2 Corinthians 3:18

 

2 Corinthians 3:18

 

“But we all, with unveiled face beholding in a mirror the glory of The LORD, are being transformed into the same Image from glory to Glory* – just as from The LORD, Who is The SPIRIT.” TLV (…by ADONAI The SPIRIT.” CJV) (..just as by The SPIRIT of The LORD.” NKJV) (…”even as by The SPIRIT of The LORD.” KJV)

 

So the two Jewish translations of The Bible say that The SPIRIT of The LORD is The LORD, but the two King James versions say this process is done by The SPIRIT of The LORD! What’s the difference?

 

Grammatically quite a bit, but Eternally nothing. Think about it!

 

The KJV and The NKJV are based on the ancient Authorized King James Bible, 1611.

The Tree of Life Version is a modern translation, 2015; the Complete Jewish Bible is a modern translation, 2016, both based on the Messianic interpretation.

 

The King James versions make it sound like The SPIRIT of The LORD and The LORD are separate entities. The Father, The Son and The SPIRIT.; but GOD is not three in one He is One!

Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear O Israel: The LORD our GOD, The LORD is One!” (Or The LORD is our GOD, The LORD Alone, i.e. The Only One.)  NKJV

1 Corinthians 8:4-6 “Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and there is no other GOD but One. For even if there are so called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), yet for us there is One GOD, The Father, of Whom are all things, and we for Him; and One LORD JESUS CHRIST, through Whom are all things, and through Whom we Live.”

We see from this Scripture that all things are of GOD The Father and All things are of JESUS CHRIST; that is because GOD The Father and JESUS CHRIST are the One GOD, along with The Holy SPIRIT!

 

John 8:41-43 “You do the deeds of your father.” Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have One Father – GOD.” JESUS said to them, “If GOD were your Father, you would Love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from GOD; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My Word.” The Jewish people and JESUS both believe that GOD is The Father and JESUS is saying that He came for GOD by Birth and Mission.

 

John 10:30-33 JESUS says, “I and My Father are One…Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him…The Jews answered Him saying, ‘For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You being a man, make Yourself GOD.’”

 

John 17 JESUS’ prayer: verse 5 “And Now Father, Glorify Me together with Yourself, with The Glory which I had with You before the world was.” Verse 11 “…Holy Father, keep through Your Name those You have given Me, that they may be One as We Are.”  Verses 21-24 “that they may be One, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they may be One in us, …that they may be One just as We Are One; I in them and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in One…for you Loved Me before the foundation of the world” This last line plus John 1:1-4; 1 Peter 1:20 and Revelation 13:8 tell us that JESUS has always existed and is equal with the Father and The SPIRIT in creation because they Are One!

 

More Scriptures about The Oneness of GOD!

Romans 8:8-11 If JESUS and The SPIRIT are in you then you are GOD’s!

Galatians 2:19-20 CHRIST Lives in me!

Ephesians 1:23 JESUS is the Head of The Body (The Church) so we have to be One.

Ephesians 4:4-6 One Body, One SPIRIT, One LORD, One Faith, One Baptism, One GOD and Father of all Who is above all and through all and in all.

Colossians 1:15-19 “He is The Image of The Invisible GOD…He was before all things and in Him all things consist…He is the Head of The Body…The Beginning…The Firstborn of the dead…For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fulness should dwell.”

Colossians 2:6-10 “As you therefore have received CHRIST JESUS The LORD, so walk in Him…For in Him dwells All the Fulness of The GODHEAD Bodily; and you are Complete in Him…”

1 John 5:7-8 “For there are Three that bear witness in Heaven: The Father, The Word (JESUS), 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 as one.”

 

We are one with GOD!

Genesis 1:26-27, 2:7, 18-25 We’re made in His Image and Likness.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 We are GOD’s Living Temple in the earth because His SPIRIT Lives in us.

1 Corinthians 11:7 Man is the Image and Glory of GOD.

2 Corinthians 6:16 We are The temple of The Living GOD Who dwells in us.

James 3:8-9 Men are made in the Similitude of GOD.

 

https://youtu.be/g7n9UArT1nM

Revelation Chapter 3

 

Revelation Chapter 3

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; The Body of Christ has all seven letters to study and live by.

