Are You A Christian Or Are You Being A Christian?

 

Are You A Christian Or Are You Being A Christian?

 

It seems like a confusing question but it is actually an important question, are you or are you being?

 

So what is the difference? You can be a Christian: believe in JESUS as The Son of GOD and Savior, go to Church regularly and pay tithes and live a moral live. But that is not being! If you “are” a Christian than you are just meeting the minimum requirements of receiving Eternal Life. If you are “being” a Christian than you are living your life to the fullest that you can, Obeying GOD’s Will and Purpose for your Life.

 

So the question is are you just present or are you actively present? Are you doing what is required to get by or are you Seeking GOD and His Righteousness First before everything else?

 

Look at the lives of the apostles and early Christians, they were actively present, they were seeking GOD and His Righteousness and they were accused of changing the whole world. What is your Christianity changing? Only yourself or are you Obeying GOD’s Purpose for your Life, no matter how hard it is? Did Paul ask, pray or desire all the bad things that happened to him? No! But he willingly accepted them for the sake of fulfilling GOD’s Purpose for his life!

 

Deuteronomy 11:18 “Therefore you shall lay up these Words of Mine in your Heart and in your Soul and bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.” If we are to Seek GOD First then we must read and study His Word The Bible. JESUS said The Father was going to give us His SPIRIT to teach us, to convict us, to council us, to comfort us and to remind us of everything that JESUS Said! Are you Seeking Him and His Righteousness?

 

Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to the world, but be Transformed by the Renewing of your Mind, that you may Prove what is that Good and Acceptable and Perfect Will of GOD.” The SPIRIT of GOD Renews our Mind by The Word of GOD! The Word of GOD Washes us clean of the things we learned from the world.

 

Exodus 20 is the Ten Commandments and Leviticus 19-20 is the defining of the Ten Commandments. Learn and Live by them as a Good Start to Serving The Will of GOD that is for every Believer. But we also must Seek Him and His Righteousness so that we can fine His Purpose and Call for us as His Child and Servant!

 

https://youtu.be/v7IZPB3l_gY

Dream - Isaiah 14

 

Dream – Isaiah 14

 

I awoke about 4AM on Friday September 19, 2025 from a dream. My dream began with a conversation with my wife, Charlene, who was reminding me that I was to give a very important message when I came home from work.

Then I was at work in an office building, It grew late and almost everyone had gone home, as I was leaving I was called back by a supervisor (in my dream this was a real supervisor when I worked for Kyocera Wireless) he was with three other men (one was a friend, co-worker and Christian, Greg Florey). My supervisor told me they (the company) needed me to make a public statement about what was happening in the world.

I told him I was supposed to go home to give a message about this, but he insisted. I asked if they had an outline yet and he said they did. I asked about including The Bible in the message, not as a sermon but to emphasize the point of the message. He said yes that would be good. As I was awakening I heard  Isaiah 14 so I got up and read it.

 

Isaiah 14 is about JEHOVAH GOD’s Blessing on Israel as He brings them out of their seventy years of captivity for their disobedience and rebellion (:1-2). It is about JEHOVAH GOD’s Judgment on Babylon (:3-11), it is about JEHOVAH GOD’s Judgment on Lucifer (:12-21), it is about the destruction of Babylon (:22-23), Assyria (Siria; :24-27) and Philistia (Palestine; :28-31).

 

There is much imagery in Isaiah 14, it is important to read it slowly and ask The SPIRIT of JEHOVAH GOD to show you what He wants you to learn!

 

“For JEHOVAH will have mercy on Jacob (Israel) and will still choose Israel and settle them in their own Land. The strangers will be joined with them and they will cling to the House of Jacob. Then people will take them and bring them to their own place and The House of Israel will Possess them for servants and maids in the Land of JEHOVAH; they will take them captive whose captives they were and rule over their oppressors. (While this is specifically about the time after Israel’s seventy years of captivity it is also about today. Since Israel was restored as a nation in 1948, they have been threatened and attacked about a dozen times and they have won every fight and come out stronger each time.)

It shall come to pass in the day JEHOVAH gives you rest from your sorrow and from your fear and the hard bondage in which you were made to serve, that you will take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, ‘How the oppressor has ceased, the golden (insolent) city ceased! JEHOVAH has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of the rulers; he who struck the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he who ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted and no one hinders. The whole earth is at rest and quiet; they break forth into singing (both rejoicing and worship of JEHOVAH GOD; Isaiah 55:12). Indeed the cypress trees rejoice over you and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, “Since you were cut (have lain) down no woodman has come up against us.” Hell from beneath is excited about you, to meet you at your coming; it stirs up the dead for you. All the chief ones of the earth, it has raised up their thrones all the kings of the nations. They all speak and say to you: ‘Have you also become as weak as we? Have you become like us? Your pomp has been brought down to Sheol (hell), and the sound of your stringed instruments; the maggot is spread under you, and worms cover you.’” (All men fail in death; all men are judged rightly in death; Hebrews 9 27; Revelation 20:11-15.)

 

“How you are fallen from Heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! (Ezekiel 28:11-15; Revelation 12:7-9) For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into Heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of GOD, I will sit on the mount of the congregation (Zion) on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like The Most High.’ Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the pit! Those who see you will gaze at you and consider you, saying: ‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms, who made the world as a wilderness and destroyed its cities, who did not open (would not release) the house of his prisoners?’ All the kings of the nations, all of them sleep in glory, everyone in his own house; but you are cast out of your grave like an abominable (despised) branch, like the garment of those who are slain, thrust (pierced) through with a sword, who go down to the stones of the pit, like a corpse trodden underfoot! You will be joined with them in burial because you have destroyed your land and slain your people, the brood of evildoers shall never be named. (In Revelation 2:17 those who overcome the devil will receive a new Heavenly Name from JESUS, our True Name that JEHOVAH GOD gives us when He writes out the days of our life before we are born [Psalm 139] and enters it in The Lambs Book of Life; these who serve the devil will be nameless in their eternal judgment.) Prepare slaughter for his children (Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 19:17-21, 20:11-15) because of the iniquity of their fathers, less they rise up and possess the land and fill the face of the earth with cities.”

 

“’For I will rise up against them,’ says JEHOVAH of Hosts  ‘and cut off from Babylon the name and remnant and offspring and posterity,’ says JEHOVAH. ‘I will also make it a possession for the porcupine and marshes of muddy water; I will sweep it with the broom of destruction.’ Says JEHOVAH of Hosts. JEHOVAH of Hosts has sworn, saying, ‘Surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to pass and as I have purposed, so it shall stand: that I Will break the Assyrian in My Land and on My Mountains tread him underfoot! Then his yoke shall be removed from them and his burden removed from their shoulders. This is the Purpose that is purposed against the whole earth, and this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations! For JEHOVAH of Hosts has Purposed and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out and who will turn it back?’”

