He Was Separated From Himself

He was separated from Himself by our sin or He separated from Himself to forgive our sin.

Even in the flesh Jesus was fully GOD, the Bible says He was the fullness of the GODhead incarnate and yet for our sake He was separated from The Father by our sin. In the flesh as He hung on the cross He who knew no sin, became sin for us, to pay the ultimate price which was separation from the Father. When He cried out, “My GOD, My GOD, Why have you forsaken Me?” at that moment He died in the flesh unable to bear our sin in the presence of the True and Living GOD. He took the ultimate punishment that we were destined to suffer for our sin, separation from GOD.

Jesus the Father and Holy Spirit were one before during and after His life in the flesh. This is essential to understand the magnitude of who Jesus was in the flesh and what He did. Elohim the triune GOD who created everything that exists is one GOD and He is The Father, The Son, The Holy Spirit. If your god is not the one true GOD Jehovah than you need to seek Him because only He; by His gift of salvation to humanity through Jesus Christ; can and will keep you from going to hell. Rejecting Jesus the Bible teaches us is the sure path to eternal hell.

Jesus was not defeated on the cross, Jesus did not suffer in hell, Jesus suffered separation from Himself! As the son of man He went to the cross to pay the required price for our salvation, the shedding of the blood of one pure and innocent who had no sin of His own to pay for. His willing innocent live was the price to redeem us to our Heavenly Father. Separation from the Father was the eternal punishment that we were going to receive at judgment for our sin, but Jesus was separated in our place. While He was in hell He preached liberty to the captives and led them to freedom, He defeated death and hell taking the keys of their dominions.

No one who has claimed to be god has claimed the ability to redeem people from hell, no one who has claimed to be god has given his own life to redeem humanity from eternal hell, no one who has claimed to be god has raised himself from the dead: except Jesus Christ.

What He did was: give His physical life because we could not save ourself from sin and hell. While in hell He was still fully GOD and He defeated death and hell, then He rose from the grave and gave us His victory. When we ask Him to forgive our sin and to be LORD of our life then we receive the fullness of the work of salvation that He completed for us. He did not do any of this for Himself He did it for us because GOD loves us and does not want us to be separated from Himself for eternity. The Bible teaches us that hell was created for the devil and fallen angels not for humanity, but that when we like the devil reject GOD (sin) then we condemn ourself to hell.

If you do not want to spend eternity in hell then you have to call out to Father GOD to forgive you for being a sinner in Jesus’ name and ask Holy Spirit to come and fill your life with the presence and power of the fullness of GOD so that you can live for Him as Jesus lived and died for you. Otherwise you’ll spend eternity in hell being tormented with (not by) the devil.

We Are The Temple

Many touched Jesus as He ministered and were healed! So why did He make a big deal about the woman with the issue of blood touching Him as He was walking?

To show that we can touch him at any time and receive the same grace and healing power as during the time of ministry. It’s not about the special situation or time of ministry, it’s about His eternal omnipotent presence to heal.

He was the Kingdom of Heaven present on the earth then and after His ascension He sent His Spirit to live in believers making us His Living Temples here on the earth. His Kingdom has come and it is up to us to do His Will by The Holy Spirit through yielding and humble obedience.

There are many worship songs where we tell Holy Spirit that we want, need and are desperate for His presence. The problem is that we do not present Him our body as a holy sanctified temple for His presence.

How you ask do we do that, by obeying His commandments, start with the 10 Commandments. Then obey Jesus’ commands, Love GOD with our whole heart, mind, body and strength and love your neighbor as yourself; love your enemies; be one as He and the Father are one, that is be in unity with all believers. Then to make sure check against the lists of things not to do in the epistles.

It might seem daunting but it is not really hard, it just requires an honest heart and willing obedience. That is what Jesus presented before Heavenly Father, an honest heart and a willing obedience when He prayed in the Garden the night before He was crucified.

