Discovering the Biblical Kingdom of God, Jesus & Holy Spirit
America's Choice: Constitutional Republic or Democrat-Socialism?
"Man will ultimately be governed by God or by tyrants." (Benjamin Franklin)
Salvation: Eternal Life is "Knowing Him"
And THIS is eternal life, that they might know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. --John 17:3
"Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never know you: depart from me, you that work iniquity." --Matthew 7:22-23
Contents
To forgive means to release from accountability and guilt.
Suggested Prayer of Faith
John 14:6 - Jesus said to him,
Acts 4:12 - Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by
the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from
the dead, even by Him does this man stand here before you whole. This is the
stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the
corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name
under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Philippians 2:8-11 - And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled himself,
and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also
has highly exalted Him, and given Him a Name which is above every name: That at
the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in
earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Revelation 3:5 - He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in
white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I
will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
"You cannot be born a Christian. Jesus says "you must be
born again." (John 3:3-7)
--Greg Laurie
John 1:29 - "Behold, the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world."
"God reveals our sins to change us, not to condemn us." --
Dr. Michael Brown
Romans 3:10,23, 6:23 -
As it is written, There is none
righteous, no, not one: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
...For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through
Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 John 5:11-12 - And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and
this life is by means of His Son. The one who has the Son has eternal
life: the one who does not have the Son of God does not have eternal life. Psalm 32:1-5 - A psalm of David, a Maskhil. Blessed is he
whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the
man to whom the LORD* does not impute iniquity and in whose spirit there is
no deceit. (Romans 4:7, 8, Revelation 14:5) When I kept silence, my bones waxed
old through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Your hand was
heavy upon me. My moisture has turned into the drought of summer. Selah.
I acknowledged my sin to You and I have not hidden my iniquity. I said, I
shall confess my transgressions to the LORD*, then You forgave the iniquity
of my sin. Selah. Hebrews 10:14-23 For by one offering he has
perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a
witness to us: for after that he had said before (Jeremiah 31:33-34), This is the covenant that I
will make with them after those days, says the Lord, I will put my laws into
their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and
iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no
more offering for sin. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into
the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he has
consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an
high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full
assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our
bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith
without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal
life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
2 Corinthians
5:21 - For He has made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be
made the righteousness of God in Him.
Romans 5:8 - But God commends His love toward us, in that, while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us.
1 John 1:6-10 -
If we would say that we have fellowship with Him and we would walk in
darkness, we are lying and we are not practicing the truth: but if we walk in
the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the
blood of Y’shua His Son cleanses us from every sin. If we say that we do not
have sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our
sins,3 He is faithful and righteous, so that He would forgive our sins and He
would cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not
sinned, we make Him a liar and His Word is not in us.
1 John 2:1-6 -
My little children, I write these things to you so that you
would not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father,
Y’shua Messiah, the Righteous: and He is the means by which our sins are
forgiven, not concerning ours only but also on behalf of the whole world. And by
this we know that we have known Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who
says, “I have known Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar and the
truth is not in him: but whoever keeps His Word, truly the love of God would
have been completed in him, because we know that we are in Him. The one who says
he remains in Him is obligated to walk the same walk just as that One walked.
1 John 2:28 - And now, little
children, remain in Him, so that if He would be revealed we would have boldness
and we would not be shamed by Him at His coming.
Sin is cheating on God's Grace and Christ's Crucifixion "afresh." (Hebrews 6:4-6)
Confidence before God
1 John 3:19-24 - And we will know by this that we are of the
truth and we will tranquilize, bring peace to our hearts before Him, that if our
hearts would accuse us, that God is greater than our hearts and He knows all
things. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God
and we receive from Him whatever we would ask, because we are keeping His
commandments and we are doing what is pleasing before Him. And this is His
commandment, that we would believe in the name of His Son, Y’shua Messiah, and
we would love one another, just as He gave the commandment to us. And the one
who keeps His commandments remains in Him and He in him: and by this we know
that He remains in us, by the Spirit Whom He gave to us.
Ephesians 1:7 - In whom we have redemption through his
blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
1 John 1:1-10 - If we say that we have fellowship
with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in
the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the
blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have
no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our
sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his
word is not in us.