 

“This is the burden that came in the year that king Ahaz died (Again, yes this was about that time, but it is also about today in Israel as they fight against the modern Philistines.). ‘Do not rejoice all you of Philistia, because the rod that struck you is broken: for out of the serpents roots will come forth a viper and its offspring will be a fiery flying serpent (Revelation 12). The firstborn of the poor will feed, and the needy will lie down in safety; I will kill your roots with famine and it will slay your remnant. Wail, O gate! Cry O city! All you of Philistia are dissolved (exist no more); for smoke will come from the north and no one will be alone in his appointed times (Or ranks). What will they answer the messengers of the nation? That JEHOVAH has founded Zion (Jerusalem), and the poor of His People shall take refuge in it.’”

 

https://youtu.be/3VTFLAZEn8c

Isaiah 1 America Repent!

 

Isaiah 1

America Repent!

 

This is the first Message JEHOVAH gave Isaiah for Israel, like all of GOD’s Words it applies to all nations and peoples, especially America (The United States of America) because like Israel this nation was founded by GOD; through His People who wanted to Worship and Serve Him without religious or governmental interference. Like Israel, America was called to proclaim JEHOVAH GOD as the True and Living GOD of all creation Who wants to save us from our sin through His Only Begotten Son, JESUS CHRIST! But like Israel America has fallen and turned from JEHOVAH GOD.

 

The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning America (Judah) and Washington DC (Jerusalem) in the days of Clinton (Uzziah), GW Bush (Jotham), Obama (Ahaz), and Trump (Hezekiah), presidents (kings) of America (Judah).

 

Hear O heavens and give ear O earth for JEHOVAH has spoken: “I have nourished and brought up children and they have rebelled against Me! The ox knows its owner and the donkey its master’s feed troth; But America (Israel) does not know, my people do not consider.”

 

Alas, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who are corrupters! They have forsaken JEHOVAH, they have provoked to anger The Holy One of America (Israel), they have turned away backward.

 

Why should you be stricken again? You will revolt more and more. The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faints. From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it, wounds and bruises and putrefying sores; they have not been closed or bound up or soothed with ointment.

 

Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire; illegal aliens (strangers) devour your land is your presence; and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers. So the daughter of America (Zion) is left as a shelter in a vineyard, as a hut in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city. Unless JEHOVAH of hosts had left to us a small remnant we would have become like Sodom, we would have been made like Gomorrah.

 

Hear The Word of JEHOVAH you rulers of Washington DC (Sodom); give ear to The Law of your GOD you people of America (Gomorrah): “To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?” says JEHOVAH. “I have had enough of abortion (burnt offerings of rams) and the poisoning of food (fat of fed cattle). I do not delight in the blood of murder (bulls), or of transgender surgery (lambs) or lgbt+ (goats).

 

When you come to appear before Me, who has required this from your hand, to trample My Churches (courts)? Bring no more futile regulations (sacrifices); incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths and the calling of assemblies – I cannot endure  iniquity and the sacred meeting. Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My Soul Hates! They are a trouble to Me; I am weary of bearing them. When you pray (spread your hands) I Will Hide My Eyes from you; I Will Not Hear! Your hands are full of bloodshed (blood).

 

Wash yourselves make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before My Eyes. Cease to do evil! Learn to do Good; Seek Justice, rebuke the oppressor, defend the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now and let us Reason together,” says JEHOVAH, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If you are Willing and Obedient you shall eat The Good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel you shall be devoured by the sword!” For the mouth of JEHOVAH has spoken!

 

How the faithful city (Washington DC) has become a harlot (unfaithful)! It was full of Justice; Righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers! Your silver has become dross; your wine mixed with water. Your rulers (princes) are rebellious and companions of thieves; everyone loves bribes and follows after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless nor does the cause of the widow come before them.

 

Therefore JEHOVAH says, JEHOVAH of hosts, the Mighty One of America (Israel)’ “Ah, I will rid Myself of (be relieved of) my adversaries and take vengeance on My enemies! I Will turn My hand against you and thoroughly purge away (refine with lye) your dross and take away all your alloy. I Will restore your judges as at the first and your councilors as at the beginning. Afterward you will be called the city of Righteousness, the faithful City!”

 

America (Zion) will be Redeemed with Justice and her penitents (Lit. returners) with righteousness! The destruction of transgressors and of sinners together, Those who forsake JEHOVAH shall be consumed. For they (some) shall be ashamed of the sites of pagan worship (terebinth trees) which you have desired; you shall be embarrassed because of the gardens which you have chosen. For you shall be as terebinth whose leaf fades and a garden that has no water. The strong shall be tinder and the work of it as a spark; both will burn together and no one shall quench.

 

Read and Pray 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 for America!

 

https://youtu.be/IpP097R_0BY

Repentance!

 

Repentance!

In Luke 3:1-14 John Defines Repentance!

 

“John went into all the region around the Jordan, Preaching a Baptism of Repentance for the Remission of sins, (Baptism is the immersion into water to symbolize the washing away of sins to those who ask GOD for Forgiveness of their sins. Repentance is the lifestyle of stopping sinning and starting to Live Righteous before GOD.)

 

Then John said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, ‘Brood of vipers! (Genesis 3:1) Who warned you (Ezekiel 3:17-21; 1 Thessalonians 5:14)  to flee from the wrath to come? (Psalm 2:1-6; Romans 1:18-21)

 

Therefore bear fruits (Proverbs 12:12-14; Matthew 7:15-20) worthy of repentance (2 Chronicles 7:13-14; 2 Corinthians 7:8-12) and do not begin to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our father.” For I say to you that GOD is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. (Luke 19:37-40; 1 Peter 2:4-8)

 

And even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. (Matthew 3:10, 7:15-20) Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Psalm 37:9; Proverbs 2:22; John 15:5-6)  Study JESUS’ Woes, Matthew 11:21, 18:7, 23:13-29, 26:24; Luke 6:24-26, 10:13, 11:42-52, 17:1, 22:22 (yes some of them are duplicates.)

 

So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?” He answered and said to them (Repent), “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; (Matthew 5:40) and he who has food, let his do likewise.” (Isaiah 58:6-7; James 2:15-16)

 

Then the tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher what shall we do?” So he said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you.” (Leviticus 25:35-38; 1 Timothy 3:2-3)

 

Likewise the solders (Not Roman) asked him, saying, “What shall we do?” So he said to them, “Do not shake down for money or accuse falsely and be content with your wages.”’” (Exodus 20:13-17; Deuteronomy 16:19; Romans 13:8-10)

 

https://youtu.be/9Souhp6Hiz8

Forgiveness!

 

Forgiveness!

