord gives to a son here, it’s theirs and they will keep it forever), it shall belong to his sons; it is their possession by inheritance. (17) But if he give of his inheritance a gift to one of his servants…. Some people think that because they have the gift, they’re a shoe-in: “I’m going to be in the Kingdom. I got these gifts. I got the Holy Spirit. I got this; I got that.” No, it doesn’t mean any such thing.
A person has to bear the fruit of sonship; Jesus said 30-, 60- and 100-fold. Just because a person has the gift means nothing. There are actual religions out there that believe a person is a shoe-in if they speak in tongues, but there are a lot of tongue-talkers who are going to split hell wide open because they’re not bearing the fruit of Jesus Christ. Whatever God has given to them, He can take it back just as easily as He gave it to them. It’s because they’re a servant, a perpetual child.
Of course, one thing that makes you a servant and a child is being under the Law and not faith. You see, faith is accounted as righteousness. Even as young in the faith as you are, you walk in that righteousness because you walk by faith. In other words, faith “calleth the things that are not, as though they were” (Rom.4:17). Faith receives the end from the beginning. God calls you “righteous” because of your faith. There’s a blood covering on you because of your faith.
But some will be perpetual children – bondservants and never sons, because of religion, because of a wrong relationship with God. (Eze.46:17) But if he give of his inheritance a gift to one of his servants, it shall be his to the year of liberty; then it shall return to the prince; (So you see, God can take back every gift that He’s given to you, if you’re not going to bear fruit, if you’re not going to walk by faith.) but as for his inheritance, it shall be for his sons.
Remember that the one talent was given to the bondservant with the 10 talents. It was taken away from the unprofitable bondservant who had the one talent, and who was then cast forth into outer darkness where there’s weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth. His talent, his reward, his gift, was given to the one who had 10, the one who had manifested sonship.
I believe the 10 talents in that parable represents those who have come completely into the image of Jesus Christ. The Bible says that the servant will become as his lord (Matthew 10:25) and Jesus promises 30-, 60- and 100-fold fruit. Paul also talks about the star glory, the moon glory and the sun glory. He speaks about the three different kinds of bodies that will be given to the saints because of the fruit that they’ve manifested on the earth (1 Corinthians 15).
What we see in Ezekiel 46 is the same thing we just read in Matthew, chapters 22 and 25. There are differences of reward, depending upon whether you are a child as a bondservant, or whether you are as a son. (Pro.29:21) He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child Shall have him become a son at the last. So we’re seeing the end from the beginning, seeing sonship, seeing in a mirror and, guess what? You’re believing it’s yours, you’re continuing to walk in this faith and, if you consider it to be yours, God considers it to be yours.
Jesus said, “According to your faith be it unto you” (Mat.9:29). In other words, He was adding His faith to your faith. If you’re believing something, He added His faith to your faith and it was done! It’s the same today. He’s the same yesterday, today and forever. If you’re walking by faith in a free gift, not something you could earn by your own self-righteousness, He’s going to add His faith to your faith and it’ll be yours. You don’t have to worry about losing it. Don’t worry about the time we have left. Don’t worry about anything. The only thing you’re supposed to do is behold “in a mirror the glory of the Lord,” so that you’re transformed into that same image, “from glory to glory.”
According to Leviticus 25, this all happens at the year of liberty, the Jubilee, when the inheritance is divided up. This is when all the land goes back to the original owner, meaning when “The kingdom of the world is become [the kingdom] of our Lord, and of his Christ: and he shall reign for ever and ever” (Rev.11:15). At the end of the Tribulation period, this is all going to be divided up and those who walk as servants and not as sons are not going to abide in the house forever, because they’re bondservants of sin.
