Jacob And Laban Separate!

 

Jacob And Laban Separate!

Genesis 31

In Genesis 27 we saw that Jacob traded a bowl of lintel stew to his brother Esau for Esau’s birthright when Esau was hungry. We also saw that their mother Rebekah told Jacob to disguise himself as his brother Esau and trick their blind father, Isaac, into giving him the Firstborn Blessing. Now because of Esau’s threats against Jacob, Rebekah decides to tell Isaac a half truth. She does not want Jacob to marry a Canaanite like Esau has, it disgusts her; but she does not tell of her trickery and Esau’s anger.

In Genesis 28 is the story of Isaac telling Jacob to go to his Uncle’s house to find a wife; then Isaac Blesses Jacob again: “Now may El Shaddai Bless you and make you Fruitful and multiply you so that you will become an assembly of Peoples. May He give you The Blessing of Abraham, to you and your seed with you that you may take possession of the land of your sojourn, which GOD Gave to Abraham.” (Genesis 28:1-4)

In Genesis 29-30 we see Laban and Jacob deceiving each other. Laban gets both his daughters married to Jacob in exchange for 14 years of labor. Jacob spends the next 6 years becoming a rich man while Laban’s fortunes decline.

Soon Jacob’s herd of sheep and goats was growing and Laban’s was not and Laban and his sons noticed. Jacob realized that he had lost favor with Laban and decided to leave, he spoke to his wives telling them that Laban had changed his salary 10 times  and they saw they had no future there so they agreed (Genesis 31:1-10, 14-16).

So they pack up; and Rachel steals her father’s idols; and they leave.

Jacob’s second deception of Laban: “…Jacob stole the heart of Laban the Syrian by not telling him that he was fleeing.”

When Laban found out 3 days later that Jacob and his family and herds had left he pursued them and caught up to them 7 days after that. (Genesis 31:22-23)

In a dream GOD told Laban: “Watch yourself – lest you say anything to Jacob, good or bad.” (Genesis 31:24) A very clear message to not be angry or seek vengeance.

So being careful but clear in his hurt Laban asked Jacob, “What have you done that you have stolen my heart and have driven my daughters away like captives of the sword?...and you didn’t even let me kiss my sons (grandsons) and daughters!” He also told Jacob that GOD had spoken to him about this meeting. Then added, “…why did you steal my gods?”  (Genesis 31:26-30) Jacob replied, “Because I was afraid , for I thought you , ‘Suppose you snatch your daughters away from me. Anyone with whom you find your gods shall not live. In front of our relatives, identify what every is yours that is with me, and take it back.’ (But Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.)

Rachel’s deception of Laban: So Laban searched everyone’s tents and possessions, Rachel was the last to be searched; she had hidden the idols in her camel’s saddlebag and sat on it. She claimed that she could not get up because she was having “the way of a woman” (her menstrual cycle). So the idols were not found and Jacob got angry and told Laban off (Genesis 31:36-42).

So Laban remembering The Word of The LORD to him offered a covenant, “Let ADONAI keep watch between you and me when we are out of one another’s sight. If you mistreat my daughters, and if you take wives besides my daughters, though no one is with us, look! GOD is the witness between you and me…Behold, this pile and this pillar which I set up (actually Jacub set up the pillar (Genesis 31:45-46) between you and me: this pile serves as a witness, that I won’t pass by this pillar to go to you, and that you won’t pass by this pile and this pillar to go to me – with evil intent. May The GOD of Abraham and the gods of Nahor, the gods of their father, judge between us.” (Genesis 31:49-53a)

Jacob made an oath by the fear of his father Isaac, then he made a sacrifice on the mountain and they ate bread and spent the night on the mountain (Genesis 31:53b-54).

GOD tells some of his Servants to do things that He tells the rest of His Servants not to do!

Remember, Paul tells us that before the Law (Torah) sin was not imputed (Romans 5:12-13), which was good for them, for the wicked behavior and deceptions continued through the rest of the history of Abraham’s descendants, even after the Law. James says, “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” (James 4:17) Just because we see the sins of others not being judged by GOD does not mean that we can commit them ourself. Every human being will be judged by GOD; first, according to how we live, then if our name is in The Book of Life (The Lamb’s Book of Life) (Revelation 20:11-15).

https://youtu.be/C6IEzwP9tyQ

Jacob And Laban's Deceptions!

Jacob And Laban’s Deceptions!

Genesis 29 - 30 

In Genesis 27 we saw that Jacob traded a bowl of lintel stew to his brother Esau for Esau’s birthright when Esau was hungry. We also saw that their mother Rebekah told Jacob to disguise himself as his brother Esau and trick their blind father, Isaac, into giving him the Firstborn Blessing. Now because of Esau’s threats against Jacob, Rebekah decides to tell Isaac a half truth. She does not want Jacob to marry a Canaanite like Esau has, it disgusts her; but she does not tell of her trickery and Esau’s anger.

In Genesis 28 is the story of Isaac telling Jacob to go to his Uncle’s house to find a wife; then Isaac Blesses Jacob again: “Now may El Shaddai Bless you and make you Fruitful and multiply you so that you will become an assembly of Peoples. May He give you The Blessing of Abraham, to you and your seed with you that you may take possession of the land of your sojourn, which GOD Gave to Abraham.” (Genesis 28:1-4)

Jacob continues his journey to his Uncle Laban’s where he experiences Love at first sight when he meets Rachel, Laban’s daughter. When Laban is informed that his sister’s son is there he runs to greet him (Laban is the one who ran to meet Abraham’s servant when he came to get a wife for Isaac (Genesis 24:29), when Isaac was 40 years old, now Isaac is over 100 years old (he lived to be 180 Genesis 35:28-29), so Laban is 60 years older himself and still active).

Jacob stays there a month, but not just sitting around because Laban says that he should start paying Jacob for his work (Genesis 29:14-15). Jacob wants to marry Rachel so he tells Laban he will work for him for 7 years for Rachel. They agreed.

The first deception: Seven years later Jacob asks for Rachel in marriage and Laban arranges a wedding ceremony and celebration. Jacob is deceived because he has celebrated too much and wakes up with Leah, Rachel’s older sister.

Jacob asks his uncle, “What is this you have done to me? Wasn’t it for Rachel that I worked with you? So why have you deceived me?” Laban replied, “It’s not done so in our place (custom) – to give the younger before the firstborn. Complete the bridle week for this one. Then we’ll also give you this other – for work that you will do with me – another 7 years more.”  (Genesis 29:25-27) Jacob agreed, so after the bridal week Laban gave Rachel to Jacob as a wife. Then Jacob took Rachael as his wife and he loved her more than he loved Leah (Genesis 29:28-30).

Then the wife war began, between Leah, Rachel and their handmaids Zilpah and Bilhah they gave birth to 11 sons and 1 daughter in about 13 years (Genesis 29:31-30:24; Genesis 31:38-41).

