tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71390540442504460392024-03-19T01:46:52.836-07:00FROM THE MIND OF FIRE~ ~ ~ WHOEVER ~ ~ ~ READS ~ ~ ~ THIS ~ ~ LET ~ ~ ~ HIM ~ ~ ~ UNDERSTAND ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ www.fromthemindoffire.blogspot.com James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.comBlogger272125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-35276383732900614452024-01-18T15:47:00.000-08:002024-01-18T15:47:47.155-08:00TIDBITS of TRUTH: from PSALM 46 and 1 PETER 1<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiweLdcWvgcRMYOoM6IeE0S-HMOjbMQ1E8SP7ygQhXYWDAhocwPFfndpPsY9sgGjETBDHN8KffKxkIUlgOReRll0MHS-SC-rAXmWteDdepnO2BSsjRJxFmpJx-G-OaOqgIjaEy3qPsnwo50ZWc9CYVSjsDeIIhTLQDii5u8jQxFCHbQOhK920f2RHY2ppoo/s570/TIDBIT%20of%20TRUTH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="378" data-original-width="570" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiweLdcWvgcRMYOoM6IeE0S-HMOjbMQ1E8SP7ygQhXYWDAhocwPFfndpPsY9sgGjETBDHN8KffKxkIUlgOReRll0MHS-SC-rAXmWteDdepnO2BSsjRJxFmpJx-G-OaOqgIjaEy3qPsnwo50ZWc9CYVSjsDeIIhTLQDii5u8jQxFCHbQOhK920f2RHY2ppoo/s320/TIDBIT%20of%20TRUTH.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>PSALM 46:1</b><br /> God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble</span>. <br /><br />The blessedness of strength is never so appreciated as when one recognizes how truly weak one is. We all experience this when we come out of an illness or surgery that brings us to a state of weakness. Once health is regained, it feels so comforting and secure. <br /><br />Only when dangers in life are so intimate in their threats that a <a href="https://fromthemindoffire.blogspot.com/2006/07/refuge.html">refuge</a> is cherished. <br /><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span>The world as seen through the innocent eyes of a child does not exist for the grown adult, full of wounds and scars – to them the world is a hard, cruel, unforgiving, uncaring place of lonely darkness. <br /> But when GOD is in a person’s life and they <a href="https://fromthemindoffire.blogspot.com/2010/06/seeking-such-to-worship.html" target="_blank">worship and adore Christ</a> as the Light that dispels darkness (<span style="color: #0b5394;">JOHN 1:5</span>), the Love that cares with the deepest of compassion, that demonstrates mercy, that freely offers grace and forgiveness and healing that the world becomes a better place. <br /><br /><span></span>“A very present help” – a constant, immediate help in trouble (<span style="color: #0b5394;">ISAIAH 65:24</span>) and dearest companion at all times. What A Friend We Have in JESUS, our REFUGE! Look throughout the history of Scriptures for the faithful testimony of GOD’s protection and care over Israel! We can claim the same for us, the church of the LORD JESUS CHRIST:<br /><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>PSALM 46:11 </b><br /> The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah <br /><br /> ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ <br /><br /><b>2 PETER 1:3-4</b><br /> 3 … His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust</span>. <br /><br />As human beings we have the power to change our habits just as we can change our habitats, good or bad. Yet as far as our <i>nature </i>is concerned – “a leopard cannot change his spots”, nor can we change our sin-nature. <br /><br />Surprisingly, neither can GOD change such a rebellious, desperately (“incurable” <span style="color: #0b5394;">JER 17:9</span>) wicked heart. This is why He must create in us a new heart (<span style="color: #0b5394;">PSALM 51:10; EZEK 36:26</span>).<br /> A direct, new creation from GOD: that’s our new heart; our spiritual rebirth. This is as new and as direct from the LORD as when GOD said, “Let there be light…” His promise is faithfully kept for those who believe the Gospel and in faith, surrender to JESUS so that we share in His divine nature (<span style="color: #0b5394;">2 PET 1:4</span>), which then results in spiritual war (<span style="color: #0b5394;">GAL 5:17</span>). <br /><br />By faith, we are destined to win this war (<span style="color: #0b5394;">1 JOHN 5:4</span>), because Christ will complete what He started in us (<span style="color: #0b5394;">PHIL 1:6</span>). This is a promise, exceedingly great and precious indeed, to all who have inherited this “divine nature” by the Spirit of GOD Who sanctifies us just as certainly as we’ve been redeemed by the blood of the LAMB, having effectively escaped from “…the corruption that is in the world through lust.”</span>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-32741875739552499012024-01-04T20:07:00.000-08:002024-01-04T20:07:26.539-08:00TIDBITS OF TRUTH: EPHESIANS 2:8-9 & 1 SAMUEL 16:7<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fX9bonItTCXcg_Ckr9lhMW0VLOtP2xHiuyZMT5fNqMhofqwgAsEJqSaRRV0r4dXiH-PP7yJ4ckOn94wngid7JIQjk9IrkmvA6nDKel-pwuSe3bPhjSEWSjsQzqtBtcGtbDUc55EVPXw8d2mmhSdfFCv4d4O4E32HkVuaqm7nxcPi4vbSzTHsil12sI8h/s570/TIDBIT%20of%20TRUTH.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="378" data-original-width="570" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fX9bonItTCXcg_Ckr9lhMW0VLOtP2xHiuyZMT5fNqMhofqwgAsEJqSaRRV0r4dXiH-PP7yJ4ckOn94wngid7JIQjk9IrkmvA6nDKel-pwuSe3bPhjSEWSjsQzqtBtcGtbDUc55EVPXw8d2mmhSdfFCv4d4O4E32HkVuaqm7nxcPi4vbSzTHsil12sI8h/w593-h316/TIDBIT%20of%20TRUTH.jpg" width="593" /></a></div>TIDBIT OF TRUTH </b><br /><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>EPHESIANS 2:8-9</b><br /> 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast</span>. <br /><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span>Grace is unmerited favor (charis in the Greek). A similar word in Greek ('charisma') means "gift". We are wholly undeserving of any and all kindness of GOD because of our sinful condition and yet there is <span style="color: #0b5394;">JOHN 3:16</span>. God sent His Son to die for our sins, establish righteousness for us to enjoin a new relationship with GOD as our Abba Father. Our entire relationship is based on the grace of GOD, even the truth revealed to us from Scripture is based on grace. The indwelling Spirit that lives in the heart of every born again believer, is based on grace. Obedience is empowered by the Spirit of GOD's grace. Grace produces all that we need in order to fulfill GOD's will in our lives. When we walk in grace, obedience will be evident, our works will follow, proving that we are indeed redeemed by the LAMB of GOD and His shed blood! <br /><br />Grace not only provides the means of salvation in the forgiveness of sins, but it also empowers us to help in time of need, in time of temptation to sin, so that we are able to resist sin and walk in holiness (<span style="color: #0b5394;">HEB 4:16</span>). For more on this see also <span style="color: #0b5394;">ROMANS 5:20-21; 6:22-23</span> and <span style="color: #0b5394;">JOHN 3:15-17</span>. <br /><br /><b>ANOTHER TIDBIT of TRUTH <br /><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;">1 SAMUEL 16:7</span></b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /> 7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart</span>. <br /><br />We have only our natural senses with which we can discern things. They can only tell us so much, but GOD sees all; there is absolutely nothing hidden from Him at. He alone discerns the heart of man (<span style="color: #0b5394;">JER 17:10</span>). He has summarily concluded that our hearts are sinful, evil, unholy, in fact, incurable (<span style="color: #0b5394;">JER 17:9</span>). Yet He hasn't left us hopeless in our desperately deplorable state. <br /><br />By redemption through CHRIST and HIS imputing His OWN Righteousness to OUR account, along with His eternal, life-giving Spirit, we have a NEW heart created in us directly by the Spirit of our Creator GOD! (See <span style="color: #0b5394;">EZEK 36:26; JOHN 3:3; TITUS 3:5; 1 PET 1:23</span>). <br /><br />This is our peace, our peace WITH GOD (ROM 5:1) and the blessedness of the peace OF GOD (<span style="color: #0b5394;">PHIL 4:7</span>) as we, with renewed hearts commune with our Abba Father. He looks upon our (NEW) hearts, the habitat of the HOLY Spirit, Who can now reside comfortably there, since our heart is no longer our old and evil heart, but a fresh, clean new heart. <br /><br />This is not to say we are without a sin nature however: our flesh, our old man, that thing that yet plagues our souls is still with us and will remain until our bodies are redeemed and we are granted glorified bodies. </span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Yes, He looks upon the hearts of His adopted children, the saints of the church, the Temple of the Holy Spirit, and is blessed to see His Son reigning there. Thank You LORD that you can look not just upon the outward - which is still prone to sin, but upon our heart and behold, the righteousness of Christ which ever and always persists in the sanctifying power of the Spirit to bring that inward righteousness to the outward, as we daily grow in the likeness of Christ!. AMEN!</span></div>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-17436985388038032342023-12-11T11:33:00.000-08:002023-12-29T19:25:15.541-08:00OUR HEAVENLY HOME AWAITS US - READY?<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU7NGaoiro2jBClx0DxRijrOXG_hXV3WAa8P6wWOEwtfdwgt7zbeclctI7UxiFzYlizh006dFXxghmN8vIui5bQi77C2YHVO44lK2sfpadSj4JDTrBFlsiRMkxB1HcfPutaZN0a_F1jsp6fXFj__aIE8KzKVv8HRy3lyBrvC6WK0QvO2-_s8Xy6aUuXJeD/s480/heaven_jesus_receiving_me_in_heaven.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU7NGaoiro2jBClx0DxRijrOXG_hXV3WAa8P6wWOEwtfdwgt7zbeclctI7UxiFzYlizh006dFXxghmN8vIui5bQi77C2YHVO44lK2sfpadSj4JDTrBFlsiRMkxB1HcfPutaZN0a_F1jsp6fXFj__aIE8KzKVv8HRy3lyBrvC6WK0QvO2-_s8Xy6aUuXJeD/w505-h400/heaven_jesus_receiving_me_in_heaven.jpg" width="505" /></a></div>check out the audio teaching, courtesy of SHINE BRIGHT Church <a href="https://youtu.be/KYfubwwTniw?si=ThcZK0vwSrEze32F" target="_blank">here</a>!</span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As marvelous and wonderful as Oz was, all Dorothy kept saying to everyone was, “I want to go home!” <br /><br />E.T. was intent on “phone home” so he could leave this strange place called Earth (though he made some friends here) and return to where he belonged. <br /><br />On the other end of that scale, there is that place called <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iXXdGfPPR0" target="_blank">Narnia where the Pevensie children saw incredible wonders</a> and met Aslan and knew a life that they couldn’t have known otherwise. Even when they returned to their home in England, there was a yearning for something more, something better, something that met their longing like nothing of this mundane reality could. <br /><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span>We all have memories of our childhood home, and while for some, these memories are tinged, even marred by some darkness, most of us smile when we think of that place and have fond memories of. <br /><br />Think about home and what it means: it’s a place of familiarity, of comfort, of loving and caring, a refuge of safety and security. For most of us, it’s the place where father and mother built a life of love together and brought forth children, raised them, taught them, loved them. <br /><br />In fact, in Hebrew the first and second letter of the alphabet (aleph and beyt) when put together can mean “the leader/father/strength of “the house/dwelling” <br /><br />GOD created a home for our First Parents (Adam and Eve) in the Garden of Eden. Before GOD ever formed man from the dust of the earth He took more than 5 days to build that home, to make it suitable, comfortable, enjoyable for them. It was a paradise home - - until…. <br /><br />Well, you know the story. The whole thing got perverted when Satan tempted them, Eve and Adam fell, and everything became not “very good” (<span style="color: #0b5394;">GEN 1:31</span>). And it’s been pretty much a downhill slide since until today, when anyone who is discerning enough perceives that the principle perpetuity of perdition is nearing paramount proportions (how’s that for alliteration?)! <br /><br />This world is not a place of familiarity, of comfort, of loving and caring, a refuge of safety and security. <br /><br />Every day that I’m out and about and see this world, its stark unfamiliarity is striking. I often say, “This is not the America I grew up in!”. Murder is common place these days and hardly anyone bats an eye at it any more. Same goes for adultery and divorce. Children killing/raping children. What passes for entertainment is either flagrantly occultic, New Age, perverse and, or goes against every Law GOD ever made. <br /><br />And as we know, “life often copies art, and art copies life”.<br /> <br /> Since Roe v. Wade was struck down by the Supreme Court more and more States are passing laws that allow women to murder their babies right up to full term: in other words, one minute before or after the baby leaves the womb can determine whether that baby lives or dies!? An innocent child is legally murdered! Just because it’s legal, it doesn’t make it right! Slavery was once legal (and it’s made a comeback too, legal or not!); so was Jewish genocide in Nazi Germany. <br /><br />And this doesn’t shock anyone any more… It used to be the safest place in the world: inside a mother’s womb (<a href="https://fromthemindoffire.blogspot.com/2021/09/no-more-dead-babies-testimony-of-james.html" target="_blank">Check out my testimony and the almost aborted baby that I was!</a>). Now, no place is safe. We have a sense that life is beyond our personal control: that globalist entities are now dictating how life on Earth will be lived, without any say so from us. <br /><br />And the more you know about what’s happening behind the scenes, the more unsafe and endangered you feel. This is not a place to call home. <br /><br />Thanks to the “Me Generation” altruistic, unconditional caring and loving is quickly becoming a thing of the past. A person is loved based on society’s perceived value of them, and if they have no value, they are aborted, or shoved into a senior citizens home where they are forgotten and left to live out the remainder of their days apart from family. And expect the devaluation of life to become greater as these days proceed! <br /><br />Is all this making you feel insecure and uncomfortable? <br /> We understand, things are not the way they should be. And like the Pevensie children, we have a deep down gut feeling that if there really isn’t a Narnia ‘out there’ somewhere, well there ought to be! And there's something we can't shake, knowing there is a "home" to belong to, just out of sight, far beyond the reach of our own hands.<br /><br />I think that to a large degree this is where the appeal of science fiction and fantasy comes in. In these genres, there are worlds and places of fantastical qualities that leave us spellbound, and we look upon our own mundane lives with disdain and wish we could visit Oz, or Narnia, or Middle Earth, or Pandora – what have you… <br /><br />There is a deep-rooted longing for something ‘other than’ what we are experiencing in the here-and-now world which I refer to as ‘Planet Rebyl’ (this fallen world of sin). <br /><br />As a Christian, do you find it somewhat odd when a fellow believer talks about heaven, or when you read about this place in Scripture, and that deep seated aching inside of you gets homesick… for a home you’ve never been to? <br /><br />I suppose it’s the Spirit of GOD that indwells us, that gives us some kind of sense of what heaven is like – in conjunction to what Scripture tells us of this place. <br /><br />And have you ever considered that even we Christians have no real idea of what living in a sin-free world is going to be like? We’ve been born into an environment of sin and have never known anything but. <br /><br />Imagine if you and your community were established and raised in a sewer system, and that people were born, lived and died in that environment. If that dank, stinking world is all you ever knew, you’d have no idea what fresh air was like. <br /><br />But take one person out of that sewer system and let them breath the fresh air above. Then take them to a mountain top and let them experience new heights of freshness! <br /><br />That’s a very small idea of what it will be like for us, once we leave this space/time domain that has the curse of sin laid upon it and enter through ‘heaven’s portals’ and come face to Face with the LORD. <br /><br />In that Forever Realm we shall know a place of familiarity, of comfort, of loving and caring, a refuge of safety and security. <br /><br />We are familiar with the LORD of that place; we know Him, and He knows us. We are on a first name basis with the KING of Glory (<span style="color: #0b5394;">REV 3:8,12</span>)! Here we are pilgrims, strangers, aliens (<span style="color: #0b5394;">HEB 11:13; 1 PET 2:11</span>) – but there we are citizens of the Kingdom, and we are family (understand that you don’t even know 99.9% of your heavenly family - - yet! But you will!! Are we excited yet??). <br /><br />Here we suffer “the slings and arrows of outrageous [mis]fortune”. We have bumps, bruises, scars of damage done to us in this dangerous, deceptive, deplorable, destructive domain dominated by the devil (just a bit more alliteration in case you didn’t get enough the first time around)! <br /><br />We know that there are mishaps, accidents, diseases, disasters, strifes, anxieties and discords here in this world, and on any day of any week we could experience any of these. This has the potential to make us feel downright uncomfortable, worried, apprehensive – which is why we need to understand the sovereignty of GOD and by faith keep our eyes, and minds and hearts on the LORD Jesus and keep them there (<span style="color: #0b5394;">ISA 26:3</span>): it’s the only way we will make it through with peace ruling our hearts (<span style="color: #0b5394;">COL 3:14-16</span>)! <br /><br />But once we are in heaven, all such dangers and apprehensions will be a thing of the past! We’ll be home! Safe and sound, and all of those injuries (mental, emotional, spiritual as well as physical) won’t even so much as be a bad memory! <br /><br />Any good home is a loving home, where we are accepted and welcome. This is exactly what our Abba Father has provided for us through the LORD JESUS CHRIST!<br /> <br /> By the sacrificial LAMB of GOD, the LORD has made us “accepted in the beloved” (<span style="color: #0b5394;">EPH 1:3-6, esp. vs. 6</span>). Our worthiness as citizens of heaven has been established solely <b>by the grace of GOD</b>, unearned, undeserved, unwarranted. We will enjoy eternally that citizenship and all of the glorious, spiritual riches heaven can hold, all at the expense of the LORD Jesus Christ and the precious, precious price He paid: His own life! <br /><br />Remember <b>G.</b>OD’S <b>R</b>.ICHES <b>A</b>.TTRIBUTED at <b>C</b>.HRIST’S <b>E</b>.XPENSE! <br /><br />GOD created (and those of us who know Him, recreated) us for the purpose of bringing glory to His Name (<span style="color: #0b5394;">JOHN 15:8</span>), and for His own pleasure (<span style="color: #0b5394;">REV 4:11</span>). It pleases GOD to bestow upon us His creatures, pleasures and delights that far exceed the cheap, paltry, plastic imitation pleasures that Satan wags in front of lost souls, feeding them pig slop when GOD would have them feast on princely sustenance! <br /><br />And on that day, when the trumpet sounds, and we saints of the church will be miraculously transported from this fallen world to the wondrous family that is there already, we shall have such a reunion as our imaginations could never conceive of! <br /><br />We will be with our Abba Father, our LORD Jesus, and our Holy Spirit Comforter, along with all the saints, all the angels, in that dazzling domain that puts any fantasy or sci-fi story to utter shame! We then can rest from all our struggles and heartaches, lay down at our LORD’s nail-scarred feet and rest (<span style="color: #0b5394;">PSA 23:2-3; REV 1:17</span>). We’ll finally be HOME, FOREVER!! HALLELUJAH!!<br /><br />And as members of the church of the LORD Jesus Christ, we are also the bride of Christ: May this truth exhort us all to be that “chaste bride” that is growing in sanctification which the LORD is worthy of! <br /> Not according to our own power, but simply yielding to the power of the Holy Spirit Who Alone is <a href="https://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2009/09/simple-and-serious-gospel-of-salvation_2946.html">The Sanctifier of the Saint’s Fire</a>! <br /><br />Check out this song by Chris Tomlin!<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YIb4NC5ikYo" width="320" youtube-src-id="YIb4NC5ikYo"></iframe></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">For more on this, check out: <a href="https://fromthemindoffire.blogspot.com/2021/10/second-star-to-right-and-straight-on.html" target="_blank">Second Star to the Right - - and Straight on til Morning</a></span></div></div></div>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-69616660095451495892023-08-14T11:10:00.000-07:002023-08-14T11:10:23.536-07:00JEWELS From the GOSPEL of JOHN: DEITY’s OWN DOCTRINE – JOHN 7:14-17<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4ImR0yU9hI95ijb3lYhYS7WCvwC1gLtoZa3dXV5Uc0jq6lzLnqxs1ap-SNIwSYW3IqZY4Id_FHhZaD16I1NNh-qjM1126rdqhmWcvmYZ18bIRU1OGtvbWabHExOjiiPs9tnqkHrIiMGE_2sMb7j8obPAkGt03T22tidPf6dAStD6lBb2Sx7qbmgJqsa7/s427/FMF%20Jewels%20John.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="427" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4ImR0yU9hI95ijb3lYhYS7WCvwC1gLtoZa3dXV5Uc0jq6lzLnqxs1ap-SNIwSYW3IqZY4Id_FHhZaD16I1NNh-qjM1126rdqhmWcvmYZ18bIRU1OGtvbWabHExOjiiPs9tnqkHrIiMGE_2sMb7j8obPAkGt03T22tidPf6dAStD6lBb2Sx7qbmgJqsa7/w493-h346/FMF%20Jewels%20John.jpg" width="493" /></a></div>The following is a series of short exhortations, brief commentary, and writings to convey thoughtful meditation on God's Word. I have chosen the Gospel of John as the subject. I pray that these will be a blessing and an edification for the saints. <br /><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>JOHN 7:14-17</b><br /> 14 Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught. 15 And the Jews marveled, saying, "How does this Man know letters, having never studied?" 16 Jesus answered them and said, "My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 17 "If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. </span><br /><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span>Because GOD is Almighty (omnipotent; <span style="color: #0b5394;">JER 32:17,26</span>) people believe that there is nothing He can’t do. Mechanically speaking this is true – because He possesses all power (and wisdom; <span style="color: #0b5394;">REV 5:12</span>), GOD can do anything! <br /><br />At the same time, because GOD is GOD – there are some things He can’t do!<br /> He can’t travel – GOD exists everywhere already (<span style="color: #0b5394;">1 KINGS 8:27; PSA 139:7-12</span>). He can’t lie because He is truth (<span style="color: #0b5394;">DEUT 32:4; JOHN 14:6</span>). He can’t learn because He knows everything already (<span style="color: #0b5394;">ISA 46:9-10; MATT 10:29-30; 11:27; 1 JOHN 3:20</span>). He can’t sin because He is holy (<span style="color: #0b5394;">PSA 92:15; 106:47; ISA 48:17; 1 PET 1:16</span>). He can’t fail because He is perfect (<span style="color: #0b5394;">DEUT 32:4; 2 SAM 22:31; PSA 18:30</span>), etc. <br /><br />Yet when GOD became flesh and dwelt among us, He became human – Jesus the son of Mary, the Nazarene. And as the perfect Man, there were some things He had to learn:<br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b></b></span><blockquote><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>HEBREWS 5:8-9</b><br /> 8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. 9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him</span>,</blockquote>The depths of the knowledge that the LORD Jesus Christ possessed impressed the religious leaders of His day. Since He was never schooled in any of their disciplines, they were baffled as to how He could know the things He expounded upon. <br /><br />The LORD Jesus explains:<br /> “This isn’t any doctrine that I’ve made up. This is doctrine that I received from the Father – the One Who sent Me”. Jesus the Man – the GOD-Man received all of the doctrinal teaching from the Father and only those with the desire to do the will of GOD (<span style="color: #0b5394;">PSA 40:8; 119:35</span>) would recognize the authenticity of the LORD’s teachings as legitimate truth, come from GOD. <br /><br />And recognizing that the LORD’s doctrinal teaching is in fact from GOD, they would understand where the LORD’s authority came from. This was a question that the Pharisees had in Matthew’s Gospel account:<br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b></b><blockquote><b>MATTHEW 21:23-27</b><br /> 23 Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, "By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?" 24 But Jesus answered and said to them, "I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things: 25 "The baptism of John--where was it from? From heaven or from men?" And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?' 26 "But if we say, 'From men,' we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet." 27 So they answered Jesus and said, "We do not know." And He said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.</blockquote></span>Were the religious leaders willing to answer this question truthfully, they would have to concede the fact that John the Baptist’s ministry was indeed from GOD. Rather than come to the correct conclusion however they approached the matter politically. They judged that if they were to deny the ministry of the Baptist, they would lose credibility in the eyes of the people, but if they said his ministry came from heaven (from GOD Himself) then they would admit their rebellion against the One they claimed to serve, by denying the Baptist and his ministry ordained of GOD. <br /><br />When they lamely replied, “We don’t know”, they left without having their question answered, because the LORD’s authority came from the same place – heaven! <br /><br />Truth is a GOD given commodity – the most precious resource in or out of this universe. And GOD has given a certain level of truth to every soul by means of revelation in its two fold aspects: general revelation (as revealed through nature and the conscience of human minds – this is universal knowledge) and special revelation (as acquired by the inspired Scriptures, “GOD breathed” (<span style="color: #0b5394;">2 TIM 3:16; 2 PET 1:20-21</span>) – this is only granted to those who are exposed to the Truth of GOD as given in the Word, by the Spirit). <br /><br />To whatever degree GOD grants His truth to each and every individual, we hold that truth in stewardship. GOD observes how we treat that truth given. If we live in the light of that truth, we are proper stewards and GOD rewards faithful stewardship by granting even more truth. He will keep providing more and more truth as long as any individual is faithful to submit to and obey that truth. <br /><br />If such truth is disparaged, then such a one should never be expected to receive anymore truth as they prove themselves to be unfaithful stewards, who are doubtless those who are careless about the Holy Word that GOD exalts even above His own Name (<span style="color: #0b5394;">PSA 138:2; JOHN 8:42-43</span>). Those who ultimately disparage the Word of GOD and specifically, the Gospel of Jesus Christ are portrayed as the unfaithful and slothful servant who ended up in “outer darkness” (<span style="color: #0b5394;">MATT 25:14-30</span>). <br /><br />This is sometimes why Christians can find the Word “dry” to them. They read the Holy Scriptures and “getting nothing out of them”. Not always, but many times, it’s because GOD has already given them quite a bit of truth and understanding from the Word, but the recipient isn’t implementing that truth into their lives. <br /><br />Fresh revelation (that is to say, new understanding of the truth, and not ‘new truth’) isn’t as forthcoming, and thus, the Word can become dry, rather than spiritually “juicy” and refreshing. If you find that this is the case with you, then ask the LORD what it is you should be doing to live in the Light that He has already given to you – He will! <br /><br />It’s very much like the Keith Green song, <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEx_0_AXL3w"><b>MY EYES ARE DRY</b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jEx_0_AXL3w" width="320" youtube-src-id="jEx_0_AXL3w"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>“My eyes are dry, my faith is old.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>My heart is hard, my prayers are cold.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And I know how I ought to be:</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Alive to You, and dead to me.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>But what can be done,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>For an old heart like mine?</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Soften it up, with oil and wine.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The oil is You, Your Spirit of love.