:1-6 And to the angel of* Sardis write, These things says He Who has the  seven Spirits of GOD and the seven stars: “I know your Works (1 Corinthians 3:10-15; Revelation 20:11-15), that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead (Proverbs 11:2, 16:2). Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your Works perfect before My GOD (John 20:17). Remember therefore how you have received and heard (Mark 4:21-25; 1 Timothey 6:20-21); hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief (Matthew 24:42-44), and you will not know what hour I will come upon you (Acts 1:6-7).

Nevertheless you have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments (since Noah there has always been a remnant who truly worship and serve GOD) and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy (Revelation 7:9-10).

**He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments and I will not blot out his name from The Book of Life, but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the SPIRIT says to The Churches (Matthew 11:15; Mark 11:16; Luke 8:8).”

*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.

So what is The Spirit saying to The Churches? 1 John 2:12-14.

:7-13 And to The Church at Philadelphia write, These things says He Who is Holy (Mark 1:23-24), He Who is True (1 John 5:20), He Who has the Key of David*** (Isaiah 9:6-7, 22:22), He Who opens and no one shuts (Matthew 16:19), and shuts and no one opens (Job12:14): “I know your Works. See I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it (1 Corinthians 16:8-9); for you have a little strength, have kept My Word, and have not denied My Name.

Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie – indeed I Will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have Loved you. Because you have kept My Command to persevere (Lit. the Word of My Patience), I also Will keep you from the Hour of Trial which shall come upon the whole world (Luke 21:34-36), to test those who dwell on the earth (Isaiah 24:17-23).

Behold (pay attention), I Am coming quickly (Revelation 22:12, 20)! Hold fast what you have (1 Thessalonians 5:14-22) that no one take your Crown (1 Corinthians 9:24-27; James 1:12). He who overcomes I Will make a pillar* in The Temple of My GOD and he shall go out no more (Psalm 23:6); John 14:1-4. I Will write on him The Name of My GOD (Revelation 14:1, 22:3-4) and the name of The City of My GOD, The New Jerusalem, which comes down out of Heaven from My GOD (Revelation 21:1-2). And I Will write on him My New Name. He who has an ear, let him hear what The SPIRIT is saying to The Churches.”

*Pillar = Greek word used four times in The Bible: stulŏs from stuō to stiffen; probably akin to the base of histĕmi a post (“style”), i.e. (figuratively) support:-pillar. (Galatians 2:9; 1 Timothy 3:15, Revelation 3:12, 10:1)

** Key = Hebrew word used 2 times in The Bible: maphtêach from pâthach an opener, i.e. a key:-key. (Judges 3:25; Isaiah 22:22)

**Key = Greek word used 6 times in the Bible: klĕis from klĕiō a key (as shutting a lock), literally or figuratively :-key. (Matthew 16:19; Luke 11:52; Revelation 1:18, 9:1, 20:1-3)

***Key of David = JESUS is a direct descendent of King David though His mother (Luke 3:23-38) and His stepfather (Matthew 1:1-17).

Key = In The Bible, a key is a symbol of authority. JESUS gave Peter the Keys of The Kingdom of Heaven so he could open the Kingdom for all men to enter and be saved. (Matthew 16:17-19; Acts 10:9-16, 34-48) Bible Dictionary, Publications International, Ltd.

The Key of David is a term found in Revelation and Isaiah. A key indicates control or authority; therefore, having the Key of David would give one control of David’s domain, i.e., Jerusalem, the City of David, and the kingdom of Israel. The fact that, in Revelation 3:7, Jesus holds this key shows that He is the fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant, the Ruler of the New Jerusalem, and the LORD of the Kingdom of Heaven. Got Questions .org.

:14-22 And to the angel of the Church of the Laodiceans write: These things says The Amen (2 Corinthians 1:20), The Faithful and True Witness (Revelation 1:5, 3:7, 19:11), The Beginning of The Creation of GOD (Colossians 1:15);

:15-16 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot, I could wish you were either cold or hot. So then, because you are luke-warm and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.” There is no middle ground in GOD’s Kingdom; you either lay down your life and take up your cross and follow JESUS or you live your Christian Life as you wish and hope for the best (1 Corinthians 3:11-15; Matthew 7:21-23).