There’s only one thing that keeps a person from partaking of this gift of God: it’s to continue to walk in their sins when they don’t have to because Jesus was the Lamb of God Who took away the sins of the world. Believe that you don’t have any sin anymore because Jesus took it away. You can say no to the devil because Jesus delivered you out of the power of darkness. You can say no now because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Look at this verse: (Isa.65:9) And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains (out of Jacob – not all of Jacob, just a seed out of Jacob); and my chosen shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there. There’s a difference between dwelling there for a time and inheriting it. “My chosen.” “Many are called, but few chosen” (Mat.22:14). The chosen were the ones in Matthew chapters 22 and 25 who inherited.
Let me show you something from Psalms: (Psa.37:9) For evil-doers shall be cut off; But those that wait for the Lord, they shall inherit the land. We see the Bible says evildoers from among God’s people will be cut off from the land, too. (10) For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: Yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and he shall not be. (11) But the meek shall inherit the land, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
This is also repeated further on down: (29) The righteous shall inherit the land, And dwell there forever. (34) Wait for the Lord, and keep his way, And he will exalt thee to inherit the land: When the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it. (37) Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; For there is a [happy] end to the man of peace. (38) As for transgressors, they shall be destroyed together: The end of the wicked shall be cut off.
Let me bring this passage to your attention: (Rom.8:12) So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh: (13) for if ye live after the flesh, ye must die; but if by the Spirit ye put to death the deeds of the body, ye shall live. Notice it’s “by the Spirit” of God and not our power. When a person has faith they have the power of the Spirit of God. Faith is just believing that God is true to His Word. It’s just believing and reforming our mind to believe that what God says is true and what He’s given us is ours. It’s believing you are who He says you are.
(14) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. We can be led by the Spirit of God. We can love the truth. We can renounce evil. It’s all a gift from God and we accept it freely, by faith.
The Spirit of God is the Spirit of adoption and He is the One Who brings us to the adoption of sons. (15) For ye received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear; but ye received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. Many of you probably read or watched Ben-Hur and know how he was adopted by the Roman centurion. He’s a good example and the Jews did the same thing. (16) The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God: (17) and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified with [him].
Many don’t want to suffer. They just walk by faith but they don’t want to suffer the death of the old man. (2Co.4:16) Wherefore we faint not; but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day. You walk by faith for the new man and that’s correct and right, but you have to be willing to give up the old man, to deny yourself and bear your cross, or there’s no new man who can take his place in the Kingdom.
The Bible says that the outer man is decaying while the inner man is being renewed. As the old man is dying, the new man is taking his place. There’s no other way. So, we have to cooperate with God in the death, as well. We accept and we believe in the death. That’s why we’re baptized – for the death, burial and resurrection. If you don’t cooperate with God in the death, how are you going to get to the resurrection? The death is still God’s gift.
(Rom.8:18) For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us-ward. (19) For the earnest expectation of the creation waiteth for the revealing of the sons of God. These are the days for which God has put this earth here to begin with, to manifest His sons. He knows that this is a small portion of humanity on planet Earth, but He considers it worth it to have these manifested sons. Jesus was “the firstborn among many brethren” (29). These brethren are growing up in His likeness, by the grace of God.
(20) For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but by reason of him who subjected, in hope (21) that the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of God. (22) For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. (23) And not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for [our] adoption (That will be a wonderful day!), [to wit,] the redemption of our body. The full manifestation of our adoption is when we get our new body. I want to tell you, however, that only those who bear the fruit in spirit and soul will get that new body.
The manifestation, of course, is not children, but sons. (1Jn.3:2) Beloved, now are we children of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that, if he shall be manifested (manifested in us is what he’s talking about), we shall be like him; for we shall see him even as he is. The person who sees the true Jesus in the mirror is the one who will be manifested in His likeness, who will come into manifesting Him from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18).
Then we’re told in the next verse, (3) And every one that hath this hope [set] on him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. There it is again – sonship, “even as he is pure.” You may say, “That’s not a possibility,” but think again. It’s the Word of God. Take this free gift of Jesus, the life of Christ, the sonship that the Lord has given unto you. Accept it freely. Give up your old life, your sinful ways and turn to God. Amen.