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Please wash me anew.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>with the wine of Your Blood.”</i></div><br />The Word tells us our condition as fallen humanity:<br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b></b></span><blockquote><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>ISAIAH 53:6 </b><br /> All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all (PSA 119:76; 1 PET 2:25). <br /><br /><b>MATTHEW 15:18 </b><br /> "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19 "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 20 "These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man." </span><br /> See also: <span style="color: #0b5394;">GEN 6:5; 8:21; PROV 6:14; JER 17:9; MK 7:21; JAMES 3:6</span>.</blockquote>If any desire to know GOD and His truth, it’s by the wooing of the Holy Spirit Who always testifies of Jesus Christ and will faithfully lead us to this blessedness that is in the LORD. </span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b></b></span></div><blockquote><div><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>PSALM 16:11 </b></span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394;">You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.</span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394;">PSALM 17:15; 21:6; 36:8</span></div></blockquote></span><div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It isn’t that they are forced to receive Christ and the salvation He offers, but they are compelled to face Christ and to render an answer to His question: “Who do you say that I Am?” <br /><br />And if any desires to do the will of the LORD, to have GOD in their life in a deep, satisfying relationship, the LORD will ensure such a one will be granted sufficient discernment to recognize truth when they hear it, even if it’s only on an intuitive level (which for those who are yet lost but seeking truth, is often the case). <br /><br />To think upon the idea that GOD would deign to bend low from His glorious and most Holy and Lofty position, seated upon His Throne and teach us specks of dust with His truth is an awesome and incredible act of grace! <br /><br />May we always hold the Holy Bible in our serving hands as well as our humble hearts with a sense of reverence and awesome “trembling”!<br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b></b><blockquote><b>ISAIAH 57:15 </b><br /> For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones. <br /><br /><b>ISAIAH 66:1-2</b><br /> 1 Thus says the LORD: "Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? 2 For all those things My hand has made, And all those things exist," Says the LORD. "But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word.</blockquote></span>Remember the first two letters of the word “doctrine”, and as we are “doers of the Word, and not hearers only” (<span style="color: #0b5394;">JAMES 1:22</span>), let’s also remember that we do, not out of a cold sense of duty, but with a fervent and passionate heart of loving obedience! <br /><br />Next time in <b>JEWELS From The GOSPEL Of JOHN we shall look into GLORY, HALLELUJAH! – <span style="color: #0b5394;">JOHN 7:18</span></b></span></div></div></div>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-19854031148910308302023-07-27T12:47:00.000-07:002023-07-27T12:47:34.507-07:00The PROBLEM Of PROSPERITY vs. PERSECUTION In The CHURCH<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB2098XMP3_wzBYPKbvaWiJUlUXaUlHcK0CybGozAq8pF3BqylVz4ZzLv2w-GGfpI-LWjxGc3fWqFQau1z9VBH6KM6d3FcLQMqnTiZPcAaYW7thBnQ7tRXz7tQ8oNQnV1-tW2m1j8liZTWILezklpImVtO8gBIRfEzcNzNjTu37WX9GCIislaVOmez1gA5/s960/True%20Prosperity%20in%20Christ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="437" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB2098XMP3_wzBYPKbvaWiJUlUXaUlHcK0CybGozAq8pF3BqylVz4ZzLv2w-GGfpI-LWjxGc3fWqFQau1z9VBH6KM6d3FcLQMqnTiZPcAaYW7thBnQ7tRXz7tQ8oNQnV1-tW2m1j8liZTWILezklpImVtO8gBIRfEzcNzNjTu37WX9GCIislaVOmez1gA5/w437-h437/True%20Prosperity%20in%20Christ.jpg" width="437" /></a></div>We here at TTUF have dealt with the issue of persecution before with <a href="https://fromthemindoffire.blogspot.com/2015/06/are-you-persecution-proof.html">ARE YOU PERSECUTION PROOF?</a> and <a href="https://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2021/04/fighting-fire-with-fire-preparing-for.html">FIGHTING FIRE With FIRE – PREPARING For PERSECUTION For RIGHTEOUSNESS SAKE</a>. Also, <a href="https://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2017/09/the-portent-of-persecution-and-perilous.html">The PORTENT of PERSECUTION and PERILOUS TIMES</a> and <a href="https://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2019/04/christian-persecution-perilous-times_5.html">CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION: PERILOUS TIMES AHEAD</a>. Also found on our primary website we have a series <a href="https://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2012/07/living-in-last-days-series-part-1.html">LIVING In The LAST DAYS</a> – which deals with, among other things, the persecution of the church. <br /><br />As the days here in America the Once Beautiful and Brave grow ever darker with alarming rapidity to become America the Baneful and Brutal, it’s only a matter of time that we who are children of light will be confronted by the children of darkness who hate the Light that dwells in and emanates from our lives (<span style="color: #0b5394;">MATT 5:16</span>) and subsequently persecuted by them, just as they persecute the church in other lands, and have done so throughout history. <br /><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>JOHN 3:20 <br /> For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed</b></span>. <br /><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span>The Preacher of Proverbs had this request of the LORD: <br /><br /><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">PROVERBS 30:7-9<br /> 7 Two things I request of You (Deprive me not before I die): 8 Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches-Feed me with the food allotted to me; 9 Lest I be full and deny You, And say, "Who is the LORD?" Or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.</span></b></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />Check out pastor Mike Winger's 4 min video on:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wr5zY2Xpj4A&t=77s" target="_blank">The Perils of Wealth and Poverty</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Wr5zY2Xpj4A" width="320" youtube-src-id="Wr5zY2Xpj4A"></iframe></div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We can so easily deceive ourselves into thinking that we “are gods” in and of ourselves; that by believing in oneself we can create our own reality and do the impossible. There’s nothing that can be said against determination, hard work, commitment and sacrifice – and thereby amass a good living for oneself. <br /><br />And yet, there are many among us who have achieved “the American Dream” and live in luxury or have had luxury handed to us on a silver platter from a long line of family wealth – and as a result (more often than not) develop an undue sense of pride whose basis is the power of financial clout. It’s about then that we delude ourselves that we don’t need GOD (we ARE god!). We become <a href="https://theredpillconsortium.blogspot.com/2011/12/crimson-caplet-power-of-love-love-of.html">lovers of power</a> (and pleasure) rather than lovers of GOD (See <span style="color: #0b5394;">2 TIM 3:1-5</span>). <br /><br />It's the humble soul that recognizes that all of us, at our greatest are mere vanity (<span style="color: #0b5394;">PSA 39:5</span>) and our life is dependent on the air we suck down through our nostrils (<span style="color: #0b5394;">ISA 2:22</span>) and absent of that, we perish! Put some duct tape over the mouth and nose of any ‘god’ of vast wealth and <i>see how long they survive</i>. <br /><br />Such powerful men and women who possess untold wealth will “…deny [GOD]…” because they are “full [of themselves!]”. But this sort of pride isn’t exclusive to the souls of this fallen world, absolutely not! <br /><br />It’s some seriously sad commentary, but we even find this spirit of independence (pride, selfishness) in the church, and it’s going to get worse according to Scripture. Observe what the Laodicean church has to say: <br /><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />REVELATION 3:17a<br /> "…'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'… </span></b><br /><br />This is a church that, like the unregenerate nations of the world, has forgotten GOD (<span style="color: #0b5394;">PSA 9:17</span>), with the exception perhaps of a polite acknowledgement with their lips, not with their hearts: <br /><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>ISAIAH 29:13 <br /> Therefore the Lord said: "Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men, </b></span><br /><br />And because of such abominable abandonment, this church doesn’t even realize their true spiritual condition! <br /><br /><b style="color: #0b5394;">REVELATION 3:17b</b><br /><b style="color: #0b5394;"> …and </b>[you]<b style="color: #0b5394;"> do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. </b><br /><br />This church is in contrast with the church at Smyrna, who thought that they were poor (and materially, they were abjectly poor), but not where it matters! <br /><br /><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">REVELATION 2:9a <br /> I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); </span></b><br /><br />Those who are weak in their own eyes, in acknowledgement of the truth – that we are all spiritual cripples in fact; <span style="color: #0b5394;">ROM 3:10-12</span> – understand that this is where true spiritual strength comes in, through the power of Christ (<span style="color: #0b5394;">2 COR 12:10</span>)! <br /><br />And so, while persecution is not a desirable experience, it really is nothing to fear, because if we abide faithful (<i>and by the grace of GOD alone we are able!</i>) we are promised the crown of life (<span style="color: #0b5394;">REV 2:10</span>)! Persecution will purge the body of Christ of the pretenders and people who only give lip service, this is true! <br /><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>MATTHEW 13:21 <br /> "yet he has no root in himself but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. </b></span><br /><br />Yet for the Blood-bought child of GOD endowed with the power of the Spirit of GOD that lives in them, this experience will prove to be a forge, whereby all human weaknesses like dross are potentially burned away and what remains is that which is built and grown by the LORD Himself (<span style="color: #0b5394;">ISA 48:10</span>). Persecution aids in the production of battle-hardened and able warriors. Prosperity tends towards the atrophy of saints and make for soft-bellied waifs.<br /><br />Are we in danger of experiencing persecution here in America? Unless <a href="http://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2010/05/reality-of-rapture.html">the rapture</a> of the church happens first, I see it as unavoidable. <br /><br />But we have – in my opinion – a danger far more severe! Something that we as the church of the LORD Jesus Christ have ‘suffered’ now for generations: <br /><br />Prosperity or material abundance. <br /> There is something called <a href="https://thinkingwest.com/2022/11/16/tytlers-cycle-of-civilizations/">The Tytler Cycle</a> that diagrams the historical path of any prosperous society (Be sure to read the preceding article found at the link – it’s very enlightening)! <br /><br />It looks like this: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHCtLm_6h7OqZ-HltYLv0f1JjUxxAhQthxNiyyc-QgwSh6NK2logz94b0RlDjDva_nHTwXui7x6LexJfJTPhqq-J2LVl0uq0mQD3PyBQkte7XdhHPcVQhd37woAhfKM8PR1Qmey3wWfK89d0lHiOJcDh5nqZUHMEUSEWMNuHIQc_yqvcggjdrJwZpOc3U0/s271/tylter%20cycle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="271" data-original-width="271" height="403" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHCtLm_6h7OqZ-HltYLv0f1JjUxxAhQthxNiyyc-QgwSh6NK2logz94b0RlDjDva_nHTwXui7x6LexJfJTPhqq-J2LVl0uq0mQD3PyBQkte7XdhHPcVQhd37woAhfKM8PR1Qmey3wWfK89d0lHiOJcDh5nqZUHMEUSEWMNuHIQc_yqvcggjdrJwZpOc3U0/w427-h403/tylter%20cycle.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Note the perilous progression here: From the state of bondage to faith, to courage, to liberty (and self-rule, but ideally, ruled by the Spirit of GOD; <span style="color: #0b5394;">GAL 5:1</span>); from there to abundance, to selfishness, then complacency. From there the society goes to apathy, dependence (ruled by government, itself corrupted by “the god of this world” <span style="color: #0b5394;">2 COR 4:4</span>), then back to bondage. <br /><br />This reveals that, as good and noble the intentions and purposes of man may be in constructing a free and just society, every tree bears fruit <a href="https://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2017/07/after-his-kind.html">after its own kind</a> (<span style="color: #0b5394;">GEN 1:11-12; MATT 7:17-19</span>). Our founding fathers produced an incredible system of self-rule and constructed the Constitution of the United States. And while they were godly men, they still had a sin nature, as well as those that represented their constituencies. Corruption as subtle and quiet as it may be, will inevitably do its evil work and eventually overtake any system!</span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><blockquote><u>On a side note</u>: This is why any government that hopes to thrive and remain pure perpetually, must have as its founder an incorrupt and incorruptible person. Enter: Jesus Christ the sinless LAMB of GOD, Messiah King of Israel, and Head of the church, the sure Foundation (<span style="color: #0b5394;">ISA 28:16; 1 COR 3:11</span>)! <br /><br />And those of us who are citizens of heaven (<span style="color: #0b5394;">PHIL 3:20</span>), who belong to Him and His kingdom are promised incorruptible bodies and minds (<span style="color: #0b5394;">ROM 8:23; 1 JOHN 3:2</span>), and so any danger of corruption will be null and void (<span style="color: #0b5394;">1 COR 15:49-5</span>4)!</blockquote>In our American nation, the abundance and prosperity has been and is being siphoned (read that “stolen” thanks to the Federal Reserve!) from us, and while we might become angered at such injustice, I see it as a blessing in disguise. In such humbling circumstances – if yielded to for the sake of Christ – we will once again become utterly dependent on our faithful and Good Shepherd! <br /><br />It's been said before,<br /><b><blockquote> “When all you have is Jesus, it’s then that you realize that JESUS is ALL YOU NEED!”</blockquote></b>There is where our fervency will be restored, saints! <a href="https://fromthemindoffire.blogspot.com/2010/02/zealous-for-name-of-lord.html">Our zeal!</a> Our spiritual hotness and holiness will replace the carnality and lukewarmness towards the LORD wherein any mixed allegiances between GOD’s Kingdom and our own will be burned away, and our JESUS may rightly reclaim the throne of our hearts! <br /><br />When we regain the eternal perspective, we will recognize that any accumulation of wealth in this world, well – “it’s all gunna burn!”. Wealth and material goods can, and often do provide a <a href="https://fromthemindoffire.blogspot.com/2020/01/those-devilish-detours.html">devilish distraction</a>. They will choke out any spiritual fruitfulness: <br /><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>MATTHEW 13:22 <br /> "Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. </b></span><br /><br />That eternal perspective will remind us that “<i>this world is not </i>[our]<i> home, </i>[we]<i> are just passing through</i>” as pilgrims on our journey to the New Jerusalem: <br /><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>HEBREWS 11:13-16<br /> 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. </b></span><br /><br />This is just one reason why I think <a href="https://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2009/11/word-faith-movement-doctrines-of-men-or.html">the Word-Faith movement </a>is so abhorrent. It teaches that the acquisition of this worlds goods is a sign of strong faith and GOD’s blessing. It shifts one’s attentions from “the true riches” to the “unrighteous mammon” (<span style="color: #0b5394;">LUKE 16:11</span>)! In effect, it robs us of the greater and deeper blessings our LORD yearns to bestow upon us (<span style="color: #0b5394;">EPH 2:7; 3:8, COL 1:27; HEB 11:26</span>) because we would rather imbibe on horrid pig slop rather than the heavenly fare of princes! <br /><br />I want to make something clear: I’m not saying that any of us should feel badly about the material blessings that our Abba Father generously gives to us (<span style="color: #0b5394;">JAMES 1:17</span>). Such blessing however could potentially lead a soul towards selfishness, so caution is needed. I think abundance in the life of one saint ought to consider the genuine need, or even poverty of another saint (<span style="color: #0b5394;">EPH 4:28</span>). <br /><br />And never, ever should any properties possess us so that we live for such things (that’s idolatry, and we as a nation are guilty of this wholesale, being reprehensibly covetous; <span style="color: #0b5394;">COL 3:5</span>). Rather, we are to possess those properties responsibly, with the understanding that we can truly receive nothing except that it’s been granted to us from above (<span style="color: #0b5394;">JOHN 3:27</span>). GOD is the One Who truly owns everything, and if He grants to us some of His things, we may possess them but as stewards of our LORD’s goods – ready, willing, and able to surrender them all for His services, at any given time! <br /><br />And there is not only a danger is acquired prosperity perverting the way in our walk with the LORD, there is also the covetous pursuit of wealth too! <br /><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>1 TIMOTHY 6:9-12<br /> 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. </b></span><br /><br />It comes down to the question: Who are we living for – the LORD or ourselves? <br /><br />As we will likely have to tighten our belts, sell off luxury items in order to pay our mortgages, perhaps even sell our houses and move to more humbler accommodations, let’s always keep in mind that “we can’t take it with us anyways”. <br /><br />Faithful service to the LORD, and laboring in His Kingdom will bring for us such unimaginable reward in the glories of heaven that “neither moth nor rust will corrupt” <br /><br /><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">MATTHEW 6:19-21<br /> 19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 "but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.</span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">For more on this, see the following article:<b><a href="https://biblehub.com/sermons/auth/davies/the_peril_of_prosperity.htm" target="_blank"> The PERIL of PROSPERITY</a></b></span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Also from GOT QUESTIONS: <a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-prosperity.html" target="_blank">What does the Bible say about prosperity?</a></span></div>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-81602080838785500442023-06-10T20:02:00.005-07:002023-06-10T20:02:38.985-07:00YouthFire! June 2023 Newsletter - Things As They Are<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-Viy2_eqrFPpbxk-QhsTGLXT0jmMPwGoW8O8aegwsLrwvRiI2fftwcN_9Z1HlnWTgxXWk4BK11hxfg_AGi4UCQ-e4kiRT3YM-JVOTpzHcuohnDjdmFkD_3pmiJoQqpx7FP9-FvCiQbe6e569O7bWvY4J5chcUPiP9TUpZ1pGw0lQvBz9gIZ1eY4wvw/s1280/Gregory%20Reid%20Spiritual%20Warfare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-Viy2_eqrFPpbxk-QhsTGLXT0jmMPwGoW8O8aegwsLrwvRiI2fftwcN_9Z1HlnWTgxXWk4BK11hxfg_AGi4UCQ-e4kiRT3YM-JVOTpzHcuohnDjdmFkD_3pmiJoQqpx7FP9-FvCiQbe6e569O7bWvY4J5chcUPiP9TUpZ1pGw0lQvBz9gIZ1eY4wvw/w478-h269/Gregory%20Reid%20Spiritual%20Warfare.jpg" width="478" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Things As They Are</b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>June 2023</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Dear Friends,</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When I came to El Paso in 1987, it was a life assignment from the Lord. I drove here in my <i>VW Beetle</i> packed with most of my worldly goods, and that’s all. By faith I rented an apartment and waited on God for His orders.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Within a month He opened up the doors for me to become involved in a ministry called the <i>WATCH Network</i>, headed by Sue Joyner, a Christian lady who felt called of God to minister to churches about the dangers of the occult on our kids. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We were at the beginning of a wave of occult and satanic crimes and activity like our nation had never seen. At the same time, we had the opportunity to minister to a group of kids from hardcore backgrounds who were hungry for God. For the next ten years, under the direction of my friend and co-laborer Tim Gamwell, we poured out our hearts and lives to this group called <i>JOEL ministries</i>. It was challenging, heartbreaking, and life-changing.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">At the same time, we were being called on to assist law enforcement, educators, probation officers and numerous criminal justice agencies in understanding the things they were seeing, and helping the victims of crimes that were being done in the name of Satan and help kids who had become ensnared in these groups. For ten years, that was our 24/7 world.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But time passed, and the history of that brutal time has been erased. But it’s coming back.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Fast forward, 2023. Satanists are now cool, Satan is really your friend, they are flooding the media, <a href="https://thesatanictemple.com/pages/after-school-satan" target="_blank">they are getting in the schools</a>, they are suing evangelical groups everywhere to make sure believers are shut down. What to make of all of it? I can honestly say that I never dreamed we would be here, though I foresaw some of the things we now are witnessing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">What has remained true through the “satanic crime” era and today is that you cannot understand the why of any of it unless you understand <a href="https://www.thetruthunderfire.com/p/blog-page_12.html" target="_blank">the true world of spiritual warfare</a> and the powers behind it – the powers, principalities, and spiritual wickedness in high places of <span style="color: #0b5394;">Ephesians 6</span>. This is an antichrist world. Jesus is Lord of all, but Satan has the lease here until Jesus evicts him. It’s his world; that’s why he could legitimately tell Jesus, <span style="color: #0b5394;">“all this power will I give you, for that is delivered unto me…” (Luke 4:6)</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But he hasn’t been able to eliminate his #2 enemy after Jesus – the church. His goal of a utopian, Luciferian society without God always falls short of fulfillment. He is by his corrupted nature incapable of providing that utopia because he is consumed with the uncontrollable urge to kill, steal, and destroy those that God created. He is now in a desperate last-minute attempt to crush and silence the church worldwide at any cost.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJw_KIz1YvU" target="_blank">Commonwealth Nations Worship Beast Of Demon Baal - 2022</a></span></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PJw_KIz1YvU" width="320" youtube-src-id="PJw_KIz1YvU"></iframe></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbOldRsITpQ" target="_blank">Abstract performance to celebrate <br />Switzerland's rail opening - Daily Mail</a></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CbOldRsITpQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="CbOldRsITpQ"></iframe></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He has his armies, chaotic as they are. He has his generals – those who rule nations, those who are tasked with building a godless world –Scriptures are clear that there would be a <span style="color: #0b5394;">“war against the saints” (Daniel 7:21) </span>in the last days and a worldwide effort to silence the gospel message.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>Can you feel it?</i> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>Do you understand the hour we are in? </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>Can you feel the intensifying and irrational hatred for Christians that is beginning to show its face everywhere?</i> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Everything appears to be coalescing for one final demonic attempt to enthrone Satan as “Lucifer” the light-bearer and helper of mankind and defeat the “sky bully” as they now refer to the Lord God we serve in Jesus. Just yesterday <a href="https://disntr.com/2023/06/06/pennsylvania-man-arrested-for-quoting-bible-at-gay-pride-event/" target="_blank">they arrested a man on the streets of Pennsylvania merely for reading a scripture across the street from a “Pride” parade</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I have felt for some time that this new iteration of “Satanists” – which are really just atheists who use the Anton La Vey model of Satanism –are just pawns in <a href="https://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2019/10/the-emergent-protocols-of-luciferianism.html" target="_blank">a bigger game</a>, and eventually during persecution may act as storm troopers and chief persecutors of believers.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> We need to be prepared to remain steady and still present the Gospel in the love of God to lost people. We are sent to set captives free; they are in chains of darkness, unknowingly slaves to Satan and his forces. </span></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></span></p><blockquote><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Isaiah 61:1-2a<br /> 1 "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD...</span></span></blockquote><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>We must not allow the enemy to bait us into displaying or returning rage or attacks</i>. People still need Jesus or there is no hope. <br /><b>And the victory is still ours and His!</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">You cannot make sense of the fact that the whole world is now bowing the knee to a small segment of our population and taking an entire month to recognize it and demanding allegiance to it – even making politicians and powerful corporations tremble in fear of not complying – unless you understand that principalities are ruling these arenas. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">How else can you explain the sudden obsession with and demand that we surrender to the trans/drag “movement” that at best makes up .02 % of the population? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This is not just a social trend but rather a sign of a core corruption that signals the final dying gasp of a nation that has turned away from God unless God intervenes (See <span style="color: #0b5394;">Romans 1</span>). And I do pray for that; but the hour is late. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The church must give way to genuine brokenness and repentance if we dare to hope to hold back the coming flood. And if we have reached the time of the great falling away before Jesus’ return, we pray to hold steady and to proclaim the truth no matter what comes.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2020/06/it-is-time-to-seek-lord-call-to-church.html" target="_blank">IT IS TIME TO SEEK THE LORD – A CALL TO THE CHURCH IN THIS LATE HOUR</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">36 years after coming here, my work has remained one of spiritual warfare and reaching a lost generation. My book <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24624787-war-of-the-ages" target="_blank">War of the Ages</a></i> was a summation of my understanding about how to live out <span style="color: #0b5394;">Ephesians 6</span> and fight for a lost world for Jesus. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In 1987, it was a different war; churches were being taught spiritual warfare, believers had an ear to hear what the Word said concerning the occult, the New Age and reaching a shattered generation. <br />Now, churches are largely unequipped to do battle in an age that is completely soaked in the demonic and the occult. A generation of youth are being deceived by it. And yet, I am finding open doors to reach out to this generation. I am blessed that our Monday night group is reaching new youth that want to know the truth.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>I ask for your continued prayers that I will remain that warrior in this era that I was called to be from the beginning</b>. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The need to bring truth to this generation is great, the need for genuine deliverance becoming more pronounced as it seems every door in hell has opened up to seduce young people into darkness. <br />I am willing to go and to fight as long as Jesus gives me breath, <i>but I need the strength of the Lord, and yes, all the prayers you can pray on our behalf</i>. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I sense a new battle is coming in the area of spiritual warfare and the occult and I will have a part in that war. I am continuing to write and edit my book, continue to do podcasts (<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/extreme-times/id1511851831" target="_blank">EXTREME TIMES: Truth In The Shadowlands</a>) and Bible studies and hopefully, soon, will start a <i>YouTube outreach</i>. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I want to thank all of you who continue to pray for me that I might finish my course well, whether it be a year or 20. I am so grateful for you all!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In His Grace,</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Gregory Reid</span></p><p><a href="mailto:legendaryseeker@gmail.com" style="font-family: helvetica;">legendaryseeker@gmail.com</a></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">YouthFire Ministries</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Box 370006 El Paso TX 79937</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="http://www.gregoryreid.com">www.gregoryreid.com</a></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">YouthFire is an affiliate of American</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Evangelistic Association</span></p>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-77617515166107245082023-05-22T15:10:00.001-07:002023-05-24T15:19:27.476-07:00“BLEMISHED OFFERINGS”<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5DuOSw7BcxnKh0XJIVWcEPXoJ4mgvvuQ9ZkRkuD-g91143KlklSiABBRhSPN9Zw7XtE1uw4VEuQmu1KJlAp-F6W7S2TyWFkrtAovVfmrIf4nzLYJvEOIU2_wUJiY8FOzKIVAkn8Z_oWTjdKZhkff3hfYNzREWxlA4RZCU3nJuB8sXjJxlaOxmlhG1Q/s1024/blemished.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5DuOSw7BcxnKh0XJIVWcEPXoJ4mgvvuQ9ZkRkuD-g91143KlklSiABBRhSPN9Zw7XtE1uw4VEuQmu1KJlAp-F6W7S2TyWFkrtAovVfmrIf4nzLYJvEOIU2_wUJiY8FOzKIVAkn8Z_oWTjdKZhkff3hfYNzREWxlA4RZCU3nJuB8sXjJxlaOxmlhG1Q/w539-h303/blemished.jpg" width="539" /></a></div><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>MALACHI 1:6-14</b><br /> 6 "A son honors his father, And a servant his master. If then I am the Father, Where is My honor? And if I am a Master, Where is My reverence? says the LORD of hosts To you priests who despise My name. Yet you say, 'In what way have we despised Your name?' 7 "You offer defiled food on My altar. But say, 'In what way have we defiled You?' By saying, 'The table of the LORD is contemptible.' 8 And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, Is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, Is it not evil? Offer it then to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you favorably?" says the LORD of hosts. 9 "But now entreat God's favor, That He may be gracious to us. While this is being done by your hands, Will He accept you favorably?" says the LORD of hosts. 10 "Who is there even among you who would shut the doors, So that you would not kindle fire on My altar in vain? I have no pleasure in you," says the LORD of hosts, "Nor will I accept an offering from your hands. </span></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">11 For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name shall be great among the Gentiles; In every place incense shall be offered to My name, And a pure offering; For My name shall be great among the nations," says the LORD of hosts. 12 "But you profane it, In that you say, 'The table of the LORD is defiled; And its fruit, its food, is contemptible.' 13 You also say, 'Oh, what a weariness!' And you sneer at it," says the LORD of hosts. "And you bring the stolen, the lame, and the sick; Thus you bring an offering! Should I accept this from your hand?" says the LORD. 14 "But cursed be the deceiver Who has in his flock a male, And takes a vow, But sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished, for I am a great King," says the LORD of hosts, "And My name is to be feared among the nations.<br /></span><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span>“Thus says the LORD of Hosts” is a phrase found in the book of Malachi 21 times. There can be no doubt whatsoever that the LORD GOD Himself is addressing His people. While the prophet is sympathetic and in accord with the heart of the KING Of Israel, these are not his words, but the words of the REDEEMER of Israel Whose heart is wounded and wearied because of the hard, cold heartedness of the worship found in the nation. <br /><br />The Word of GOD is clear on the requirements of offerings and sacrifices: <br /><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>EXODUS 29:1</b><br /> 1 "And this is what you shall do to them to hallow them for ministering to Me as priests: Take one young bull and two rams without blemish, <br /><br /><b>LEVITICUS 1:3</b><br /> 3 'If his offering is a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish; he shall offer it of his own free will at the door of the tabernacle of meeting before the LORD</span>. Also <span style="color: #0b5394;">NUM 19:2; DEUT 15:21</span>. <br /><br />Yet the priests and people of Israel had “despise[d] My name… offer[ed] defiled food on My altar…” and their view was that “the table of the LORD is contemptible…” And He asks them: “…you offer the blind as a sacrifice, Is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, Is it not evil?” <br /><br />The LORD tells His people: “Offer it then to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you favorably?" <br /><br />GOD Himself offered for Himself the perfect, spotless Sacrifice, without blemish: the LAMB of GOD (<span style="color: #0b5394;">1 PET 1:19</span>) and so there is no more offering for sin (<span style="color: #0b5394;">HEB 10:18-23</span>). <br /><br />So as the church we’re not in any danger of giving blemished offerings since Christ fulfilled the propitiatory offering right? <br /><br />Wrong. In a way, we are in greater potential danger of offering blemished offerings than even Israel in the Old Testament days. How so? Let’s consider: <br /><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>ROMANS 12:1-2 </b><br /> 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this 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. </span><br /><br />As Christians we are to be “living sacrifices” – sounds like a contradiction of sorts, doesn’t it? <br /><br />Any sacrifice under the Old Testament ended up slaughtered, roasted, sometimes incinerated into ashes. Yet we who have the Spirit of GOD indwelling us, providing eternal life for us through Christ, are to be wholly surrendered to GOD in all aspects of our new lives: In our jobs, our homes, our marriages, and families, in our church life and ministries, in our relationship with friends, neighbors, in our business dealings, recreational activities, hobbies, etc. <br /><br />All of these aspects are to reflect the nature and the purposes of Jesus Christ and presented as “holy, acceptable to GOD, which is our “reasonable [logical, sensible] service”. It’s only right – Jesus gave His all for us; what reason do we have for not giving our all for Him? <br /><br />Such sacrifices we offer up in being godly spouses, parents, and children, members who are a blessing our local congregations, students and employees who are salt and light – all need to be in accordance to the Word of GOD, His instruction, His wisdom and counsel. By this means, in sweet surrender, we allow the LORD to do that transforming work in us whereby our minds are renewed and demonstrate GOD’s perfect will (<span style="color: #0b5394;">2 COR 4:16; EPH 4:23-24; COL 3:10</span>). <br /><br />What we are not to do is “be conformed to this world” and beware of things that can spoil us as unblemished offerings: <br /><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>COLOSSIANS 2:8 </b><br /> Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. </span><br /><br />But rather: <br /><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>COLOSSIANS 2:6-7,11-14</b><br /> 6 As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.<br /> 11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. </span><br /><br />When we mix psychology and philosophies according to business practices into the church of Jesus Christ, we are giving blemished offerings. When we aren’t married to the person we are living with, or under the roof with someone who isn’t our spouse, we are giving blemished offerings. When we are neglectful of our children, caring for them spiritually, emotionally, intellectually, financially we are giving blemished offerings. <br /><br />When we paint our ministries up to look a lot more powerful and effective than they really are, to get the applause of men we are giving blemished offerings. When we are in the sanctuary with raised hands, looking so pious and holy, yet we are holding unforgiveness, or envy, or malice towards others, we are giving blemished offerings. <br /><br />When our pastors mix the ungodly, secular theories and belief systems, or even blending in doctrines from false religions (read that “doctrines of demons” 1 TIM 4:1) when they encourage their congregations to read the latest book by some Progressive Christian author or promote contemplative prayer (or centering prayer, breathe prayers, labyrinth practices, the Lectio Divina). <br /><br />You get the point. <br /><br />In this passage from MALACHI, GOD has some rather alarming things to say: <br /><br />"Who is there even among you who would shut the doors, so that you would not kindle fire on My altar in vain? I have no pleasure in you," says the LORD of hosts, "Nor will I accept an offering from your hands.” <br /><br />In other words, the LORD is saying, “Who will lock the doors of my temple so that no one can get in and offer this offensive trash to Me? I want nothing to do with any of that!” <br /><br />Very much like: <br /><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>ISAIAH 1:10-15</b><br /> 10 Hear the word of the LORD, You rulers of Sodom; Give ear to the law of our God, You people of Gomorrah: 11 "To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?" Says the LORD. "I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, Or of lambs or goats. 12 "When you come to appear before Me, Who has required this from your hand, To trample My courts? 13 Bring no more futile 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. 14 Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them. 15 When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood. </span><br /><br />Even if these sacrifices are without blemish, but offered up with a wrong heart – a cold, uncaring heart that is motivated by religious formalism – are these acceptable to the LORD?<br /> Can we expect to receive the LORD’s favor in our lives when we put on a good show in church, and before others and in sight of Christians elsewhere in town when inwardly we are not those “living sacrifices…holy and acceptable to GOD”? When we are dealing “under the table” thinking that “nobody sees it”? When we’d rather have fellowship with our television watching our favorite sporting event than spending much needed quality time with our wives and children? <br />When we drop an offering in the collection plate, but there is no love for the LORD in it? <br /><br />Can we expect our prayers to be heard in church when our homes are silent with such petitions? <br /><br />In my mind I can picture folks leaving church and waving goodbye to GOD, promising to visit Him at “His house” next Sunday, and GOD is asking if He could go to their home, but the reply is, “Oh, no – that’s OK GOD, we promise we’ll be back!” Yet some professing Christians live this way! As if their life is divided between the Christian way of life and the Secular. <br /><br />It's as though Christians conduct themselves as “practical atheists”.<br /> Check out pastor Sonny Islas of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100081273615665" target="_blank">SHINE BRIGHT Church</a> addressing <a href="https://youtu.be/NDUmKI7J1p8">PRACTICAL ATHEISTS – Part ONE,</a> <a href="https://youtu.be/nEf3NG-OLk8">Part TWO</a> <br /><br />When we know that there is a family down the street that’s struggling to put food on the table, while we plan out our multi-thousand dollar patio? <br /><br />Since we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, our GOD is nearer to us than any Old Testament saint could know because He dwells in us. How much greater an offense He must take when we, who are the children of GOD, offer up blemished offerings? <br /><br />What these apostate Jews said of the LORD’s temple and considering the offerings they brought, none of us as Christians would dare say such things as these with our lips: <br /><br />"But you profane it, In that you say, 'The table of the LORD is defiled; And its fruit, its food, is contemptible.' You also say, 'Oh, what a weariness!' And you sneer at it," says the LORD of hosts.” <br /><br />But do we ever think such things in our hearts: “Oh, man, it’s Sunday again already? I went last week, I deserve a break and do something I really like. And they announced Prayer Meeting at church… not going there! I wouldn’t know what to say anyway! Some of those people at church are so ‘holier than thou’ about the Bible but I’m not going to take such things to extremes myself! <br /><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>ISAIAH 1:16-17</b>a<b>-18</b><br /> 16 "Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, 17 Learn to do good…<br /> 18 "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. </span><br /><br />The LORD said to Israel, “You are profaning My Holy Name, but I’ll have you know that My Name will be glorified among the Gentiles (<span style="color: #0b5394;">MAL 1:11</span>). The LORD greatly desires to use us for His glory and for our blessing and reward, but if we don’t repent of our “blemished offerings” then the LORD will use some other Christian. The same goes for our church. May it be not so, saints. Let us consider our ways, ask the LORD to search our hearts and convict us of any wrong doing, so that as “living sacrifices we may be acceptable to GOD”! This is our just, and reasonable service! <br /><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>MICAH 6:6-8</b><br /> 6 With what shall I come before the LORD, And bow myself before the High God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, With calves a year old? 7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, Ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>For more on this, check out the following podcast EXTREME TIMES with Greg Reid:</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/1lhcmyLQiSomlK8Iyi6fiG?si=NKeXCN0uSOaASbH5AEGyqQ&utm_source=copy-link" target="_blank">SINS Of The HEART</a></span></span></div><div><br /></div>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-47543630815784647252023-04-24T19:54:00.000-07:002023-04-24T19:54:21.829-07:00JEWELS From the GOSPEL of JOHN: DIVIDED & SUBTRACTED – JOHN 7:8-13<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZjA9ZQsJBd0W_k0yz-Xx8pk7lXYoVA0KXXn-kDTwdipjJMFXIwpEKqM3oR-zM-g4ySOlNhiUIb2nvBvDSV-1syxVT2P-ntm1o69vL4UexA9Su-GGq6oiCAeaMHYs7RCKLa5SrHZyX8--ZEdEUlmhyAL1hMohy1Nc_xP-Y_k-7k_nZINcTLK9_0gwFg/s427/FMF%20Jewels%20John.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="427" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZjA9ZQsJBd0W_k0yz-Xx8pk7lXYoVA0KXXn-kDTwdipjJMFXIwpEKqM3oR-zM-g4ySOlNhiUIb2nvBvDSV-1syxVT2P-ntm1o69vL4UexA9Su-GGq6oiCAeaMHYs7RCKLa5SrHZyX8--ZEdEUlmhyAL1hMohy1Nc_xP-Y_k-7k_nZINcTLK9_0gwFg/w475-h323/FMF%20Jewels%20John.jpg" width="475" /></a></div>The following is a series of short exhortations, brief commentary, and writings to convey thoughtful meditation on God's Word. I have chosen the Gospel of John as the subject. I pray that these will be a blessing and an edification for the saints.<br /><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>JOHN 7:8-13</b><br /> 8 "You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come." 9 When He had said these things to them, He remained in Galilee. 10 But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. 11 Then the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, "Where is He?" 12 And there was much complaining among the people concerning Him. Some said, "He is good"; others said, "No, on the contrary, He deceives the people." 13 However, no one spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews</span>.<br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The feast of Tabernacles (celebrating Israel’s exodus from Egypt) was upon the Jewish nation at this time. Also at this time, a plot was being hatched on how they might kill Jesus (vs.1; see also <span style="color: #0b5394;">JOHN 5:16,18</span>). <br /><br />And His stepbrothers (their father was Joseph, the husband to their mother, Mary) didn’t believe His claims of being the Messiah – or even a prophet sent by GOD (<span style="color: #0b5394;">MATT 13:57</span>). They ‘egged Him on’, trying to provoke Him to display Himself and His claims, all the while believing He was a phoney.<br /><br />However, the LORD didn’t go to the feast, not openly. He was being gentle as a dove, and wise as a serpent (serpents can feel vibrations on the ground from the footfalls of creatures, and if those vibrations are too strong, they understand this is some animal too big for their appetite, and instead, hide away; <span style="color: #0b5394;">MATT 10:16</span>). <br /><br />Love Incarnate received hatred from those who should have loved Him as the long awaited Messiah (<span style="color: #0b5394;">JOHN 5:43</span>). <br /> In GENESIS, the son of Jacob, Joseph was hated by his brethren in just this same way, which is why he’s an able ‘type’ of Christ in the Old Testament. Joseph wasn’t received the first time, but he was the second (when his brothers ended up bowing before him, just as GOD revealed to Joseph in a dream). Moses, another type of Christ was also rejected the first time but received the second. <br /><br />One of the deacons of the Jerusalem church, Stephen made a point of this when he was dragged before the Sanhedrin and delivered <a href="https://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2020/08/acts-7-stephens-defense-and-his.html">a magnificent sermon there in ACTS 7</a>. Before Stephen could make his closing argument – that this Jesus Whom they rejected (this first time), Israel will one day receive at His Second Coming – he was rushed by the Sanhedrin, dragged outside, and stoned to death. <br /><br />There are skeptics that accuse the LORD Jesus of lying or deceiving here in this passage, because He said He wasn’t going to this feast, but did, once His family left for Jerusalem. Yet if one pays close attention to His Words, what He said was, “My time has not yet fully come.” In other words, it wouldn’t be until the fullness of time that He would leave for the feast, and a while later, it had arrived – and so He left. <br /><br />With their intent of apprehending the LORD and then killing Him, they sought for Him and didn’t find Him. In His absence the controversy arose concerning His personage. Some were persuaded that He was a good man. Others claimed He was a deceiver. No one spoke openly in support of Him however because they feared the Jewish leadership who had the power to excommunicate anyone from the Temple, which would ensure a complete excising from Jewish society. They would become impoverished then as no one would hire them or sell to them or buy their goods. <br /><br />And it’s so throughout history – everyone of us has the decision to make, whether to side with GOD or with people who oppose GOD.<br /><blockquote><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>1 JOHN 5:19-20</b><br /> 19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in wickedness. 20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.</span></blockquote>The LORD Jesus did not come to bring unequivocal peace to this world; He came to bring reconciliation between sinful man and a holy GOD through His atonement, and by making peace with GOD (<span style="color: #0b5394;">ROM 5:1</span>) in this way, mankind would experience peace in heart – no longer adversarial towards GOD (<span style="color: #0b5394;">ROM 8:7</span>) and thereby bring peace to the extent that we would become peacemakers (<span style="color: #0b5394;">MATT 5:9</span>) until Christ, the Prince of Peace would bring everlasting peace! <br /><br />Any pipedreams of peace founded in the hearts of human beings, who tout such claims of universal brotherhood are attempting to establish such on a false premise: that man “is basically good” for were that true, then true and lasting peace would indeed be achievable. <br /><br />However, because human beings are essentially evil in heart, at enmity with his Maker, achieving any kind of genuine peace is not possible. The best he could manufacture would be a cessation of hostilities until circumstances made that impractical if not impossible. As long as our vertical relationship – between the Maker and His creation is antagonistic – there is no hope for amicable relationships horizontally. <br /><br />As time progresses we will witness a greater and sharper <a href="https://fromthemindoffire.blogspot.com/2012/04/polarization-via-different-unities-john.html">polarization</a> between lovers of GOD and haters of GOD with fewer and fewer souls who are indifferent or ambivalent towards GOD. I have witnessed this in my dealings with people when offering the Gospel. There is a sharp distinction in their reactions: some receive the message or a Gospel tract almost shyly and with a measure of gratitude. Others almost bark out a no! and steer clear of us. Very few react with an indifferent air.<br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><blockquote><b>MATTHEW 10:34-39</b><br /> 34 "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 "For I have come to 'set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law'; 36 "and 'a man's enemies will be those of his own household.' 37 "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 "He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.</blockquote></span>We can expect this trend to continue, right up to the time when <a href="https://theredpillconsortium.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-one-world-leader-even-him-whose.html">the reign of antichrist</a> is fully established in <a href="https://www.thetruthunderfire.com/p/blog-page_27.html">the 70th Week of DANIEL</a>. The fact of the matter is people are either children of the light or children of darkness (<span style="color: #0b5394;">EPH 5:8</span>); either children of GOD (<span style="color: #0b5394;">JOHN 1:12</span>) or children of the devil (<span style="color: #0b5394;">JOHN 8:44</span>). In truth, there are no spiritual orphans in this world. And only the family of GOD will be welcomed into the eternal kingdom. However, the LORD still keeps this door to salvation open for whoever wants Him.<br /><blockquote><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>2 CORINTHIANS 6:1-2</b><br /> 1 We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. <br /><br /><b>REVELATION 22:17 </b><br /> And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.</span></blockquote></span></div>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-38147121735813460862023-03-19T09:47:00.001-07:002023-03-19T09:48:05.534-07:00JEWELS From the GOSPEL of JOHN: HATING THE TESTIFIER – JOHN 7:1-7<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmke_8XJtS6ZDLSOCgDCBlo3l0y81zmMf7D3s0rCBW90846eke-EnLf8B8wxPwoPlOaGzQMHWongkrxxGYUYxW5ojqZVRMVIGQ27SK602fbAbkS1jeLtbr4btmGuwTO-D-n0yBM4QFdD8Nxm3Ql8YQX4C7T-eCG9ZQrRgIGXzAFL6NricgIqdTvHRj5w/s427/FMF%20Jewels%20John.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="427" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmke_8XJtS6ZDLSOCgDCBlo3l0y81zmMf7D3s0rCBW90846eke-EnLf8B8wxPwoPlOaGzQMHWongkrxxGYUYxW5ojqZVRMVIGQ27SK602fbAbkS1jeLtbr4btmGuwTO-D-n0yBM4QFdD8Nxm3Ql8YQX4C7T-eCG9ZQrRgIGXzAFL6NricgIqdTvHRj5w/w471-h302/FMF%20Jewels%20John.jpg" width="471" /></a></div>The following is a series of short exhortations, brief commentary, and writings to convey thoughtful meditation on God's Word. I have chosen the Gospel of John as the subject. I pray that these will be a blessing and an edification for the saints. <br /><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b> JOHN 7:1-7</b><br /> 1 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him. 2 Now the Jews' Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. 3 His brothers therefore said to Him, "Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. 4 "For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world." 5 For even His brothers did not believe in Him. 6 Then Jesus said to them, "My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. 7 "The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil. </span><br /><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span>The LORD Jesus came the first time like an inoffensive, non-dangerous Lamb (though He holds every atom in the universe in His Almighty Hand, and were He to let go, all the world would become a galactic nuclear explosion! <span style="color: #0b5394;">COL 1:17</span>). That is not at all how He will arrive the Second Time: up and coming, He is going to be revealed as the LION Of JUDAH. And we all know what lions can be like! <br /><br />Two chapters previously the LORD healed a man on the Sabbath, and for that, the Jews persecuted the LORD Jesus and more – they wanted to kill Him (<span style="color: #0b5394;">JOHN 5:16,18</span>). <br /><br />Yet during His earthly ministry, because He came proclaiming peace through His Gospel, He was in a sense vulnerable – and since the Jews sought to kill Him, He had to be cautious – He avoided trouble whenever possible. When it wasn’t possible, it was because He had to go Face to face with the religious hypocrites, rebuke them for their ways, and stand for truth. <br /><br />May we follow that example laid out for us by our LORD, Who is Himself full of grace and truth (<span style="color: #0b5394;">JOHN 1:14</span>). We are, after all, to be wise as serpents and gentle as doves (<span style="color: #0b5394;">MATT 10:16</span>). Have you ever wondered what that meant? I think “gentle as doves” is pretty much self-explanatory, but what does “wise as serpents” mean? <br /><br />Snakes have heat sensors that can detect the warmth given off of bodies, so they can know when one is coming; they also are keenly sensitive to the vibrations on the ground caused by animals walking over land. They can tell when something is near because of their heat sensors, and they can tell how big those things are by how much the ground vibrates. <br /><br />So if an animal small enough comes around, they’ll pursue it for some lunch; if too big however, the snake is wise enough to avoid trouble and hides – which is why you don’t often encounter snakes, even though they are within arms reach as you walk by. They know when to hide. <br /><br />If however we’ve been caught unawares, then our conduct should be that of doves: how many attack-doves have you met in your life time? <br /><br />But this is NOT to speak against the issues of self-defense or defending the weak however; this is in regards to standing for Christ and His Gospel (increasingly politically incorrect in our nation that’s morphing more and more into godless Socialism) and the resulting persecution we can expect from a world that hates the GOD of the Bible. <br /><br />In this portion of Scripture, we see that <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCwZCu4-xTk&list=PL9ypagcinHVCtXDZaY4hVSGscF8w7KXn6&index=10">the Feast of Tabernacles</a> or Booths was at hand. This was one of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9ypagcinHVCtXDZaY4hVSGscF8w7KXn6">the seven feasts of Israel</a> that commemorated the exodus of Israel. They obviously wouldn’t be living in houses during their journey through the wilderness, but in tents. And this feast would require every family in the land of Israel to leave their homes, and build these rickety shelters with cracks and crevices showing through the make-shift branches where the family would ‘camp out’ for the duration of the Feast. <br /><br />This was to remind Israel of GOD’s faithfulness to them as He led them in this trek to the promised land. <br /><br />It was the Messiah King Himself in their midst, Who desired to lead His people to the full promises of GOD in regards to their salvation and a restoration of the kingdom of Israel. His family (vs. 3) were provoking Him to put Himself on display, but they didn’t believe His claims as the Messiah (vs. 5). <br /><br />The LORD Jesus Himself stated that a prophet is not without honor except among his own household (<span style="color: #0b5394;">MATT 13:57</span>). I think we’ve all experienced something like this as Christians, who were well known previously by family and friends, who stare at us dubiously, not a bit persuaded that this is a real transformation, but just a temporary religious front. <br /><br />And when we share the Gospel, so often it has a far greater impact with total strangers than with our own family members. A dear brother saint of mine (who has gone Home) would share the Gospel with his family members every chance he had for thirty years – and to no effect. Yet he could share the Gospel with someone in a few minutes and have them on their knees praying to receive Christ! <br /><br />“Show yourself to the world!” The LORD’s relatives said to Him in challenge. <br /><br />The time of His showing would be soon – but not yet. The LORD said on a couple of occasions “my time is not yet” (vs. 6). What was He waiting for?