After the 14 years of Jacob working for Laban Jacob was ready to take his family and leave but Laban convinced him to stay and Jacob said on one condition, let me continue to care for your sheep but pay me with the spotted, stripped and dark colored sheep and goats (Genesis 30:25-36).

Jacob separated the sheep and goats, Laban’s were the pure ones and Jacobs were the spotted, stripped and dark ones.

Jacob’s first deception of Laban: according to a dream he had (Genesis 31:11-13) was to place pieces of wood that had stripes or spots on them or were dark in color when they would breed and the ewes would bear stripped, spotted or dark lambs. Jacob became wealthy (Genesis 30:43).

GOD tells some of his Servants to do things that He tells the rest of His Servants not to do!

GOD wants to make Jacob prosperous so He gives Jacob a plan in a dream on how to increase his herd, but this is also a judgment against Laban who did not worship GOD. After 6 years GOD tells Jacob to return to his families land. Also we see GOD controlling the fertility of women and the birthing of babies. What did He do for Miriam (Mary) and Joseph of Nazareth? GOD created in Mariam’s virgin womb Himself as a human to be His Only Begotten Son – JESUS; and GOD Called Joseph to father His Only Begotten Son – Jesus! Wow!

https://youtu.be/DRyCqoUdEIs 

Jacob's Blessings!

 

Jacob’s Blessing!

Genesis 28

In Genesis 27 we saw that Jacob traded a bowl of lintel stew to his brother Esau for Esau’s birthright when Esau was hungry. We also saw that their mother Rebekah told Jacob to disguise himself as his brother Esau and trick their blind father, Isaac, into giving him the Firstborn Blessing. Now because of Esau’s threats against Jacob, Rebekah decides to tell Isaac a half truth. She does not want Jacob to marry a Canaanite like Esau has, it disgusts her; but she does not tell of her trickery and Esau’s anger.

Chapter 28 is the story of Isaac telling Jacob to go to his Uncle’s house to find a wife; then Isaac Blesses Jacob again: “Now may El Shaddai Bless you and make you Fruitful and multiply you so that you will become an assembly of Peoples. May He give you The Blessing of Abraham, to you and your seed with you that you may take possession of the land of your sojourn, which GOD Gave to Abraham.” (Genesis 28:1-4)

Jacob obeyed and left for his uncle’s land. Esau heard his parents distain for his Canaanite wives so he took one of Ishmael’s daughters as a wife. (Genesis 28:9)

Jacob stopped to sleep at a place called Luz, where he dreamed. “All of a sudden there was a stairway set up on the earth and its top reaching to The Heaven – and behold, angels of GOD going up and down on it! Surprisingly, ADONAI was standing on top of it and He said,’”

GOD Blesses Jacob: “‘I Am ADONAI, The GOD of your father Abraham and The GOD of Isaac. The land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your seed. Your seed will be as the dust of the land, and you will burst forth to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south. In you all the families of the earth will be Blessed – and in your seed. Behold, I Am with you, and I will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land, for I will not forsake you until I have done what I Promised you.’” (Genesis 28:10-15)

Jacob sets up a memorial to GOD and calls the place Beth-El (House of GOD). (Genesis 28:16-19)

Then Jacob makes a vow to GOD: “If GOD will be with me and watch over me on this way that I am going and provide me food to eat and clothes to wear (Matthew 6:24-34) and I return in Shalom to my father’s house, then ADONAI will be my GOD. So this stone which I set up as a memorial stone will become GOD’s House, and of everything you provide me I will definitely give a tenth of it to You.” (Genesis 28:20-22) So, Isaac learned tithing from Abraham who tithed to Melchizedek the priest of El Elyon. (Genesis 14:17-20) And passed it on to his sons. (Just a guess they, must still have been tithing to Melchizedek.)

GOD tells some of his Servants to do things that He tells the rest of His Servants not to do!

Abram (Abraham) married his half-sister, Sarai (Sarah), his father’s daughter by a different mother (Genesis 20). Isaac married his second cousin, Rebekah (Genesis 24). Under The Torah these were forbidden marriages and under the common laws of many nations these are forbidden marriages (Study Leviticus 18).

Nakedness = ‛ervâh; nudity, literally (especially the pudenda) or figuratively (disgrace, blemish):-nakedness, shame, unclean _-ness). Strong’s Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary.

Pudenda = a person’s external genitals, especially a woman’s. Oxford Languages.

So any sexual activity would be considered exposing a person’s nakedness; only in marriage between a man and a woman does GOD Bless it (Genesis 2:24-25; Hebrews 13:4).

https://youtu.be/ila-7Rvp4Oc

Jacob's And Esau's Blessings!

 

Jacob’s and Esau’s Blessings!

Genesis 27

Genesis 27 is the story of Rebekah the wife of Isaac talking her son Jacob into stealing Esau’s blessing from their father Isaac. Why?

Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah and she was barren for 20 years; Isaac prayed for her and ADONAI answered his prayer (Genesis 25:19-21). Her pregnancy was difficult and she prayed to ADONAI and He told her: “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from your body will be separated. One people will be stronger than the other people, but the older (Esau) will serve the younger (Jacob).” (Genesis25:20-28)

Jacob and Esau were conceived at the same time, two different sperm and two different eggs and they were two different human beings, not twins. Isaac was 60 years old when his sons were born (Genesis 25:26).

Esau did not care about tradition until it was too late, he sold his birthright to his brother for a bowl of lentil stew because he was hungry and did not want to wait to cook himself a meal (Genesis 25:27-34). Esau was 40 years old when he married two daughters of the Hittites (Genesis 26:34-35), so Isaac was 100 years old.

Now Isaac is over 100 years old and feeling his age he is blind and decides to bless Esau his oldest son while he is able. Rebekah overhears Isaac telling Esau to make preparations so that he can bless him and she tells Jacob to disguise himself as Esau and to get his father’s blessing.

So Jacob disguises himself as Esau and takes the meal that Rebekah prepared and deceived Isaac so that Isaac blessed Jacob instead of Esau. Isaac blesses Jacob with the blessing of the Firstborn which continues the blessing that GOD gave Abraham, it also  confirms what ADONAI told Rebekah while she was pregnant with the children.

Jacobs blessing: “Behold, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that ADONAI has Blessed. May GOD give you – from the dew of the sky and from the fatness of the land – an abundance of grain and new wine. May peoples serve you and may nations bow down to you. Be master over your brothers, may your mother’s sons bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed and may those who bless you be blessed.” (Genesis 27:27-29)

Then Esau comes in and presents himself to receive his blessing and Isaac realizes that he has been deceived and given the blessing to Jacob. Esau is hurt and wants his father’s blessing so Isaac blesses him, not a very good blessing.