 

John 20:21-23 “So JESUS said to them again, ‘Peace to you! As The Father has sent Me, I also send you.’ When He has said this He breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive The HOLY SPIRIT! If you Forgive the sins of any, they are Forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’”

Have you ever thought what that means, we have the authority to forgive or not forgive someone’s sin?*

 

James 5:13-16 “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray! Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms! Is anyone among you sick? Let him call upon the Elders of the Church, and let them Pray over them, anointing them with oil in The Name of The LORD. The Prayer of Faith will Save the sick and The LORD will Raise them up. If they have committed sins they will be Forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another and Pray for one another, that you may be healed! The Effective, Fervent Prayer of a Righteous person avails much.”

See how repentance (which starts with confession), prayer and forgiveness work together to bring healing and recovery?

 

1 John 2:1-2 “My little children these things I write to you so that you may not sin. If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with The father, JESUS CHRIST The righteous! He Himself is the Propitation (Mercy Seat) for our sins and not for ours only but also for the whole world!” John 1:29

 

We have to have at least one person in our life who is a mature Christian who we trust our life to; it may or may not be a pastor or church leader. Someone we can confess our sins to!

 

 

*JESUS told us if we do not forgive someone who sins against us then our Father in Heaven would not forgive our sins, Matthew 6:13-14. How do we reconcile this?  In Matthew 6:13-14 JESUS is talking about someone sinning against us as this follows 6:9-12 where JESUS teaches us to ask for forgiveness for our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

There is a point in a person’s life that prayer for them is not valid, Romans 1:18-24; 1 Timothy 4:4-5. The reality is that we have the authority in JESUS CHRIST to not Forgive sin, of those who do not sin against us personally but whose sinful life is so dark they seem and proclaim that they are unredeemable, Matthew 7:15-20; 1 Corinthians 5; 2 Timothy 3:1-9.

 Remember Matthew 7:1-2, 12 “Judge not, that you be not judged! For with the Judgment you Judge, you will be Judged; and with the measure you use it will be measured back to you….Therefore, whatever you want people to do to you, do also to them, for this is The Law and The Prophets.”

 

https://youtu.be/sbkCvHhaLoM

3 Commandments Of JESUS-You Must Forgive!

 

3 Commandments Of JESUS!

You Must Forgive!

 

JESUS told us not to Judge others because we would be Judged with the same measure!

JESUS told us not to call people names because that would put us in a place to be Judged!

JESUS told us to Forgive those who sin against us or our Heavenly Father would not forgive us!

These Commandments of JESUS go against our human nature, because we are sinners (Saved by Grace) but He told us if we did not keep them we would not be His Disciples! The point is that we cannot Live by Grace but by Obedience! We Live in Grace to Endure through Obedience; JESUS told us we must Endure (Overcome)! (Matthew 10:22, 28:13; 1 John 1:13-14; Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26-29; 3:5, 12, 21-22; 21:7)

 

Let’s look at these Commandments of JESUS:

 

You Must Forgive – Matthew 5:43-48 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall Love your neighbor (Leviticus 19:18) and hate your enemy’. (Deuteronomy 23:3-8; Psalm 139:19-22; 1 John 3:15) But I say to you, Love your enemies (Romans 12:17-21; 1 John 3:18-23), Bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you and Pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you (Jeremiah 29:6-7; Acts 7:59-60). ” Wow! Love your enemy? Is there a precedent for this? (Proverbs 24:17-18, 25:21-22)

 

“that you may be sons of your Father in Heaven (John 1:12-13; Galatians 3:23-29); for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust (Proverbs 15:3; 2 Peter 3:8-9).”

 

“For if you Love those who Love you, what reward have you? Do not even tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren (friends) only, what do you do more than others? Do not even Gentiles do so? Therefore you shall be Perfect just as your Father in Heaven is Perfect (Ephesians 5:1-2; Colossians 1:27-29; 1 Peter 1:13-21)!

 

You cannot  Love your enemies if you do not Forgive: Matthew 6:14-15 “For if you Forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father Will also Forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither Will your Father Forgive your trespasses.”

Matthew 18:21-35 If you do not forgive, not only will GOD not forgive you, but, “So My Heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his Heart, does not Forgive his Brother his trespasses (sins)!”

Ephesians 4:25-32 – Keep The Ten Commandments and Forgive!

Matthew 22:36-40 – Love GOD (Deuteronomy 6:5, 10:12-13, 30:6) and Love your neighbor! (Leviticus 19:18)

 

https://youtu.be/bm3l0YuaGyI

3 Commandments Of JESUS-Do Not Hate!

 

3 Commandments Of JESUS!

Do Not Hate!

 

JESUS told us not to Judge others because we would be Judged with the same measure!

JESUS told us not to call people names because that would put us in a place to be Judged!

JESUS told us to Forgive those who sin against us or our Heavenly Father would not forgive us!

These Commandments of JESUS go against our human nature, because we are sinners (Saved by Grace) but He told us if we did not keep them we would not be His Disciples! The point is that we cannot Live by Grace but by Obedience! We Live in Grace to Endure through Obedience; JESUS told us we must Endure (Overcome)! (Matthew 10:22, 28:13; 1 John 1:13-14; Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26-29; 3:5, 12, 21-22; 21:7)

 

Let’s look at these Commandments of JESUS:

 

Do Not Hate – Matthew 5:21-26 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder (Exodus 20:13); and whoever murders will be in danger of the Judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the Judgment.” (Numbers 35:9-34).

“And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ (Lit. in Aramaic, empty head) shall be in danger of the council.” The council is what JESUS faced during His trial, (council in the Greek means a tribunal council or a joint session of the Jewish Sanhedrin for the purpose of punishment; Matthew 10:16-20 [Mark 13:9-11], Matthew 12:14 [KJV], 26:57-59 [Mark 14:55, 15:1, Luke 22:66]; John 11:47; Acts 4:5-16, 5:21-41, 6:12-14, 22:30-23:1)

“But whoever says, ‘you fool!’ shall be in danger of hellfire! (“You fool!” is a Judgment that only GOD can give, Psalm 14:1; Proverbs 10:23, 12:15-16, 18:6-7, 28:26; [26:3-12, 29:20]; Luke 12:16-21). Do a word study of fool in Proverbs. shall be in danger of hell fire!” (this is Eternity in the lake of fire; Matthew 25:41; 1 John 3:10-15; Revelation 20:11-15, 21:8)

 

“Therefore if you bring your Gift to the Altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your Gift there before the Altar and go your way. First be Reconciled to your brother and then come and offer your Gift.” This sounds straight forward, if your brother has an issue with you, go and make it right. But in Israel, every male was your brother, even if you did not know them; all Hebrews were descendants of Abraham, therefore brethren. To the Hebrew people everyone was a spiritual and natural relative.  In the Church today we limit our spiritual brethren to those in our Church Fellowship and maybe our denomination, we even exclude our natural families if they do not agree with our beliefs. JESUS is saying that every person in our nation is our brother or sister and if any of them has an issue with us, we have to reconcile with them (this is why you have to read scripture in context to understand who was talking to whom about what, then you can apply it to your own life)!