Lamb of God sacrificed on Passover
- Resurrected on Feast of First Fruits - "I know that my Redeemer liveth." -
American Minute with Bill Federer - Passover was first observed around 1,400 BC,
when the night before the exodus from Egypt, each Israelite family killed a lamb
and put its blood over the doorposts of their house so that the angel of death
would "pass over" during the final plague judgment. On the Jewish Feast of
Passover, the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan, around 30-33 AD, Jesus was
crucified as the "Lamb of God." The Apostle Paul wrote: "For even Christ our
passover is sacrificed for us." (I Corinthians 5:7)
Why Is God So Obsessed With Blood? By
Kyle Winkler (For the life of the flesh is in the blood" (Lev. 17:11, NRSV).
More than anything else in the body, blood is essential to life. It's what
carries the fuel and oxygen to the billions of cells in our bodies. Blood
supplies the brain and the heart with the necessary nourishment to function. It
also carries carbon dioxide and other waste materials to the digestive system,
where they are then removed from the body. Without blood we couldn't keep warm
or colo, fight infections, or get rid of our own waste products. Additionally
our very identity "our DNA" is located in our blood. ...Equating blood with life
will change the way you read the Bible, and thus, how you think about God. The
coverings He provided Adam and Eve after their sin were coverings of life. The
blood on the doorposts of the Hebrew people at Passover was the protection of
life. The yearly sacrifice God instituted for Israel was intended to restore
them with life.
The Blood why it is
precious By Dr. Charles S. Price -
It is true that it takes the power of the Holy Ghost to make men see the
tremendous spiritual value in the blood of Jesus Christ. Unsaved men cannot
understand it. By the word "unsaved," I not only mean men who are out in the
world of open sin, but also that man who is lost in the high-ways and byways of
his own unbelief. He might even be a minister. If he does not believe in the
blood of Jesus Christ he is not a saved man. I am going to give you a few
reasons why the blood of Jesus is very wonderful and precious.
Isaiah 53:6 - All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and
the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 59:1-15 - Behold, the
LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy,
that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and
your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity;
your lips have spoken lies, your tongue has muttered perverseness.
None calls for justice, nor any pleads for truth: they
trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth
iniquity. They hatch cockatrice' eggs, and weave the spider's web: he that eats
of their eggs dies, and that which is crushed breaks out into a viper. Their
webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their
works: their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their
hands. Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their
thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths.
The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they
have made them crooked paths: whosoever goes therein shall not know peace.
Therefore is judgment far from us, neither does
justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for
brightness, but we walk in darkness. We grope for the wall like the blind,
and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night;
we are in desolate places as dead men. We roar all like bears, and mourn
sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation,
but it is far off from us. For our transgressions are multiplied before
thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us;
and as for our iniquities, we know them; In transgressing and lying
against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and
revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. And
judgment is turned away backward, and justice stands afar off: for truth
is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. Yea, truth fails; and he
that departs from evil makes himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it
displeased him that there was no judgment.
Talked Into but Not Out of Sin
- By Dr. Ray Rooney Jr.
...God Himself couldn't talk Cain down from the cliff he had already determined
he would jump from. His descendants are still among us. They demand what they
think they're entitled to and if they don't get it when they believe they
deserve it, they bring misery and suffering to everyone around them. We are
gripped in the iron fist of narcissism which is being fed by an entitlement
mentality. ...Only Christ Jesus can take away
the tension, the consternation, the jealousy, and the drive to move inexorably
toward what we have either been convinced of or convinced ourselves belongs to
us. It is human nature to want more than we have. Remember, Original Sin was the
consequence, not the cause of Eve's decision making. One of the most profound
and prolific statements in the Bible about this subject is found in Philippians
2:3, "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others
more significant than yourselves." That would have kept Eve from leading her
husband into rebellion against God. It would have kept Cain from murdering his
brother. It would prevent every single sexual sin. It would prevent every sin
prompted by pride. ...Sin focuses and centers on what is
absent. Faith reveals Who is present. And He is enough. So the next time some
voice tries convincing you that you should be offended about what you don't
have, or the voice within rises up in outrage that you've been slighted and are
owed more respect, or a flirtatious remark aimed at you tickles your fancy and
imagination, just remember the words of the old song: Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow
strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace. (Helen H. Lemmel) Psalms 51: Have mercy upon me, O God,
according to Thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of Thy tender
mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and
cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever
before me. Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy
sight: that Thou might be justified when Thou speaks, and be clear when
Thou judge. Behold, I was shaped in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive
me. Behold, Thou desires truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part Thou
shall make me to know wisdom.