Esau’s blessing: “Behold, away from the land’s fatness shall your dwelling be, away from the dew of the sky above, by your sword shall you live, and your brother shall you serve. But when you tear yourself loose, you will tear his yoke off your neck.” (Genesis 27:39-40)

The result of these blessings was that Jacob had 12 sons and they became the nation of Israel a little over 400 years later. In everything that has happened to them as a nation they still exist as a people and again as a nation. Esau had 5 sons and also became a nation, Edom (Genesis 36) while the nation of Edom no longer exists his descendants still live in the area and are the enemies of Israel.

Jacob have I Loved, Esau have I hated!

Malachi 1:2-4 “I have Loved you,” say The LORD. “Yet you say, ‘In what way have You Loved us?’ Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” Says The LORD. “Yet Jacob (Israel) I have Loved; but Esau (Edom) I have hated and laid waste his mountains and his heritage for the jackals of the wilderness.” (Romans 9:6-24; Exodus 9:13-14; Romans 8:26-30; Revelation 17:7-17)

So the reality of this message is that GOD is Sovereign over all of His creation! He knows how each person will respond to the issues of their life and to the knowledge of Salvation through JESUS CHRIST. Now we know that GOD give us many opportunities to repent and live for JESUS, but he does not make us (Isaiah 30:18; Ezekiel 33:11; 2 Peter 3:7-10; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19).

So JESUS gave all Believers a Commission: “Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen. And He said to them: ‘Go into all the world and preach The Gospel to every creature. He who Believes and is Baptized will be Saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these Signs will follow those who Believe: In My Name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick and they will Recover.’” Mark 16:14-18

GOD tells some of his Servants to do things that He tells the rest of His Servants not to do!

Like telling Abraham to sacrifice His son Isaac to Him on a mountain He tells Abraham to go to. And Abraham in Faith, regardless of what anyone else would think went to do it. He was at the point of killing Isaac when GOD stayed his hand and provided a ram that was not on the mountain before that moment. (Genesis 22)

 

https://youtu.be/rQWnwb6oikk

GOD's Love!

 

GOD’s Love!

 

Paul made powerful statements about GOD’s Love: “But GOD demonstrates His Own Love towards us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

Also: “He (GOD) made Him (JESUS) Who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the Righteousness of GOD in Him (JESUS).” 2 Corinthians 5:21

He gave the detailed explanation to the Ephesians: “And you He made Alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course (way) of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of the flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others (“for all have sinned and fallen short of The Glory of GOD,” Romans 3:23), But GOD Who is Rich in Mercy, because of His Great Love with which He Loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us Alive together with Christ (by Grace you have been Saved, and raised us up together, and made us sit together in The Heavenly Places in Christ JESUS, that in the ages to come (including ours) He might show the exceeding Riches of His Grace in His Kindness toward us in Christ JESUS. For by Grace you have been Saved through Faith, and that not of yourselves; it is The Gift of GOD, not by works , lest anyone should boost. For we are His Workmanship Created in Christ JESUS for Good Works, which GOD prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:1-10.

 

But Peter and John made the most powerful statements about GOD’s Love: “Therefore gird up the loins (procreative power) of your mind, be sober, and rest your Hope fully upon The Grace that is to be brought to you at The Revelation of JESUS Christ; as Obedient Children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He Who Called you is Holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy for I Am Holy.’ (Leviticus 20:26) and if you call on The Father, Who without partiality Judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay (dwelling as resident aliens) here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver of gold, by your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with The Precious Blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest (revealed) in these last times for you who through Him Believe in GOD, Who Raised Him from the dead and gave Him Glory, so that your Faith and Hope are in GOD.” 1 Peter 1:13-21

“And we have known and Believed The Love that GOD has for us. GOD is Love! And he who Abides in Love Abides in GOD and GOD in him.” 1 John 4:16, study the whole chapter along with 1 Corinthians 13.

https://youtu.be/JljXIy85WZY

The Reason For The Season?

 

The Reason For The Season? 

For a few decades now Christ-ians have been proclaiming that JESUS is the reason for the season of Christ-mas. While I understand that and have proudly proclaimed it, I have come to the conclusion like many others that it is not true. What? You ask.

JESUS is why we celebrate Christ-mas, the celebration of His birth as The Lamb of GOD to take away the sin of the world. He is the cause of the season; if JESUS had not been born we would not celebrate Christ-mas. Because JESUS was born of a virgin as prophesied and lived a sinless life overcoming every temptation that is common to humanity, was rejected by his own people and crucified on a cross as prophesied; rose on the third day as prophesied and ascended into Heaven to sit at the right hand of His Father – GOD Almighty, as prophesied, and now waits for His Body in the earth – The Church to make disciples of the nations so He can return to Rule the nations for one thousand years as prophesied, we celebrate Christ-mas – the birth of JESUS Christ as The Son of Man.

So if JESUS is the cause of our celebration of His birth, what is the reason for His birth? Us! Humanity!

The reason that GOD did everything in the flesh as His own Son is that we were (are) sinners lost to eternal damnation! Adam sinned against GOD in the very beginning when there was no sin in the earth and humanity lost its immortality and every one of his descendants (all of the human race) are born as sinners, destined for eternal damnation.

But GOD knew that this was going to happen and He prepared a plan to redeem us back as His children – that is the reason for JESUS’ birth , death, resurrection and ascension! Study 1 Peter 1:17-21; John 1:1-4, 35-36; Romans 5:20-21, 6:23; 2 Corinthians 5:21.

So rejoice for we are the reason for the season, we celebrate JESUS’ birth because it is the sign of GOD’s Great Love for us and the beginning of our Salvation!

https://youtu.be/WlbKoRVclDY

Did You Know? Christ-mas

 

Did you Know?

Christ-mas

 

John 3:16-17 “For GOD so Loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have Everlasting Live. For GOD did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be Saved.”

 

1 Peter 1:17-21 (Revelation 13:8) “And if you call upon The Father, Who without partiality judges according to each one’s Work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible (perishable) things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious Blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot. He was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest (revealed) in these last times for you who through Him believe in GOD, Who raised Him from the dead and gave Him Glory, so that your Faith and Hope are in GOD.”

 

Ephesians 2:1,4-5,8-9 “And you He made Alive who were dead through trespasses and sins,…But GOD, Who is Rich in Mercy, because of His Great Love with which He Loved us,  even when we were dead in trespasses, made us Alive together with Christ (by Grace you have been Saved),…For by Grace you have been Saved through Faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the Gift of GOD, not of Works lest anyone should boost,”

 

Philippians 2:12-14 “…Work out your own Salvation with Fear and Trembling; for it is GOD Who Works in you both to Will and to do for His Good Pleasure. Do all things without complaining (grumbling) and disputing (arguing).”

 

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but The gift of GOD is Eternal Life in Christ JESUS our LORD.”