The reverse also applies, Matthew 18:15-17, it is our responsibility to be at Peace and in a right relationship with everyone! (Romans 12:14-21).

So what is JESUS teaching us in these two situations? That whether we are offended or the offender it is our responsibility to go and fix the matter before GOD.

 

“Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer and you be thrown into prison. Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.” So this is the worse-case scenario, your non-believing brother has now become your adversary (or enemy), the one who wants to do you harm for your offence. Here JESUS puts the responsibility on the offender to make things right or face judgment as we saw in Matthew 18:15-17 where the offender is put out of fellowship because of his unrepentance.

JESUS told the parable of the unjust servant who was forgiven a great debt but refused to forgive his brother who owned him a small debt. The master of both men, when he found out reinstituted the debt of the original man and threw him in prison. (Matthew 18:21-35).

But we still must forgive them, Mark 11:25-26, “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, Forgive him, that your Father in Heaven may also Forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not Forgive, neither will your Father in Heaven forgive your trespasses!” This is a serious matter, JESUS talked about it a lot, even when He taught the disciples how to pray in Matthew 6:9-13, in verses 14-15 He said, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also Forgive you. But if you do not Forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses!”

 https://youtu.be/7BMh4GGxiG4

 

3 Commandments Of JESUS - Do Not Judge!

 

3 Commandments Of JESUS!

Do Not Judge!

 

JESUS told us not to Judge others because we would be Judged with the same measure!

JESUS told us not to call people names because that would put us in a place to be Judged!

JESUS told us to Forgive those who sin against us or our Heavenly Father would not forgive us!

These Commandments of JESUS go against our human nature, because we are sinners (Saved by Grace) but He told us if we did not keep them we would not be His Disciples! The point is that we cannot Live by Grace but by Obedience! We Live in Grace to Endure through Obedience; JESUS told us we must Endure (Overcome)! (Matthew 10:22, 28:13; 1 John 1:13-14; Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26-29; 3:5, 12, 21-22; 21:7)

 

Let’s look at these Commandments of JESUS:

 

Do not Judge – Matthew 7:1-6 “Judge (Condemn) not that you be not Judged! For with the Judgment (Condemnation) you use, you will be Judged (Condemned)!” That part seems pretty straight forward, if you Judge or Condemn someone you will be held to the same standard; that’s what verses 3-5 are about; get your own life in order before you talk to others about theirs, even then be careful what you say! Then JESUS says, “Do not give what is Holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they turn and trample them under their feet and turn and tear you in pieces!” Dogs and swine were Hebrew terms for Gentiles, those who were not Hebrew! So what is Holy, You Are; if you are a Believer in JESUS – Born Again! (1 Peter 1:13-21)

Now in Matthew 7:15-20 JESUS tells us to watch out for False Prophets (that would include anyone who proclaims to be a teacher or preacher or minister of The Gospel who is using the Word of GOD for their own benefit)! JESUS tells us we will know them by the fruit of their life, but if you do not know what The Bible actually teaches (The Word of GOD does not abide in your Heart) then you can be fooled; this could lead to both your emotional,  physical and spiritual (Eternal) harm! Then JESUS says, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘LORD, LORD,’ shall enter The Kingdom of Heaven; but he who Does The Will of My Father in Heaven!” (Matthew 7:21-23) Even though they proclaimed how much spiritual work they did JESUS called them Lawless and that He Never Knew Them; that is a harsh statement for people who are doing miracles in His Name. How can that be you ask, that people who are doing The Works of The Kingdom are unknow to JESUS and excluded from His Eternal Kingdom?

There are two answers to this question: First – We are saved and Called to Fulfill the Will (Purpose) of GOD for our Life, not what we want! We do not get to chose how, when or where we will serve GOD. As Adopted Children we are to be about our Father’s Heavenly Business in the earth as it is in Heaven! As Servants of JESUS we are to be like Him who only Did what He saw The Father Doing (John 4:34, 5:19-20) and only Said what He heard The Father Saying  (John 5:30, 14:23-24)!

We have Free Will to Believe or not believe in JESUS and receive GOD’s Gift of Salvation. But when we were conceived, before we were born GOD wrote out the days of our life in His Book (Psalm 139:1-18). Yes, we are born a sinner and some of us never believe in JESUS and  find out our Purpose in GOD’s Kingdom in the earth! But when we do become a Believer in GOD and JESUS and we Confess our sins and Repent of them then GOD’s HOLY SPIRIT comes to Live in us and we are expected to Live a sinless Life to the best of our abilities until we are so full of GOD’s HOLY SPIRIT and GOD’s Word that it hardly ever is a struggle!

This is why JESUS tells us to “Seek first The Kingdom of GOD and His Righteousness…” (Matthew 6:25-34) I challenge everyone reading this or watching the video to do a word study of the word ‘seek’, GOD wants us to find Him and Serve Him!

The second answer is: GOD uses even His enemies to Fulfill His Purpose! The Pharoh of Moses’ day, “But indeed for this Purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My Power in you and that My Name may be declared in all the earth!” (Exodus 9:16) Or how about Nebuchadnezzar who took Israel into captivity (Jeremiah 25:7-9). Luke 9:49-50, “Now John answered and said, ‘Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your Name and we forbade him because he does not follow with us.’ But JESUS said to him, ‘Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is on our side.’” Or even the devil (Matthew 4:1-11).

 

So Judging others or organizations or anything leads to us being Judged! GOD speaking to Israel of their enemies said, “Vengeance is Mine, and Recompense; their foot shall slip in time; for the day of their calamity is at hand and the things to come hasten upon them. For JEHOVAH Will Judge His People and have Compassion on His Servants, when He sees that their Power is gone and there is no one remailing free.” (Deuteronomy 32:35-36) The Psalmist wrote, “JEHOVAH GOD, to Whom  Vengeance belongs – O GOD, to Whom Vengeance belongs, Shine forth! Rise up O Judge of the earth; Render Punishment to the proud. How long will the wicked triumph (Psalm 94:1-3)?” (Romans 12:14-21; Hebrews 10:26-31).

Peter tells us we need to have GOD’s Grace for the lost (2 Peter 3:1-9)

JESUS tells us not to fear what men can do to us, but to Fear GOD because His Judgment is Final (Matthew 10:27-28).

 

https://youtu.be/4aNXfbYWBDY

Matthew 5:43-6:4

 

Matthew 5:43-6:4

Introduction: 

“And JESUS went about all Galilee teaching in their Synagogues, preaching The Gospel of The Kingdom and Healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then His Fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics; and He Healed them all. Great multitudes followed Him – from Galilee and Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and beyond Jordan. And seeing the multitudes He went up on a mountain and when He was seated His disciples came to Him; then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:” Matthew 4:23-5:2

 

5:43-44 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall Love your neighbor (Leviticus 19:18) and hate your enemy. (Deuteronomy 23:3-8; Psalm 139:19-22)’ But I say to you, Love your enemies (Romans 12:17-21, Bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you (Jeremiah 29:6-7; Acts 7:59-60).” Wow! Love your enemy? Is there a precedent for this (Proverbs 24:17-18, 25:21-22)?