This is so awesome! This is God’s promise to us! Get in the Word for it is the only thing that brings forth Jesus!
Wednesday Jan 03, 2024
Wednesday Jan 03, 2024
We Need To Check Ourselves (1)
David Eells 1/3/24
We are very close to the appearance of the Man-child reformers to chose the Bride. It is past time to stop playing and draw close to the Lord. It is time to check ourselves to be sure we are in the running. Major disasters are coming at the same time so pray that you are accounted worthy to escape all these things.
Lam 3:40 Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to Jehovah.
1Co 11:27-34 Wherefore whosoever shall eat the bread or drink the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man prove himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of the cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh, eateth and drinketh judgment unto himself, if he discern not the body. 30 For this cause many among you are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep. 31 But if we discerned ourselves, we should not be judged.
32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. 33 Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, wait one for another. 34 If any man is hungry, let him eat at home; that your coming together be not unto judgment. And the rest will I set in order whensoever I come.
2Co 13:5 Try your own selves, whether ye are in the faith; prove your own selves. Or know ye not as to your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you? unless indeed ye be reprobate. Gal 6:4 But let each man prove his own work, and then shall he have his glorying in regard of himself alone, and not of his neighbor. Psa 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart: Try me, and know my thoughts; 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting. Psa 26:1-2 A Psalm of David. Judge me, O Jehovah, for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in Jehovah without wavering. 2 Examine me, O Jehovah, and prove me; Try my heart and my mind.
Eph 5:15-21 Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise; 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Spirit; 19 speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 giving thanks always for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; 21 subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ.
(Rev 3:11 I come quickly: hold fast that which thou hast, that no one take thy crown.)
Purposely Desire The Lord
Anonymous 4/7/23 (David’s notes in red)
Nothing comes from anything else other than Me. Not your own works, or other people, or this earth. Just Me. (Joh 3:27 ASV John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it have been given him from heaven.)
Endure the suffering now. Have selflessness now above all. If it hurts or is undesirable to the flesh, it is most likely to be for My Glory. (As in Death to self; the crucified life.) There are testings of your patience and diligence to make way for the end result of My Will. And these testings will enable you to always resist the enemy.
Have a high regard and hope of Who I Am! (The highest of all, the creator of all; cares for you.) Ask yourself, can there be anything I cannot do? Would I leave anything undone? (Jer 32:27 ASV Behold, I am Jehovah, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me?)
Keep loving so much so, that the intensity drives darkness into nothingness.
You are in a very tough but major change. Be ready for the blessings in abundance. (I felt to be ready to utilize, not just receive.)
Let go of your own feelings and satisfactions. Look at My Son. Did He not lay His life down for you, and yet said nothing? (We are to do just the same as Lord Jesus.) NENT Act 8:32-35 Now the passage of the scripture which he was reading was this, He was led as a sheep to slaughter; And as a lamb before his shearer is dumb, So he openeth not his mouth: 33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: His generation who shall declare? For his life is taken from the earth. 34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other? 35 And Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this scripture, preached the gospel to him, Jesus.
1Jn 3:16 Hereby know we love, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
Repent quickly. The quicker you do so, you can then be close to each other as I am to you. (I saw a triangle. We must yearn for each other in unity.)
You are in a time of sanctification. Tried and true. (I saw how metal being beaten into shape by a blacksmith and tried and proven and made stronger in a fiery furnace.)
There is nothing that compares to My Love. I want you and desire your company forever. Cherish this and do not get distracted from My Love. I am pure and true. Everything else is a test of our love together.
When you see the time where children and those young in faith are speaking as Jesus did in the temple, then you are unable to ask for more time for the end of time is here. Be ready. (I felt that these are the times where we are seeing those being called out from the apostate churches, His Sheep who follow His Voice, for Our Father’s Glory.)