For any who truly do not know the Bible references or how to study the Bible message me, for those who believe but are not sure use your Bible or eBible study tools do the study and learn for yourself. We are all going to be held accountable before Jesus for knowing and obeying His commandments to us The Church.

GOD's Kingdom Has Come

During His earthly ministry Jesus taught His disciples to pray, “Our Father who is in Heaven, holy is Your name. Let your Kingdom come and let Your Will be done in the earth as it is in Heaven. Give us today our daily needs. Forgive us today our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Yours’ are the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory forever. Amen!”

We do not have any problem understanding this prayer and how it applies to our life as Christians, we know that it has been fulfilled even if we struggle in our life at some points. The Bible is full of examples of GOD’s faithfulness as the True and Living GOD who is worthy of the praise and worship of all creation. That He provides for all living creatures and maintains all creation. That He forgives ours sins because of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection and that He requires us to forgive as we are forgiven. That Jesus defeated all evil and has given us His victory, authority and power over all works of the devil. That Jesus is enthroned at the right hand of the Father ruling and reigning over all creation for eternity. Truth!

But I think we do not fully understand the phrases, “Let Your Kingdom come and Your Will be done in the earth as it is in Heaven…For Yours’ are the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory forever.” So this is what I have been coming to understand, the Kingdom of Heaven has come to the earth and we are the ones who are supposed to manifest it through our lives as believers and as the Church, the Body of Christ. This is neither a new or profound revelation but in the Western Church to a large extent I do not see it being practiced.

First we do not truly understand a simple question Paul asked the Church in 1Corinthians 3.

“And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the LORD gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but GOD gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but GOD who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are GOD’s fellow workers; you are GOD’s field, you are GOD’s building. According to the grace of GOD which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. Do you not know that you are the temple of GOD and that the Spirit of GOD dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of GOD, GOD will destroy him. For the temple of GOD is holy, which temple you are. Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with GOD. For it is written, ‘He catches the wise in their own craftiness’; and again, ‘The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.’ Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours.  And you are Christ’s, and Christ is GOD’s.” NKJV

There are several things that Paul said that need to be reapplied to the Church today.

I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there is envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like unsaved men? For when one says, “I am a Baptist,” and another, “I am Pentecostal,” are you not carnal? Who then are Methodists, and who are Charismatics, but ministries through whom you believed, as the LORD gave to each one? For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with GOD. For it is written, ‘He catches the wise in their own craftiness’; and again, ‘The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.’ Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: whether charismatic or apostolic or orthodox the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours.  And you are Christ’s, and Christ is GOD’s.

The Church today is not unified; the Church today is divided by interpretation of doctrine, by politics, by social standards, by race and color. The things that divide the world should divide the Church from the world not from each other! The Western Church has been praying for revival for decades, what we should be praying for is forgiveness and unity! The reason we do not pray for them is twofold; for one we think we are right; for the other we know that true repentance and unity come out of persecution.

I planted, Apollos watered, but GOD gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but GOD who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor (Matthew 13:-30, 36-43). For we are GOD’s fellow workers; you are GOD’s field, you are GOD’s building (1 Peter 2:1-10). According to the grace of GOD which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ (Isaiah 16-17, Ephesians 2 :19-22). This is foundational.

Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, (storing up treasures in Heaven Matthew 6:19-21); wood, hay, straw, (mammon Matthew 6:24); each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, (of the heart Proverbs 17:3); of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. This seems self explanatory.

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with GOD. For it is written, ‘He catches the wise in their own craftiness;’(Job 5:13) and again, ‘The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.’ (Psalm 94:11) Therefore let no one boast in men. (Jeremiah 9:23-24) Again self explanatory.

This is the part that I started this paper for. Do you not know that you are the temple of GOD and that the Spirit of GOD (Holy Spirit) dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of GOD, GOD will destroy him. For the temple of GOD is holy, which temple you are. This is amazingly great and it is amazingly scary.