 

5:45 “that you may be sons of your Father in Heaven (John 1:12-13; Galatians 3:23-29); for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust (Proverbs 15:3; 2 Peter 3:8-9).”

 

5:46-48 “For if you Love those who Love you, what reward have you? Do not even tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even Gentiles do so? Therefore you shall be Perfect just as your Father in Heaven is Perfect (Ephesians 5:1-2; Colossians 1:27-29; 1 Peter 1:13-21)!

 

6:1-2 “Take heed that you do not do your Charitable deeds before men to be seen by them (This is a command to do Charitable deeds and to do them in private as much as possible; Mark 10:17-22, 14:7; Acts 20:34-35). Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in Heaven (1 Corinthians 3:8-15). Therefore when you do a charitable deed do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that you may have glory from men (Luke 14:12-14). Assuredly I say to you, they have their reward (Luke 21:1-4).”

 

https://youtu.be/Y9g_nZ7EDH4

Matthew 5:33-42

 

Matthew 5:33-42

Introduction:

 

“And JESUS went about all Galilee teaching in their Synagogues, preaching The Gospel of The Kingdom and Healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then His Fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics; and He Healed them all. Great multitudes followed Him – from Galilee and Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and beyond Jordan. And seeing the multitudes He went up on a mountain and when He was seated His disciples came to Him; then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:” Matthew 4:23-5:2

 

:33-37 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to JEHOVAH (Exodus 20:16; Leviticus 19:12; Deuteronomy 23:21-23).’ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by Heaven for it is GOD’s Throne; nor by earth for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem for it is the City of The Great King (KING JESUS; Psalm 48:1-3;  Isaiah 66:1-2; Revelation 19:16). Nor shall you swear by your head because you cannot make one hair white or black; but let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one (James 5:7-12; Colossians 4:6).”

 

:38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth (Exodus 21:22-27; Leviticus 24:19-20; Deuteronomy 19:15-21).’” If this was the law today it would stop a lot of mischief and petty crime; just think if you were messing around and accidentally someone got a broken arm, under this law they could break your arm. Or you got in a fight and stabbed someone but they did not die, they could stab you in the same place.

 

:39 “But I tell you not to resist an evil person (Romans 12:17-21; James 3:17-18). But whoever slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other to him also (Isaiah 50:4-6.” This command would be very hard to obey, but JESUS did as we read in Isaiah prophesying about JESUS’ trial. I saw a you tube video about this very situation. A Christian riding on a public bus was proclaiming The Gospel and a man took offence and slapped him hard, but the Christian kept on preaching GOD’s Love. The man slapped the Christian again, but the Christian kept preaching. The man slapped him again and told him to stop or he would keep slapping him. This went on for several minutes, The Christian kept telling the man that GOD Loved him until the man was broken, he fell on his knees and repented and The Christian hugged him and prayed for him.

 

:40 ”If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic let him have your cloak also (1 Corinthians 6:6-7).”

 

:41 “And whoever compels you to go one mile go with him two (John 15:12-14, James 4:17).”

 

:42 “Give to him who asks you and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away (Proverbs 3:27-28; James 2:14-17).”

 

https://youtu.be/-hHDL89bCM0

GOD's Memorial Name - Updated

 

GOD’s Memorial Name Updated

Do you Think About GOD?

 

Hosea 12:5 “Even The LORD GOD of hosts, The LORD is His Memorial.” KJV

 

Hosea 12:5 “That is, The LORD GOD of hosts. The LORD is His Memorial Name.” NKJV

 

Hosea 12:5(6) “ADONAI ELOHEI-Tzva’ot; ADONAI is His Name!” CJB

 

Hosea 12:5(6) “Even ADONAI ELOHEI-Tzva’ot – ADONAI is His Memorial Name.” TLV

 

Hosea 12:5 “even יהוה Elohim of hosts, יהוה is His remembrance.” The Scriptures

 

*LORD = Y^ehôvâh from hâyâh compilation of Yâhh and Y^ehôvîh; the self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national Name of GOD: Jehovah, the Lord.

 

*LORD = ’Ădônây an emphatic form of ’âdôwn or ’âdôn; the Lord (used as a proper name of GOD only):-(my) Lord.

 

Do you think about GOD daily? I do not mean “GOD, Help Me!”, “Father, Heal Me!”, even “GOD Bless Israel!”. Those are types of prayers not thoughts, whether you think them in your head or say them out loud, they are prayers to GOD; not thoughts about GOD.

 

The Hebrews so reverenced GOD’s Name that they feared misusing it so they stopped using it. +GOD’s Hebrew Name, ADONAI, is a tetragrammaton of the Hebrew letters יהוה Yud-Heh-Vav-Heh (YHVH) rendered in English as Yahweh or Jehovah, and these are rendered as LORD.

 

So, do you think about GOD’s Name or do you just use it? Most of us Christians before we were born again used GOD’s name in anger and as a curse. While we have changed the method of how we use GOD’s Name, we still just use His Name; when we want to get something from Him or as a salutation to others. But we do not actually usually use GOD’s Name, we usually use His Title, GOD.

 

*GOD = ’ĕlôhiym plural of ’ĕlôwahh, ’ĕlôahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates) and sometimes as a superlative:-angels, X exceeding, God (gods) (-dess,, ly), X (very) great, judges, X mighty.

 

*GOD = ’êl from ’Êîyâh or Êlîyâhûw; strength; as adjective mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity):-God (god), X godly, X great, idol, might (-y one), power, strong. Compare names in “-el.” Such as Beth-el.

 

When the religious Hebrews speak or think GOD’s Name, ADONAI, they understand Who He is by His Name: The Self-existent, Eternal One! The One Who created everything that exists. The Bible teaches us that ADONAI is Omniscient, Omnipotent and Omnipresent. That means that He is all knowing, that means there is nothing hidden from Him, He sees all, hears all and understands all. That He is All Powerful, there is nothing or no being that is stronger or mightier than He, or that can outdo Him in anything. That He is everywhere at all times, since everything exists within Him He is always all around it, since everything exists for Him He is always within it.

 

So GOD’s Name is not GOD, He is GOD, The Only, True and Living GOD! His Name is יהוה (YHVH as best we know). It does not matter if we call Him GOD, Father or LORD, but his Name is I AM, The Self Existing One “Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh” (“I am/will be what I am/will be”).