<br /> The day appointed as was prophesied wherein the Messiah of Israel would enter into Jerusalem and there hailed as “the Son of David” <br /><br />This happened on the day we commemorate as “Palm Sunday”: <br /><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>MATTHEW 21:1-9</b><br /> 1 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. 3 "And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord has need of them,' and immediately he will send them." 4 All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: 5 "Tell the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.'" 6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. 8 And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: "Hosanna to the Son of David! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!' Hosanna in the highest! </span><br /><br />There was at least one occasion when the LORD Jesus became so popular, that the people were going to force Him to become their King (<span style="color: #0b5394;">JOHN 6:15</span>)! He avoided it and refused to take advantage of the situation. Yet here in <span style="color: #0b5394;">MATTHEW 21</span>, He actually makes arrangement for this to happen. He showed Himself to all in Jerusalem as the Messiah of Israel so that even the children were declaring Him as the Messiah (“Son of David” and the LORD Jesus didn’t deny their proclamation! <span style="color: #0b5394;">MATT 21:15-16</span>).<br /><blockquote>This day was a fulfillment of prophecy according to <span style="color: #0b5394;">ZECHARIAH 9:9</span> (which speaks of Christ’s First Advent; vs. 10 speaks of His Second Advent). <br /><br />Also, let’s not forget this from another prophet, <br /><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>DANIEL 9:25</b><br /> 25 "Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem Until Messiah the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; The street shall be built again, and the wall, Even in troublesome times. </span><br /><br />These “seven weeks and sixty-two weeks” or 69 weeks – are prophetic weeks, each of them being seven years long, or in other words 69 x 7 which is 483 years (of 360 days each by the way).</blockquote>Sir Robert Anderson wrote the book, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/181726.The_Coming_Prince">The Coming Prince</a>, in which this shrewd detective of Scotland Yard, theologian, and devoted Christian calculated all of the variables to ascertain precisely how many days transpired between the edict to rebuild Jerusalem (in the days of Nehemiah and Ezra) and the actual arrival of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. The days calculated were 173,880 and this is exactly when prophecy declared this event would be fulfilled (four hundred and eighty three years – of 360 days each). <br /><br />The world loves its own, would never hate its own (<span style="color: #0b5394;">JOHN 15:19; 7:7</span>), so as the LORD said to His relatives, “Your time is always ready” – they’d be welcome at any time; contrarily even though the world was made by Jesus Christ, still it does not know Him, much less receive Him (<b>JOHN 1:10-11</b>). <br /><br />This world would accept a New Age Jesus, and ever loving Jesus that never held them accountable, a Santa Claus-style Jesus that gave them everything they wanted.<br /> But this world will never accept the biblical Jesus – the LORD of all, the holy King of Israel, the Judge of all the ages! <br /><br />The world hates Jesus (vs. 7) – and we know why: because He testifies of its evil. The declaration of Jesus flies in the face of religious and spiritually minded people who believe that “we are all basically good”… and who say “I have my truth, you have yours”… “I have my own faith in GOD and won’t be dictated to how I should worship Him”… “It’s my best life now and if Jesus doesn’t fit into my plans, then He can just leave”…”Jesus is good and all, but He’s is just one way of many or millions”.</span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This is exactly why the world hates us saints as well – because we follow after our LORD’s example by walking in and declaring the truth of the Word and the Gospel (<b>LUKE 6:22; MATT 10:24-25</b>).<br /><br />The Bible is clear – the human heart, unredeemed, not born again is desperately (read that “incurably”) wicked (<b>JER 17:9</b>). It was because of this, and the fickle and perverse nature of people that Jesus never put much stock in their integrity (JOHN 2:24-25). He knows us through and through and it’s His light that exposes the dark and deadly heart of sinful nature: <br /><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>JOHN 3:18-20</b><br /> 18 "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 "For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. </span><br /><br />This hatred will culminate during the darkest days in which the devil will dominate through his man, the Beast – and they’ll be prepared for Jesus Christ, LORD of heaven and earth when He arrives, and in a vain attempt, try to destroy Him (as in <span style="color: #0b5394;">PSALM 2:2-3</span>). And those who took the mark of the Beast will likewise have an all-consuming, demonically driven hatred of the LORD Jesus. <br /><br />But in this so-called ‘Armageddon’ – this supreme war of the ages between the forces of good and evil, the actual engagement will be something of an anti-climatic let down. The LORD returns to earth from heaven, riding on a white horse; He beholds the antichrist, and the beast beholds Him… and then drops dead as a result of being exposed to the LORD’s Holy Light! <br /><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>2 THESSALONIANS 2:8 </b><br /> And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. </span><br /><br />And that which is a bane to the beast, is a blessing to us, the LORD’s beloved: <br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /><b>1 JOHN 1:7 </b><br /> But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. <br /><br /><b>PSALM 89:11-18</b><br /> 11 The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours; The world and all its fullness, You have founded them. 12 The north and the south, You have created them; Tabor and Hermon rejoice in Your name. 13 You have a mighty arm; Strong is Your hand, and high is Your right hand. 14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before Your face. 15 Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O LORD, in the light of Your countenance. 16 In Your name they rejoice all day long, And in Your righteousness they are exalted. 17 For You are the glory of their strength, And in Your favor our horn is exalted. 18 For our shield belongs to the LORD, And our king to the Holy One of Israel.</span></span></div>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-56497234011308506572023-02-17T12:46:00.001-08:002023-02-17T12:46:45.527-08:00JEWELS FROM THE GOSPEL OF JOHN: JOHN 6:70-71 – Looks Like The Devil<p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNBCq6WqQdgbI1NoPyNbSO2WoZqXSxLhbJEo_w-yohOmw8x4pDTTjktEPq_medEMN8vLsDTgXLiPJFaJNia1OtNXeLtGxgW-fAQ9PmQzi22r8_zPh2PmrLXbn721GKHt52kQesRscwRk_zTWe-rbPlmVpGN_Y7j6fc4UJJTme5oK0ejyzbMlI4X9Q-RA/s427/FMF%20Jewels%20John.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="427" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNBCq6WqQdgbI1NoPyNbSO2WoZqXSxLhbJEo_w-yohOmw8x4pDTTjktEPq_medEMN8vLsDTgXLiPJFaJNia1OtNXeLtGxgW-fAQ9PmQzi22r8_zPh2PmrLXbn721GKHt52kQesRscwRk_zTWe-rbPlmVpGN_Y7j6fc4UJJTme5oK0ejyzbMlI4X9Q-RA/w464-h326/FMF%20Jewels%20John.jpg" width="464" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The following is a series of short exhortations, brief commentary, and writings to convey thoughtful meditation on God's Word. I have chosen the Gospel of John as the subject. I pray that these will be a blessing and an edification for the saints. <br /><br /><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">JOHN 6:70-71<br /> 70 Jesus answered them, "Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?" 71 He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve</span></b>. <br /><br />It’s a mind-bogglingly, astounding truth that GOD chose me; that He chose you, a born again disciple of Christ. Foregoing all notions of GOD’s sovereignty and the free will agency of man that seems so hotly debated these days between Calvinists and Arminianists. <br /><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span>On whatever basis GOD chose us, the fact is He did. Were I GOD, I wouldn’t have chosen me – not me. I offer nothing of value to GOD, no usefulness, no virtue or faithfulness that would please Him – to say nothing of a single shred of righteousness to impress Him with! <br /><br />Nevertheless, He chose us who are saints, according to His grace.<br /> And while some resent this idea that GOD chose some but not others, none of us knows who He will choose – it could be that one who resents this idea: if they were to humble themselves and receive Christ, and become a child of GOD – they would discover that they were chosen after all because all are welcome to the Kingdom if they will receive Christ (<span style="color: #0b5394;">JOHN 1:12-13</span>). <br /><br />It's fascinating to me who the LORD Jesus didn’t choose as His followers: not a religious expert in the bunch. Not a single wealthy entrepreneur either. Not among the bravest or brightest even. <br /><br />Consider these 12 prior to their spiritual rebirth (where they finally receive the Holy Spirit post-Calvary at the Resurrection; <span style="color: #0b5394;">JOHN 20:22</span>). They were in constant need of correction, redirection, rebuke, lessons in humility. It seems the thing they loved to argue about the most was who among them would be the greatest (<span style="color: #0b5394;">MARK 9:34;LUKE 22:24</span>).<br /><br /><i>“I don’t see any of you walking on water! And you know, I get divine revelation from the Father!”<br /> “Typical for a big brother to boast so much, but I don’t know anyone who brings more people to Jesus than me!”<br /> “The LORD isn’t coming to any of you for advice, like He did me!”<br /> “I’m the one that Jesus said would remain until He returns – goes to show I’ve got the most important job coming!” </i>And so on, and so forth… <br /><br />Suffice it to say that He didn’t consider any qualifications on their part in His selection process after He had prayed to the Father all night (<span style="color: #0b5394;">LUKE 6:12-13</span>). <br /><br />He chose those who I believe were immensely disqualified in their own right, but those with whom He could work with: the weak, the foolish, the unlearned (<span style="color: #0b5394;">1 COR 1:27</span>). The only exception was Saul of Tarsus who was scholastically, impeccably learned, ecclesiastically wise, strong in his conviction and fidelity, but even in his case, he was deeply humbled and broken over the fact that he persecuted the church of GOD (<span style="color: #0b5394;">1 COR 15:9</span>). <br /><br />“All we like sheep have gone astray…” (<span style="color: #0b5394;">ISA 53:6</span>); these critters aren’t at all known for their intelligence. They seem to have an innate need for a shepherd. And in our ‘sheepness’ the LORD had compassion on us: <br /><br /><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">MATTHEW 9:36 <br /> But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd</span></b>. <br /><br />We have all of us gone our own way (<span style="color: #0b5394;">ISA 53:6</span>) rather than GOD’s way, being adversarial in our sin nature, governing our own lives in pride, even arrogance, disallowing our Creator His rightful place as LORD. We were like little devils running around and doing that which was right in our own eyes – regardless of how it looked to GOD (“If He doesn’t like it, too bad, it’s MY life!”)! <br /><br />Yet by His grace, He transformed adversarial devils into adoring disciples! He saved us because He loves us! And now that we’re saved, He has prepared a destiny for us that we wouldn’t believe if He told us (which is probably why there is so little in the Bible about our eternal Home?). Those in Christ have been predestined, according to GOD’s foreknowledge: <br /><br /><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">EPHESIANS 1:2-7<br /> 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace</span></b>… <br /><br />The Eternal GOD Who created space, time, matter, energy, the fundamental dimensionalities of reality that extends far beyond the perceivable has peered down the corridors of time and has foreseen all whose hearts would willingly bow before His majesty and surrender their lives to Him as their LORD, restoring in a sense, His right to rule over their souls just as He does already over all of creation. <br /><br />Having seen our choices, He then bases our destiny on them long before we ever existed because we are the chosen of GOD. <br /><br />An analogy I like to use to demonstrate this: <br /><br />Let’s say I was watching a football game live. The following day I’m watching it again with a friend, and I make a wager that number 14 is going to make a touch down in the first quarter. He accepts the wager (not knowing I’ve already seen the game) and he loses his money because I had the advantage of knowing what would happen ahead of time! <br /><br />I did nothing to affect number 14’s decisions to run right, then left, dodge over a member of the opposing team. He made those decisions strictly on his own; I simply knew in advance that this was what he was going to do, and having that knowledge, was able to coordinate my will and gain some money. <br /><br />GOD’s foreknowledge doesn’t predetermine a person’s will, His foreknowledge is intimately aware of future events that play out independently of His sovereignty, and yet by His sovereignty, He predetermines a future for such who receive Jesus as LORD and Savior (ROM 8:28-30; 1 PET 1:2-5). <br /><br />Now about Judas – it was prophesied that the LORD would be betrayed (<span style="color: #0b5394;">ZECH 11:12-13; MATT 26:21-25; JOHN 13:21-27</span>). Does this mean that Judas had no say in the matter? That he was fated to fulfill this role as the traitor of Christ and it was beyond his control to do so? <br /><br />Or was it that GOD simply understood the future events and managed to use this knowledge to fulfill His own purposes, just the way that I (in the above analogy) used the knowledge I had to get me a few extra bucks in my wallet. <br /><br />It was prophesied that Christ would be betrayed, that He would be crucified (and He didn’t inspire those who invented crucifixion, just to that His Son’s hands and feet would be pierced; PSALM 22:16), that He would be more marred and ruined than any man so that He couldn’t even be recognized as human (<span style="color: #0b5394;">ISA 52:14</span>). <br /><br />For details on the Cross of Christ, which is <i>the ALTAR of the ALMIGHTY</i> check out this article: <a href="https://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2020/10/altar-of-almighty-part-one-of-two.html">Part ONE</a> and <a href="https://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2020/11/altar-of-almighty-part-two-of-two.html">Part TWO</a>. <br /><br />GOD the All-knowing, All-wise One sat outside of time, inhabiting eternity (<span style="color: #0b5394;">ISA 57:15</span>) took careful notes on all that would happen, weaving His own sovereign will in the mix, and foretold of these things via His inspired prophets so that we would know for certain that this Book is the Book of books, the exclusive truth source in this world, and that which it tells us of Jesus of Nazareth is the truth: that He is GOD made flesh, the Word Incarnate, Whom the Father has made both LORD and Christ (<span style="color: #0b5394;">ACTS 2:36</span>)! <br /><br />Not only was Judas a devil (adversary) but he was also possessed of Satan (<span style="color: #0b5394;">JOHN 13:27</span>), but even here, Satan couldn’t surprise GOD if he tried. <i>There is no ‘chess match’ between him and His Creator, he is outmatched! </i><br /><br />Thus evil has no chance of an ultimate victory: GOD holds all the cards. And any who would position themselves as a devil (such as the anti-Christ and the False Prophet and any common variety unrepentant sinner) will meet the same fate as that fallen cherub (<span style="color: #0b5394;">MATT 25:41</span>)! <br /><br /><a href="https://fromthemindoffire.blogspot.com/2009/04/as-sure-as-hell.html">The Lake of Fire</a>, Gehenna, the Second Death: <br /><br /><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">REVELATION 20:10 <br /> The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. </span></b><br /><br />Next time on <b>JEWELS From the GOSPEL of JOHN: HATING THE TESTIFIER – <span style="color: #0b5394;">JOHN 7:1-7</span>!</b></span><p></p>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-30922013038360944532022-11-21T11:32:00.001-08:002022-11-21T11:32:23.091-08:00JEWELS FROM THE GOSPEL OF JOHN: JOHN 6:67-69 – The MESSIAH’s MONOPOLY!<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFpxa_dnWcRAnYXCHXeXtQUfUVEWoQ046a2c90nHjMjwhew3_tVvoM1ab4rCJRQOUJLCcTqMOgTnghip59FJmTzYDX9Xh1WuNJ6fzCmXFGeSFjBU4rexkY3XQlrhluTNmgEeC0VB3z470uFCSrJoUjEqkH6pMdwXcT_Ya5AkfMU_N09r9H8__SOT-8yQ/s427/FMF%20Jewels%20John.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="427" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFpxa_dnWcRAnYXCHXeXtQUfUVEWoQ046a2c90nHjMjwhew3_tVvoM1ab4rCJRQOUJLCcTqMOgTnghip59FJmTzYDX9Xh1WuNJ6fzCmXFGeSFjBU4rexkY3XQlrhluTNmgEeC0VB3z470uFCSrJoUjEqkH6pMdwXcT_Ya5AkfMU_N09r9H8__SOT-8yQ/w482-h370/FMF%20Jewels%20John.jpg" width="482" /></a></div>The following is a series of short exhortations, brief commentary, and writings to convey thoughtful meditation on God's Word. I have chosen the Gospel of John as the subject. I pray that these will be a blessing and an edification for the saints.<p></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>JOHN 6:67-69</b><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also want to go away?" 68 But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 "Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: helvetica;">What an incriminating indictment upon a soul who would “want to go away” from their Maker? What deformity of mind and spirit would cause anyone to desire to depart from the One Who created us, to the One Who redeemed us on the basis of His grace, totally apart from any merit we could (vainly) attempt to muster?</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I can tell you what it is that would cause a soul to desire such a horrendous thing in one word: sin. Or perhaps more accurately with two words: sin nature. Sin nature is a <a href="https://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2017/08/beware-of-leaven.html" target="_blank">spiritual leaven</a> that brings a flourishing growth of pride and false doctrine that rejects the truth of GOD in favor of fallen man's vain beliefs.<br />A perverted nature that marred the nobility of man when he was fresh breathed by GOD’s Spirit into the nefarious monstrosity that he’s been ever since the Fall.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I grieve with a deep felt agony for the lost of this world: humanity limps defiantly through life with open, bleeding sores spiritually speaking from head to toe, with nothing to bind those wounds, much less heal them (<span style="color: #0b5394;">ISA 1:4-7</span>). Yet humanity proceeds as though all is well, nothing at all is amiss. Few there are who begin to understand their depravity (JER 17:9) and utter poverty of spirit (<span style="color: #0b5394;">MATT 5:3</span>), and of these, many despair of life, never hearing the Gospel, the singular spiritual solution of salvation to the devilish dilemma of sin nature!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In the days in which the LORD Jesus walked this Earth, bringing healing, wholeness, and hope to this forlorn world, there were those who followed Him while there were such healings, and miracles, and bread plentiful enough, but when our precious LORD began to speak of the Cross, and the need of any disciple who would want to follow Him, to carry theirs (<span style="color: #0b5394;">MATT 16:24-25</span>).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And the alarming declarations of the LORD to His followers to eat His flesh and drink His blood, apart from which they would have no life also astounded and perplexed them.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Then it was that the numbers dwindled.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Then it was that He asked the twelve this sad question:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“Do you also want to go away?”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Sheep are prone to wander; it’s in their nature. It’s why they truly need a shepherd. And the LORD Jesus Christ is the very, very Good and faithful Shepherd. He leaves the 99 and goes after the 1 (<span style="color: #0b5394;">MATT 18:12-13</span>) and doesn’t return until He finds them and brings them back into the fold rejoicing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Peter strayed and “followed afar off” when His LORD was being led away and likely crucified (MATT 26:58). He ended up denying the LORD that he swore he would never deny. Scripture states that when he realized what he’d done, “he wept bitterly” (<span style="color: #0b5394;">MATT 26:75</span>). But the LORD drew him back and prayed for his restoration, and the apostle was indeed restored (<span style="color: #0b5394;">LUKE 22:31-32; JOHN 21:15-19</span>)!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I believe any true child of GOD will draw back to the LORD, the Good Shepherd by the power of the Spirit convicting and admonishing them.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This same apostle answered the LORD’s question in vs. 68-69:</span></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: helvetica;">68 But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 "Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Souls blinded by sin can’t perceive the truth of GOD, and only the Light of GOD’s truth can pierce that blindness (<span style="color: #0b5394;">2 COR 4:6</span>) that all too often pains the rebel who spurns that Light in favor of their comfortable darkness (<span style="color: #0b5394;">JOHN 3:19</span>).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But I would much rather be pained by truth, than comforted by lies!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Yet the truth that Peter proclaimed is a glorious comfort to the souls of the righteous!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“You have the words of eternal life” – to the exclusion of all others!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In a sense, <a href="https://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2010/08/got-truth-explanation-of-what-truth-is.html" target="_blank">the LORD Jesus is “Mr. Truth”</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We often think of truth in abstract terms and concepts, but the reality is, the One Who created reality is Himself the truth. Reality serves Truth. There is no other religious or philosophical leader that can make the claim that they are “truth”. They might claim to show the way to truth or to exhibit truth, but none can claim (rightfully) to be the very embodiment of truth as the LORD Jesus does:</span></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>JOHN 14:6 </b><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Yet our LORD doesn’t merely hold the monopoly on truth, He also holds all the grants on grace!</span></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>JOHN 1:17</b> <br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">There is none like our LORD Who not only is the fullest and complete expression of truth and grace but operates in both with exquisitely perfect balance.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I’m too often lopsided. I’m either leaning too far on the side of truth and lacking in grace, or vice versa! Not so with our LORD!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Elsewhere Peter rightly identifies Jesus for Who He is and declares this just as he did in <span style="color: #0b5394;">JOHN 6:69:</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>MATTHEW 16:16 </b><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He holds all authority in every sphere of reality that exists in both heaven and earth.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Up to the point when Jesus Christ shed His blood for the atonement for sin, Satan was the legal regent of this world (<span style="color: #0b5394;">2 COR 4:4; JOHN 12:31; 14:30; 16:11</span>). He rules still, but illegally since all power and authority in Heaven and on Earth are now under the jurisdiction of the Messiah of Israel (<span style="color: #0b5394;">MATT 28:18</span>), the Christ Who is the only begotten Son of GOD (<span style="color: #0b5394;">JOHN 1:18; 3:16</span>), and thus is truly GOD made flesh (<span style="color: #0b5394;">JOHN 1:1-3,14</span>).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Read <a href="https://fromthemindoffire.blogspot.com/2015/10/our-kinsman-goel-our-redeemer-jesus.html" target="_blank">The KINSMAN REDEEMER</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Thus, when one bows before JESUS as LORD and Savior, they receive all of Who He is to govern, counsel, care and provide for, guide and instruct and bless their lives. These Divine resources are found nowhere else in all creation. Nowhere in any realm of reality can one find these precious treasures, except by those who belong to the LORD Jesus and then exclusively in the Person of Christ!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Why would one ever want to leave such a Precious One as this? Only those who, due to their sin nature and pride, refuse to submit to His LORDship and will then allow their sin to destroy themselves – and sadly, such will be the case for any and all who reject the LORD Jesus Christ and the abundant life He has to offer!</span></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>EXODUS 34:6-7</b><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> 6 And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, 7 "keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children to the third and the fourth generation.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>1 PETER 1:3-5</b><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>JOHN 10:10-11 </b><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>DEUTERONOMY 30:19-20</b><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> 19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; 20 that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.</span></span></p><div><br /></div>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-25433919611652303362022-10-04T19:53:00.001-07:002022-10-04T19:53:42.380-07:00JEWELS GOSPEL JOHN - JOHN 6:65-66, “Walk With Him No More”<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXdGjeXtadudGGPxbkcdRrWYWbyNZL19-qB3ACRlBjxWpnPczC23jLCvhgQTY41m_UFe7ZIZGXoBE2gZm2f93httitj_q5ZrROuZ7wtSu2s1u6e9yFbb8PasDDsmNP67u-doVrG-nYuAPwkQB7YIvK14GacwusRb2N4_x-ZwI8FGwiOai1r0Rm1xjag/s427/FMF%20Jewels%20John.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="427" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXdGjeXtadudGGPxbkcdRrWYWbyNZL19-qB3ACRlBjxWpnPczC23jLCvhgQTY41m_UFe7ZIZGXoBE2gZm2f93httitj_q5ZrROuZ7wtSu2s1u6e9yFbb8PasDDsmNP67u-doVrG-nYuAPwkQB7YIvK14GacwusRb2N4_x-ZwI8FGwiOai1r0Rm1xjag/w462-h325/FMF%20Jewels%20John.jpg" width="462" /></a></div>The following is a series of short exhortations, brief commentary, and writings to convey thoughtful meditation on God's Word. I have chosen the Gospel of John as the subject. I pray that these will be a blessing and an edification for the saints. <br /><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>JOHN 6:65-66</b><br /> 65 And He said, "Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father." 66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more</span>. <br /><br />I don’t know if any of us hasn’t suffered the heartache of a loved one who at one time professed Christ only to sometime afterwards abandon Him. It leaves us bewildered and feeling dejected, and we at times ask ourselves, “Was there anything I could have done to prevent this?” Perhaps, but we will examine this towards the end of this edition in JEWELS FROM THE GOSPEL OF JOHN. For now, let’s consider the text at hand, and that which transpired previously! <br /><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span>The LORD spoke in rather startling terms what with “eating My flesh” and “drinking My blood” without which, these followers of His would have no life in them. He claimed to be that bread which came down from heaven, the very Bread of Life! Yet He clarified His statements by stating that He was speaking in spiritual terms, not physical (JOHN 6:63). He then revealed to His followers that some of them didn’t really believe and who would betray Him (JOHN 6:64). <br /><br />They even admitted that these words of Jesus were difficult to take (“hard sayings” and asked the question “who can understand them?” (vs. 60). <br /><br />Only those who were His true followers, and led by the Spirit of GOD, their Teacher. <br /><br />This is why it’s so important to have a living, breathing, vital and spiritually real relationship with the LORD Jesus, so that He can never declare, “I never knew you.”