Bad news first Jesus said, “’Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever 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.’” Mark 3:28-30 NKJV, this is the sin that leads to death. “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.” 1 John 5:14-17 NKJV. It is clear that Jesus gave us the answer to the question, “What is the unforgiveable sin that leads to death?” Denying or rejecting the Holy Spirit and saying that His works and gifts are of the devil.

Good news when Jesus walked the earth He taught that the Kingdom of GOD sometimes called the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand. He gave parables teaching about the Kingdom, He even told a couple of people they were close to the Kingdom. He chastised the religious leaders for not knowing and recognizing the Kingdom. Later He came to John and gave him the revelation of things to come which included the culmination of the mortal realm with the judgment of all who rejected Him and His eternal Kingdom. If some or all of this does not sound familiar to you then you should read the four gospels and Revelations 1-5 & 19-22.

I think that the thing most of us have missed is the significance of the fact that His Kingdom has come on the earth as it is in Heaven. When the Father sent Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost to indwell the believers and send the Church into the world with the great commission we became the Temples of GOD in the earth. The Spirit of GOD, Holy Spirit lives in us! We are His living temples in the earth! That is why we are admonished by every epistle of the Apostles to live a holy life before GOD. To live sin free, to resist the devil, to flee fleshly lusts, to discipline our mortal bodies, to be conformed to the image of Christ, to have the mind of Christ.

When we are born again by the Blood of the Lamb through our profession of sin and asking of forgiveness we are baptized into salvation in Christ, we are a new creation. The Holy Spirit comes into our life when we are born again and we receive His power to live and serve the call GOD placed in us in our mother’s womb. When we are baptized in water as a public profession of faith and a good conscience we are baptized into His death and resurrected with Christ to be seated at the right hand of GOD our Heavenly Father. When we are baptized in the Holy Spirit we receive His gifts and He produces Kingdom fruit in our life so that we know the fellowship of Christ’s suffering and we are conformed to His death.

This is His Kingdom come in the earth as it is in Heaven and all we have to do is seek it before anything else and everything else is provided so that we can serve Him and His Kingdom in the earth and through all eternity. It is all premised on the words Jesus spoke in the Garden of Gethsemane, that we also must speak from our heart; “Father, not My Will but Yours be done!”

This is the hard part, for the last 3 paragraphs I have not included any scriptures, if you want to know this truth you must search the scriptures to see if these things are true like the Bereans (Acts 17:10-13). This is the process of learning, understanding and applying the truth to our lives.

Persecution East vs West

In the Eastern Church there is persecution that leads to believers being beaten, their home being destroyed, fired from their jobs, kicked out of schools, imprisoned and murdered just because they are Christians. In the Western Church we are worried about losing our tax benefit, only lately have we seen people attacking Christian businesses and murdering Christians for being Christian. The difference is that in the East Christians are being persecuted by religious zealots who what everyone to believe as they do. In the West we are persecuted by people who want us to stop telling them they are bad and we are good. We need to be praying for the Church in two ways; for the Eastern Church for continued grace and blessings as they grow under the fierce persecution they endure daily; for the Western Church that our hearts are pricked to repentance so that we do not come under true persecution.

Hard Hearts

“Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled. For they had not understood about the loaves, because their hearts were hardened.” Mark 6:51-52 NKJV

So Jesus had just feed 5000 men plus women and children from 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish and they had 12 baskets of leftovers. Jesus then sent the disciples ahead by boat while He sent the crowds home, after everyone had left Jesus went up on the mountain to pray. When evening came Jesus was able to see the boat the disciples were in on the sea and that they were straining at the oars because they were going against the wind. It says that in the forth watch of the night¹ that Jesus was walking on the water (in Matthew’s account he tells of Peter calling out to Jesus and walking on the water for a few moments while the wind was still making the sea rough). In all the accounts after Jesus enters the boat the wind and sea calms and the disciples are amazed and marvel. In Mark’s account Holy Spirit tells us that the disciples had not understood about the loaves because their hearts were hardened. What does this mean?