NENT Luk 2:46-49 And it came to pass, after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both hearing them, and asking them questions: 47 and all that heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when they saw him, they were astonished; and his mother said unto him, Child, why hast thou thus dealt with us? lo, thy father and I seek thee sorrowing. 49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? knew ye not that I must be about my Father’s business.
Trust Me. I have a way. (I felt we are to let go of all our desires and to treat each day as the last. Not for pleasure but for closeness to Him.)
Hold to Me. Never let go. You are doing well and keeping true on the righteous path. Never let this be a reason to stop or slow down. Never allow lies or self to be a hinderance to our life together – now.
There Must Be An Exchange
Debbie Fenske 12/30/23 (David’s notes in red)
My children let Me speak this Word of love to you from My heart.
Being where you are does not make you part of My Holy Bride. Only ignoring this world around you, and consuming yourself with the business of My Kingdom, willingly and faithfully from a heart of total repentance, and a life of Holy Living as you abide in Me, do I stamp upon you, “Holiness To the Lord."
In this hour of much darkness and much falling away of My people, I need your oneness with Me, and I so desire My oneness with you. I need you to be in the thick of warfare against this darkness. Realize the exchange that has taken place. I have been exchanged for meaningless activities. Do you really understand the times we are in? Yes, we are in this together. You need to make the exchange back from the meaninglessness to My High Calling, exchange from darkness to light. Yes. I say that this is an exchange from darkness to light.
Let Me open your eyes so that you will see the darkness where you spend so much of your time. This world and the things that are only for occupying your mind and your time are things of darkness. (The distractions of the pleasures of the flesh are darkness.) For a very short time, now, My hand of invitation is still mercifully stretched out to you. What great mercy I have given to you, My people. I have given you so much of everything. So much of Myself. And now the choosing of My Bride is at hand.
This is the time to make the exchange. You know what I am asking each of you. Search your hearts. Examine your hearts. Separation is not what I am merely asking of you. I Am requiring it of you. Be diligent to enter the fight for those to whom I have called, and am calling, still, out of My great mercy. Enter in, in the beauty of holiness. Remember, desire is not enough. Your will must win over mere desire. Just as My will was to give My life for Yours, so now, so close in this last hour, will you by your will, and by My extended grace and mercy, give up your life for Me and for others? There are many who need you to give up your life for them, in warfare for them against the enemy.
Have you not known that playtime has been over? The time has always been for death to self, but life in Me, for Me and with Me in our Kingdom Reign together on this earth for eternity. Eternity is right now. Right now, spend it with Me on your knees. Keep your hearts bowed. I Am waiting to cloth you with My glory. Are you making yourselves worthy of My High Calling?
You are not alone, though you may feel it, being separated from beloved friends and family. For I have given you one another, a family to work together, to come into this calling together as one in Me. I love you, My Children.
So Many Will Not Be Kept Safe
Debbie Fenske 9/30/23 (David’s notes in red)
I received this last Thursday night, 9-28-23. It was our worship and praise night on the Zoom Outreach conference call. I could not share it that night because I knew I had to pray about how to present this.
Our worship time was awesome. It was such a wonderful uplifting time. I was being really blessed worshiping and praising God, and being lifted up in my spirit, so, I was not prepared for such a turn that I received.
One of the last few songs we were singing had lyrics about how He will keep us in the fire, and He will keep us in the storm. After that song I began feeling a spirit of heaviness come over me. It just wasn’t normal.
I asked Father, “What is this all about, God? Why am I feeling this way?” And then, suddenly I was seeing a vision of Jesus in a white robe. His hair was brown, and shoulder length. His head was somewhat bowed allowing His hair to fall forward over His shoulders, and hang down at each side of His face. Then, I was suddenly given a closer view of His face, like the way a camera focuses on an object. I could see Jesus was not happy. I could tell He was very sad, and grieving, and I could not understand that, because I thought our worship time was so great.