GOD said to Moshe, “Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh” (“I am/will be what I am/ will be”), and added, “Here is what to say to the people of Isra’el: ‘Ehyeh (I am or I will be) has sent me to you.’” GOD said further to Moshe, “Say this to the people of Isra’el: ‘Yud-Heh-Vav-Heh {JEHOVAH}, The GOD of your fathers, The GOD of Avraham, The GOD of Yitz’chak and The GOD of Ya‘akov, has sent me to you.’ This is My Name forever; this is how I am to be remembered generation after generation.” Exodus 3:14-15 CJB

 

If you want to know how to think about GOD, study The Proverbs!

 

*Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible, A Concise Dictionary Of The Words In The Hebrew Bible, MacDonald’s Publishing

+Complete Jewish Bible, Glossary of Hebrew Words Into English, David H. Stern, Messianic Jewish Publishers and Resources

 

https://youtu.be/zYvVDJVvtAs

Matthew 5:27-32

 

Matthew 5:27-32

Introduction:

 

“And JESUS went about all Galilee teaching in their Synagogues, preaching The Gospel of The Kingdom and Healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then His Fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics; and He Healed them all. Great multitudes followed Him – from Galilee and Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and beyond Jordan. And seeing the multitudes He went up on a mountain and when He was seated His disciples came to Him; then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:” Matthew 4:23-5:2

 

:27-30 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery (Exodus 20:14; Proverbs 6:32-35)!’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his Heart (Soul)!” This is the new Standard of sexual morality, (Proverbs 6:23-29). “If your eye causes you to sin (Lit. stumble or offend), pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish than for your whole body to be cast into hell!” Under the Torah adultery was punished by death (Leviticus 20:10); now JESUS is saying that if you commit adultery in your heart you may go to hell. But what JESUS is talking about is not a one time thing, it is a lifestyle pattern of thinking and imagining. JESUS expects us to have control over our body and mind and if we cannot have control over it He is telling us to do what is required to save our soul – no action is too drastic! “And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your hold body to be cast into hell (Mark 9:42-50)!” This is a hard standard, have you ever wondered about monks who used to beat their own bodies and other tortures to “cleanse” their body of sin? If you cannot get deliverance through counseling, prayer and behavior modification over a habitual sin, than you may have to resort to this extreme type of repentance.

 

:31-32 “Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery (Deuteronomy 24:1-4; Matthew 19:1-12; Paul talks about this in 1 Corinthians 7 – study it).”

 

https://youtu.be/2V-kpBOZgis

Matthew 5:21-26

 

Matthew 5:21-26

Introduction:

 

“And JESUS went about all Galilee teaching in their Synagogues, preaching The Gospel of The Kingdom and Healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then His Fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics; and He Healed them all. Great multitudes followed Him – from Galilee and Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and beyond Jordan. And seeing the multitudes He went up on a mountain and when He was seated His disciples came to Him; then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:” Matthew 4:23-5:2

 

:21-22 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not murder.’ (Exodus 20:13) and whoever murders will be in danger of the Judgment (Numbers 35:9-34).’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the Judgment (Matthew 6:14-15, 18:21-35)! And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca (Lit. in Aramaic, empty head; James 3:1-10)!’ shall be in danger of the council (in the Greek it meant a tribunal council or a joint session of the Jewish Sanhedrin for the purpose of punishment; Matthew 10:16-18, Mark 13:9-10). But whoever says, ‘You fool (“You fool!” is a Judgment that only GOD can give, Psalm 14:1-2; Luke 12:16-21; do a word study of fool in Proverbs)!’ shall be in danger of hell fire (this is Eternal in the lake of fire; 1 John 3:10-15; Revelation 21:8)!”

 

:23-24 “Therefore if you bring your Gift to the Altar and remember that your brother has something against you, leave your Gift there before the altar and go your way; first be Reconciled to your brother and then come and offer your Gift.” This sounds straight forward, if your brother has an issue with you, go and make it right. But, in Israel, every male was your brother, even if you did not know them; all Hebrews were descendants of Abraham, therefore brethren. To the Hebrew people everyone was a spiritual and natural relative.  In the Church today we limit our spiritual brethren to those in our Church Fellowship and maybe our denomination, we may exclude our natural siblings if they do not agree with our religious beliefs. JESUS is saying that every person in our nation is our brethren and if any of them has an issue with us, we have to reconcile with them (this is why you have to read scripture in context to understand who was talking to whom about what, then you can apply it to your own life)! Here is the reverse of this commandment, Matthew 18:15-17, “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him alone; if he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses  every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the Church; but if he refuses even to hear the Church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.”

So what is JESUS teaching us in these two situations? That whether we are offended or the offender it is our responsibility to go and fix the matter before GOD.

 

:25-26 “Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer and you be thrown into prison. Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.” So this is the worse-case scenario, your brother has now become your adversary (or enemy), the one who wants to do you harm for your offence. Here JESUS puts the responsibility on the offender to make things right or face judgment as we saw in Matthew 18:15-17 where the offender is put out of fellowship because of his unrepentance; but we still must forgive them, Mark 11:25-26, “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, Forgive him, that your Father in Heaven may also Forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not Forgive, neither will your Father in Heaven forgive your trespasses!” This is a serious matter, JESUS talked about it a lot, even when He taught the disciples how to pray in Matthew 6:9-13, in versts 14-15 He said, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also Forgive you. But if you do not Forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses!”

 

https://youtu.be/mah4TrhRTNY

Matthew 5:17-20

 

Matthew 5:17-20

Introduction:

 

“And JESUS went about all Galilee teaching in their Synagogues, preaching The Gospel of The Kingdom and Healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then His Fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics; and He Healed them all. Great multitudes followed Him – from Galilee and Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and beyond Jordan. And seeing the multitudes He went up on a mountain and when He was seated His disciples came to Him; then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:” Matthew 4:23-5:2

 

:17-18 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or The Prophets; I did not come to destroy but to fulfill Them! For assuredly (truthfully), I say to you till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the Law till all is Fulfilled!” JESUS Fulfilled The Law and The Prophets by living a sinless life and Obediently going to the cross to take upon Himself our sins and die in our place (Romans 10:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 1:17-21).

 

:19-20 “Whoever therefore breaks the least of one of these Commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least  in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever does and teaches them shall be called Great in the Kingdom of Heaven. So I say to you, that unless your Righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the Scribes and  Pharisees, you will by no means enter the Kingdom of Heaven!” First JESUS tells us that He came to Fulfill The Law, which He did by His Life, Death and Resurrection. The Word of GOD is never ending (Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 24:35)! So, yes we must keep The Commandments, not just the Ten Commandments but the 50 commandments that JESUS gave us (John 8:28-32). Also JESUS tells us that we have to have true Righteousness, not the self-righteousness of the religious leaders this can only happen if we live in The righteousness that we get from JESUS (Romans 5:20-21; 2 Corinthians 5:21 because of 1 Corinthians 15:57). How you ask? (John 8:28-32).