Exodus 34:6-7 - And
the LORD* passed by before him and proclaimed, “The LORD*, the LORD* God,
merciful and gracious, patient, and abundant in loving kindness and truth,
keeping loving kindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and
sin, (iniquity, transgression and sin define the LORD*’s ranking of sin.) and
Who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon
the children and upon the children’s children, to the third and to the fourth
generations. (The sins are visited in two ways: the repentant, not the
unrepentant are forgiven; the result of the sin causes pain even when the sin
has been forgiven. Children are not punished for the father’s sin, but may well
suffer because of it, Deuteronomy 24:16. )
Deuteronomy 24:16 - The fathers will not
be put to death for the children, nor will the children be put to death for the
fathers: every man will be put to death for his own sin.
Galatians 3:7-14 -
So then you know that those who are from faith, these are sons of Abraham.
And since the Scripture foresaw that God makes the heathens righteous by faith,
He proclaimed in advance to Abraham the Good News that “All the heathens will
be blessed in you.” (Genesis 12:3, Numbers 24:9) So that they are blessed because
of faith, with the faith of Abraham. For as many as are from works of
legalism, they are under a curse: for it has been written that “Cursed is
everyone who does not abide in all those things which have been written in the
scroll of the Torah (Teaching)3 to do them.” (Deuteronomy 27:26) And that no one
is made righteous in God by legalism is clear, because “The righteous will live
by faith.” (Habakkuk 2:4) 12. And legalism is not by faith, but “The one who does
these things will live by means of them.” (Leviticus 18:5) Messiah redeemed us
from the curse of legalism when He became a curse instead of us, because it has
been written, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree,” (Deuteronomy 21:23) So
that the blessing of Abraham would come to the heathens by means of Messiah Y’shua, so that we could take the promise of the Spirit through faith.
To forgive means to
release from accountability and guilt.
"But your iniquities have
separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will
not hear."
Just as righteousness is the
fruit of the Spirit, sin is the fruit of iniquity. Iniquity, is the root from
which sin bears fruit, just like abiding in Jesus bears the fruit of
righteousness.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be
whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which Thou
have broken may rejoice. Hide Thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine
iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within
me. Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy
free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways; and sinners shall be
converted unto Thee. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, Thou God of my
salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of Thy righteousness. O Lord, open
Thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth Thy praise.
For Thou desires not sacrifice; else would I give it: Thou
delight not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a
broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise. Do good in Thy good
pleasure unto Zion: build Thou the walls of Jerusalem. Then shall Thou be
pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole
burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon Thine altar. 
Redeemed from Curses
John 14:1-4 - "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. "
Revelation 2:5 - Remember
therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or
else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his
place, except thou repent.
Revelation 3:15-16 - I know thy works, that thou art neither
cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm,
and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Revelation 21:1-8
- "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
And he that sat upon the throne
said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words
are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega,
the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain
of the water of life freely.
Evangelist Ruth had earlier assured Christians of the constancy of their place
in God in a message titled "YOUR SEAT IS STILL THERE"
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=8qYnTHMjIMY).
Referring to a couple of biblical stories, with special focus on the story of
"The Prodigal Son", she observed that, irrespective of the flaws of a child of
God, he or she still retains a place in the Father's house. But that is made
possible only through repentance and reconciliation. In other words, every true
believer will always be accepted back and restored to his or her place of glory
in God if only there is true remorse and repentance.
"When a Christian wrongs God, fellowship is broken but he does not lose his
place as a son or daughter of God. No matter what you feel about yourself, no
matter what you feel about God, your seat is still there and Jesus is always
there to reconcile you".