Holy Spirit seems to be implying that they did not understand that Jesus fed the people because He was their shepherd and His desire was to provide for them. In each of the accounts the disciples are worried about the cost and labor involved in feeding 5000 plus people.

I have heard people using the term, “GOD is showing out!” in regards to miracles in the Bible and today, that is probably because showing off has a negative connotation. I do not believe that GOD shows out or shows off, He loves and shepherds His children, even the ones in disbelief or rebellion. The disciples still did not understand this which is why they still had unbelief, fear and worry about how much work and cost was involved in serving the people. That is why when Jesus fed the 4000 plus people they had the same response during and after.

If we are frustrated or worried about what is involved in doing the work of the Kingdom rather than concerned for the lost, deceived and suffering, then we have a hard heart that Jesus wants to break and soften so that we are not just willing but eager to do the work that He calls us to personally and jointly.

Personally is the individual call and gift that He puts in us in our mother’s womb and then calls us to; jointly as the Body of Christ obeying the commission He gave us before He ascended to the right hand of the throne of GOD where He waits for us to fulfill His Will.

Study Matthew 14:13-33; Mark 6:30-52; John 6:1-21; Luke 9:10-17 (feeding 5000 only); Matthew 15:29-39 & Mark 8:1-10; also study Psalm 139:13-18; Romans 8:26-30; Galatians 1:11-17 & Ephesians 1.

¹ I have not done any research on this but I believe this is correct, In their culture and custom night started at sundown, a watch was 2 hours so the forth watch was 8 hours after sundown or sometime after midnight.

Blaspheme of the Holy Spirit

Have you ever asked or heard someone else ask, “How do I know if I have blasphemed against the Holy Spirit?” Well Jesus was clear about what blaspheming against Holy Spirit is.

“And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, ‘He has Beelzebub’ and ‘By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons.’ So He (Jesus) called them to Himself and said to them in parables: ‘How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end. No one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house. Assuredly (truthfully), I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever 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.’” Mark 3:22-30 NKJV (emphasis mine), study Matthew 9:32-34, 12:24-37 & Luke 11:14-23.

Webster’s says that to blaspheme is “to speak irreverently of GOD or sacred things; to curse.” And, blasphemy is “impious speech.”¹

“There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.” Isaiah 11:1-2. In Proverbs 8:35-36 wisdom says, “For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains favor from the LORD: but he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; all those who hate me love death.”

In Acts 5:1-11 we see instant judgment on Ananias and Sapphira for lying to Holy Spirit. In Acts 7:51-60 we see Stephen stoned to death after he rebukes the Jews for always resisting Holy Spirit.

So is blasphemy of Holy Spirit the sin unto death? “If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He (GOD) will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.” 1 John 5:16-17 (emphasis mine), study James 5:19-20; 2 Peter 2:18-22 & Jude.

Jesus said that whoever says that Holy Spirit is an unclean spirit has blasphemed against Him and is eternally condemned. This seems clear to me that lying to GOD who knows everything, resisting GOD’s Spirit and saying that the works of Holy Spirit are of the devil are all forms of blaspheming Holy Spirit.

“This is He who came by water and blood–Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear witness in Heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on the earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree.” 1 John 5:6-8 In this passage we see four things about the Spirit, He is GOD, He bears witness to the truth because He is truth, He bears witness in Heaven and He bears witness on the earth.

“Do you not know that you are the temple of GOD and that the Spirit of GOD dwells in you? If anyone defiles (destroys)² the temple of GOD, GOD will destroy him. For the temple of GOD is holy, which temple you are.” 1 Corinthians 3:16-17

As a born again believer in Jesus Christ we are filled by Holy Spirit, we have become His dwelling place on earth. This is a dilemma for people who say they are Christians but do not believe that Holy Spirit is active in the Church today, there are some who think He stopped working in and through Christians after the original Apostles died. This ties in with another scripture that is hard for many Christians to understand, “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. ‘Many will say to Me in that day, ‘LORD, LORD, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” Mathew 7:21-23, make sure to read it in context, verses 13-29.