 

https://youtu.be/HnxRKwE3Upo

The Timing Of GOD!

 

The Timing Of JEHOVAH’s Will!

The Timing Of The Father’s Purpose!

 

The greatest issue Christians have is JEHOVAH’s Timing! Everything that happens, happens in JEHOVAH’s Timing according to His Will (2 Peter 3:7-13)! For the most part we do not struggle with The Father’s Purpose in fulfilling JEHOVAH’s Will, especially when He has revealed His Purpose to us. It is JEHOVAH’s timing in bringing to fruition His Purpose in our life and ministry, in Israel, our nation and the world (Zechariah 14:5-7; Matthew 24:35-36; Acts 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11)!

 

JEHOVAH ELOHIM has a Purpose for everyone and everything in creation; He set it all in motion when He created everything (Genesis 1). Our Heavenly Father who formed us in our mother’s womb has a Plan and Purpose for every human-being (Psalm 139:13-18)! It is up to us to seek Him for His Plan for our life so we can fulfill His Purpose by Obedient Service (Isaiah 55:6; Matthew 6:33).

 

For most of us the process is long and arduous! We want it to happen easily and quickly, but that is not GOD’s way (Isaiah 55:8-9). Just study the lives of His servants that we see in The Bible; study the lives of the early Church as found in Foxe’s Book of Martyrs.

 

We pray for the Grace to endure to the end (to be an overcomer; Matthew 10:21-33)! So that GOD’s Will and Purpose for and through us is fulfilled! But we do not want to endure the process and timing that it takes. We want the Good Life (wide road leading to the easy gate) not the difficult road leading to the narrow gate (Matthew 7:13-14).

 

JEHOVAH is Eternal, which is timeless, He has always been and always will be (Psalm 90:1-2)! So His Plans for us are bigger then the time frame that we exist in (Revelation 4:11)! As best as we understand by GOD’s Word this creation is to last for seven thousand years and we are quickly approaching the last thousand. So JESUS expecting us to endure (overcome) during the 120 years (Genesis 6:3) GOD promised us life for is not really that hard. Especially since we waste most of what we actually live not being Saved.

 

https://youtu.be/8I4sIddO1Ec

Matthew 5:13-16

 

Matthew 5:13-16

Introduction:

 

“And JESUS went about all Galilee teaching in their Synagogues, preaching The Gospel of The Kingdom and Healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then His Fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics; and He Healed them all. Great multitudes followed Him – from Galilee and Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and beyond Jordan. And seeing the multitudes He went up on a mountain and when He was seated His disciples came to Him; then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:” Matthew 4:23-5:2

 

:13”You are the Salt of the earth; but if the sault loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.”

JESUS continues His Teachings going from our being Blessed when we are persecuted for His Name and sake. Regular salt is a mineral that is used to preserve and to season, its modern uses include prevention of icing on roadways during freezing weather.

How does that apply to the Christian Life? The Church is to have a preserving effect on our communities and countries. The Church is to be an integral part of society having a positive effect on the lives of Christians and non-Christians. We are to preserve morality and integrity everywhere we live, work and play; we should be having such a positive effect that those around us want to be like us!

So how do we lose our saltiness? When Christians do not get involved with the issues of their society and government, then we lose our saltiness; we become tasteless and undesirable to those around us. If you are a Christian you have to be a Christian everywhere you go! Your opinion does not count if you do not express it to people who might not agree; true influence comes from honest discussions about morality and integrity, but only if our lifestyle matches our words! Like JESUS, we have to live our words!

 

:14-16 “You are the light of the world! A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden! Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your Light so Shine before men that they may see your Good Works and Glorify your Father in Heaven.”

Everyone understands that Light drives out darkness, the brighter the Light the fewer shadows and shades there are for sin to hide in.

This is the same theme as the salt, we first must be lit, there are many dim lights and bright lights that take away from The Gospel Message and some of them are in the Church! Our Life is to be a Light to the lost to draw them out of the darkness of sin. If we are not bright with the Light of GOD’s SPIRIT and Word then we are not doing what JESUS is telling us we should be doing!

So how do we get our lamp lit? By Believing in JESUS as The Son of GOD Who takes away the sins of the world (that is everybody’s sins – if they Believe and Confess Romans 10:8-13). When we Repent (confess our sins and stop sinning) and Believe in JESUS CHRIST as our Savior, then GOD The Father gives us His SPIRIT to live in us (John 14:15-18; 2 Corinthians 6:11-18). Then we must read and study The Bible so that we can know GOD and what He expects of us as his Children and Servants (Deuteronomy 30:11-20; Psalm 119:105; Proverbs 13:9, 20:20).

 

https://youtu.be/RnqqYyd-SrI

Peace In Israel?!

 

Peace In Israel?!

 

Today there is no Peace in Israel except what individuals have in their heart because of their relationship with MESSIAH YESHUA.

 

But be watching for the Day of Peace that will soon be upon Israel and the whole world! A unified group of nations will bring Peace to the Middle-East and to the world. This will be exciting and bring a time of great prosperity to all the nations. This is the sign of Daniel’s prophecy that soon the man of sin (anti-christ) will rise to rule Israel and the nations.

 

As we watch what is happening in all the nations of the world it is hard to believe there could be Peace. But it will happen! Out of all this conflict a group of world leaders will emerge who will negotiate Peace. But this peace will not last long and one leader (who survives a head wound) will lift himself above the rest and take over the government of the world.*

 

These are the signs that we as Christians and servants of GOD in the earth should be looking for. This is the sign that the world will be oppressed and ruled by force or persecuted to death for a short period of time (about three and one half years). During this time the world will return to chaos, wars, pestilence and famine will be everywhere. Those who oppose the anti-christ and his false prophet (religious leader) will be rejected and murdered; anarchists, Christians and Jews especially.

 

But MESSIAH YESHUA comes and destroys the anti-christ, his false prophet and all their army that will be attacking Jerusalem.

 

If this does not make sense to you do not worry, we cannot make sense of GOD, we can only Watch to Know the signs of the time in which we live as YESHUA command us, Trust Him to accomplish all that He says and Obey His SPIRIT and His Word (The Bible). Then no matter what happens to us we know that we are in His Eternal Kingdom and we will be with Him!

 

* In 2015 – 2016 Republican Primary of the Presidential Candidates, I noticed Donald J Trump destroying the professional, experienced candidates one by one. He arose the victor and against all odds and cheating of those who opposed him, he won the Presidency. His enemies fought against him every day of his Presidency and after because of the fear his intelligence, his common sense and his ability to win the people’s hearts and minds. So they cheated and beat him in 2020, but for all their trying they could not defeat him in the hearts and minds of the citizens of America. For everything they did to him and his family and his friends only made him more popular. They could not cheat (and they tried) enough to defeat him in 2024 so now he is President again; and his authority and power are increasing.