 

Mark 8:34-38 “When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his Life will lose it, but whoever loses his Life for My Sake and The Gospel’s will Save it For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own Soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his Soul? For whoever is Ashamed of Me and My Words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be Ashamed when He Comes in the Glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

 

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are all His workmanship, Created in Christ JESUS for Good Works, which GOD prepared before hand that we should Walk in them.”

 

This is why most of the world celebrates Christmas! Ignore all the arguments against Christmas; when, where and how; only what and why are important!

 

GOD knew that making mankind in His image and likeness would not keep us from sinning; after all lucifer had already led one third of the Heavenly host in rebellion against GOD (Isaiah 14:12-15; Revelation 12). So GOD decided before creation to come to earth Himself and save humanity (John 3:16-17) because He knew we would sin and could not save ourselves.

 

So celebrate Christ-mas how ever you feel in Honor of GOD and His Gift of Salvation to humanity through His Only Begotten Son JESUS Christ!

 

https://youtu.be/2M21oyB0MD0

 

Merry Christ-mas to all and to all a Happy 2025!

Luke 14:25-35

 

Luke 14:25-35

 

14:25-26 Now great multitudes went with Him and He turned and said to them: “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes and his own life also he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.” What?

Wait a minute I thought GOD is Love, and JESUS told us to Love even our enemies, now He’s telling us we have to hate our family, even our own life to be His disciple?

Yes He is! Mark 8:34-38 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them: “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and The gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My Words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of his The Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in The Glory of The Father with the holy angels.”

Several important points here; JESUS told us to store up treasures in Heaven where they are eternally safe and to not store up earthly treasures that will not last (Matthew 6:19-24; 1 Corinthians 3:10-17). Our treasures are based on the works of our life, which are being recorded in Heaven (Revelation 20:11-15).

Jesus told us that He is The Way and The Truth and The Life and that no one comes to The Father except through Him; He also told us that the difficult way that leads to the narrow door is the way to Life (Matthew 7:13-14; John 14:6). He said if we love our life we will lose it but if we hate it in this world we will keep it for Eternity (John 12:24-26). That is the key thought, Eternity, we are always thinking in the natural realm and JESUS is always talking of the Eternal Realm.

Eternity is the Realm of GOD, it is limitless, no matter how much we think we understand about Eternity based on our study of The Bible we really know nothing about Eternity. We are restricted by time, but GOD created time for our benefit, GOD is outside of time and our existence; we have to fit into His Realm of Existence. That requires a great deal of sacrifice and obedience here in the natural world.

GOD tells us that He is not like us in any way, shape or form. We are supposed to be like Him, made in His image and likeness (Genesis 1:26-31, 2:7; Isaiah 55:6-13; Philippians 3:1-11).

What was JESUS’ cross? To give his Life as a ransom for us (2 Corinthians 5:12-21) Then what is our cross? (Romans 8, 12:9-21)

So Yes, GOD is Love and we are supposed to Love one another, Love the brethren, Love our enemies and pray for them and do good to them; and we can if we have given our life to GOD in JESUS Christ! You can be a “Born again, SPIRIT filled ” Christian and not even touch Eternity in your life on the earth; you can be saved and go to heaven with no works to show for your time here (1 Corinthians 3:10-15; James 1:19-27, 2:14-26). But what fun is that?

 

14:28-32 “For which of you intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it – lest, after he has laid the foundation  and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king going, to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace.” These are examples of counting the cost, every decision we make in life has a cost and a reward, but the reward is only for those who counted the cost and made the right decision (Matthew 7:24-29).

 

14:33-15:1 “So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill (rubbish heap), but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. Luke 15:1 is important because it tells us there is a change in thought and message, remember the Scriptures were not written with chapter and verse division and little titles and breaks in the paragraphs. Always read before and after the section you are studying so you get the full context of the message. In this case Luke 14:25 showed it was a different message from what was before and Luke 15:1 showed us there was a break from what we just read. Do not depend on how others decide where context and messages change, they can be wrong (so can I). There are many places in The Gospels where JESUS seems to make random statements, they are not random, pay attention to the context before and after them, they always have a deeper meaning.

So verses 33 and 34-35 are always taught as two separate thoughts, but I believe they are one thought. I’ve always heard verses 34 and 35 taught as applying to Christians who are Sunday go to meeting Christians or backsliders, but that is not what JESUS is teaching in this section that He ends with this statement, “So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill (rubbish heap), but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

First He reinforces what He has been teaching about the cost of discipleship, remember He is not teaching us how to be successful in life He is teaching us how to be His disciples, that there is a cost, everything we are and desire!

Second He is reminding us that if we do not follow Him as He teaches we will be practically useless in His Kingdom, it is “all in” or nothing as a disciple.

When He says, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Mark 4:21-25) remember He is generally speaking in parables so “…hearing they may not understand…” (Luke 8:9-10), but we are born again and have The SPIRIT of GOD living in us to teach us (John 8:31-32, 14:25-27).

 

https://youtu.be/n6R8M4jLtMM

Joel 3:10b

 

Joel 3:10b

 

“Let the weak say I am strong.” This is often quoted to encourage Christians in the warfare that we face daily. Oswald Chambers said of this passage, “Complete weakness and dependence will always be the occasion for The SPIRIT of GOD to manifest His Power.” This is true, humility is one of the primary traits of a Christian if the weakness comes from knowing that I am a sinner saved by GOD’s Grace through The blood of JESUS; I have no ability to save myself and I am totally dependent to GOD for my life.

But that is not what this passage is about, Joel is a prophet of GOD and he is speaking of future events, The Day of The LORD!

Let’s look at this verse in context (remember these prophies were not written with chapter and verse divisions, The Prophesy of Joel could be one prophetic proclamation or it could have been given over a period of time.

Verse 10 is two statements,

“Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks (pruning knives) into spears;

Let the weak say ‘I am strong’.” This is obviously a call to prepare for war, make weapons and bolster your courage.

Now let’s look at verse 10 in context of the previous and following verses, 9 & 11.

“Proclaim this among the nations: ‘Prepare for war! Wake up mighty men,  let all the men of war draw near, let them come up. Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning knives into spears; let the weak say ‘I am strong’. Assemble and come, all you nations, and gather together all around. Cause your mighty ones to go down there, O LORD.”

So this is obviously not a call to Israel but to the nations, this part of Joel’s prophesy is about the End Times, the return of CHRIST!

3:1-8 “For behold, in those days and at that time, when I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem (1948 and 1967), I will also gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will enter into judgment with them there on account of My people (Revelation 16:12-16), My heritage Israel, whom they scattered among the nations; they have also divided My land. (Gaza 1982, Galilee and Samaria 1995)” Is the Valley of Jehoshaphat not where The Hill of Megiddo is, where the Battle of Armageddon takes place?