:17-18 “Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’ – and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked (Luke 12:16-21) – I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich (Matthew 6:19-24); and white garments that you may be clothed (Revelation 6:9-11), that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed (2 Corinthians 5:1-4); and anoint your eyes with save, that you may see (Matthew 6:22-23).

:19-20 As many as I Love, I rebuke and chasten (discipline) (Job 5:17-27; Proverbs 3:11-12). Therefore be zealous (eager) and repent (Matthew 4:17). Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice (Luke 12:35-38) and opens the door, (John 10:7-10 ), I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. (John14:1-3, 23).

:21-22 To him who overcomes I Will grant to sit with Me on My Throne, as I also overcame and sat on My Father’s Throne (Psalm 110:1; Mark 16:19).” Wow! “He who has an ear, let him hear what The SPIRIT says to The Churches.”

 

https://youtu.be/OQB_5iQ00G0

Revelation Chapter 4

Revelation Chapter 4

After receiving the seven letters to the seven Churches in Asia (Now Turkey) John is called up into Heaven to receive the rest of The Revelation of the future (current) events. 

:1-2 After these things, I looked and behold a door standing open in Heaven; and the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying: “Come up here and I will   show you things which must take place after this.” Immediately I was in The SPIRIT; and behold a Throne set in Heaven, and One sat on The throne (Revelation 1:10). Because the vision and Word are so big GOD actually opens Heaven for His servant (Ezekiel 1:1-3; 2 Corinthians 12:1-4).

:3 And He Who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around The Throne, in appearance like an emerald (Some believe that this is a description of The throne and not a description of GOD.) (Genesis 9:13-16; Ezekiel 1:26-28; Revelation 10:1).

:4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the twenty-four thrones I saw twenty-four elders (Revelation 5:8, 7:11, 11:16, 19:4) sitting, clothed in white robes (3:5, 7:9, 19:14); and they had crowns of gold on their heads (1 Corinthians 9:24-27; 2 Timothy 4:8).

:5 From The Throne proceeded lightnings ( Exodus 19:16, 20:18Daniel 10:6; Matthew 28:3), thunderings (Revelation 8:5, 11:19, 16:18)  and voices (Exodus 19:19, 20:1, 19; Angels are speaking all over the place in The Bible; Matthew 3:16-17; Mark 9:7; Revelation 8:13 eagle, 10:1-4 thunder). Seven lamps of fire were burning before The throne, which are The Seven Spirits of GOD (Isaiah 11:1-2; Revelation 1:4, 3:1).

:6-8 Before The Throne there was something like a sea of glass (Revelation 15:2), like crystal; and in the midst of The Throne and around The Throne, were four living creatures (living beings) (Ezekiel 1:5-14) full of eyes in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within (Ezekiel 10:12-14 – all of GOD’s Heavenly creations seem to have wings and multiple eyes). They do not rest day or night (apparently there is no sleeping in Heaven), saying: “Holy, Holy, Holy (in the Majority Text Holy is said nine times), LORD GOD Almighty, Who Was and Is and Is to come!” GOD is Eternity; “In the beginning GOD…” means He existed before the beginning! Holy, Holy, Holy means that He is set apart from all things! He Is The Only GOD and there is no one or nothing  that can compare or be likened to Him, He is Complete within Himself and everything that exists, exists within Him.

:9-11 Whenever the living creatures give Glory and Honor and Thanks to Him Who sits on The Throne, Who Lives Forever and Ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him Who Lives Forever and Ever, and casts their crowns before The Throne, saying: “You Are Worthy, Our LORD and GOD, to receive Glory and Honor and Power; for You Created all things, and by Your Will they exist and were created (Psalm 90:1-2).” GOD is worshipped continuously in Heaven and should be worshipped continuously in the earth (Matthew 6:9-13). GOD created everything that exists (Genesis 1; Job 26:6-14; Proverbs 8:22-36; John 1:1-4)!

https://youtu.be/RQvwhurMBmk

2024 - 2025

 

2024-2025 

This is a popular Scripture at this time of year: “Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I Am Doing a New Thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you nor know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:18-19)

Or: “Therefore, if any one is in CHRIST he is a New Creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of GOD, Who has Reconciled us to Himself through JESUS CHRIST, and has given us the Ministry of Reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:17-18)

Or: “But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for CHRIST. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the Excellence of The Knowledge of CHRST JESUS my LORD, for Whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count these as rubbish, that I may gain CHRIST.” (Philippians 3:7-8)

What do these mean in regard to a new year? Nothing more than at any time of year!

