GOD's Love!

 

GOD’s Love!

 

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

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

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

 

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

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

https://youtu.be/JljXIy85WZY

The Reason For The Season?

 

The Reason For The Season? 

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

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

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

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

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

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

https://youtu.be/WlbKoRVclDY

Did You Know? Christ-mas

 

Did you Know?

Christ-mas

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

https://youtu.be/2M21oyB0MD0

 

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

Luke 14:25-35

 

Luke 14:25-35

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

https://youtu.be/n6R8M4jLtMM

Joel 3:10b

 

Joel 3:10b

 

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

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

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

Verse 10 is two statements,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

https://youtu.be/Qi75IpdmVP4

Revelation Chapter 2

 

Revelation Chapter 2

 

Introduction

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

 

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

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

 

https://youtu.be/WGehyfV5p-Q

The Holy SPIRIT Is GOD!

 

The Holy SPIRIT is GOD!

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

https://youtu.be/B7SoLNh3Xok