Then our worship went into another song with real high praise, and people were so happy, lifting up Jesus. The main lyrics, I will say, were, “I just can’t stop praising His Name.” And the song kind of went on and on. I opened my eyes and watched as I was singing with them. It was really a great song. But I was feeling this heaviness at the same time,
Then, closing my eyes again, I was again seeing the same vision of Jesus, really grieving, with such sadness on His face. I couldn’t understand this. I was still confused, asking myself, “Why this, now?” Then, Jesus faded out, and I was looking at what I had just been watching: people on stage, raising their arms, singing loudly, kicking their legs, and dancing, and twirling while praising God. I saw one group of praisers that were really dressed up, and then another group of praisers were in just jeans and T-shirt, just like what we were watching in these worship videos.
But what I heard the Lord say after that, I don’t think He was necessarily applying to these particular groups, individuals, and choirs of people that we were just seeing in the worship videos. But He was referring to many people out there that are lifted up in this way. And not just groups or individuals who are popular out there, but to so many who are saying they are doing what they are doing for God’s kingdom. But they are not. As I was watching that vision, and after seeing Jesus looking so sad and grieved, and feeling His heart, this is what the Lord said.
“So many will not be kept safe from the burning fire, from the storm, from the battle. They will not be kept safe, though they praise Me, because they have not known Me. They are deceived. Oh, they look like they know Me when they are singing great songs of praise to Me. But though they know that what they sing about Me is true, they do not know Me.”
“They boast in that I love them. But they cannot boast in their love for Me, for they do not know Me. Therefore, I do not know them. These people grieve My heart so, as I watch them make fools of themselves before the devil and his demons. If they only would really want to know what is in My Word. But they have no desire to know My Word, because they have no real desire to know Me. What they really desire is to be looked upon and worshiped by others. Foolish, they are.”
“And though it grieves Me, I know that there are many of them who realize they are empty of Me, and will repent, and come to Me, and follow Me. But so much more than those who will repent, are those who will not repent, and are going to stay on their stage singing their way into hell.”
After I finished writing this down, I just happened to opened my Bible. I wasn’t, at this point, going for a random word for confirmation. But I was thinking I would do that. So I was really amazed when I read the verses that my eyes looked down at after I opened my Bible. Thank you Lord!
I looked at verse 7 of Matthew 7. I’m reading Matthew 7:6-7. 6 And He said unto them, “Rightly did Isaiah, prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: this people honors Me with their lips, but their hearts are far away from Me. 7 But in vain, do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.”
So, the numbers, 767 strongly stood out to me. When numbers stand out to me I like to look them up in the Strongs concordance. So what Strongs says of 767 is, “of no mark, unmarked, or unstamped, insignificant, ignoble.”
Oh Father, You’ve shown that You do grieve for those who are in such a deceived state. It is scary to be thinking that people who worship You before men, are in that place. (Hollywood entertainment has invaded the Church.) The same as all people who say they are Christians, but are deceived by doctrines of demons, thinking that popularity while wearing Your name tag is acceptable.
They know of You only in their head, not in their heart. But so many do not realize that they are unmarked, or unstamped, and insignificant to You, and ignoble in what they think they are doing unto You, or for Your kingdom. And they don’t realize that You do not know them. I pray that we, and all of Your people will always examine our hearts before You, searching our hearts, and repenting, of not worshipping You in spirit and in truth in all we do.
Father, as we are staying in Your Word, reveal to us where we are being in the flesh, and of any spirit of pride and self-grandeur which is so unpleasing to You, so that we can repent. Thank You for Your grace to us to stay in the light of Your Word, wanting Your light to shine on any darkness in our lives so that we can repent and remain true, pure, and clean before You, before one another, and before those out in the world, for Your honor and glory alone.