Isaiah 43:18-19: this passage is clearly speaking to Israel about their return after their exile in Babylon. But it also speaks to all of creation about GOD’s plan of Salvation for the human race. As those created in His image and likeness this whole chapter speaks to us of GOD’s Love and Salvation. Specifically verse 19, “Behold, I Am Doing a New Thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you nor know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” GOD as man living a sinless life is a new thing, and it was not only proclaimed in prophesy beforehand, it has also been proclaimed to all the world for 2000 years. The road in the wilderness is the “Way” the difficult way and narrow gate (Matthew 713-14; John 14:6) Rivers in the desert is The HOLY SPIRIT – The River that flows from our soul (John 7:37-39).

2 Corinthians 5:17-18: this is the beginning of our New Life in CHRIST JESUS when we are Born Again (John 1:10-13, 3:3-8; 1 Peter 1:22-25) We are dead in baptism and raised in New Life (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 19:1-7; Romans 6:1-14; Colossians 2:11-14).

Philippians 3:7-8: here Paul is talking about the cost of obeying GOD, JESUS said that we have to give up everything  to serve Him (Mark 8:34-38). JESUS told us that we have to abide in Him the question is how? John 8:28-32 was a public statement, John 15:4-8 was a private statement to the twelve, these two statements answer the question “We have left all for You, what is our reward?” (Mark 10:28-31).

Matthew 6:33 We “Seek first the Kingdom of GOD and His Righteousness! And all our daily needs will be met.” Do we?

Matthew 5:6 :Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for Righteousness, for they shall be filled.”

JESUS said He came to serve not be served. Matthew 20:27-28 “And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave – just as The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His Life a Ransom for many.”

JESUS said He only did what the Father told Him to do.

Matthew 10:16-17 “Behold! I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Be aware of men for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues”

John 20:21

These things are hard, we are busy, we have to earn income to support our families, we have to take care of our homes and autos, etc., we have family obligations, and we have Christian obligations.

So where do we find the time to serve GOD?

So we see that it is not just at the start of the year that we must take inventory of our life, we must do it daily if we are to serve GOD as He Called us too.

https://youtu.be/kTfAhN9snn4

Dream 01-04-2025

 

Dream on 1-4-25 

Sometime after I awoke at 2AM I started dreaming, I awoke a couple of times because on the afternoon of the third I had strained my right groin muscle and the pain when I rolled over woke me up. Parts of my dream may be prophetic because GOD is trying to show me what is ahead or because I understand the times in which we live and my spirit is reminding me of possible future events.

The early part of my dream is muddled memory of being with my wife and son and other people who did not stand out to me. Charlene and I are in our thirties and Greg is a teenager. We are going about our lives when suddenly there are government officials telling us we have to give up our home (in my dream this is not anyplace we have actually lived) and do what they want or we will lose everything. We and those around us are resistant but the government officials are always present in our homes as we go about our lives, telling us we have to do what they say. There is no threat of danger except they tell us that if we do not give up our life to do what they want, we will lose everything and they will not help us.*

Everyone is discussing this, the government officials are telling us that if we do what they say we will be taken care of, if they want us to go to school or to work at some place they designate or just do nothing, it has to be what they want us to do, where they want us to do it. Some people give in to the pressure and go with the government officials, but we hold out.

Around 4AM I woke up and when I went back to sleep the memory of my dream was with me, but it had morphed; now I was with a group of 5 or 6 men and we were going to meet with someone about the government demands. We went to the back of a strip mall and watched the back entrance of a restaurant. We gathered at the door and it opened and we went in, we spread out and walked through the kitchen into the bar-dining area. Then I and another of our group were talking to the man we came to see, our early conversation with the whole group is not remembered but now the three of us were talking about the man’s desire to be an entertainment producer. We encouraged him and then the other man left the discussion. When I was alone with the man we came to see we were headed to his room and he became Mike Huckabee. He was telling me that he and his wife were having issues (I do not know anything about his personal life) and he was showing me his new traveling bag because he was going to be traveling.**

Now I am back with my family and we are in a car leaving the area of our home, as we are driving I can see the unkempt yards of some of my neighbors, unlike my well kept yard. We get to the end of the street and it is a tee (left or right turn only). There is a line of cars going to the right in the left lane making a left turn at the intersection downhill from here we are. There is no one in the right land turning right at the intersection. We know the people in the car across from us at the end of the line,  see there are more cars coming down the hill in the left lane. I pull out like I’m going to get in the end of the line behind our friends, but instead I make a wide turn and get in the right land and drive to the intersection to turn right.***

My dream ends at this point.