A genuine believer does not commit intentional sin but they can make
mistakes. A mistake does not cancel or destroy their seat in God's
presence. The seat only becomes empty. In other words, they haven't lost
their place as a son, but their fellowship is broken. Their place will
continue to be there because they have a relationship with God. The seat
will be empty until they repent. As soon as they repent, they go back to
their seat.
This is the difference between Christians and others. A Christian always
has a relationship with God. Therefore, when they make a mistake they
can repent and run to God. God will not only forgive them but help them
to get back on their feet and keep them from making the same mistake
again. (1 John 1:9) Remember, true Christianity lies in the heart. Let us
be true Christians.
PRAYER: Ask God to grant you a heart that is pure, a heart that is
humble and sincere, a heart that does not bear grudges in Jesus' name.
2 Corinthians 5:18-21 - And all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and has committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be reconciled to God. For he has made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.
John 11:17-26 - Then when Jesus came, he found that he (Lazarus) had lain in the grave four days already. Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever you will ask of God, God will give it you. Jesus said to her, Your brother shall rise again. Martha said unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?
1 Corinthians 15:44-50 - It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
Romans 8:1-14 - There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwells in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if you live after the flesh, you shall die: but if you through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
1 John 5:10-13 - He that believes on the Son of God has the witness in himself (John14): he that believes not God has made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that has the Son has life; and he that has not the Son of God has not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. ; not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." --Ephesians 2:8-9 And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save yourself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Don't you fear God, seeing you are in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man has done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shall you be with me in paradise. ---Luke 23:32-43
"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." --Galatians 2:16"He that has the Son has life; and he that has not the Son of God has not life." --1 John 5:12
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. John 3:3-7
On the Day of Pentecost, 50 days after Christ's ascension, the Disciples received the "promise" Jesus told them to wait... "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, (What did Jesus say to Nicodemus?) and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost..." "Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call." (See Acts 1 & 2)
Acts 3:19 - Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Revelation 3:19-22
- Whom I love I do correct and I discipline: (Proverbs 3:12) therefore you must be earnest and you must now repent. Behold! I have been standing at the door and I am knocking: if someone would hear My voice and would open the door, then I will enter to him and I will dine with him and he with Me. The one who conquers I will give him permission to sit with Me on My throne, as I also conquered and sat with My Father on His throne. The one who has ears must now listen to what the Spirit is saying to the congregations. "What we do with Him now, we will be for all eternity. In His eternity He came to die our death and give us His eternity. His eternity requires no sun or moon or seasons or days. His is an eternal day without time. He is the Light. He is the source of all our needs. In Him is no darkness. As we have the light of the sun, we can also have the light of the Son. One provides for the natural, One for the spiritual." --Charles S. Price"There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said to him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that you do, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said, Verily, verily, I say to you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said to him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say to you, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said to you, you must be born again. --John 3:3-7
Christian Liberty is True Freedom - By Peter Aiello ...There is a yearning for emotional freedom in all of us. I don't know of any exceptions. People rationalize hanging on to their weaknesses because they have not found a remedy: so they make excuses; but, God can strengthen us from them. ...Freedom to sin hinders our freedom to make objective choices and to be led by the Spirit. ...We crave freedom from the addiction to a pleasure even though we crave it. How can we be free from this? Who will free us from our addictions or any other uncontrolled tendencies such as worry, anger, and unforgiveness? The choice is to go to God for peace and strength, or to remain alienated from God and enslaved because we lack God's peace and strength.
(See:
Death & Judgment Day)
As the Scriptures below declare, the believer's spirit goes to
be with Christ upon death. At "the last trump" the believer will
then have a "spiritual body."
Note that "flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God" which is why, as
Jesus declared "you must be born again" of the Spirit. We are first and foremost
a spirit with a "natural body" ("flesh and blood") with a soul or mind. (Please
see Trinity: Created in
His image.)
(Luke 23:39-43) And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him,
saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked
him, saying, Don't you fear God, seeing you are in the same condemnation? And we
indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man has done
nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when You come into thy
kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today you shall be
with me in paradise.
(1 Thessalonians 5:23) And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray
God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(John 1:12-13) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the
sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of
blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (Job
32:8-10) - But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty
gives them understanding. Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged
understand judgment. Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will show mine
opinion.