Please open the eyes of Your people, quickly, who don’t see that they are in this dangerous, place, trapped in the lie of the devil that tells them they are right with You, while they are really just lifting up themselves, desiring only to please men. Please make them aware of the strong truth of Your words in Matthew 7:23, “I never knew you.” And Matthew 25:41“Depart from me ye cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”
Lord, put in them a Holy fear of You, and cause them to repent, to change their ways by walking according to Your Word. Deliver them from the darkness so that they will be a Light in the darkness, bringing honor to only Your name, never to their own. And always, in all they do, worship You from their heart, in spirit, and in truth. Thank you, Father. Amen.
Sing For The Lord
Anonymous 4/9/23 (David’s notes in red)
“Are you worshipping Me to make yourself feel good or are you doing it for (or to revere) Me? The songs you listen to and the words you sing, are they Holy? Are they, My Word? Are they truth? Or is it repetitive flesh pleasing and self-pleasing words? Are the words (lyrics) contrary to My Word?
Are the feelings you are experiencing the Holy Spirit, or the flesh being aroused? Is this for Me or for You?
Don't you know that you can't even speak or walk without Me and My grace? Use your mouth for Me and My Glory. Let Me bridle your tongue and let Me only speak through you. Stop speaking about self and singing for self. Think about how those who worship Me now in the Holy of Holies for eternity. You have heard some say, ‘Holy Holy Holy’ and they don’t speak or glorify self. Think and speak with Me about the beats you listen to.
Music goes straight to your soul and there is no filter, spirits transfer whether you see it or not. Are the people you are listening to singing from My Spirit? Are the instrumentals to Glorify Me and from Me or is it another spirit to make and manipulate you to feel a certain way? Is it making your flesh feel good? When the song finishes do you lose the joy? Does it feel like a come down? Or is it My Joy that is always present? Does the pleasure only last the duration of the song or is it My Peace which is always there?
Abide and remain in My presence. Ask Me and allow Me to open your eyes to see what spirits are singing, speaking and playing through in the songs you listen to. Allow Me to show you what is really happening in the spiritual when you listen to these songs. When you listen to it you are agreeing with it and in some ways, it has put you under curses.
Yes, My Grace is for you but I can't break or go against My own words. Touch NO unclean thing and be Holy as I Am Holy. I love when you sing to Me from your heart. It doesn't matter the tone of your voice or how it sounds in the physical. Your singing from your heart gives Me greater joy than you know. I created you to sing for me and dance for Me.
Allow My spirit to sing through you. You don't need to always listen to others singing when you don't even know what spirit they are singing from, and you don't even know them. Sing to Me, you don't even need a beat but sing to Me, My child with My Spirit, commune with Me not just in Spirit and Word but in songs and dance. When you are alone and when you come together.
The flesh doesn't like the Spirit singing and dancing through you to Me and will do anything to hinder it. Your Spirit desires to sing and dance to Me always. And when you do it hinders and crucifies the flesh so your Spirit rises up.
I love you My child but do these things. I desire you to be clean, holy, pure, undefiled. I Am with you and I will help you, I will show you if you just ask.”
Your Time Is My Time
Eve Brast 7/23/17 (David’s notes in red)
Father spoke a word to me that I would like to share. I had been meditating on a couple of conversations I’d had with a brother and sister after the morning prayer meeting and, as a result, I asked Father to speak to me.
I realized I hadn’t heard from Him in a while so I asked Him why he’d been silent lately? He answered me immediately as if He had been waiting for my attention.
He said, "I have not been silent. It’s that your mind has been too loud. Empty your mind and void it of busyness and the soulish thoughts that continually scream for your attention. Still your mind and be quiet and you will hear My voice clearly.
Don’t allow external distraction or the soulish thought life dull your discernment of the attacks from the enemy. He hides behind these and intermingles with them to keep you in turmoil and keep you from fully entering into the life and purpose I intend for you.
Guard your mind with My Word. Build the wall with the Rock of my Word and the mortar of quietness and stillness of mind. This will protect and strengthen your mind with My peace and a singleness of purpose. Cast down the soulish thought life and turn away from distraction. Shut them out so you can hear Me clearly and distinguish the voice of the enemy. Strive to walk out your days in stillness of mind. As you train your mind in this way, I will meet you there in the stillness.”