*This is a false version of what JESUS tells believers (Mark 8:34-38)

** Maybe because he is about to become America’s ambassador to Israel?

***It felt to me like everyone was obeying the government officials except us.

Jacob And Esau Reunite?

 

Jacob and Esau Reunite?

Genesis 33

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

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

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

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

In Genesis 32 we see the continuing saga of Jacob son of Isaac, son of Abraham. Jacob and Laban his uncle on his mother, Rebekah’s, side have parted ways and Laban’s descendants now become enemies of Israel like all of Abraham’s descendants not of Isaac and Jacob. Jacob seems to have learned humility.

Jacob and Esau meet with hugs and tears, they try to outdo each other in humility and graciousness yet they each go their own way and do not meet again until their father’s death (Genesis 35:27-29).

Jacob sees Esau coming so he divides his wives and children into groups putting Bilhah and Zilpah with their children followed by Leah and her children and then Rachel and Joseph. Then he went before them and bowed to the ground before his brother 7 times as they drew together, fearful right up to the moment of their meeting. Then Esau ran to Jacob and hugged Jacob and kissed Jacob’s neck and they wept together. (Genesis 33:1-4) a very happy emotional reunion.

Then Esau saw the women and children following Jacob, when Esau asked, “Who are these with you?” Jacob answered, “The children GOD has Graciously given your servant.” Then they came forward by group and bowed before Esau. (Genesis 33:5-7).

Now the brotherly rivalry begins; Esau asks, “What do you mean by all this company which I met?” Jacob answers, “These are to find favor in the sight my lord.” Esau replies, “I have enough my brother, keep what you have for yourself.” Jacob says, “No, please if I have found favor in your sight, then receive my present from my hand, inasmuch as I have seen your face as though I had seen the face of GOD and you were pleased with me. Please take my blessing that is brought to you, because GOD has dwelt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” So Jacob urged Esau and Esau accepted Jacob’s gifts (Genesis 32:13-16) (Genesis 33:8-11).

Being one upped by Jacob, Esau now tries to get the upper hand; he says, “Let us take our journey; let us go and I will go before you.” But Jacob makes an excuse, “My lord knows that the children are weak, and the flocks and herds which are nursing are with me; and if the men should drive them hard one day, all the flocks will die.” Such a liar, Jacob’s family and herds have already been traveling for 10 to 12 days (Genesis 31:22-23, 54-55, 32:21) with no worry of harm, except from Esau. But Jacob continues, “Please let my lord go on ahead before his servant. I will lead on slowly at a pace which the livestock that go on before me, and the children, are able to endure (this would be true, that the herds would have to travel slowly), until I come to my lord in Seir.” So Esau said, “Let me leave with you some of the people who are with me (we know it was 400 men, there could have been women and children also).” But Jacob answers, “What need is there? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.” So Esau left to Seir that day and Jacob continued on his own journey (Genesis 33:12-16). Their reunion was emotional and short; and they each went their own way. Jacob having bested his brother in deception.

Jacob traveled on to Cannan, purchased land and settled by the city of Shechem, and called the place Succoth (booths) and erected an altar called El Elohe Israel (GOD, The GOD of Israel). The example of Abraham’s, Isaac’s and Jacob’s misdeeds, deceptions and lies continued on through his children to every generation. This is good news for Christ-ians because GOD’s same Grace and Mercy are applied to our lives before and after we give our Life to JESUS as Savior and LORD. GOD, our Creator and Redeemer knows and understands our weaknesses and Gives us His SPIRIT so that we can overcome them; something they did not have.

Under the Law (Torah) the Hebrews were called to be Holy as GOD is HOLY (Leviticus 20:7-8, 26) but could not. But Christ-ians who are washed in The Blood of JESUS and filled with GOD’s HOLY SPIRIT can be Holy as GOD is HOLY (1 Peter 1:13-21)!

https://youtu.be/e0f5uFyE3GM

Jacob's Humility?