. We who truly know the LORD, though there may be hard sayings that we don’t understand in part or in whole, we will walk by faith and not by sight – or by intellectual understanding. <br /><br />One thing that I’ve learned in these many years in following the LORD: walk in the light of what you do understand, obeying His Word by the grace of GOD as precisely as you can, and further light will be granted and deeper understanding. <br /><br />There are those who claim to be believers in Jesus Christ – but it’s a false claim as time proves out. There was a similar instance two chapters from now: here are some selected verses to reveal this:<br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><blockquote><b>JOHN 8:31-32</b><br /> 31Then Jesus said to those Jews who BELIEVED on Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.</blockquote></span>So there seems to be some apparent “belief” on the part of these certain Jews, and the LORD is instructing them to continue in His Word so that they may become free (which insinuates that they weren’t free at all, but still in bondage (to sin – and to Rome as well, despite their denials!). They protest, but as we know, the LORD knows us better than we know ourselves!<br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><blockquote><b>JOHN 8:37-38,40</b><br /> 37 "I know that you are Abraham's descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. 38 "I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father."40 "But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this.</blockquote></span>These that “believed on His name” were seeking to kill their Messiah?? I would classify this as a vain belief indeed (<span style="color: #0b5394;">1 COR 15:2</span>)! When the LORD speaks truth to us, His blood-bought children, we endeavor to die to self; the LORD spoke truth to these men, and they sought His death! A sure mark of a true child of GOD is a self-sacrificing love for JESUS, as the LORD here points out, if in fact GOD was their Father!<br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><blockquote><b>JOHN 8:42-44</b><br /> 42 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. 43 "Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. 44 "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.</blockquote></span>And here the other shoe drops; they did indeed have a vain belief, for the flaming eyes of fire of the LORD Jesus Christ saw through their façade and determined what their true parentage was: “You are of your father the devil”. <br /><br />Cain was attributed as the first to commit murder. Actually, he was the second. Our LORD Jesus Christ Himself testifies to this fact. When he knowingly lured Adam and Eve into sin, they were effectively cut off from the only True Source of Life, and thus murdered – slain by the father of lies. <br /><br />And here is where we may lend our aid to our loved ones, making every effort to keep them from a vain belief, and from falling away from the faith: <br /><br />Cultivate in your children, especially while they are young, a love for the truth; do not merely teach them what to think, but how to think. <br /><br />Do not teach them what the Bible says only but teach them <i>why</i> we should believe the Bible. All too often young (and not so young) people are asked why they believe the Bible, and they answer, “Because it’s GOD’s Word”. When they are asked to prove it’s GOD’s Word, they perhaps will appeal to their changed life as a result of believing in it. While the claim is valid, the same claim could be made by converts to Islam, or Hinduism – or witchcraft for that matter.<div>At such times the Christian may shrug their shoulders and say, “I just take it on faith that it is the Word of GOD”. That doesn’t help the seeker or the skeptic in any measurable way. There are empirical materials that demonstrate the Bible to be GOD’s Word. For one, prophecy – the only book in the world that declares the future in details that are incontrovertible. </div><div><br /></div>There are many good resources for apologetics (evidences that show the Bible to be what it claims, the very Word of GOD) that you can provide for your children. <br /><br />In addition to cultivating in them a love for the truth, teaching them how to think, instructing them in the fundamentals of the Bible and why we believe the Bible is the Word of GOD, keep them in prayer – where we are able to lead them just so far, by our prayers the LORD will take it from there and lead them much farther than we ever could. <br /><br />Of course, none of this can be truly effective if they are not born again; so it’s vital that the Gospel is presented in a simple, straight forward, and direct method. <br /> I know many parents who have done all of this, and yet their children still abandon the faith “and walk with Him no more”. Among these, there are parents who persisted in prayer for their child’s return and continued to relate to them in a Christ-like manner, and later in life, some of these children return to the faith. <br /><br />Russ Miller of CREATION, EVOLUTION & SCIENCE ministries (<a href="http://www.creationministries.org/">www.creationministries.org</a>) has given some alarming statistics on the number of college students that leave the faith when their faith is attacked by university professors, and having no defense, they cave in. <br /><br />See the TTUF Interview with Russ Miller <a href="https://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2022/09/a-ttuf-interview-with-russ-miller-of.html" target="_blank">here</a>. <br /><br />Frank Turek of CROSSEXAMINED (<a href="http://www.crossexamined.org/">www.crossexamined.org</a>) shares that same perspective regarding the younger generations abandonment of biblical faith. These are two very good sites to begin an apologetic program for your children. <br /><br />In the church I attend, we have committed to pray (and fast) for our children, having a list of their names, so we can intercede for them individually! May I encourage you all to develop such lists and pray for the children of your fellowship as well! <br /><br />Next time, <span style="color: #0b5394;">JOHN 6:67-69</span> – The MESSIAH’s MONOPOLY!</span>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-15235205725747588972022-08-11T13:46:00.001-07:002022-08-11T13:46:55.198-07:00Things As They Are - A newsletter by Greg Reid - JULY of 2022<p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2AwVzWQD4YlvOY4Aej_kLbWcuz7351y9erh3bEfA6ZxVYsowsiZvYgqtn6or8LycOGGxboB2tSMrIpUDoHRzS3KXb4SrwwrYhhU6_wGYiUvJIXf--5IAPvr0Q8ywLfokFG5-AznG4anEIVpgMcaPFLP1B4UwzGnM2SUCE_tYQN0epNuCuL5yebn19A/s1280/Gregory%20Reid%20Spiritual%20Warfare.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2AwVzWQD4YlvOY4Aej_kLbWcuz7351y9erh3bEfA6ZxVYsowsiZvYgqtn6or8LycOGGxboB2tSMrIpUDoHRzS3KXb4SrwwrYhhU6_wGYiUvJIXf--5IAPvr0Q8ywLfokFG5-AznG4anEIVpgMcaPFLP1B4UwzGnM2SUCE_tYQN0epNuCuL5yebn19A/w519-h312/Gregory%20Reid%20Spiritual%20Warfare.jpg" width="519" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Things As They Are - A newsletter by Greg Reid</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Dear Friends and Loved Ones,</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We are surviving another brutal summer here. Heat waves are overtaking most of the planet, giving fuel to the “climate change” voices. As believers we are not surprised. The Bible says that all creation is groaning, awaiting the manifestation of the sons of God. (Ref.) Earth itself is rebelling and trying to expel man and his corruption off of the earth.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><u>Note to readers</u>: Check out this <a href="https://answersingenesis.org/environmental-science/climate-change/" target="_blank">Answers In Genesis page</a> that has lots of information on a biblical perspective on global warming/climate change.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We all continue to be stunned, saddened, and disturbed by the almost weekly mass shootings that are taking place. So many questions go unanswered. But a certain pattern seems to emerge in all the shooters: <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340047869_Father_absence_and_adolescents_as_a_challenge_to_youth_ministry" target="_blank">fatherless</a>, or dysfunctional parents; unsupervised; absence of Christian presence or upbringing; violence, drugs and alcohol, rejection, sexual abuse, etc. Many parents saying they had no idea. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>How can they not know their son has a cache of weapons, is living a totally hidden life? The last shooter allegedly was worth over $200,000 through making rap songs and videos.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We have left a generation to raise itself, and we are seeing the results: <br />A <i>Lord of the Flies</i> generation without boundaries, without love, demonized and alone. <br />And then they are caught, deemed mentally ill and disappear into the system. It breaks my heart. The church needs to equip herself to reach out to these marginalized, alienated kids before they explode in a reign of terror leaving families devastated for life.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The <a href="https://www.christianheadlines.com/columnists/guest-commentary/the-lgbtq-movement-and-christianity-its-threat-and-our-response-part-1.html" target="_blank">increasing angry Alphabet Soup movement is forcing believers to deal with it</a>, whether they want to or not. What began as a “just leave us in peace” movement became a “we want the right to marry” movement which is now the “<i>Do exactly as we demand or we will cancel you, humiliate you, get you fired, dox you and make you pay</i>” movement. <br />The bullies are now running the playground.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b></b></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">As believers, we are still required to respond to these things in a Jesus- like way, which is neither the angry attack-back response, or the unbiblical, compromised Progressive Church acceptance of the entire LGBTQ+A agenda. </span></b></span></blockquote><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God’s Word is clear. It is also clear on how we are to approach this issue and people involved. We are called to humility, knowing that we ourselves were once lost in sin, and without a Savior, everyone will be lost. We are called to preach Jesus, in a clear and uncompromised way. We need to avoid being entangled in arguments with those who want to make it about something other than the Gospel.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><u>We have to stay in a very difficult place</u> – that which understands that even Job, in Sodom and Gomorrah, had his soul “vexed” by the evil around them. How can you not be vexed as a believer when salacious, sexualized ads and music and movies are shoved in our faces daily and we are expected to shut up and take it? But the other side of that is, “The wrath of man does not work the righteousness of God.” (<span style="color: #0b5394;">James 1:20</span>) Vexed as we are, we still must not lash out in the flesh. Both Moses and Peter learned that does not end well. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Perhaps just the knowledge that <a href="https://fromthemindoffire.blogspot.com/2009/04/as-sure-as-hell.html" target="_blank">people without Jesus will be in eternal torment</a> will give us a little more compassion and desire to see them come to the Cross.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">These groups – from the Alphabet folks to the transgender to the pseudo-satanic groups, expect and even provoke Christians to lash back. <br /><b>Whatever we do, let’s take that away from them</b>. <br />May God help us to be Spirit-filled and Spirit-controlled people who are able to be a bridge from darkness into Jesus’ light for those in chains.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I was blessed to preach at CrossPoint Church in El Paso this month on “Behold the Lamb.” You can go to <a href="http://Crosspointelpaso.com">Crosspointelpaso.com</a> and find the message there. I hope it blesses you!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I took some of the message and did <a href="https://www.spreaker.com/user/gregoryreid/56-behold-the-lamb" target="_blank">a podcast with it</a>, following “<a href="https://www.spreaker.com/user/gregoryreid/55-warrior-s-creed" target="_blank">Warrior’s Creed</a>.” We are up to 56 podcasts! Please pray that God will continue to provide me with the right messages that people most need to hear. The podcast is called <a href="https://www.spreaker.com/show/extreme-times" target="_blank">Extreme Times: Truth in the Shadowlands</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Thank you all for your prayers for my health, all my recent tests have come back with a good report, <b>and it looks like <u>I am in the clear</u>. I am very grateful!</b> [THANK YOU LORD! - comment made by me, James!)<b> 😃</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">After the book (<i>Diary of a Devil Hunter</i>) and another longstanding project, I am looking at devoting some serious time to creating audio books from my books. I have the recording equipment, it’s just a matter of setting the time apart to do it. <br /><u>I have also considered renting a small office space to use exclusively for recording but haven’t made a decision on it yet</u>. It would be easier to have a dedicated space for recording, rather than just in a crammed space in my duplex. Please pray for the right decision on this, and if it’s a go, the right space.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Well, what about the book?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I really should stop setting deadlines. I won’t make this one, and it probably will be <u>a few more months before it’s ready to go</u>. <i>This book is a very volatile and crucial book, and I want to make sure I have done all I can to make it as airtight as it can be</i>.* As I keep working on it, more details are coming out, more documentation and important fine-tuning. Thank you for your prayers and your patience!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">* - (note from James) This is to prevent any possibility of lawsuit by those elements of society that are, shall we say, rather devilish in their convictions (and covens)!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God bless you all for your continued prayers and support!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In His Grace,</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Gregory Reid</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">YouthFire Ministries</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Box 370006 El Paso TX 79937</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="http://www.gregoryreid.com">www.gregoryreid.com</a> <br /><a href=" legendaryseeker@gmail.com" target="_blank"> legendaryseeker@gmail.com</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">YouthFire is an affiliate of American</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Evangelistic Association</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">For some articles by Greg Reid, check out <a href="https://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?s=Gregory+Reid" target="_blank">the following page</a> from <a href="https://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/" target="_blank">LIGHTHOUSE TRAILS RESEARCH PROJECT</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">For more good stuff, we have articles by (and interviews with) Greg found on TTUF <a href="https://www.thetruthunderfire.com/search?q=Gregory+Reid" target="_blank">here</a> (note, there are some articles that don't include materials written by Greg or have his work, statements, etc. in their content - this is a web search on TTUF).</span></p>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-45602422983432057202022-08-11T12:43:00.003-07:002022-08-11T12:43:55.812-07:00JEWELS FROM THE GOSPEL OF JOHN: JOHN 6:59-64 – SPIRITUAL MATTERS<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUgCjaEzVwMQ8WoeHWb8GvNO_fB_NJWK8LYy49xbLGjsflr9WsUFo2odFmKHPnDMB8BuEZxRMp-VA5xUYHpiKH59ml3ABrDVf47wqbcucBaswmPXSO9EZpJJlmGDN7BPXSpn_pri86ghLvTfgEicX-nbelX2d7zmNUBqxukq428OQYkTT5UYZ-VFgKg/s427/FMF%20Jewels%20John.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="427" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUgCjaEzVwMQ8WoeHWb8GvNO_fB_NJWK8LYy49xbLGjsflr9WsUFo2odFmKHPnDMB8BuEZxRMp-VA5xUYHpiKH59ml3ABrDVf47wqbcucBaswmPXSO9EZpJJlmGDN7BPXSpn_pri86ghLvTfgEicX-nbelX2d7zmNUBqxukq428OQYkTT5UYZ-VFgKg/w455-h320/FMF%20Jewels%20John.jpg" width="455" /></a></div>The following is a series of short exhortations, brief commentary, and writings to convey thoughtful meditation on God's Word. I have chosen the Gospel of John as the subject. I pray that these will be a blessing and an edification for the saints.<br /><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>JOHN 6:59-64</b><br /> 59 These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum. 60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, "This is a hard saying; who can understand it?" 61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, "Does this offend you? 62 "What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? 63 "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. 64 "But there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him</span>. <br /><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span>The things that Jesus taught them had to do with His flesh and His blood and how apart from partaking of these “[they] have no life in [them]” (vs. 53b). It was a hard saying indeed – difficult to understand.<br /> Why would such a Jew as Y’shua Who was always obedient to the Law of Moses make such a statement when cannibalism and drinking blood were forbidden?? <br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"> LEV 26:29; DEUT 28:53-57; JER 19:9; LAM 2:20; 4:10; EZEK 5:10</span> – in regards to cannibalism, this isn’t explicitly referred to as sin; but the result of sinning, they were faced with famine; something that they would have never encountered has they remained faithful to the LORD. The drinking of blood however is explicitly forbidden: <span style="color: #0b5394;">GEN 9:3-4; LEV 17:10-11, 14; ACTS 15:29</span>. <br /><br />The LORD here addresses their thoughts, knowing that as observant Jews this would offend them. He then directs their attention to His origin: He is the LORD of heaven where He would ascend to, where He came from to begin with (<span style="color: #0b5394;">vs. 62</span>), and if any would partake of that Heavenly Life as its citizens, they would have to do so through Jesus Christ and His Spirit of Life (<span style="color: #0b5394;">vs. 63</span>). <br /><br />He then comes to the heart of the matter: He was speaking of His flesh and blood metaphorically; we know this because He plainly states: “It is the Spirit Who gives life…the words I that I speak to you are spirit and they are life” (<span style="color: #0b5394;">vs. 63</span>). <br /><br />The LORD goes on to say that “the flesh profits nothing”. Eating the physical body of Christ would not avail any spiritual benefits. I believe this also includes the Eucharistic dogma of the Roman Catholic and Episcopalian churches of <a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/transubstantiation.html" target="_blank">transubstantiation</a>. That teaching tells us that the wafer of bread and the cup of wine, while outwardly unchanged, inwardly become the very flesh and the very blood of Christ and that only by consuming them, have an installment of grace necessary – but not sufficient for salvation. <br /><br />Yet Jesus states that partaking of Him brings life, and by this we must conclude He’s referring to more than mere life, for everyone has this already. He must rather be referring to eternal life. Scripture is replete on how eternal life in Christ is obtained: <br /><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>JOHN 3:14-17</b><br /> 14 "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 "<u>that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life</u>. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that <u>whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life</u>. 17 "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved</span>. <br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /><b>JOHN 10:28</b><br /> And <u>I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish</u>; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. <br /><br /><b>JOHN 17:2-3</b><br /> as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should <u>give eternal life</u> to as many as <u>You have given Him</u>. 3 And <u>this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ</u> whom You have sent. <br /><br /><b>ROMANS 5:21</b><br /> so that as sin reigned in death, even so <u>grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ</u> our Lord. <br /><br /><b>ROMANS 6:23</b><br /> For the wages of sin is death, but <u>the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord</u>. <br /><br /><b>TITUS 3:7</b><br /> that having been <u>justified by His grace </u>we should become heirs according to <u>the hope of eternal life</u></span>. <br /><br />And then there is this: <br /><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>1 JOHN 5:13 </b><br /> These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that <u>you may know that you have eternal life</u>, and that you may <u>continue to believe</u> in the name of the Son of God</span>. <br /><br />It’s reassuring that we can know (not hope, not guess, not wish for) that we have eternal life! So, what spiritual application can we use in this idea of “consuming Jesus”? <br /> Well, it’s rather simple really…<br /> <br /> Just as we consume physical food that imparts physical life, taking it into our bodies, the nutrients are assimilated into us, producing everything we need to grow, to gain strength, vitality, repairing and or replacing cells, etc. <br /><br />Likewise, just as we receive dinner, we receive Christ (<span style="color: #0b5394;">JN 1:12-13</span>): we take Him in so that He then dwells in hearts (<span style="color: #0b5394;">JN 14:20; GAL 2:20; EPH 3:17; COL 1:27; 1 JN 3:24</span>; akin to food dwelling in our bellies!). <br /> Just as the shekinah glory of GOD rested in the Holy of Holies in a visible sense of the Old Testament Temple on the Day of Yom Kippur (and the Tabernacle that preceded it), we are indwelt by the very Spirit of GOD, permanently sealed (<span style="color: #0b5394;">2 COR 1:22; EPH 1:13; 4:30</span>) as the Temple of the Holy Spirit (<span style="color: #0b5394;">1 COR 6:19</span>). <br /><br />There are many, too many (!!) who will “accept Christ” at some invitation and led in a prayer that the pastor or evangelist says will save them. But there is <a href="https://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2019/07/by-james-fire-in-this-day-andage-sound.html" target="_blank">no call for repentance</a>, no forewarning of counting the cost as <a href="https://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2022/08/are-you-disciple-of-christ.html" target="_blank">a disciple of Christ</a>, no mention that if the sinner receives Christ, then they are purchased by the blood of the LAMB and they are no longer their own (<span style="color: #0b5394;">1 COR 6:20</span>). <br /><br />Upon raising their hand, or walking the proverbial saw dust trail and accepting Christ, they believe that they are saved – and if genuine, they are – but not because of a recited prayer (as if that were some sort of magic spell that when spoken would render the desired result: avoiding hell, and promised heaven) – but because they have believed by faith from the heart!<br /> <br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b> ROMANS 10:9-10</b><br /> 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and <u>believe in your heart</u> that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with <u>the heart one believes unto righteousness</u>, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. <br /><br /><b>ROMANS 6:17-18</b><br /> 17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet <u>you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine</u> to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness</span>. <br /><br />Such a belief from the heart, and indeed, confession with the mouth also will result in a changed life so that one is no longer in bondage to sin, but liberated and free to live godly through Christ Jesus (<span style="color: #0b5394;">1 TIM 4:8; 6:3; TITUS 1:1; 2 PET 1:3</span>)! I believe “<a href="https://fromthemindoffire.blogspot.com/2015/11/the-sinners-prayer-is-it-biblical.html" target="_blank">the sinner’s prayer</a>” is biblical in it’s content, but not able in and of itself to provide salvation. <br /> <br /> If my house is on fire, I pick up my phone and contact the Fire Dept. and they come and save me (and hopefully the property). The phone didn’t save me; it was merely the means by which I reached out and contacted those who can – and did save me!<br /> So is the sinner’s prayer – merely the means for the humble and contrite souls to be heard of GOD (<span style="color: #0b5394;">PSALM 9:12; 10:17; 141:1-2</span>) and this brings our Savior to us to redeem us from GOD’s Holy Judgment and everlasting destruction!<br /> My <a href="https://fromthemindoffire.blogspot.com/2006/08/can-i-get-witness.html" target="_blank">own sinner’s prayer</a> in the privacy of my own bedroom a few decades ago was simply “Take me LORD, I’m Yours! I want You!” <br /><br />It didn’t have all of the theological T’s crossed and all the doctrinal i’s dotted, but it was absolutely genuine and resulted in observable “fruit to holiness”. <br /><br />I’ve been a partaker of Christ Jesus my precious LORD and Savor ever since! <br /><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>ROMANS 6:22 </b><br /> But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life</span>. <br /><br />Next time, we’ll look at <span style="color: #0b5394;">JOHN 6:65-66</span>, “Walked With Him No More”.</span>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-484232725278999742022-07-19T13:42:00.001-07:002022-07-19T13:42:40.902-07:00JEWELS FROM THE GOSPEL OF JOHN: JOHN 6:57-58 – Heaven Sent<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjwH0lavaZZELMgs8JKWDISSjRoXjYD3Ze8nSUSTJhag8aiclA4nYyH2pr1aAObySLVrcgAbQL7IfMU4kI1v8PkDiBGqUbqVZVdZtGAMOR6aujcelLU7j-DbZ2VR2f9zUz72xPlDTItmI1SelMh-PMSWWnsvDlfoOwLne52DAHLE2OLnyLQgj_IMUsg/s427/FMF%20Jewels%20John.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="427" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjwH0lavaZZELMgs8JKWDISSjRoXjYD3Ze8nSUSTJhag8aiclA4nYyH2pr1aAObySLVrcgAbQL7IfMU4kI1v8PkDiBGqUbqVZVdZtGAMOR6aujcelLU7j-DbZ2VR2f9zUz72xPlDTItmI1SelMh-PMSWWnsvDlfoOwLne52DAHLE2OLnyLQgj_IMUsg/w462-h325/FMF%20Jewels%20John.jpg" width="462" /></a></div>The following is a series of short exhortations, brief commentary, and writings to convey thoughtful meditation on God's Word. I have chosen the Gospel of John as the subject. I pray that these will be a blessing and an edification for the saints.</span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">JOHN 6:57-58<br /> 57 "As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. 