I asked our Father for a verse or text for this word and received: Psalm 139:3 (1-4), O Jehovah, thou hast searched me, and known me. 2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising; Thou understandest my thought afar off. 3 Thou searchest out my path and my lying down, And art acquainted with all my ways. 4 For there is not a word in my tongue, But, lo, O Jehovah, thou knowest it altogether.
When I was driving home from work Sunday evening, Father again spoke very clearly to me as I was thinking on this Word above. He said, "Your time is My time! Don’t waste My time. Seek Me on how I would have you spend it.”
This really convicted me, because I do waste time at some point each day. I didn’t realize that He considered my time His time and that it was precious to Him. I figured, "Well, I’m nobody, so how I spend free time isn’t all that important.” Looks like I was presumptuous on that one!
I asked Him for a verse concerning my time being His time and received, Acts 1:14 These all with one accord continued stedfastly in prayer, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
Hope this helps any who are also struggling in these areas.
Scripture Test of Discipleship
David Eells
Rom 8:13 for if ye live after the flesh, ye must die; but if by the Spirit ye put to death the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Mat 10:34 Think not that I came to send peace on the earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I came to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law: 36 and a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And he that doth not take his cross and follow after me, is not worthy of me. 39 He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Joh 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a grain of wheat fall into the earth and die, it abideth by itself alone; but if it die, it beareth much fruit. 25 He that loveth his life loseth it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will the Father honor.
1Co 9:23 And I do all things for the gospel's sake, that I may be a joint partaker thereof. 24 Know ye not that they that run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? Even so run; that ye may attain. 25 And every man that striveth in the games exerciseth self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, as not uncertainly; so fight I, as not beating the air: 27 but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.
Luk 13:6 And he spake this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came seeking fruit thereon, and found none. 7 And he said unto the vinedresser, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why doth it also cumber the ground? 8 And he answering saith unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: 9 and if it bear fruit thenceforth, well; but if not, thou shalt cut it down.
Jas 1:2 Count it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into manifold temptations; 3 knowing that the proving of your faith worketh patience. 4 And let patience have its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing. 5 But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing doubting: for he that doubteth is like the surge of the sea driven by the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord; 8 a doubleminded man, unstable in all his ways.
2Pe 2:2 And many shall follow their lascivious doings; by reason of whom the way of the truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And in covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose sentence now from of old lingereth not, and their destruction slumbereth not. 4 For if God spared not angels when they sinned, but cast them down to hell, and committed them to pits of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
5 and spared not the ancient world, but preserved Noah with seven others, a preacher of righteousness, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; 6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, having made them an example unto those that should live ungodly; 7 and delivered righteous Lot, sore distressed by the lascivious life of the wicked 8 (for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their lawless deeds):
9 the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment unto the day of judgment; 10 but chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of defilement, and despise dominion. Daring, self-willed, they tremble not to rail at dignities:
Jas 5:9 Murmur not, brethren, one against another, that ye be not judged: behold, the judge standeth before the doors. 10 Take, brethren, for an example of suffering and of patience, the prophets who spake in the name of the Lord. 11 Behold, we call them blessed that endured: ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, how that the Lord is full of pity, and merciful.
Rom 8:17 and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified with him. 29 because to you it hath been granted in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer in his behalf:
2 Th 1:4 so that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions which ye endure; 5 which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God; to the end that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
1Pe 2:20 For what glory is it, if, when ye sin, and are buffeted for it, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye shall take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
1Pe 3:14 But even if ye should suffer for righteousness' sake, blessed are ye: and fear not their fear, neither be troubled;
1Pe 4:19 Wherefore let them also that suffer according to the will of God commit their souls in well-doing unto a faithful Creator.
Rev 2:10 Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer: behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.