Chapter 3 verses 1-8 is about the return of Israel and GOD’s judgment against the nations; verses 9-21 are about the Day Of The LORD, when the seventh trumpet sounds; verses 9-12 are about Revelation 19:11-21; verse 13 is about Revelation 14:14-20; verses 14-16 are about Revelation 11:15-19; verses 17-21 are about Revelation 20:4-6.

Every Scripture is given by GOD for a purpose for the nations, for Israel, for the Church and for each individual person. That is why GOD expects each of us to “study to show ourself approved (2 Timothy 2:14-15).”

Be careful of standalone Scriptures used to teach doctrine, they can be manipulated to teach some good sounding error. GOD holds each of us as His Children and Servants responsible for knowing and living according to His Word, The Bible. Read and study the Bible on your own under the guidance of The SPIRIT of GOD, join with other believers and study The Bible with an experienced and faithful member of your Church. Don’t be frustrated by what you do not understand, trust GOD to show you what He wants you to know when you need to know it (Matthew 10:16-20).

Now, go back and look up all the Scriptures I used and study them in the context they were spoken in. The reason we have to know the Scriptures in context is so that we do not lose the point of GOD’s Message! This part of a verse has a powerful statement that applies to people whether they are saved or not. But what is lost in quoting only those six words is the Message of GOD’s plan for His People (those who believe in JESUS Christ as The Son of GOD who came to save the world from sin). Some of this prophesy we have seen come to pass as noted above and some is yet to come as revealed in The Revelation of JESUS Christ!

 

https://youtu.be/Qi75IpdmVP4

Revelation Chapter 2

 

Revelation Chapter 2

 

Introduction

Chapters 2 and 3 are the letters from CHRIST to the seven Churches in Asia (modern day Turkey): Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.

Each was a separate letter to that specific Church, only The Body of Christ has all seven letters to study.

:1-7 To the angel* (messenger) of the Church of Ephesus write, These things says He Who holds the seven stars in his right hand, Who walks in the midst of the seven golden Lampstands (Churches): “I know your works, your labor, your patience (perseverance) (1 Corinthians 3:11-15), and that you cannot bear (endure) those who are evil (Psalm 139:19-22); and you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not (2 Corinthians 11:13-15), and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My Name’s sake and have not become weary (Galatians 6:6-10.

Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first Love (2 Corinthians 5:12-15). Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first Works (Hebrews 6:1-2), or else I will come to you quickly (Matthew 24:42-44; Revelation 22:12) and remove your Lampstand from its place – unless you repent (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46).

But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans (a Christian cult that practiced pagan rituals and fornication), which also I hate. He who has an ear (Proverbs 20:12), let him hear what The SPIRIT says to the Churches. To him who overcomes (Revelation 12:11) I will give** to eat from The Tree of Life (Genesis 2:9; Revelation 22:14, which is in the midst of The Paradise of GOD (Eternal Heaven) (Revelation 22:1-2).

*Each letter starts with this phrase, :To the angel of the Church at…” angel means messenger or pastor and includes a description of JESUS as given in Chapter 1.

**The two statements, “He who has an ear, let him hear what The SPIRIT says to the Churches…” and “ To him who overcomes I will give…” are at the end of all seven letters.

 

:8-11 To the angel of the Church at Smyrna write, “These things says The Frist and The Last, Who was dead and came to Life: “I know your Works Tribulation and Poverty (but you are Rich (Matthew 6:19-24); and I know the blasphemy of those who sat they are Jews and are not (Matthew 23:15; Romans 2:17-24) but are a synagogue (congregation) of satan. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer (Matthew 5:10-12, 10:27-31. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days*. Be Faithful until death (Matthew 24:13; Revelation 12:11, and I will give you the Crown of Life (1 Corinthians 9:24-27; James 1:12).

He who has an ear let him hear what The SPIRIT says to the Churches. He who over comes shall not be hurt by the second death (Revelation 20:14-15).”

*A day in scripture can be a period of one year or it can be a period of one thousand years (Daniel’s week of years in Daniel 9:24-27; 2 Peter 3:8) so this could be ten days or ten years.

 

:12-17 To the angel of the Church at Pergamos write, These things says He Who has the Sharp tow-edged Sword (Revelation 19:11-15): “I know your Works and where you dwell, where satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My Name (Acts 4:9-12; Philippians 2:9-11; Revelation 19:16), and did not deny My Faith even in the days in which Antipas was My Faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where satan dwells.

But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam,  who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality (Numbers 22-25, 31). Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing (likewise) I hate.

Repent , or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the Sword of My mouth (2 Thessalonians 2:8). He who has an ear let him hear what The SPIRIT says to the Churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat (Exodus 16:33-36). And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”

 

:18-29 And to the angel of the Church in Thyatira write, These things says The Son of GOD, Who has eyes like a flame of fire, and feet like fine brass: “I know your Works, Love, Service Faith and your Patience (Perseverance) (1 Peter 2:18-25); and as for your Works, the last are more than the first. Nevertheless I have a few things against you (that you follow), because you allow that woman (your wife), Jezebel (1 Kings 16:29-32, 21:25-26), who calls herself a prophetess, who teaches and seduces My servants to commit sexual immorality (Exodus 34:12-15) and eat things sacrificed to idols (Acts 15:22-29). And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent (Romans 1:28; 2 Peter 3:9). Indeed I Will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death (a deadly disease), and all the Churches shall know that I Am He Who searches (examines) the minds and hearts (1 Samuel 16:7; Jeremiah 17:9-10); and I will give to each one of you according to your Works (1 Corinthians 3:9-15). Now to you I say, to the rest of Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of satan (2 Timothy 3:1-9), as they say, I Will put on you no other burden (Acts 15:28). But hold fast to what you have until I come; and he who overcomes, and keeps My Works (John 6:29, 14:12) until the end, to him I will give power over the nations–‘He shall Rule them with a Rod of Iron; they shall be dashed to pieces like the potters vessels’(Psalm 2:8-9)–as I also have received from My Father; and I Will give him The Morning Star*. He who has an ear, let him hear what The SPIRIT says to the Churches.”

*So JESUS is saying that He will give those who overcome the temptations of sexual immorality and idolatry what He has received from his Father, Power to Rule over the nations and The Morning Star Which is JESUS (Numbers 23:15-17; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Revelation 22:16)!

 

https://youtu.be/WGehyfV5p-Q

The Holy SPIRIT Is GOD!

 

The Holy SPIRIT is GOD!

 

The most important thing JESUS told us about The Holy SPIRIT is not to blaspheme Him!