58 "This is the bread which came down from heaven--not as your fathers ate the manna and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever</span>. <br /><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span>Because the Father has the quality of life that only GOD can have – that being eternal life –the Son, Who is just like His Father (<span style="color: #0b5394;">JN 14:9</span>), likewise has this quality of life. This isn’t in the sense that the Son derives His life from the Father, for that would make the Father the exclusive source of eternal life, when it’s inherent in all three Members of the Godhead: <br /><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;">1 JOHN 5:11 <br /> And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son</span>. (See also <span style="color: #0b5394;">JOHN 14:6</span>). <br /><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;">ROMANS 8:2 <br /> For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death</span>. <br /><br />The Father sent His Son so that whoever partakes of (“feeds on”) Him, Who by faith receive Him (<span style="color: #0b5394;">JN 1:12-13</span>) will be born of the Spirit, by the will of GOD and become a partaker of this eternal life (<span style="color: #0b5394;">ROM 6:23b</span>). <br /><br />Had not the Father sent His Son, the human race would’ve perished; there would be no saving us. We would’ve been well beyond the reach of the slightest hope. Satan would have won the war for souls! <br /><br />Yet in the coming of GOD’s Son, He carried the greatest price, the quintessential of all sacrifices, the highest beyond compare. The LORD Jesus Christ was – and is – our last and final hope for restoration and reconcilement to GOD (<span style="color: #0b5394;">2 COR 5:20-21</span>). <br /><br />We sometimes use the expression, “heaven sent” and it means, “For someone or something to arrive unexpectedly at a time when most needed”. Nothing can more aptly describe the Nativity of Christ, itself an event that proclaims <span style="color: #0b5394;">the Crusade of the Christmas Coming</span>. <br /><br />Between the Old Testament canon, ending with Malachi, and the first words penned by the Gospel writers, there was about 400 years of silence. <br /> There was no prophecy from any prophet, no inspired word given. After the symphony of Old Testament Scriptures, the orchestra fell silent in dramatic pause – until the crescendo of Christ’s arrival and declaration, as well as the very words of GOD made flesh, issuing out and revealing the plan of GOD ordained since before the foundation of the world. <br /><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;">HEBREWS 1:1-3<br /> 1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high</span>, <br /><br />As miraculous as the manna of the desert was, we find the supreme miracle of all time, in all of history. Something we refer to as <a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/hypostatic-union.html" target="_blank">the hypostatic union</a>: the absolute, perfect, one hundred percent blending of all that is GOD and all that is man! This is one of <a href="https://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2019/04/the-fundamentals-of-faith.html?m=1" target="_blank">the fundamentals of the faith</a> – core doctrines that are non-negotiable and without which, one’s claim to being a disciple of Christ is questionable at best. <br /><br />The LORD Jesus made the comparison between the manna of the desert during the wilderness wanderings led by the prophet and Law giver, Moses with that of His incarnation and stated that those who ate of that manna are dead; but those who will feed on the spiritual manna that is Christ shall live forever! That quality of life that GOD possesses shall be the very same substance that all saints enjoy and will enjoy throughout eternity! <br /><br />Recent developments in the biological sciences have mapped out the Human genome. The significance of this can’t possibly be overstated. Knowing not just the ‘genetic blocks’ used in the making of a Human being, but how and why – even where they work in conjunction with other blocks means that for the first time Science can manipulate humanity on a genetic level like never before! <br /><br />This is where <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Rfukrrh-vM">Transhumanism</a> can become the next level of Culture Shock. For example, when such things as genetically enhanced soldiers with grafted animal DNA can ‘improve’ their performance: giving them the strength of a mountain gorilla, the speed of a cheetah, the eye sight of an eagle, the stamina of a horse, etc. <br /><br />Even extending the lifespan of human beings; claims are made that we could bring our biological clock to a near standstill, and thereby giving us a lifespan of hundreds or perhaps even thousands of years. <br /><br />What isn’t taken into consideration is the fact that there is still far more that we don’t know than what we do, and that tampering with such things could result in unforeseen consequences that would undo any supposed advancements and advantages. <br /><br />How much simpler to leave our lives in the nail-scarred hands of our Creator and trust Him with our eternity, where glorified bodies infinitely superior to anything mankind could possibly engineer (<span style="color: #0b5394;">1 COR 15:43</span>), will last forever, and remain just as pristinely new ‘a billion millennia (not that there will be any measure of time as we know it) into eternity as the very first day that we inherit them! <br /><br />The quality of our life in Christ is of equal value to that eternal domain and He Who rules there, Who came down to offer that life to those who will humble themselves, repent of their sin, and receive salvation in JESUS! <br /><br />Next time, we’ll examine <span style="color: #0b5394;">JOHN 6:59-64</span> with the title, Spiritual Matters!</span></div>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-30578960001796415172022-07-07T17:03:00.001-07:002022-07-07T17:04:04.651-07:00The Good Ways and Bad Ways of Pilgrim Souls – PROVERBS 16:25-33<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH62dvpKK0zFb0m4ir-EgMFREAKQYwciPlBTcVgC5f-hjnu_q-sq_mZAiuy2Ciq8O1Kpb42kKk9_oVRRWPhEHviGkDOYt7hRR_64Q_5AHFKzwyqa2uDhSOMdexct_fm78BZtVHxeQAdKO_ruQQyOTMe7J635pJRm2Pyj5jfoofV4sQ1RATx-03IX-Uaw/s657/proverbs%20walking%20wisdom.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="657" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH62dvpKK0zFb0m4ir-EgMFREAKQYwciPlBTcVgC5f-hjnu_q-sq_mZAiuy2Ciq8O1Kpb42kKk9_oVRRWPhEHviGkDOYt7hRR_64Q_5AHFKzwyqa2uDhSOMdexct_fm78BZtVHxeQAdKO_ruQQyOTMe7J635pJRm2Pyj5jfoofV4sQ1RATx-03IX-Uaw/w502-h286/proverbs%20walking%20wisdom.png" width="502" /></a></div><b>The Good Ways and Bad Ways of Pilgrim Souls</b></u></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Watch the Facebook video of this teaching <a href="https://www.facebook.com/541567796/videos/5150273201758144/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><u><b><br /></b></u></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><u><b>INTRODUCTION</b></u>: We are all of us on a journey - the journey of life. We’ve traveled from yesterday, proceeding through today and heading for tomorrow. But this world is not our final destination. <br /> Just as we’ve all had a date of birth, we shall all face the time of death. <br /> “Life is a dash” one man concluded when he visited his father’s grave and was thinking about how short life really is. He noticed that between the dates of his father’s birth and his death, there was a little dash that represented the entirety of his life on Earth. <br /><br />Our life is like a puff of steam that appears for an instant, and then is gone <span style="color: #0b5394;">JAMES 4:14</span> tells us. I’ll be celebrating my 60th birthday in a couple months – yet I can clearly recall days in my childhood when I was just 6 years old! Where has the time gone??<br /> <br /> <span><a name='more'></a></span>Another man was doing his morning devotionals at his beach house and was meditating on the verse just quoted from JAMES. As he gazed out on the ocean front, he thought about the waves washing to the shore. He likened those waves to the generations of humanity. One generation emerges from infancy, climaxes to adulthood, then descends into aging dilapidation and finally sinks into oblivion only to be replaced by the next generation, and the next and the next. <br /> From GOD’s eternal perspective, this is the lot of all the generations of man in the ocean of life. <br /><br />WHAT WE CHOOSE IN THIS LIFE MATTERS – It determines which way we will go at the end of our pilgrimage, this brief voyage through this earthly domain. <br /> Marcus Aurelias the Emperor Poet of Rome said something similar: <br /><br />“<i>What we do in this life will echo throughout eternity</i>.” <br /><br />It’s of vital importance that we follow the right way, the way of truth, that leads us to and into eternal life, as well as the eternal kingdom that our LORD invites all souls to, by receiving Him as LORD and Savior! <br /><br />In this portion of Proverbs, from vs. 25 to 33 we read about “a way” and “the way of death” but also “the way of righteousness”. As well as “A way that is not good” and how the LORD decides and guides our way to bring us to the place where we must decide about Who Jesus Christ really is. <br /> He is the focal point of every human soul, whether they realize it or not, whether they believe it or not, whether they accept or even like it or not.<br /> The question that the LORD Jesus asked His disciples is a question that confronts us all: <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>“<i>Who do you say that I am?</i>” </b></div></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The answer to that question is of paramount importance and will determine which way our soul will go after we leave our decaying body. We know that Peter had the right answer: “You are the Christ (Messiah), the Son of the living GOD”! <br /><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>PROVERBS 16:25 </b><br /> There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death</span>. <br /><br />No one in their right mind is going to choose a way that they know is wrong, unless they’re bent on a path of self-destruction, but then, those sort aren’t in their right mind.<br /> Most of us believe that a way that we’re going is the right way. People choose a way to go because “it seems right…it feels right.” <br /> And note that it says: “A way” – any way of a number of ways. Take your pick, choose a way, any way! All of them, except for one is THE way of death [repeat verse 25]. <br /><br />This is why there are so many religions in the world – because they all “seem right” to some individuals while others see another way as being the right way.<br /> Any and all religions however have this one thing in common: <br /> That we must do something to earn salvation, or paradise, or nirvana, or a higher plane of existence, etc. and so on.<br /> It seems right that we must work for such things because this is how life is in this world: If you want something, you’re going to have to earn it! Nobody gets a free lunch! <br /><br />Biblical Christianity stands apart from all the religions of this world. Only the Holy Bible declares that salvation is by the grace of GOD and the finished work of Christ on the Cross. We receive eternal life by salvation through faith in the truth of the Gospel. This entails a living, breathing, spiritual relationship and personal knowledge of GOD, Who is now our heavenly Father and in the LORD Jesus Christ Whom He has sent (<span style="color: #0b5394;">JN 17:3</span>)!<br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b></b></span><blockquote><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>JOHN 14:6</b><br /> Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. <br /><br /><b>ROMANS 1:16-17 </b><br /> For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith</span>."</blockquote>In <span style="color: #0b5394;">ACTS 16</span> the apostle Paul was grieved by a young girl who had the demonic gift of divination, who followed behind him and his entourage “for many days” and declared “these men are servants of the most High GOD, who proclaim A way of salvation”. In the Greek, it’s an indefinite article – not “the way” but “a way”. That’s the message that this demon possessed girl claimed the apostle was bringing to the city of Philippi. This is what this world believes – anyway is the right way just so long as you’re sincere.<br /> However, anyone can be sincerely wrong. <br /><br />To determine the right way, we can’t rely on subjective, touchy, feely intuition or experiences. We need an objective source outside of ourselves. A spiritual compass of truth that ably validates itself as a dependable, trustworthy source of truth.<br /> This is the Holy Bible – when one honestly examines this book, it holds up under the most severe scrutiny.<br /> Atheists and Humanists that were determined to take this Book out have failed, while others who attempted to do so, changed their minds on this crucial matter and have come to believe its claims as well as those of the Author – Jesus Christ. <br /><br />Those who hate and reject Jesus Christ are those who love death (<span style="color: #0b5394;">PROV 8:36</span>)! And there is no one except Jesus that has conquered sin, hell, and death (<span style="color: #0b5394;">REV 1:18; ROM 5:12; 6:23; 1 PET 2:24</span>). There are no alternatives for salvation, no Plan B, <a href="https://fromthemindoffire.blogspot.com/2011/04/true-gospel-accept-no-imitations.html" target="_blank">no substitutions</a>! <br /> If there were, then the Father would have answered the LORD’s prayer when He asked in the Garden of Gethsemane, “If it’s possible, if there is any other way, let this cup pass from Me.” <span style="color: #0b5394;">(MATT 26:39,42</span>). That is the only prayer of Jesus that the Father couldn’t answer! <br /><br />The fact of the matter is human beings are born blind, spiritually speaking (<span style="color: #0b5394;">2 COR 4:4</span>), and their hearts are deceitfully wicked above all else (<span style="color: #0b5394;">JER 17:9</span>); and the spiritual things of GOD are foolishness to them (<span style="color: #0b5394;">1 COR 2:14</span>).<br /> <br /> It’s no wonder that we all, apart from Christ’s influence and guidance, are like sheep who have gone astray and don’t seek after GOD (<span style="color: #0b5394;">IS 53:6; ROM 3:11</span>). Apart from the LORD’s intervention, we are like lambs to the slaughter, hopelessly lost, on our way to destruction, and not able to find the way to life on our own. This very reason is why we are in need of the Good Shepherd!<br /><blockquote><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>PSALM 16:11 </b><br /> You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. <br /><br /><b>MATTHEW 9:36 </b><br /> But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. <br /><br /><b>JOHN 10:11,14-15 </b><br /> 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. <br /> 14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep and am known by My own. 15 "As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.</span></blockquote><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>PROVERBS 16:26 </b><br /> The person who labors, labors for himself, For his hungry mouth drives him on</span>. <br /><br />This is true in the natural sense; it’s also true in the spiritual sense. <br /> When our belly feels hollow, empty, or when we’re thirsty, we consume food or drink until we are contented and fulfilled. But it doesn’t last – eventually we get hungry, and thirsty again.<br /> “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again” the LORD Jesus said to the Samaritan woman at the well (<span style="color: #0b5394;">JN 4</span>).<br /> <br /> Our hearts are also hollow – it’s been said that there is a “GOD-shaped hole” in the very center of our beings that we try to fill with – whatever. Pleasures of various kinds, a self-made mission, a code of morality, objectives like wealth, fame, power, or marriage and family. But none of them are big enough to fill that vacancy.<br /> GOD intentionally allowed this emptiness so that we would be driven to find a way to fill this insatiable hunger and thirst (<span style="color: #0b5394;">ROM 8:20</span>). <br /> The Holy Spirit is intent on pointing people to The Right Way, the only Way that can fulfill us – to <a href="https://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2020/10/altar-of-almighty-part-one-of-two.html" target="_blank">the Cross of Christ</a> where blood and water flowed from <a href="https://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2020/11/altar-of-almighty-part-two-of-two.html" target="_blank">the LAMB of GOD</a>! <br /><br />The blood for our redemption, and the water for our life:<br /><blockquote><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>JOHN 4:14 </b><br /> but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life</span>.</blockquote>Only through Jesus Christ can we rest from the laborious attempt to fill our spiritual void and find rest in Him.<br /><blockquote><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>MATTHEW 11:28-29</b><br /> Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls</span>. (see also <span style="color: #0b5394;">HEB 4:1-3</span>).</blockquote><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>PROVERBS 16:27-30 </b><br /> 27 An ungodly man digs up evil, And it is on his lips like a burning fire. 28 A perverse man sows strife, And a whisperer separates the best of friends. 29 A violent man entices his neighbor and leads him in a way that is not good. 30 He winks his eye to devise perverse things; He purses his lips and brings about evil</span>. <br /><br />Without Christ in a person’s life, all we are left with is our own sin nature, and the works that such a nature produces.<br /><blockquote><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>GALATIANS 5:19-21</b><br /> 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Note: “sorcery” is from the word pharmakeia, which refers to witchcraft, but it’s also the word from which we get pharmaceuticals from, and in this case in particular, those of the mind-altering sort: hallucinogenic especially). <br /><br /><b>MATTHEW 15:18-20</b>a<br /> 18 "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19 "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 20 "These are the things which defile a man…."</span></blockquote>Such are the things that people “dig up” and digging requires intent, doesn’t it? It’s an intentional action to uncover that which is hidden. Ungodly souls intentionally showcase their evil in a celebration of rebellion. <br /> Just look at your typical gay pride parade or a march for pro-abortion rights. <br /> Recently in my home state of Arizona we had Satanists lobbying for the right of opening public hall meetings with an invocation to Satan! <br /><br />It's not enough that sinful souls engage in sin for themselves and reject any thought about the true and living GOD, but they also want to entice others in leading them into ways “that [are] not good” but into wickedness!<br /><blockquote><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>ROMANS 1:28-32</b><br /> 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, [This is the human heart! This is what we are made of in our own sin nature!]! disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them</span>.</blockquote>And we see lawlessness – iniquity abounding in our society. The LORD Jesus said that these things would increase more and more, and such that will cause the love from many to grow cold! Iniquity that’s abounding so much that it’s causing those who should be a godly influence on society, these professing believers who claim Jesus as LORD to be influenced by society – and grow cold in their relationship with the LORD. <br /><br />Fascinating that the words “grow cold” in the Greek refer to “cooling by evaporation”. Water evaporates and causes heat transferal and a cooling effect. The Word of GOD is referred to as “water” (<span style="color: #0b5394;">EPH 5:26; IS 55:10-11</span>), and just as water evaporates from surfaces and causes cooling, so the evaporation of the Word of GOD from people’s lives – who no longer keep the faith but depart from it – will bring about a coldness that testifies of a deadness towards Jesus Christ. This is where the professing church at large is failing to be salt and light in this fallen world! <br /><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>PROVERBS 16:31-32 </b><br /> 31The silver-haired head is a crown of glory If it is found in the way of righteousness. 32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city</span>. <br /><br />A life lived infused with the righteousness of Christ, coupled together with years of experiencing Him walking such a person through life will bring that silver hair of glory – at least – for those who have hair. Others without, will still be intimately familiar with that way of righteousness. And along with that maturity, have the temperance, the disciplined, self-controlled life that is mightier than any warrior who could vanquish an entire city! <br /><br />May we all continue in this discipleship, that is, disciplining our life to be conformed to Christ and His supreme nature in all of its admirable, worshipful attributes, so that we may be able to “rule our spirit” no matter what the circumstances! That in all ways, we may bring glory to GOD! <br /><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>PROVERBS 16:33 </b><br /> The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD</span>. <br /><br />In the life of a believer, there is no such thing as a coincidence. GOD is working, always behind the scenes to work His glory through our lives, and our blessing. Sometimes we can recognize the hand of GOD at work, and I like to refer to them as a “GODincidence”!<br /> Someone once said, “A coincidence for the Christian happens when GOD wishes to remain anonymous”.<br /> So, in recognition of all the blessings and burdens, the triumphs and trials, the good and the bad, may we surrender fully with implicitly trusting hearts to the LORD our Beloved LORD and Savior, and say with Job, who answered his wife when they experienced the greatest tragedies of their lives:<br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b></b></span><blockquote><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>JOB 2:10</b>b<br /> …Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips</span>.</blockquote>And may we continue to follow the LORD Who faithfully shows us the way of life, where genuine, spiritual pleasures are found forever more, as we learn more and more of the heart of our LORD Jesus! And in this grand journey of life that we are going through, having chosen the right way, let us understand with excited anticipation, that what we learn all the precious lessons of truth, all the intimacies that we gain in relationship with the LORD, all these blessings and treasures we’ve experienced, we have only scratched the surface! As blessed as that is, we will know more than this throughout eternity as we discover the ever deeper truths of the nature of Christ, in a never ending exploration of the Person of Jesus Christ!</span></div></div></div>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-36433262700471151482022-06-23T15:32:00.000-07:002022-06-23T15:32:31.871-07:00THNGS AS THEY ARE Newsletter by Greg Reid - JUNE of 2022<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0J5MWErbDxTYYQ9_fvd0dJ2yNEpI0N0Ea0cVUg2qKBWXHNKTSkULN0ScNEQQga9bpH-SIF8SL6imLdwT6dhBm_PBd0rNhgjH9Sjxl_PGUSFSjxWY_MSgVg6gu8ZH8JFSiEYYunGR0nhi5_4bJOX-W9I9q8n5OOabDGFfd7kgLmP1wLdLWnOgaEFZI5w/s1280/Gregory%20Reid%20Spiritual%20Warfare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0J5MWErbDxTYYQ9_fvd0dJ2yNEpI0N0Ea0cVUg2qKBWXHNKTSkULN0ScNEQQga9bpH-SIF8SL6imLdwT6dhBm_PBd0rNhgjH9Sjxl_PGUSFSjxWY_MSgVg6gu8ZH8JFSiEYYunGR0nhi5_4bJOX-W9I9q8n5OOabDGFfd7kgLmP1wLdLWnOgaEFZI5w/w550-h309/Gregory%20Reid%20Spiritual%20Warfare.jpg" width="550" /></a></div>Things As They Are Newsletter from Greg Reid of <a href="https://gregoryreid.com/" target="_blank"><i>Youthfire!</i> ministries</a></b></span><br /><br />Dear Friends and Loved Ones,<br /><br />I’m finally caught up on things and able to get this newsletter out on time. Praying that you are well and staying strong in Jesus. The challenges ahead for the Western Church are enormous, the compromises increasing every day and the saints that remain having to fortify themselves like never before. </span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I know I have said this before, but I am still so struck by Jesus’ words, “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith in the earth?” It is an open-ended question we all must answer. My heart cry has been, “find faith in me, Lord Jesus!” Believers are being tested in extraordinary ways in these times. May God give us the faith to stand no matter what.</span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span>I recently helped with a telethon at our local Christian TV station and met a gentleman who works for a ministry called Good Fight. (<a href="http://goodfight.org">goodfight.org</a>).<br />They produced a series on the dangers of satanic rock music way back in the 80’s that were extremely helpful in exposing the evils behind much of the music during that time. I learned that they have undertaken to do a new series about the Marvel/DC superhero movie and comic empire, and it is quite explosive.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I didn’t realize how deeply enmeshed so many of the writers and directors and even actors were in the Luciferian occult world. I recommend their DVD to you called <a href="https://www.goodfight.org/articles/marvel-dcs-war-on-god-the-antichrist-agenda/" target="_blank">Marvel and DC’s War on God: The Antichrist Agenda</a>. You can rent or buy it at <a href="http://marveldcexposed.com">marveldcexposed.com</a>. <br />I especially recommend it for youth pastors or those who work with youth. The Marvel/DC superheroes have practically replaced God in our era, and once you know what is behind them, it is easier to expose the truth behind it.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><u></u></span></div><blockquote><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><u>NOTE from James</u>: It occurred to me several years ago that just as the Babylonians, Greeks, Romans, the Chinese, and practically every other major ancient culture had a pantheon of the gods (and demi-gods), so too does America: in the form of these superheroes - you can practically match up these superhuman beings with a pagan culture counterpart!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;">This pantheon of the gods is a direct copy of what we read in <span style="color: #0b5394;">GENESIS 6</span>, regarding the nephilim - this bizarre human-angelic hybrid race that were not just giants, but "mighty men of renown" - read that, superheroes! - that are in opposition to YHWH as they are part of Satan's kingdom of darkness!</span></div></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The horrible mass murder in Uvalde Texas shook us all up, and it's barely comprehensible how someone could just kill innocent children like that.<br /><br />In all the political clamor on both sides, <i>both are missing essential truths</i>, and <i>looking for wrong answers</i>. The general outcry is now that these murders happen because we have a <u>mental health crisis in our country</u>. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>That’s not it at all</b>. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><u>We have a spiritual crisis, and one that has been in progress for decades now</u>. James was very clear about this: “…<span style="color: #0b5394;">when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death</span>.” (<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>JAMES 1:15</b></span>) </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Sin is a regressive disease, and once allowed in begins to grow, mutate, metastasize, and eventually kill. We have allowed the rot of sin to grow increasingly unchecked for many decades now. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">You know the story:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Remove prayer from school, legalize abortion, swing wide open the door to occultism, eastern mysticism, and drugs; then attack, one layer at a time, human God-given sexuality.<br /><br />What is left? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A generation that cannot define what a woman is, that ingests every drug imaginable, that soaks in multiple hours of occult practices through music and media, that has no moral compass, that has no faith in the idea of an intact home, that is being glutted with violent movies and even more violent rap music, that is incapable of speaking without volumes of profanity pouring out, and that <i>the church has lost the ability to speak to or reach because she has become so compromised and afraid of confrontation with this wicked world</i>.<br /><br />And what do you get? Not “mental health” challenged people, but rather lost, demonized, out of control and dangerously unpredictable people.<br /><br />In the long run, why are we so surprised at the mass shootings? I don’t mean to be callous, but when that young man in Uvalde decided to murder innocent children, he was a product of a culture and world that glorifies violence and makes it seem like a videogame, turns people into computer avatars, and a mind that has learned his whole life that abortion is not murder but eliminating an inconvenience. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Our culture exemplifies the scripture that speaks of those whose conscience is seared with a hot iron, beyond feeling (<span style="color: #0b5394;">1 TIM 4:2</span>). You can use all the psych drugs you want, put people through thousands of hours of talk therapy in our world where secular therapists have replaced God as the High Priest/Priestess of the New World Order, and give them all the creature comforts they would ever desire, and the result would not change – <i>a Christ-less soul who has no regard for other lives</i>.