(Ecclesiastes 12:7) - Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the
spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
(Philippians 1:21-23) For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I
live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot
not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with
Christ; which is far better:
Hebrews 9:27 - And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the
judgment:
Romans 8:9-11 (KJV) - But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be
that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of
Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of
sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him
that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from
the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwells in you.
2 Corinthians 5:8 - We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent
from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Care and Anxiety
Luke 12:22-34 (Matthew 6:25-34; 19-21) And He said to His disciples,
“Because of this I say to you, do not be anxious in life
about what you would eat nor with what you would clothe the body. For life is
more than food and the body more than clothes. You must now consider the ravens
because they do not sow and they do not harvest, for whom there is neither
storeroom nor barn, and God feeds them: how much more than birds you yourselves
are worth. But who of you if you are anxious is able to add a cubit to his
stature? And therefore if you are not the least able to do even this, why are
you anxious about the rest?
You must now consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither work
nor spin: but I say to you, not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like
one of these. And if God so clothes grass, which is in a field today then
tomorrow is cast into a furnace, how much more you, little faiths.
So you must not be seeking what you could eat and what you could
drink and you must stop being anxious: for the heathens of the world are
searching for all these things, but your Father knows that you continually have
need of these things.
But you must habitually seek His kingdom, and these things will be
added to you. You, little flock, stop being afraid, because your Father took
delight to give you the kingdom. You must sell your possessions and you must now
give to the poor: you must now make for yourselves purses that do not wear out,
an inexhaustible treasure in the heavens, where no thief comes near and no moth
ruins: for where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.”
Jesus is our example: John 11:41-41 - And Y’shua looked up and said, “Father,
I give You thanks because You heard Me. And I have known that You always hear
Me, but I spoke because of the crowd that was standing around, so that they
would believe that You sent Me.”
The Parable of the Widow and the Judge - Luke 18:1-8 - And He was telling them a
parable that it was always necessary for them to pray and not to lose heart,
saying, “A certain judge in some city was not fearing God
and not respecting man. And there was a widow in that city and she was coming to
him saying, ‘You must immediately vindicate me from my opponent in a law suit.’
And for some time he was not wanting to. But after these things he said to
himself, ‘Even if I do not fear God and do not respect man, because this widow
causes me trouble I shall vindicate her, so that in the end she would not wear
me out by her coming and brow-beating.’” And the
Lord said, “You must now hear what the unrighteous
judge is saying of the injustice: and would God not execute justice for His
chosen ones, for those who call to Him day and night, and does He not also have
patience with them? I say to you that He will see to it that justice is done
quickly for them. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on
the Earth?”
Suggested Prayer of Faith
Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner, for you alone are without sin,
and my sins have separated me from the Father and therefore I do
not deserve eternal life. But I believe because of the Father's
heavenly love and mercy, He sent you to die for me and you rose
from the grave to purchase a place in the Kingdom of Heaven for
me and restore my relationship with God the Father, that I may
know Him. Lord Jesus, I repent of my sins. Help me to turn from
my sins as only you can. Please forgive my sins and save me.
Come into my life and take control of my life. Transform me into
your likeness by helping me with my unbelief and to place my
unwavering trust in you. I accept you into my life and receive
your gift of eternal life in you and you in me. So be it. Amen.
Romans 10:9-17 - Because if you would confess with your mouth
the Lord Y'shua and you would believe in your heart that God
raised Him from the dead, you will be saved: for he believes for
himself in his heart into righteousness, and confesses for
himself with his mouth into salvation. For the Scripture says,
"No one who believes in Him will be put to shame." (Isaiah
28:164) For there is no distinction between either Jewish or
Greek, for the same One is Lord of all, and He is rich,
abundantly blessing all those who call upon Him: for everyone
who will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. (Joel
3:5) Then how will they call upon Whom they did not believe? And
how could they believe what they did not hear? And how could
they hear without preaching? And how could they preach unless
they would send preachers? Just as it has been written, "How
beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Good News5 of the
good things." (Isaiah 52:7, Nahum 2:1) But they did not all obey
the one preaching the Good News. For Isaiah said, "Lord, who
believed our report?" (Isaiah 53:1) 17. So then faith is from
hearing, and hearing through the message from Messiah.