 

Jacob’s Humility?

Genesis 32 

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

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

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

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

The continuing saga of Jacob son of Isaac, son of Abraham. Jacob and Laban his uncle on his mother’s, Rebekah, side have parted ways and Laban’s descendants now become enemies of Israel like all of Abraham’s descendants not of Isaac and Jacob.

As Jacob traveled he saw the angels of GOD and named the place, Mahanaim (GOD’s Camp). (Genesis 31:55-32:2)

Jacob sends messengers to his brother Esau, telling him he is returning home with this message: “This is what your servant Jacob said: ‘I’ve been staying with Laban and have lingered until now. Now I’ve come to possess oxen, donkeys, flocks, male servants and female servants. I sent word to tell my lord, in order to find favor in your eyes.’” (Genesis 32:3-5)

The messengers return and tell Jacob that Esau is coming to meet him with 400 men. Jacob is afraid and devises a plan to pacify his brother. He divides his camp into 2 camps so that if Esau attacks one the other can escape. (Genesis 32:6-8)

Then Jacob prayed to GOD, “O GOD of my father Abraham, and GOD of my father Isaac, ADONAI, Who said to me, ‘Return to your land and to your relatives and I will do Good with you (I will deal well with you). I am unworthy of all the proofs of Mercy and of all the Dependability that You have shown to Your servant. For with only my staff I crossed over this Jordan and now I’ve become 2 camps.” So even though Jacob divided his company into 2 camps out of fear of Esau, He credits GOD with the increase and abundance in his life. “Deliver me please, from my brother’s hand, from Esau’s hand, for I’m afraid of him that he will come and strike me – the mothers with the children. You Yourself said, ‘I will most certainly do Good with you (treat you well) , and make your seed like the sand of the sea that cannot be counted because of its abundance.’” (Genesis 32:9-12)

Jacob lodged there that night and prepared a gift for his brother. He divided his flocks and sent them with his servants ahead and told each group leader “When Esau my brother asks you, ‘To whom do you belong and where are you going? Whose are these in front of you?’” Say to Esau: “They are your servant Jacob’s. It is a present sent to my lord Esau; behold, he also is behind us.” (Proverbs 17:8) The present went ahead but Jacob stayed in camp. (Genesis 32:13-21)

During the night Jacob sent his children and their mothers across at the ford Jabbok but he stayed behind. That night he wrestled a Man until daybreak and The Man could not prevail against Jacob so he touched (struck) Jacob’s hip socket so that Jacob’s hip was out of joint. “And He (The Man) said, ‘Let Me go, for the day breaks.’ But he (Jacob) said, ‘I will not let You go unless You Bless me!’ So He said to him, ‘What is your name?’ He said, ‘Jacob.’ And He said, ‘Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel (Lit. Prince with GOD); for you have struggled with GOD and with men and have prevailed.’ Then Jacob asked, saying, ‘Tell me your Name, I pray.’ And He said, ‘Why is it that you ask about My Name?’ And He Blessed him there.” Jacob call the place Peniel (Lit. Face of GOD): “For I have seen GOD face to face, and my life is preserved.” As Jacob crossed the Jordan the sun rose and he had a limp. The children of Israel stopped eating the hip socket muscle because Jacob’s shrank when The Man struck it. (Genesis32:22-32)

Jacob seems to have learned humility but if you read carefully you see he is driven by fear of Esau (Matthew 10:27-31. GOD meets with him on his journey home and wrestles with him physically but does not prevail, that is the Grace and Mercy of GOD. Before we become a Christ-ian we fight against GOD and His Purpose for our Life, as a Christ-ian we still often fight against GOD’s Purpose for our Life, but now  He comes to us to convince us to serve Him, as Jacob or Peter (John 18:15-27, 21:15-19) or Paul (Acts 7:54-60, 9:1-31) we may hold our own out of GOD’s Grace and Mercy but if we do not yield to His Will and Purpose for our life we might become a Judas (John 13:21-30, 18:1-5, Acts 1:15-20) or Esau (Genesis 36:1-8; Numbers 20:14-21).

https://youtu.be/sFLEXNxg_w0