<br /><b><blockquote>Our only hope before Jesus’ return is to return to our first call – the Gospel of Jesus – unchanged, undiluted, and unfettered. </blockquote></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I was thinking the other day about the now-closed down <i>“PTL” Club</i>, and I thought, I’d like to repurpose that: </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> “<b><span style="font-size: medium;">Power, Truth, and Love</span></b>.” Those are the things that make the Gospel life-changing. The power of God to change lives (<span style="color: #0b5394;">ROM 1:16</span>), brought through the truth of the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus that gives eternal life through repentance and forgiveness of sins (<span style="color: #0b5394;">EPH 1:13; ROM 6:23; 2 COR 7:10</span>), and the love of God that reaches into the darkest, most demonic places and hearts to bring hope (<span style="color: #0b5394;">TITUS 3:4-6</span>). </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>Lord, restore this to us!</i><br /><br />The entire LGBTQ+ movement is slowly whittling away at the last vestiges of godly sexuality as more and more parents are yielding to candy-coated sparkly drag queen culture and allowing them to sexualize their children. <br />All of this is a dream come true to the hundreds of thousands of pedophiles and child abusers out there that are watching an <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-drag-queen-admits-grooming-children-library-amanda-prestigiacomo" target="_blank">entire generation of children being conditioned and groomed</a> like so much cattle to open their little hearts and minds to molestation and worse. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i><u>All we do we must do in love</u></i>, <i>but we must not let these forced intrusions upon our children continue</i>. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I have always known this was going to be one of the final battles against the church. Know where you stand. <i>Avoid the ugly pastors and churches who spew hatred toward people. But do not cower or compromise on these issues. More is at stake than you know</i>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />Thank you for your encouragement and prayers for our podcast, <a href="https://www.spreaker.com/show/extreme-times" target="_blank">Extreme Times: Truth In The Shadowlands</a>; we are up to 54 and I am grateful for renewed strength and encouragement to do these.<br /><br />It is almost July, and I am coming close to the July deadline for finishing <i>Devil Hunter</i>. <br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;">[<u>From James</u>: <i>Diary of a Devil-Hunter</i> is a book, a documentary exposing the truth of Satanic Ritual Abuse (S.R.A.) and the existence of a networked Satanic presence in this nation (and around the world) that is <i>most certainly not urban legend or 'Satanic Panic'</i>.]</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Now that it’s being fine-tuned, the reality of it is hitting hard. This is not a feel-good, fluffy, happy-ending book. It is brutal and raw, and although Jesus is woven into the entire manuscript, I am not unaware of how jarring this book is. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But it must be done. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The real story must be told, for the sake of truth, history, and all those who are no longer here but fought alongside us in our battle to resist the satanic/occult tsunami that hit our country. Continued prayers, please!<br /><br />I am deeply thankful for all of your continued prayers and support. God bless you and keep you safe and strong. Maranatha!<br /><br />In His Grace,<br /><br />Greg Reid<br /><br />YouthFire Ministries<br /><br />Box 370006 El Paso TX 79937<br /><br /><a href="http://www.gregoryreid.com">www.gregoryreid.com</a> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="mailto:legendaryseeker@gmail.com">legendaryseeker@gmail.com</a><br /><br />YouthFire is an affiliate of American<br /><br />Evangelistic Association</span></div></div>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-40066287884924338712022-02-23T10:48:00.000-08:002022-02-23T10:48:15.664-08:00JEWELS FROM THE GOSPEL OF JOHN: JOHN 6:49-51 - The Living And Dead<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFEJx8aVcDCV409-xrzqmbEad-zlYmDIjIdU5uwvqPKl9S-szbKyqr1UJ00U5eHC_4Z471KnmC2rEuouajuezHsMskHuyAcCRgmoFuw5ckmecNDvN1xB-AmuGOLCLBJ3rI7Ri2I8XxEWkZmzXRPOoBtYmleahU9WVJiRnFlggp6B_hI688H4vAs1lbyw=s427" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="427" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFEJx8aVcDCV409-xrzqmbEad-zlYmDIjIdU5uwvqPKl9S-szbKyqr1UJ00U5eHC_4Z471KnmC2rEuouajuezHsMskHuyAcCRgmoFuw5ckmecNDvN1xB-AmuGOLCLBJ3rI7Ri2I8XxEWkZmzXRPOoBtYmleahU9WVJiRnFlggp6B_hI688H4vAs1lbyw=w530-h373" width="530" /></a></div>The following is a series of short exhortations, brief commentary, and writings to convey thoughtful meditation on God's Word. I have chosen the Gospel of John as the subject. I pray that these will be a blessing and an edification for the saints.</span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>JOHN 6:49-51 </b><br />49 "Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness and are dead. 50 "This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. 51 "I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world</span>.<br /><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span>Everything born of this world, dies in this world. Nothing will live forever that has been made within this domain of creation that is under the curse of sin. The wages of sin is death (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">ROM 6:23a</span>).<br /><br />Yet our Creator stepped out of eternity and into our time domain, taking upon Himself the likeness (something similar to) of sinful flesh (ROM 8:3) and brought to us this precious Life that existed long before He ever spoke the words, “Let there be light”! This is by biblical definition, eternal life:<br /><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>ROMANS 6:23</b>b<br />…but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord</span>. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">What a gift! Infinitely more costly than all of the gold, silver and precious stones, and crude oil and money in all the world combined, is this eternal life! The rulers of this world don’t have it (aside from those whose LORD is Jesus Christ, and these I can well imagine are a precious few!) and for all their wealth, couldn’t buy a ‘sliver’ of it!<br /><br />Consider this remark an admonition to those who don’t know salvation in Christ yet: DON’T LEAVE EARTH WITHOUT HIM! Believe <a href="https://fromthemindoffire.blogspot.com/2011/04/true-gospel-accept-no-imitations.html" target="_blank">the Gospel</a> and surrender to <a href="https://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2020/09/lordship-salvation-what-is-true-faith.html" target="_blank">the LORDship of Jesus Christ</a>!<br /><br />The LORD Jesus defined what eternal life is in the Gospel of JOHN:<br /><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>JOHN 17:3</b><br />And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent</span>.<br /><br />That word “know” in the Greek is <i><a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1097/kjv/tr/0-1/" target="_blank">ginosko</a></i>, and it means “to allow to be aware, to perceive, understand, to know absolutely”. This isn’t knowing through book learning or study; this is in one sense a Divinely inspired a priori sort of knowledge. We could say, a revelation, or enlightenment.<br /><br />There is a difference between knowing about George Washington and knowing your spouse! You can learn about Washington through research, but you have first hand, personal knowledge of your spouse, and if you’ve known them long, you can understand them intuitively – it’s a living, breathing relationship that you have with them because both of you are alive. George Washington is dead. So, such a relationship with him is obviously not possible.<br /><br />This knowledge goes even deeper though as expressed in <span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 JOHN</span>:<br /><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>1 JOHN 5:13 </b><br />These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God</span>.<br /><br />The Greek word used here is <i><a href="https://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/nas/eido.html" target="_blank">eido</a></i> and it means, “some [knowledge] that you cannot be told by another, be aware, perceive, to behold”. We know that we know Jesus on a personal level, and He knows us (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 10:14</span>; <i>ginosko</i>) – but there’s a very different situation for those who are “workers of iniquity”: The LORD Jesus declares:<br /><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>MATTHEW 7:23 </b><br />And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity</span>.<br /><br />And here He says that He never (“no, not ever, at any time” in the Greek) did He know (<i>ginosko</i>) them. This is interesting, because if one were to be saved, but then lost their salvation, it seems to me that there would be some passage where the LORD said, “I knew you once, but no longer”. Such a declaration is conspicuous in its absence!<br /><br />There is no way we could possibly know GOD as our heavenly Father and Jesus as our LORD and Savior apart from the Holy Spirit indwelling us:<br /><br /><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ROMANS 8:7-9</span></b> (Young’s Literal Translation; note vs. 9)<br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;">7 because the mind of the flesh is enmity to God, for to the law of God it does not subject itself, 8 for neither is it able; and those who are in the flesh are not able to please God. 9 And you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you; and if anyone has not the Spirit of Christ--this one is not His</span>;<br /><br />The children of Israel ate the manna in the wilderness, but because it was a physical, not a spiritual food, it only fed their bodies, and not their spirits. Hence, they died, because nothing physical can provide life everlasting: not food, vitamins, exercise, medicines, hypobaric chambers – these things may very well extend physical life, but they give no assurance of eternal life because these things are under the curse of sin.<br /><br />Again, only One Who possesses the quality of eternal life can grant eternal life, just as those who are plagued with a corrupt (sin) nature can only produce that which is corrupt, polluted with sin. The Bread of Life Who is Christ Himself gives His eternal quality of life “for the life of the world”, whose own life is limited to a mere 60, 70, 80 years plus. The bread that was provided for the children of Israel while they traveled through the wilderness was provided by GOD to meet their physical needs. Likewise as we souls traverse through the wilderness of this life, the LORD provides that spiritual sustenance to sustain us, to satisfy us, and salvation begins for us when we eat this Bread of Life.<br /><br />This bread is His flesh, the LORD said – and here many Roman Catholics misunderstand the meaning behind this: He wasn’t declaring that this bread would be transubstantiated into the literal flesh (and the wine into the literal blood) but rather, a spiritual application must be understood (read in context what He was saying in JOHN 6:53-63; for more on this, see this <a href="https://carm.org/roman-catholicism/transubstantiation-and-the-real-presence/" target="_blank">commentary</a> that addresses this).<br /><br />Just as with the sacrifice of animals in the Old Testament, the LORD indicated that He would be sacrificed as the LAMB of GOD; offering up His body, and shed His blood for the establishment of the New Testament, <a href="https://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2015/02/where-are-you-law-or-grace-part-1.html" target="_blank">replacing the Old Testament Law</a> (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">HEB 10:1-9</span>), freely of His own holy and beautiful will (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 10:17-18</span>).<br /><br />And as has been said already in many ways, it’s in this Bread that is Christ, that we the Body of Christ find unity: the bread was once individual and separate grains of wheat; likewise the wine was once individual clusters of grapes. Both grain and grapes were crushed and in so doing became united.<br /><br />So too, we find ourselves united in the body, as we “eat” of this Bread of Life.<br /><br />In the Jewish culture, who you ate dinner with was a very big deal; it was believed that by everyone eating the same food, they were becoming the same, or one. Likewise we saints are “one” in Christ.<br /><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>1 CORINTHIANS 10:16-17</b><br />16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17 For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread</span>.<br /><br />We are ever grateful, as the saints of GOD, for the sacrifice of our LORD and Savior and King, Who humbled Himself far more lowly than any of us ever could, in that He bore Himself all the sins of all the world, and in so doing, allowed the judgment, wrath and condemnation of a Holy GOD to fall upon Himself, rather than on ourselves; all out of a heart of love and compassion!<br /><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>ROMANS 8:3 </b><br />For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh</span>,<br /><br />(for more on this incredible blessing of salvation as expounded upon by the apostle Paul in this book of ROMANS, check out this TTUF study on <a href="https://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2012/01/study-in-pauls-epistle-to-romans-on.html" target="_blank">ROMANS 8</a>!</span><div><br /></div></div>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-59092555949275092922022-02-11T10:33:00.004-08:002022-02-11T10:33:37.304-08:00JEWELS FROM THE GOSPEL OF JOHN: JOHN 6:45-48 - BELIEVE The BREAD<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhI6yBq1FqJRM-SwCTKZBC3VAqxL2YKVS0EFL_RwTYwUTOQvoAlbHYegQuN_hX5rZtGOArjwVl-LXpsyFewREd23A64a3ZO0vUPy1Qx7KUXaPJn35YEcdlXN6Xepk9MHtY6OmTpVvuhuRcGzgOdgE1B5naEfp2UmHvi-oC-bMpRIdcMVBkMIMCFNRM54w=s427" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="427" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhI6yBq1FqJRM-SwCTKZBC3VAqxL2YKVS0EFL_RwTYwUTOQvoAlbHYegQuN_hX5rZtGOArjwVl-LXpsyFewREd23A64a3ZO0vUPy1Qx7KUXaPJn35YEcdlXN6Xepk9MHtY6OmTpVvuhuRcGzgOdgE1B5naEfp2UmHvi-oC-bMpRIdcMVBkMIMCFNRM54w=w588-h362" width="588" /></a></div>The following is a series of short exhortations, brief commentary, and writings to convey thoughtful meditation on God's Word. I have chosen the Gospel of John as the subject. I pray that these will be a blessing and an edification for the saints.</span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>JOHN 6:45-48</b><br />45 "It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. 46 "Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father. 47 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. 48 "I am the bread of life</span>.<br /><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span>The Father draws souls to JESUS, the One that He sent to reveal the heart of GOD to the people. Those who come to Christ by faith (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">ACTS 20:21; GAL 3:22</span>) shall experience resurrection “at the last day” (vs. 40). Those who are taught these truths by GOD Himself – GOD the Father, will come to Christ.<br /><br />The LORD is quoting from <span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>ISAIAH 54:13</b><br />All your children shall be taught by the LORD, And great shall be the peace of your children</span>. <br /><br />And this is a prophecy regarding the kingdom of David restored; what we know commonly as the Millennium when Israel will no longer be persecuted by her enemies, downtrodden, bereft of blessings, but rather the very opposite: exalted above all nations, blessed in body, soul, and spirit, in land and government, in wealth and most of all blessed of the LORD Who Himself will teach them, as well as all of the nations (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">ISAIAH 2:3; MIC 4:2</span>)!<br /><br />The prophets of the Old Testament gave valid testimony about GOD as they were moved by the Holy Spirit (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">2 PET 1:21</span>), and yet, as we read in the book of HEBREWS, the testimony from the Son is greater than that of the prophets, even that of Moses (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">HEB 1:1-3; 3:1-6</span>).<br /><br />Yet the prophets spoke of the people being taught – not by some prophet who is a man of like passions (such as Elijah; <span style="color: #3d85c6;">JAMES 5:17</span>) – but by GOD Himself, and the testimony of GOD the Father became exquisitely clear during the days of the LORD’s earthly ministry:<br /><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>MATTHEW 17:5</b>b<br />…suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!</span><br /><br />Peter, James, and John were in the best of company with Moses and Elijah – the quintessential embodiment of “the Law and the Prophets” and yet these were not even close to being in the same category as the Son, of Whom He explicitly directed these men to pay attention to!<br /><br /> Though none of us has ever seen the Father, except for the Son, the One “Who is from GOD” (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 1:18</span>), He is revealed to us through His Son. The LORD Jesus is the authority sent to us from the Father, He is also the spokesman Who speaks on His behalf (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 5:36-37; 8:28</span>).<br /><br />Those who receive Christ also receive the Father (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 8:42; 14:7-9; 1 JOHN 2:23-24</span>).<br /><br />Many religions and religious leaders theorize about GOD and believe that they may have some insights about the Maker of all things, but for the LORD Jesus Christ, the statements He made were not theoretical; they weren’t His opinions. He spoke only truth!<br /><br />He is the Word made flesh and the Word was [always] GOD Himself and yet also with GOD (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 1:1,14</span>). When He speaks of His Father, He addresses the nature of Who GOD is, and He is likewise speaking of Himself (seeing that He possesses the same Nature in attributes, power, and abilities as well as Personhood). <br /><br />All of the Scripture speaks of Christ (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">PSALM 40:7; JOHN 5:39</span>), all of the prophets spoke of Christ, every prophecy in some way, directly or indirectly points to Christ: His ministry, His offices, His purpose, plans, and His perfection in contrast to the abject imperfections of the Old Testament judges, kings, prophets and the rest of us. From <span style="color: #3d85c6;">GENESIS 1</span> all the way to <span style="color: #3d85c6;">REVELATION 22</span>, the entire prophetic portrait paints the various shades and hues of the central figure Who is Christ.<br /><br />He is our Life and our Love and we ‘feed’ of Him (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 6:53-58</span>), partaking of His Spirit that indwells us for the purpose of transforming us into His likeness – His godly, righteous, loving heart; truthful, just, merciful, compassionate, peaceful, joyful – <i>need I go on??</i><br /><br />It’s no wonder He is called “the Bread of Life”. In those ancient days, bread was considered a primary staple, far more nutritious than the stuff we buy today in the grocery store. It had good staying power, traveled well and sustained life with all of its healthy grains. <br /><br />Incidentally this phrase is a sort of play on words: The Hebrew word for bread is “<i>lechem</i>” and the word for life is “<i>lehayim</i>”.<br /><br />The LORD Jesus said, “He who believes on me has everlasting life” Note, not “will have” but already “has everlasting life”. And if that life could be lost, then it couldn’t be everlasting. Some would say, “Yes, but one can only benefit from that everlasting life if they endure to the end! If they don’t, it can be lost!”<br /><br />The LORD also stated that every tree that doesn’t bear fruit shall be cut down and cast into the fire (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">MATT 7:19</span>). No true child of GOD will ever be cast into hellfire (Scripture nowhere states that a child of GOD loses their Parent – that is GOD our Father (i.e., “I am no longer your Father, depart from Me…” <span style="font-size: medium;">*</span>), therefore they shall bear some fruit to prevent such a fate. The fruit of the Spirit is love (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">GAL 5:22</span>), and one of the characteristics of that love is “faith” which is also translated as “faithful”. <br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">*</span> Note what Jesus says to those who call Him, “LORD, LORD…”. He doesn’t say, “Once I knew you, but no longer.” He says to these mere professors of the faith who declare Him to be LORD with their lips only: “I never knew you” (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">MATT 7:17-27; LUKE 13:24-27</span>).<br /><br />The fruit that GOD bears in us is after His kind, that is, after the nature of JESUS and just as He is faithful to us, so every true born again disciple will likewise be (not perfectly necessarily, but persistently) faithful to Him. The everlasting life that was infused in us His saints when we first received salvation through Christ will ultimately be completed in all of its phases (justification and sanctification now; justification established at the point of salvation, sanctification being an ongoing process afterwards and continues until the last phase:), the last being glorification (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">PHIL 1:6; ROM 8:30</span>), which in the mind of GOD, is already completed! In <span style="color: #3d85c6;">ROMANS 8</span>, it declares that we <u>are</u> “glorified” not “will be glorified”. <br /><br />We have dealt with the subject matter of “<a href="https://fromthemindoffire.blogspot.com/search?q=bread+of+life" target="_blank">the bread of life</a>” elsewhere in these J<i>EWELS From The GOSPEL of JOHN</i>, but to reiterate and summarize:<br /><br />To partake of this Bread of Life, we the church become one in Christ – essentially we become “one bread” (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 COR 10:17</span>) in our LORD. Just as the Head of the church possesses this life, likewise every member (we who are one with Him; 1 COR 6:17) has this same life with all of its qualities.<br /><br />While this world is in desperate need of this bread of life, their focus is elsewhere, on the things of this world. David Wilkerson said, “<i>There is nothing physical that can bring you satisfaction</i>”. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We are primarily spiritual beings (encased in bodies of flesh, burdened with a sin nature) and so the only thing that can bring fulfillment is spiritual in nature – but even here, we can go awry, for certainly those partaking of the occult are receiving ‘spiritual’ things. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">That spiritual sustenance that alone can bring fulfillment is that which is provided for us by the One Who made us; He Who knows what makes us tick, for it is He that created the ways in which He intended for us to ‘tick’. Sin has gotten in the way of this, and so the need for the spiritual rebirth, so that the GOD-ordained ‘ticking’ can be restored and we function the way our Maker intended to begin with.<br /><br />The blessing of this restoration is in the truth that we are born of incorruptible seed:<br /><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 PETER 1:18-23<br />18 knowing that you were <u>not redeemed with corruptible things</u>, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 <u>but with the precious blood of Christ</u>, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world but was manifest in these last times for you 21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that <u>your faith and hope are in God</u>. 22 Since you have purified your souls in <u>obeying the truth through the Spirit </u>in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, 23 <u>having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever</u></span>,<br /><br /><i>Do we fully appreciate what this is saying to us?</i> Adam was innocent, without sin when he was created, but he was corruptible (not corrupted as yet) and thus he had within himself a will to choose between obeying GOD and remaining innocent or disobeying GOD and becoming guilty and plagued with the corruption of sin.<br /><br />We saints however are born of <i>incorruptible seed</i> (“the word of GOD which lives and abides forever”) that will persist in conforming us (and there is reward in heaven for those who willingly submit to this conformation by GOD in the transformation of our minds; <span style="color: #3d85c6;">ROM 12:1-2</span>) until finally on that Blessed Day when we are with the LORD, and this corruption (this body of death; <span style="color: #3d85c6;">ROM 7:24-25</span>) will put on incorruption (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 COR 15:53-54</span>), wherein the sin nature will be extracted from our being and unlike Adam, will not be capable of being corrupted, or even tempted by sin (were it even allowed in heaven!)!! On that Day we shall be complete in Christ in a visible sense (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">PHIL 1:6</span>)! GLORY! <br /><br />Let us therefore hungrily and regularly subsist on the BREAD of LIFE and find the Life in Christ that He longs to fulfill us with! He has a glorious depth that we are able to explore by the Spirit but will never search out altogether the unsearchable riches in Christ (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">EPH 3:8</span>)!<br /><br />Next time, we’ll look at <span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 6:49-51</span>, entitled The LIVING and the DEAD!</span><div><br /></div></div>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-41265405217478368002022-01-15T14:01:00.000-08:002022-01-15T14:01:02.253-08:00CO-WORKERS OF CHRIST – PART TWO of TWO<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZ_LO3N0ybab8W40yp_H-javkToH2lbfhIQNFqkvAYyPI2J0L7JRWZZqsh0c7jBxNFojqXd5Igx3nndqksVk-rkLP8BG4Jn8O0MHsq1EgAo6NNLWTUFv9l_GIdW4p9m2iJno5DZ94a27DY6a_gEBtdoqKl8txXM0jmBVK0OmWwjGRaQrB163LTP5Blhw=s958" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="958" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZ_LO3N0ybab8W40yp_H-javkToH2lbfhIQNFqkvAYyPI2J0L7JRWZZqsh0c7jBxNFojqXd5Igx3nndqksVk-rkLP8BG4Jn8O0MHsq1EgAo6NNLWTUFv9l_GIdW4p9m2iJno5DZ94a27DY6a_gEBtdoqKl8txXM0jmBVK0OmWwjGRaQrB163LTP5Blhw=w734-h247" width="734" /></a></div>Have you ever worked at a job where the team you belonged to had one particular employee who just exceeded everyone’s expectations? Who, when they came into the room, brightened it with good-humored and encouraging morale? A natural born leader that others naturally followed? The sort of person that you couldn’t imagine not being there? That made your job a joy?<br /><br />I’ve actually had that experience in a few different jobs throughout the years!<br /><br />As Christians we have the astonishing privilege of joining the best team ever – the church of the LORD Jesus Christ! And as the Head of the church, He doesn’t merely lead us as a whole, but each of us individually!<br /><br />Previously we looked at MATTHEW 11:<br /><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>MATTHEW 11:29-30</b><br />29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light</span>.<br /><br />We saw that the LORD places a yoke on us that is a double-yoke and that it’s a light burden, only because the LORD bears the brunt of the load!<br /><br />And being so yoked together as a team, we are near Him, and are well able to learn of Him, of His gentleness, of His lowliness, of His heart where we can truly find rest for our souls.<br /><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span>It’s sort of a paradox – we are laboring in this yoke, but at the same time, we find rest here. In fact, we find a far superior – a supreme rest here while working with our LORD than we would in the most luxurious vacation resort with all the amenities!<br /><br />To know Jesus personally, and our Abba Father is the very definition of what eternal life is all about! See <span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 17:3</span>.<br /><br />I would never presume to tell a fellow saint what their calling is – that is the prerogative of the King to so direct them; but there are many times that I perceive a certain gifting in a fellow saint where I might suggest a particular area of ministry and encourage them to pray about it. There are those in the fellowship I attend that I have observed various giftings: the gift of evangelism, of encouragement, of helps, of governments (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 COR 12:28</span>), etc. And it’s awesome how the ultimate Orchestrator brings them all together and makes such Messianic-inspired music in the orchestra that is the church, the body of Christ.