Mark 3:28-30 “Assuredly (truthfully) I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and what ever blasphemes they may utter; but He who blasphemes against The Holy SPIRIT never has forgiveness but is subject to eternal condemnation – because they said, ‘He has an unclean spirit.’” They were saying that the miracles that JESUS was doing were done by the devil’s power. (Matthew 12:31-32; Luke 12:8-10)

Acts 7:51 “You stiff-necked (stubborn) and uncircumcised in heart and ears (“He who has ears to hear let him hear” (Luke 14:35 and to all seven Churches in Revelation 2 and 3)! You always resist The Holy SPIRIT; just as your fathers did, so do you!” Resisting or ignoring The Holy SPIRIT is silent blaspheme, you might not say anything to other people but by not obeying The Holy SPIRIT you are denying Him. There are Christian denominations that do not believe that The Holy Spirit is active in The Church today. That He does not speak to people or perform miracles in and through people, (that He just sits in Heaven and watches I guess.) Do not quench The Holy SPIRIT, in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-21 Paul is giving a list of things to do and not to do; the first not to do is, “Do not quench The SPIRIT.” That is what we do when we deny Him and ignore Him, we quench His Power to work in our life and to work through us to minister to others.

We are temples of The Holy SPIRIT, (1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 6:17-20; 2 Corinthians 6:11-18) The very essence of GOD lives in those who “believe that JESUS is The Son of GOD and confess with their mouth that GOD raised Him from the dead” (Romans 10:9-11) In 1 Corinthians 3 we are admonished to take care of our body; in 1 Corinthians 6 we are told to avoid sexual immorality; in 2 Corinthians 6 we are told to avoid idolatry and being joined with sinners. GOD takes seriously that He has made us His Temple and He expects us to not only honor and care for our body but to make is a place of worship and service to His Kingdom in the earth.

Romans 8 is the benefits of being filled with The SPIRIT of GOD! Study 8:8-11.

It’s not about the Fruit or Gifts, it’s about obedience; yes, there is error in the Church but that is not a reason to resist what GOD is doing! JESUS confronted the error of the religious leaders of His Day and we are called to proclaim the Truth of The Gospel and The Power of The Holy SPIRIT so that those with an open heart can receive Salvation and become children and servants of GOD.

If you don’t give GOD a place to Work by His SPIRIT in your life then He won’t!

https://youtu.be/B7SoLNh3Xok

1 Corinthians 15:30 Being Baptized For The Dead?

1 Corinthians 15:30

Being Baptized For The Dead?

 

1 Corinthians 15:20, 29-30 “But now Christ is Risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits* of those who have fallen asleep (died)… Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead? And why do we stand in jeopardy (danger) every hour?”

Baptized in verse 29 is the same Greek word that is used in the New Testament eighty-six ties: baptizeō; from a derivative of baptō; to make whelmed (i.e. fully wet); used only (in the New Testament) of ceremonial ablution, especially (technical) of the ordinance of Christianity, baptism:-baptist, baptize, wash.

Baptist (one time, Mark 6:14); baptize (nine times); baptized (sixty-nine times); baptizes (one time); baptizeth (two times); baptizing (four times).

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible (KJV), Greek Dictionary Of The New Testament, MacDonald Publishing

In fifty years of being a Christian with three years of Bible College, I have never heard anyone tackle this subject – being baptized for the dead (though there is a lot of internet discussion about it).

The only modern group that I know about that baptizes for the dead is The Latter Day Saints (Mormons), I do not know why they baptize for the dead, maybe it relates to this verse. I do not know why the Corinthians practiced it, but they must have since Paul addressed it, I do not know if they practiced something similar before becoming Christians.

Paul does not approve or rebuke this practice in any of his writings, he seems to use it to prove there is resurrection from the dead. He uses the question “Why are we in danger every hour?” to reinforce that he also believes in the resurrection of the dead (which of course having met JESUS on the road to Damascus, he would believe).

This is one of those Scriptures that cause people to reject The Bible as Divinely inspired, because it is not a Christian practice. No Christian order or denomination practice baptizing for the dead that I know of, in the old days (before Google) it was very hard for the average Christian to research this type of issue. Most commentaries on this passage that I have seen say that Paul was showing how ridiculous the Corinthians were for not believing in the resurrection of the dead in Christ, yet getting baptized for people who had died without being baptized. He also asks, If Christ is not raised and there is no resurrection of the dead, why am I still putting my life in danger for preaching it?

*Colossians 1:13-18, JESUS is the Firstborn of creation (Revelation 3:14) and the Firstborn of the dead (Revelation 1:4-5)! His birth in the flesh was ordained by The Father before the foundation of the earth was laid (1 Peter 1:18-21; Revelation 12:8) and JESUS is the only human to rise from the dead and not die a second time (Revelation 1:18, 2:8).

So do not let Scriptures that you do not understand bother you, as you study and pray if GOD does not give you an answer then put it on a shelf (so to speak) and GOD will bring it to your remembrance when He is ready. Also do not let people justify discounting The Bible because of passages like this that are hard to understand, stand fast in your Trust of GOD and His Word, 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5.

 

https://youtu.be/1BFp9SDJgv0

Leadership!

 

Leadership!

 

There are two things that never stop in a Christian’s life: repentance and discipleship!

When we come humbly before GOD, recognizing we are a sinner or as a believer that we have sin in our life and ask GOD to forgive us; He does! Then we must repent – stop doing it and do what is the right thing. We confess our sin to others and allow someone who has experience and maturity to teach us and guide us in our repentance, this is called discipleship.

If we asked GOD to forgive us and then did not change our behavior but kept doing the same thing that we asked forgiveness for; then we do not have a repentant heart and we may go through the process of discipleship, but it will not stick. We have only appeased our conscience and not allowed GOD to change our life.  We are still a sinner!

To be a leader of JESUS’ Body – the Church you must live a lifestyle of repentance and discipleship!

Dong the work: Philippians 2:12-16, first we have to be diligent in our walk with GOD to “seek Him first and His Righteousness” (Matthew 6:33-34). We have to work at being a Good Christian and a Good Leader. GOD will test us and try us to show us where we are weak and where we need to be humble.

Prayer: 1 Timothy 2:1-7; Paus was a preacher, apostle and a teacher; as a leader we must pray for those who lead us in the Church and in the government. With us as an example we then teach the people to pray; Matthew 6:9-13.

Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers: 1 Corinthians 12:27-31; Ephesians 4:9-16.

Preaching – Teaching: Matthew 23:6-12; 1 Timothy 2:5-7; 2 Timothy 2:14-26; 3:10-4:5; Hebrews 5:12-14.

Deacons: Acts 6:1-7; 1 Timothy 3:8-13. The first martyr was a deacon, Stephen (Acts 6:8-7:60); the first evangelist was a deacon, Phillip (Acts 8:1-13).