So you may ask, “How can they do the works of the Kingdom of Heaven if they are not true believers”? Well, “For the gifts and calling of GOD are irrevocable.” Romans 11:29 Many people who are not Christian find their gift and calling in life and live happy fulfilled lives only to find they have gained the whole world but lost their soul and many Christians never find their gift and calling and live miserable lives. Also there are many who got into religion as a good paying job and they do well at it, but they are doing it for their own reasons and not because GOD called them to it. Then there are some, as Jesus and all the Apostles said who, “Are sheep in wolf’s clothing.” They know they are teaching false doctrine and for whatever reason they do not care. And there are those who are sincerely serving GOD but doing it their way rather than His (I used to be one of those).

All of this to say: Holy Spirit, the Spirit of GOD is GOD! The Father and the Son are in Heaven waiting for the Church to complete the commission they gave us. Holy Spirit is here dwelling in us, gifting us, teaching us, counseling us, comforting us, conforming us, making us one body, preparing the Bride of the Lamb and in every way possible manifesting the Kingdom of Heaven on earth through us! That is why if we ignore Him, reject Him, degrade Him, or deny Him it is considered blasphemy and we will be condemned for eternity.

If you want to learn more about Holy Spirit then read from Matthew 1 through Revelation 22. Though, He is also found throughout the Old Testament.

¹ New concise Webster’s Dictionary, Modern Promotions/Publishers, 1984

² The Holy Bible New King James Version, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1994

Did GOD create evil?

Today I heard a question and answer session and a question was asked about defending GOD in light of Isaiah 45:7 that says, “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.”, KJV. Since the questions were off the cuff the person answered well but did not really speak to the heart of the question which is “Did GOD create evil?” If you have been a Christian very long you know the answer is, No! But most of us do not know how to answer the challenge of questioning GOD’s goodness.

Since I knew GOD did not create evil but does allow it because He gives all of His created beings free will; or the right to make our own decisions no matter the result; I took the time to do the research so I can make a better answer myself.

First we always have to understand the questioned scripture in its context, Isaiah 45 completes GOD’s prophecy about Cyrus which starts in chapter 44 (this is the very reason we must read at least 10 verses before and after). In that GOD tells Cyrus and us who He is and what He does like verse 5, “I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no GOD beside Me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known Me:”

Then I research the word ‘evil’, the Hebrew word used in Isaiah 45: is ra; it is translated into 32 different English words in the Old Testament. Evil is used the most, 444 times, wickedness 54 times, wicked 31 times, mischief 22 times, hurt 20 times, bad 13 times and 26 other words between 1 to 10 times each.

As Christians we know that evil entered the heart of man in the Garden of Eden, GOD called forth the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden along with the tree of life. He told Adam he could eat of any tree in the Garden except the tree of knowledge of good and evil because if he ate of that tree he would die. We also know that Satan in the form of a serpent deceived Eve and that she ate of the tree and then gave to Adam who also ate.

We know that Adam and Eve who were created immortal then entered the curse that GOD had placed on eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, that in the day they ate they would die. We also know that with the LORD a day is as a thousand years and a thousand years is as a day and that they lived less than a thousand years; Psalm 84:10, 90:4; 2 Peter 3:8; Genesis 5:5.

Evil first entered Satan’s heart when he thought that he would raise himself up over GOD; Genesis 3; Isaiah 14:12-17. Satan then passed that sin (evil or rebellion) to Adam and ever since it has been in the heart of man; Genesis 4:3-15, 6:1-8; Luke 10:17-20; Romans 5:12-21.

So all this to say that GOD did not create evil, Satan became evil by his self will of pride and rebellion, and he convinced mankind through Adam and Eve that the knowledge of good and evil was better than obedience to GOD. That is why hell was created for Satan not mankind; Matthew 25:31-46 (41).