 

In 2016 as I watched Trump I told my family and close friends that I thought That Trump could become the anti-christ. Now after all that has happened over the last twelve years, especially the two known assignation attempts, I believe it even more. Do not get me wrong, I voted for him three times and I would again because of what he stands for, for America; a strong, healthy, stable economic and military power in the world. This is good for America, Israel and the world. I am not saying that Donald J. Trump is the anti-christ, but that he could be. I do not currently seen any other world leader in government or economics that could rise to that lever of worldwide authority and power.

 

https://youtu.be/Up8RxwvDv_A

Does Purgatory Exist?

 

Does Purgatory Exist?

 

Everyone dies and when we die our body decays but our being (spirit and soul) lives, the question is where do we go when we die?

 

Luke 16:19-31 is the story JESUS told of Lazarus and the rich man, in this story after both the rich man and Lazarus have died there is a conversation between the rich man and Abraham. It shows that there is a great divide between Abraham’s bosom (Upper Sheol* or Paradise)  where the righteous went upon death and lower Sheol where the unrighteous went upon death. Many religions have similar teachings about life after death and heaven and hell.

 

In Luke 4:16-21 JESUS proclaimed that He fulfilled Isaiah 61:1-3

 

In Ephesians 4:7-10 Paul tells us that JESUS fulfilled Psalm 68:17-18.

 

In Revelation 1:17-18 JESUS has the keys of death and hell fulfilling Isaiah 42:5-7.

 

Matthew 25:41 Hell!

 

Matthew 27:51-53, the dead rose when JESUS rose!

 

2 Corinthians 5:1-8 To be absent from the flesh is to be with JESUS!

 

So since JESUS fulfilled the prophecies about setting the captives free (those who were in Sheol waiting for The Messiah to come and judge them for Heaven or hell) there is no longer a question about purgatory. Since CHRIST’s Resurrection when a person dies they go straight to the presence of GOD for Judgment (remember judgment is only bad if you have rejected GOD, judgment is good for those who served GOD and enter into Heaven)!**

 

* In the Hebrew Bible, Sheol is generally portrayed as a place where all the dead go, without explicit mention of judgment or reward based on one's life. While some texts suggest that God's presence doesn't extend to Sheol, other passages imply that God has power over it. 

Over time, particularly during the Second Temple period, Jewish thought on Sheol evolved, with some texts suggesting divisions within Sheol based on moral worth.

AI generated by Google

 

https://youtu.be/lGx7SYLtGcA

1 Corinthians 10:13

 

1 Corinthians 10:13

 

1 Corinthians 10:1-14 is a warning not to follow what the Hebrew people did in the wilderness. Also, they had all the Scriptures telling them about the coming MESSIAH and what He was going to do; but they missed Him because what they wanted was to be delivered, not from sin and death, but from Roman rule! Many Christians are doing the same thing today; they do not want to do the hard road of repentance and persecution; they what the wide road of the Good Life and The Rapture (Matthew 7:13-14)!

 

1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to man; but ELOHIM is Faithful, Who Will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it*.”

 

In the KJV and NIV it says, “a way”, in the NKJV, CJB and The Scriptures it says, “the way”. This can confuse people the difference between “a way” and “the way” is pretty big. A way can be anything, the way implies there is only one way; but that difference is negated because every temptation and the person under the temptation is different and there is a specific way that ELOHIM makes for them to bear or escape or stand up under it. That is the key thought in this passage, ELOHIM Will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able to handle so that we can endure to the end (one of YESHUA’s favorite sayings; “To he who overcomes…”). It’s not about us escaping the temptation it is about us overcoming the temptation!

 

* NKJV has a note saying, “that you may be able to endure it.”; CJB says, “…so that you will be able to endure.”

 

https://youtu.be/Dy7dzQgwTys

Isaiah 54:17

 

Isaiah 54:17

 

“No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the Heritage of The Servants Of JEHOVAH and their Righteousness is from Me says JEHOVAH.”

 

The first sentence of this verse is often quoted by Israelis, Christians and non-believers. Why? Mostly because it sounds powerful and claims victory! But why did JEHOVAH prophesy this Word over Israel; and how does that apply to individuals?

 

In Isaiah 53* GOD asks the question, “Who has believed our report and to whom has the arm of JEHOVAH been revealed?” Then GOD goes on to describe what The MESSIAH will experience and accomplish; ending with the statement, “Therefore I Will divide Him a portion with the great and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul unto death (Luke 23:46) and He was numbered with the transgressors (Mark 15:27-28) and He bore the sins of many (2 Corinthians 5:20-21) and made intercession for the transgressors (Luke 23:34).”

 

Then Isaiah 54 opens with rejoicing and victory, “Sing, O barren, you who have not borne! Break forth into singing and cry aloud you who have not labored with child!”  Chapter 54 is a positive Word of encouragement to the Israelites, but it is for the far future, Israel still has not experienced the fulness of this Promise.

 

After all this promise of His Blessings, Peace and Prosperity is a reminder of verses 16-17, “Behold, I have created the blacksmith who blows the coals in the fire, who brings forth a weapon for his work; and I have created the destroyer to destroy. No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the Heritage of The Servants Of JEHOVAH and their Righteousness is from Me says JEHOVAH.” While there will be conflict and war, Israel is under GOD’s Divine Protection and will always survive and again prosper.

 

Then Chapter 55 goes right into celebration, a reminder to seek JEHOVAH while He can be found, and a reminder that GOD is not like humans and we cannot understand Who He Is. Therefore we have to Obey His Word, then we will go forth in His Victory (1 Corinthians 15:57).

 

So, how do we apply Isaiah 54:17 to our life? First we have to understand this sentence that we like to quote does not stand on its own. It is part of a Message from GOD to Israel about their future warfare and Peace. So to apply it to our life we have to find ourself in this whole passage of Scripture. The application is that GOD created the destroyer who is seeking to destroy all GOD’s Servants, so as JESUS said, “Do not think that I came to bring Peace on earth, I did not come to bring Peace but a sword!” (Matthew 10:34) and  “Do not think that I came to destroy The Law or The Prophets; I did not come to destroy but to fulfill!” (Matthew 5:17). This Scripture is not about GOD giving us victory but about GOD calling us to endure (1 Corinthians 10:12-15). JESUS often told us in the Gospels and The Revelation that we must endure to the end! The Victory is not the end! Enduring to the end is the Victory! “You will be hated by all for My Name’s sake; but he who endures to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 10:22) is the middle of telling us about the persecution we will face He tells us to endure!

 

* Remember, when JEHOVAH gave this prophecy to Isaiah for Israel there was no break, no division by chapter and verse, this was one continuous Word, chapters 50-55 are one Message about Israel’s Hope, Comfort, Redemption, The MESSAIH and Celebration.

 

https://youtu.be/Mbm_cze31-g