Bishops – Elders: 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9, 2:1-10

So being a leader is important in that you are a representative of GOD and His Purpose in the earth. As a leader you are responsible to teach and train people to know GOD and to serve GOD’s Will, starting with your own life and family. You will be tried and tested more than the average Christian because there is a greater reward for being an obedient leader. You will be persecuted more than the average Christian because you are reaching not just Christians but those who are lost. The authority of leadership is the Power of The Gospel! You must be humble before GOD and people, you must lay down your life for the believers, you must take up your cross everyday and follow JESUS wherever He takes you! Amen!

https://youtu.be/emYDEI87KSY

Matthew 5:8-12

 

The Beatitudes Matthew 5:8-12

 

:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see GOD.” Oswald Chambers commented on this verse, “If the spiritual bloom of our life with GOD is getting impaired in the tiniest degree, we must stop everything and get it put right. Vision depends on character ‘the pure in heart’ see GOD.” My Utmost For His Highest, Garborg’s Heart ‘N Home, Inc., 1988

The imperative is on us to maintain our pure relationship with GOD! David wrote in Psalm 15, “LORD, who may abide in your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your Holy Hill? He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart; He who does not back bite with his tongue (Exodus 20:16), nor does evil to his neighbor (Exodus 20:17), nor does he take up reproach against his friend; in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but he honors those who fear The LORD; he who swears to his own hurt and does not change; he who does not put out his money at usury, nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.” Peter said it this way in 1 Peter 1:1-12, “…Grace and Peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of GOD and of JESUS our LORD…as His Divine Power has given us all things that pertain to Life and godliness…But also for this reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance (patience), to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love…Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble…” If you want to be pure in heart make Psalm 15 and 1 Peter 1:1-12 part of your life.

 

:9 “Blessed are the peace makers, for they shall be called sons of GOD.” Here is a thought: “But as many as received Him, to them He Gave the Right (Authority) to become children of GOD, to those who believe in His Name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of GOD.” “Repay no one evil for evil. Have (Provide good) regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men…Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with Good.” John 1:12-13. Romans 12:17-21 (Psalm 34:14).

 

:10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.” The poor in spirit and the persecuted for righteousness both receive The Kingdom of Heaven, those who the world looks on as lowly, vermin, not worthy to live. But GOD lifts up the lowly, shelters the downtrodden and Blesses those who are persecuted for His Names sake. Psalm 103:6-8 “The LORD executes righteousness and Justice for all who are oppressed…The LORD is Merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in Mercy.”

 

:11-12 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly Glad, for Great is your Reward in Heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” This is hard for most Christians, we do not want to suffer or be persecuted, but JESUS told us we would be: Matthew 10, the whole chapter, vss. 34-36 “Do not think that I have come to bring Peace on earth. I did not come to bring Peace but a Sword. For I have come to set (alienate a man from) a man against his father…and a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.”

What is that Sword? Ephesians 6:17 “And take the Helmet of Salvation, and The Sword of The SPIRIT which is The Word of GOD;” Hebrews 4:12 “For the Word of GOD is Living and Powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of the soul and spirit, and of joins and marrow, and is a discerner of the thought and intent of the heart.” Revelation 19:11-21 “Now I saw Heaven opened and behold a white horse. And He Who sat on it was called Faithful and True, and in Righteousness He Judges and makes war…Now out of His mouth goes a Sharp Sword, that with it He should strike the nations…And the rest were killed with the Sword which proceeds from the mouth of Him Who sat on the white horse…” The Apostles wrote about our sufferings and persecutions; 2 Corinthians 1:3-7; James 1:2-8; 1 Peter 4:12-19.

 

https://youtu.be/xtjH4TcxZIQ

Matthew 5:6-7

 

The B-Attitudes Matthew 5:6-7

 

:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” Luke 6:21a “Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be filled (satisfied).” This is not the hunger and filling that comes from eating natural food, but spiritual food. Isaiah said in 55:1-5, “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the Waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for what is not Bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is Good, and let your soul delight itself in Abundance…” He is not talking about the body and natural food he is talking about the soul and the soul eats spiritual food! John 6:11, “Give us this day our daily Bread.” Again, this is not just about natural food, in just a few sentences JESUS tells us not to worry about natural food, this is about spiritual food.  6:25-34 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not Life more than food and the body more than clothing?...For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first The Kingdom of GOD and His Righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”

JESUS told the devil when tempted, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of GOD.” which is a quote from Deuteronomy 8:3.

JESUS asks us to let Him come into our life so we can sup together, Revelation 3:20, “Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” In his letter to the lukewarm Church, those who know about JESUS but have not yielded their life to Him, He is knocking and calling out. Today’s Church is lukewarm to cold, many who say they love GOD and give their life to Him really have not, they continue to practice sin in their lives.

JESUS is The Bread of Life, John 6:48 “I Am The Bread of Life.” Study 6:22-59 This is a hard text for Christians even today, but JESUS is clear, we must abide in Him or we can do nothing, John 15:10“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My Love, just as I kept My Father’s Commandments and abide in his Love.” Study John 15:1-17, again this is a hard passage for many Christians. GOD did not call us to the good life here on the earth, He called us to the Eternal Good Life that comes after this difficult way and narrow gate life (Matthew 7:13-14).

JESUS is The Living Water, John 4:4-14, “JESUS answered and said to her, ‘If you knew The Gift of God, and Who it is Who says to you, “Give Me a drink,” you would have asked Him, and He would have given you Living Water.’” John 7:37-39 “On the last day, that great day of the feast, JESUS stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of Living Water.’ But this He spoke concerning The SPIRIT, Whom those believing in Him would receive; for The Holy SPIRIT was not yet given, because JESUS was not yet Glorified.”

Paul talks about the fact that the Hebrews in the wilderness all ate the same spiritual food (manna) and drank the same spiritual water (CHRIST) 1 Corinthians 10:1-4 (Study Exodus 16 and 17).

In Hebrews 5:12-14, Paul admonishes the Believes that they are living on the milk of The Word like babies when they should be mature eating the solid food of The Word of GOD.

In 1 Corinthians 11:23-34 Paul teaches about taking communion based on JESUS’ instructions to the twelve during the Passover Sader on the night He was arrested. Where we eat His body represented by unleavened bread and drink his blood represented by grape wine (or juice).

In Revelation 22:1-2, all who are allowed into GOD’s Eternal Kingdom’s New Jerusalem can drink Water from The River of Life and eat Fruit from The Tree of Life that grows on each side of the River of Life.

Do you get the point? “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” “Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be filled.”

 

:7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain Mercy.” We all want mercy, even in entertainment the villain about to be dispatched, the one who has shown no mercy to his victims, usually begs for mercy.

What is mercy? “Kindness and love. In the Old Testament, mercy was used to describe GOD’s Faithfulness within the Covenant relationship. GOD showed Mercy even to those who broke the law (Daniel 9:9). In the New Testament the word typically referred to the fulfillment of GOD’s promised Kindness through JESUS CHRIST (Luke 1:54; Titus 3:5-6). Many Christian benedictions mention mercy (1 Timothy 1:2).” Bible Dictionary, Publications International, Ltd., 1999; That seems like a fair description.

So to be merciful we must give mercy to others, this is tricky for many people, even Christians; if you have anger, resentment, jealousy, envy or hatred toward other people you will not be able to show mercy very easily. To receive mercy we have to give mercy, study Psalm 41, David recognizes what mercy is, asks GOD to be merciful to him, speaks of others unkindness to him, then again asks GOD to be merciful to him so he can repay those who were not merciful to him, but JESUS corrected that attitude!

JESUS told us to forgive others their sins against us or our Father in Heaven would not forgive us our sins (Matthew 6:14-15); JESUS told to us do good (be merciful) to those who hate us and mistreat us (Matthew 5:21-26, 43-48); no anger, no hatred, no revenge! Paul reminds of this in Romans 12:17-21, where he quotes from Deuteronomy 32:35 and Proverbs 25:21-22.

So mercy is an act of kindness whether the person is deserving or not. Proverbs 12:10, “A righteous man regards the life of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.” A righteous man treats his animals better than a man whose mercies are based on requirement and not love, (see Matthew 5:43-48).

 

https://youtu.be/4jGkduSJg30

Matthew 5:3-5

 

Blessed = Happy

 

3107 makariŏs; a prolonged form of the poetical makar (meaning the same) supremely blest; by extension fortunate, well off:-blessed, happy (X-ier).

3106 makarizō; from 3107; to beautify, i.e. pronounce (or esteem) fortunate:-called blessed, count happy.

Greek Dictionary of The New Testament, James Strong, MacDonald Publishing Company

 

Each of the Beatitudes starts with makariŏs, generally translated blessed but also means happy; which renders our understanding of the beatitudes differently.

 

Matthew 5

:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is The Kingdom of heaven.” (Luke 6:20 “Happy are you poor, for yours is The Kingdom of GOD.”) Psalm 40:16-17 “Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; let such as Love Your Salvation say continually, ‘The LORD be Magnified!’ But I am poor and needy; yet The LORD thinks upon me. You are my Deliverer; do not delay, O my GOD.” Zephaniah 3:17 “The LORD your GOD in your midst, The Mighty One, will Save; He will Rejoice over you with Gladness, He will quite you with His Love, He will Rejoice over you with Singing.” James 1:9

 

:4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” (Luke 6:21b “Happy are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.” Psalm 126:5-6 “Those who sow in tears shall reap in Joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with Rejoicing, bringing in sheaves with him.” Revelation 21:4 “GOD will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 “But I do not what you to be ignorant, brethren concerning those who have fallen asleep (died), lest you sorrow as others who have no Hope. For if we believe that JESUS died and rose again, even so GOD will bring with Him, those who sleep in JESUS.”

 

:5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth (or land).” Romans 4:13 “For The Promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or his seed through The Law, but through the Righteousness of Faith.” Psalm 37:11 “But the meek shall inherit the earth and shall delight themselves in the abundance of Peace.”  (Study this whole Psalm, it is about Eternity.) Zephaniah 2:3 “Seek The LORD, all the meek of the earth, who have upheld His Justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden in The Day of The LORD’s Anger.”

 

https://youtu.be/eVFTKfGswyE

Rewritten?

 

Rewritten?

 

There was a worship song I liked about 2016-2017 that said that GOD had rewritten my history. At that time it really spoke to me of GOD’s Love and Authority; that He Loved me so much that He rewrote my sinful past to one of righteousness in JESUS, and that He had the Power and Authority to do that – to change what was evil to what reflected Glory on JESUS.

 

But the reality is that GOD did not rewrite my history – He removed my sin from me; as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:11-14; Isaiah 38:15-19; Jeremiah 31:34); as JESUS took the punishment for my sin (Romans 5:6-11; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21). He did say that in Eternity there will be no more sorrow and tears (Revelation 21:1-4), meaning that either we will not remember or will not be affected by our past. After all I did have good experiences in my before JESUS life, and I have had sin in my Born Again Life.

 

My sin nature that I was born with due to Adam’s sin and all of my past, present and future sins were forgiven by GOD as determined before the foundation of the earth (1 Peter 1:20-21) when JESUS went to the cross as The Lamb of GOD Who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29; Hebrews 7:24-28).

 

What GOD did was to write out the days of my life while I was in my mother’s womb, His Will and Purpose for me in His Kingdom in the earth and in Eternity (Psalm 139:13-24; Job 10:8-12, 31:13-15; Jeremiah 1:4-5; Galatians 1:13-17)!

 

The problem was that I was born a sinner, a child of sinners and I grew up not knowing anything about GOD or His plan for my life, I did not know that GOD had a plan for my life.

 

So what happened when I became a Believer in JESUS? GOD put me on the difficult way that leads to the narrow door of Eternity (Matthew 7:13-14, 14:6). He forgave my sins and started me in the direction of what He had Called and Gifted me for in my mother’s womb – to fulfill what He had written out for my life!

 

Consider Philippians 2:12-14, “Therefore my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own Salvation with fear and trembling; for it is GOD Who Works in you both to will (desire) and to do (the Work) for His Good Pleasure. Do all things without complaining (grumbling) and disputing (arguing)!” Praise GOD I am Saved by JESUS! Now I must learn how to walk in trusting GOD and his Word by my obedience (repentance)!

 

This is not about being Saved but staying Saved! GOD gives us The Victory over sin in JESUS (1 Corinthians 15:55-58), JESUS makes us Righteous in GOD (2 Corinthians 5:21), and GOD Calls us to be Holy (set apart) to Himself (Malicai 3:2-3; 1 Peter 1:13-19)

 

To Repent means to change your mind; change your mind about GOD, about Eternity, about Salvation; when you change your mind then you must decide to walk according to GOD’s Will and Purpose or not. Saul (Paul) of Tarsus did not have to stop hating JESUS and His followers, but He knew he must if he truly Loved GOD and wanted to serve Him; so he was driven to be the most prolific witness and church starter of the first century. Judas Iscariot could have repented if he truly Loved GOD and wanted to serve Him, but he did not, so he was driven to kill himself.

 

The choice is ours, we must repent of being a sinner which means that we stop sinning, if we stop sinning the most logical choice is to live as GOD tells us to in The Bible. When we are confronted in our sinner lifestyle with Salvation through Trusting our life to JESUS or continuing to live as we decide, only we can make the choice, no one can do it for us.

 

This is why we each have to read and study The Bible for ourself, we cannot truly make a right decision unless we understand Who GOD Is and what He has Called us to do as individuals, families, fellowships, ministries, churches, organizations and denominations. Study (not just read) the Bible with Prayer and Fasting and GOD by His SPIRIT will instruct, council, comfort and remind us of everything JESUS said; so that we can Obey Him in Faith (John 7:37-39, 14:15-18, 16:5-15; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17).

 

https://youtu.be/oxfZUnmAGkU