<br /><br />Like every orchestra, we are all following along on the same piece of music set before us on our stands – the Word of GOD, the Holy Scriptures! And like an orchestra we all have our assigned part to play – our ministry. And we have the instrument on which we play and have practiced with musical exercise – the gifts that the LORD has equipped us with, and as with almost any composer/conductor, our LORD is the most proficient at playing any of these instruments and can teach and train us how to play them!<br /><br />So why don’t we look at these instruments (the gifts) and the orchestral piece of music (The WORD of GOD)?<br /><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>1 CORINTHIANS 12:4-13</b><br />4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. 12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit</span>.<br /><br />The word of wisdom: “word” here is <i><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/3056.htm" target="_blank">logos</a></i>, the same word that we see in <span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 1:1-3,14</span>, which, in that case, refers to Jesus Christ Who is the Logos of GOD. This tells us that any gifting of wisdom (<i><a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4678/kjv/tr/0-1/" target="_blank">sophia</a></i> in the Greek) is from the Word and is itself a “spoken word, thought, reasoning” of the Spirit that conveys such wisdom through the human channels that are the saints. <br /><br />This gifting may be a spontaneous one, suitable to any particular situation, or it may be coupled together with the working of the Spirit in a believer’s life who is a diligent student of the Word and is able to access the wisdom contained therein in a deft and precise manner that fits the situation perfectly.<br /><br />Knowledge of the Word is vital, but it’s useless unless it’s applied. Just as a burn cream is useless at helping a burn to heal if it stays in the tube! Application is necessary for that cream, as well as for that knowledge of the Word – that is wisdom!<br /><br />To rightly apply the knowledge of the Word, to follow the instruction of Scripture is all important in any ministry, thus this gift should be highly sought for:<br /><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>PROVERBS 4:7 </b><br />Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding</span>.<br /><br />The “word of knowledge”: <i><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/1108.htm" target="_blank">gnosis</a></i> is the word used here for knowledge and it simply means “knowledge, science (to know)” and this word is used throughout the New Testament [insert concordance search results here]. This is different than <i><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/1492.htm" target="_blank">eido</a></i>, the Greek word used for “know” in <span style="color: #3d85c6;">MATTHEW 12:25</span> in which He discerned what the Pharisees were thinking; so what the LORD did in this instance is more akin to “discerning of spirits” which is <i><a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1252/kjv/tr/0-1/" target="_blank">diakrino</a></i> in the Greek: “an estimation, judicious” of spirits, whether they are the spirits of human beings or angels (fallen or holy), or even the Spirit of GOD. When used in regards to the spirits of human beings, this has nothing to do with ghosts, but with the spirit of individuals as they emote and act in their body, their words, their actions.<br /><br />Discernment of spirits in the spiritual realm is altogether different in the sense that these are noncorporeal (unseen), but likewise can manifest as they emote and act while possessing or oppressing (demonizing) a person.<br /><br />I recall a time in a warehouse that I sensed a very disturbing presence, and the closer I got to one area, the more agitated this presence became. I had the sensation similar to the uncomfortable feeling you get when someone is standing too close to you (nose to nose close), but without anyone actually seen before me.<br /><br />I could tell this was a demonic presence, and prayed, and texted a few saints to intercede and within an hour, that presence left (for the time being until I left the warehouse).<br /><br />Among these many other gifts, there is the speaking of tongues<b>*</b>, which elsewhere we see it employed as a prayer language (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 COR 14:2,14-15</span>) to GOD; my intellectual understanding is unfruitful – I don’t know what I’m saying, but I am nevertheless speaking to GOD, communicating, praying, supplicating, worshiping Him. Prayer is essential in any ministry: to be led directly by the Spirit on how to pray (whether in my understanding or not) is incredibly essential. Prayer is how we communicate to GOD and get into alignment with how the Spirit of GOD wants things done. Prayer is the communication line to our Heavenly HQ. <br /><br />No army will win the day if they aren’t receiving current orders from HQ!<br /><blockquote><b>*</b> I realize that this (along with prophesying) is a ‘hot topic’ issue that has divided the body of Christ, with scores of theologians taking sides on whether or not these particular gifts are for today; I’ve worked in ministry for decades alongside those who believe such gifts are completed and done with since the canon of Scripture is complete. We never let our fellowship and common goals in the Gospel be divided over this doctrine. I hope to address the gifts of the Spirit in a balanced, biblical view sometime in the future on TTUF. Your prayers are most appreciated.</blockquote>So is the gift of faith (vs. 9); we know that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of GOD (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">ROM 10:17</span>), but we also know that GOD imparts faith (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">ROM 12:3</span>), and at times bestows an extra measure by way of this precious gift.<br /><br />For myself, I recall a time when my mother and I were praying for my father’s salvation, and when we got up off our knees, I said, “<i>Dad is going to get saved</i>”. To which my Mom meekly replied, “I sure hope so!” And I said, “No – <i>I just know</i> Dad is going to get saved! <i>I just know it!</i>” And he was. <br /><br />We know that without faith it’s impossible to please GOD (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">HEB 11:6</span>), so He grants faith, enables faith through the Word, and bestows that extra measure of faith as a gift. If we ever hope to work effectively with the LORD, we must employ an active (not a passive) faith.<br /><br />The sort of faith that rallies around the walls of Jericho, expecting them to crumble so you and your armies will enter and vanquish the city that GOD has given you!<br /><br />The sort of faith that enables you to look your giant in the eye, this huge walking tank with sword and shield, and all you have is a sling and a few small stones – and GOD!<br /><br />The sort of faith that grants the courage to storm the very gates of hell and deliver some of Satan’s POWs from his domain!<br /><br />When I was on the mission field in Europe back in the mid-80’s there were several books that were required reading; among them were the collective works of Andrew Murray, and one sentence in all of his books I read has stayed with me, stamped into my soul, as it were, over these decades:<br /><br />“The work GOD does in you, is far more important than the work you do for GOD. In fact, it’s not until He does His work in us, that any work we do for the LORD will amount to anything.”<br /><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>EPHESIAHS 2;10</b><br />10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them</span>.<br /><br /><u>We are His workmanship</u></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The word in the Greek is <i><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/4161.htm" target="_blank">poema</a></i>, and it means a work of art, typically the skill of knitting. It is Christ Himself doing this work of art in each of us, to beautify us with salvation in all of its aspects.<br /><br />Since Jesus is Himself our salvation, then it is the beauty that is Christ Himself that He works in us; Christ-likeness is what equips us for the work He intends, and in this way, we truly become His yokefellow!<br /><br />And we need not wander aimlessly in search of some enigmatic, mysterious calling of GOD, for He has “prepared beforehand” those good works that we should engage in! All I need do is to stay in the Spirit – reading and applying the Word to my life, stay in prayer, and develop an ever increasing love relationship with the One Who loved me first, and Who Himself took the initiative in our salvation and will complete it (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">PHIL 1:6</span>).<br /><br />This is why Paul could say with such confidence, “<span style="color: #3d85c6;">I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith</span>” (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">2 TIM 4:7</span>). There was a certain number of good works that the LORD intended for the apostle to accomplish, and as those were ticked off one by one, leaving just one more left, by the power of the Spirit, Paul finished them all, and was therefore done.<br /><br />We likewise have a list of good works ordained for us; may we seek the LORD and remain close to Him, ever sensitive to Him and His voice, that we may ‘hear and obey’ our Master’s command.<br /><br />Let’s be mindful that since the LORD purchased us with His own blood, that we belong to Him just as <a href="https://utmost.org/classic/a-bond-slave-of-jesus-classic/" target="_blank">a bond-slave</a> belonged to their master. The bond-slave had no rights of their own, their own agenda, their own set of priorities – they lived to serve their Master.<br /><br />This is why I have the conviction that if I want to move to a different job, a different city or state, or pursue a relationship, I am not free to do so on my own authority; I check in, and pray, asking GOD to let me know what His will is.<br /><br />I have a burning, passionate desire to become a Christian novelist and author. I’ve been told that I have some talent, but I have boxed everything I have and put it aside once I realized that I didn’t have the LORD’s OK on those projects. I told GOD that these things will stay in the box until I hear from Him; at which time – if He says ‘yes’, I will go at these projects with gusto!<br /><br />But should He say ‘No’, then I can put them aside permanently and focus where He wants me to focus. I lay aside my own will and desires and exchange them for the LORD’s, knowing that His will and plans for me are far better than my own and will promote His kingdom far more efficiently than anything I can dream up!<br /><br /><u>He has given us His Word, the Holy Scriptures</u>:<br /><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17</b><br />16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work</span>.<br /><br />So we not only have GOD’s promise to direct us to these good works that He has ordained for us, we also have all of the necessary equipment as found in the Word of GOD – these spiritual ‘tools of the trade’ to engage in and complete these good works!<br /><br />The Scriptures provide all that we need to live a godly life, indwelt by the divine nature that is Christ Jesus (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">2 PET 1:2-4</span>).<br /><br />He has given us His Spirit that both indwells us (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 20:22; 1 COR 6:19-20</span>) and empowers us (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">ACTS 1:8</span>).<br /><br />As Co-Workers of Christ, we should consider what line of work He has for us: in the work force we see Law enforcement, teachers, soldiers & drill sergeants, doctors, EMTs, farmers, and so many others.<br /><br /><u>Where are you in the body of Christ? </u><br /><br />Are you a soldier, who will spend time on your knees fighting spiritual battles with enemies unseen with the natural eye? Are you a drill sergeant who will bring raw recruits of the church into a disciplined life of commitment and duty to the Captain of the Hosts of Heaven? <br /><br />Are you a doctor or EMT that deals with the wounded and hurting and in desperate need of some serious spiritual care? <br /><br />Are you one who quietly, faithfully, in every season sow the seed, tend the husbandry and bring in the harvest?<br /><br />Whatever the work GOD has for you, understand that everything you need to fulfill that work is found in the Spirit of Christ that dwells in you. You’ll never be in the work of the kingdom alone: He is with you, and He is working with you!<br /><br /><u>The Weapons and the Fruit of the Spirit</u>:<br /><br />This work in the kingdom can be very dangerous, as we have a very dangerous adversary that wants to take us out and ensure his slaves remain in bondage. So GOD has equipped us with spiritual armor and knowledge on how to conduct <a href="https://www.thetruthunderfire.com/p/blog-page_12.html" target="_blank">spiritual warfare</a>.<br /><br />He has also provided the fruit of the Spirit whereby we are partakers of these first fruits, and also able to minister to the needs of others who will be attracted to these spiritually delicious and essential sustenance. <br /><br /><u>Check out the article <a href="https://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2017/07/after-his-kind.html" target="_blank">AFTER HIS KIND</a></u>.<br /><br />With all of this afforded to us, with every available resource from Heaven’s stores, with the most effective training at our disposal, and the very Best of the best Teachers, we need never feel that the “good works” that GOD has ordained for us, in the ministry of GOD’s choosing for our lives, in the company of the meek and lowly LORD that we are yoked together with – that we are alone to accomplish those good works.<br /><br />He is with us every step of the way, and leading the way for us, not only to see to it that these good works are accomplished through our lives, but that His good work, in carving the likeness of Christ into our very being, will likewise be accomplished!</span><br /></div>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-79593211002348163352021-12-23T09:04:00.000-08:002021-12-23T09:04:19.118-08:00CO-WORKERS OF CHRIST – PART ONE of TWO<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2O6cYDuP8qaAhzenvbdkTwJAzhJA2YVT1Xj9n-Z_7pX11_FkGbyVuGPkg2_8Cdwb9piF3ziMwyHpvLVLoE3FWZFGaIxXTHWr7p3T4UFMQgs-vfl5jveU9sTZ2uCwDX6P-GL9nOQnIkQ_EQ71F_NGIpKJEmHc5zocAu-63xuzTF4emTngb-WTC3FysUA=s958" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="958" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2O6cYDuP8qaAhzenvbdkTwJAzhJA2YVT1Xj9n-Z_7pX11_FkGbyVuGPkg2_8Cdwb9piF3ziMwyHpvLVLoE3FWZFGaIxXTHWr7p3T4UFMQgs-vfl5jveU9sTZ2uCwDX6P-GL9nOQnIkQ_EQ71F_NGIpKJEmHc5zocAu-63xuzTF4emTngb-WTC3FysUA=w736-h248" width="736" /></a></div>GENESIS 1:1 </b><br />In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth</span>.<br /><br />We marvel at the ingenuity, wondrous artistry, and astonishing architecture of this universe, both in its macrocosmic and microscopic elements. The farther and deeper one examines creation, the more astounded one becomes.<br /><br />Barely over 100 years ago, it was the belief that the human cell was just an extremely small globule of some sort of protoplasm. With the advent of the electron microscope, we discovered that <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp8Td9pnyoY" target="_blank">a single cell has far more complexity</a> than the most sophisticated computer chip.<br /><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>PSALM 139:14 </b><br />I will praise You; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are Your works; and that my soul knows very well</span>.<br /><br />Our Milky Way galaxy is over 100,000 light years across (that’s not even considering the entire mass!). It’s dwarfed in size compared to others, the largest galaxy thus far on record is nearly 10 times our size! There are approximately 100 billion (observable) ‘stellar-islands’ dancing about in the heavens, to the tune of GOD’s own orchestrated omnipotent music! There are <a href="https://www.solarsystemquick.com/universe/betelgeuse-star" target="_blank">stars so huge</a>, that you could fit our solar system from the Sun all the way to Jupiter (365 million miles away from the Sun) inside any one of them!<br /><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>PSALM 19:1</b><br />The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork</span>.<br /><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span>Seeing how GOD is perfect in all of His works, we can sometimes wonder why He even bothers to invite us to join in and participate in any work. Surely He can do it all by Himself far more efficiently and with much better results. And yet, we hear the words of the LORD Jesus Christ:<br /><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>MATTHEW 11:28 </b><br />28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 <u>Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me</u>, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light</span>.<br /><br />So why involve us at all? Because for one, working the sort of work that GOD ordains is far better than any enterprise we might seek apart from Him. We were after all, created for GOD’s good pleasure (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 4:11</span>), and it’s His good pleasure to give us the kingdom (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">LUKE 12:31-32</span>) and in working there, we seek and find GOD’s perfect will.<br /><br />Another reason to involve us, His kids: so that as we work side by side with the LORD, we get to see Him ‘up close’ and learn of Him as well as learn from Him: He is gentle, lowly in heart (this is GOD the Son speaking! – lowly? Yes! Almighty GOD made flesh, lowly in heart, so meek, so humble, so approachable – don’t you just LOVE Him!??). Twice in MATTHEW’s passage we read the word “rest” – this is the only work found anywhere that is actually restful, peaceful, free of stress and weariness, because this sort of work is food for the saint, just as it is for the Savior (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 4:34</span>).<br /><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>ISAIAH 57:15 </b><br />For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, <u>With him who has a contrite and humble spirit</u>, To revive the spirit of <u>the humble</u>, And to revive the heart of <u>the contrite ones</u></span>.<br /><br />And that is the sort of company He craves – not the proud and powerful, not the mighty and magnificent, not the worldly wise and wealthy – but the contrite (those who are broken over their own sinfulness and spiritual poverty (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">MATT 5:3</span>)) and humble ones.<br /><br />And such souls He invites to participate in the work of GOD, in seeing the Kingdom built one more soul at a time; this isn’t a mandate to “bring heaven to Earth” as is so popularly promoted these days by unbiblical, even heretical ‘Christian’ movements (this is something the disciples were never commanded to do, nor was this something that the LORD Jesus received of the Father – the first time; this is <u>strictly reserved for the second time the LORD arrives on Earth, and in so coming, establish His kingdom: essentially, heaven on Earth</u> (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">ACTS 1:6-7; 2 THESS 1:7-8</span>).<br /><br />Rather than bringing heaven to Earth, we are to bring sinners to the Cross of Christ and should they by faith receive the Gospel and are born into the Kingdom, well then, the population of the Kingdom of GOD has increased by one! <br /><br />Another immortal soul forever and ever secured in the eternal domain of heaven, having escaped the Holy Judgment of GOD upon their sin through <a href="https://fromthemindoffire.blogspot.com/2015/10/our-kinsman-goel-our-redeemer-jesus.html" target="_blank">the Kinsman Redeemer</a>, and the place of eternal torment! Such will never even scent the smoke of the Second Death which is the lake of fire (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 20:14</span>)!<br /><br />These new disciples, these spiritual babes in Christ are going to need a lot of prayer, and feeding, and discipleship with godly examples to follow and thereby be encouraged in the walk of the Spirit. All of this is kingdom work and it’s what the LORD has called us to!<br /><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>MATTHEW 9:35-38 </b><br />35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when He saw the multitudes, <u>He was moved with compassion for them</u>, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 "<u>Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest</u></span>.<br /><br />There is no greater nor more important work than that in the kingdom of GOD! And it’s the sort of work that has eternal consequences! The stakes are high: immortal souls that hang in the balance between a destiny in heaven or hell!<br /><br />One might well feel intimidated by such a high and demanding calling such as this – but remember, the LORD calls us to place <i>His yoke</i> upon us (yokes are those wooden collar type things that would be placed over the neck and rest on the shoulders of some beast of burden, like an ox or a mule. This would transfer the power of the animal to the plow that they dragged behind them, creating furrows in the soil where seed would be planted). <br /><br />Yokes came in single or double collars, and the one that the LORD would have us place upon our shoulders is the double yoke – and who do you suppose the other collar is for? Right, the LORD Himself. Remember also that the LORD said that His “burden is light”, which means that while it’s lighter for us, <i>it’s heavier for Him</i>: He takes the brunt of the load and allows only so much upon us. As we get stronger and more confident in His Spirit, He allows more of the weight to fall on our shoulders. <br />It’s the same idea as a weightlifter, who grows accustomed to a certain amount of weight. In order to grow in strength, he adds on more weight.<br /><br />So, in order to grow, the LORD increases the burden, but all the while, it’s still lighter than the bulk which our LORD carries!<br /><br />The disciples certainly grew in faith, conviction, strength, and power after the LORD rose from the dead and breathed upon them the Holy Spirit (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 20:22</span>) and later empowered them with the baptism of the Holy Spirit as His witnesses (martos in the Greek, from which we get the word martyr) to all the world beginning in Jerusalem (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">ACTS 1:8</span>).<br /><br />The Sanhedrin called them into question for their conduct (“turning the world upside down” as they continued to do in the book of ACTS; <span style="color: #3d85c6;">ACTS 17:6</span>) but while they acknowledged that they changed in a remarkable way, they came to a wrong conclusion when they observed that “they <i><u>had</u> been with Jesus</i>” (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">ACTS 4:13</span>).<br /><br />The LORD Jesus said, “I will <u>never</u> leave you nor forsake you” (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">HEB 13:5</span>) and “Lo, I am with you <u>always</u>, even to the end of the ages” (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">MATT 28:20</span>). The LORD told His disciples that He was going away, but that He would send “another Comforter” (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 14:16</span>) to fill in for Him as He will return to where He came from (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">HOS 5:15</span>), seated at the right hand of the Father (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 16:16-17,28</span>).<br /><br />Yet the LORD made good on His promise that He would not leave any of them, but be with them always:<br /><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>MARK 16:19 </b><br />19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was <u>received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God</u>. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, <u>the Lord working with them</u> and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen</span>.<br /><br />And so it is today – the LORD is in our midst, His church, His body, and we are the co-workers of Christ, working with Him, learning of Him, finding rest, and building in the kingdom of GOD! What a glorious life – there are none like it!<br /><br />Who is sufficient for these things? How can we accomplish the purposes of GOD who are little more than lumps of living clay?<br /><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>2 CORINTHIANS 2:16 </b><br />To the one we are the savor of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?</span><br /><br />Our sufficiency is found in GOD Himself: He is the One Who calls us to the work, equips and empowers us for the work; guides and directs us in the work. There is nothing supplemental necessary to accomplish the work of GOD as His laborers, His co-workers!<br /><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>2 CORINTHIANS 3:5-6</b><br />5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life</span>.<br /><br />A good accompaniment in this line of thought is the following article: <a href="https://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2017/01/able-ministers-of-new-testament.html" target="_blank">ABLE MINISTERS Of The NEW TESTAMENT</a>.<br /><br />Here we shall end Part 1, and when we get into Part 2, we’ll look into all that the LORD has granted to us, these heavenly tools of the trade, and godly giftings by which we skillfully serve the Savior!<br /><br /><i>Until then, Keep Your Eyes To the Skies and Don’t Believe the Lies! The LORD Jesus Christ Returns Soon In The Skies!</i></span>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-84941112222196798822021-12-15T09:54:00.001-08:002021-12-15T09:54:31.086-08:00JEWELS FROM THE GOSPEL OF JOHN: JOHN 6:41-44 - Murmurers and Unbelievers <p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1DoPu3euJArifRH7AA-185UlOrj7M-Mg_ey6nf8T0PdNeRxjnAicNFWJcQpAjycO5aBJ55ucg98lBhZqghNFhjYrs5Kj_6CaTZNKg0UVQysn8zzpTDXjK62MwnQ4bsDU1dDph3ceCEIzLg4Ov4mYdIDQBG2HcX2o57tg6iSwh3-hNNsg-U838HppWSw=s427" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="427" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1DoPu3euJArifRH7AA-185UlOrj7M-Mg_ey6nf8T0PdNeRxjnAicNFWJcQpAjycO5aBJ55ucg98lBhZqghNFhjYrs5Kj_6CaTZNKg0UVQysn8zzpTDXjK62MwnQ4bsDU1dDph3ceCEIzLg4Ov4mYdIDQBG2HcX2o57tg6iSwh3-hNNsg-U838HppWSw=s320" width="320" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>The following is a series of short exhortations, brief commentary, and writings to convey thoughtful meditation on God's Word. I have chosen the Gospel of John as the subject. I pray that these will be a blessing and an edification for the saints.</b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>JOHN 6:41-44</b><br /> 41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. 42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven? 43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. 44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day</span>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It is a coincidence that the WORD of GOD records the behavior of the children of Israel, as they wandered through the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land, that they murmured because of the constant diet of manna - that heavenly bread that GOD fed them with - and here the LORD Jesus declares Himself to be the bread which came down from heaven.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Just as the Hebrews were tired of "the same ol' manna" and rejected it from their hearts and lusted for some meat and even the leeks and onions and flesh pots of Egypt, these Jews were rejecting Christ and His claims:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The Jews that heard this bold declaration "murmured" and in the Greek it means the same as its Hebrew equivalent found in <span style="color: #3d85c6;">EXOD 16:7-8</span>, "to grumble, to complain".</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They were after some bread to fill their bellies with (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 6:26</span>), much as their ancestors were in that hot Sinai wilderness; yet the LORD is offering them something far better - that bread from heaven!<br />The Jews wrongly associated what the LORD was talking about with the bread (coriander seed in white fluffy flakes) that fell upon the Hebrews which they could form into a bread-like meal and bake (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 6:32</span>). They just didn't believe the LORD's claim that He came down from heaven as the Father's provision of spiritual nourishment:</span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: helvetica;"><b>JOHN 6:35-36</b><br />35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not</span>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When we grumble, complain and reject the LORD's will for our lives, this is at once born of unbelief and perpetuates to further unbelief. This is the danger for those who are seeking truth, and finding truth in JESUS, but ultimately don't express genuine faith in Him - they see but "believe not".<br />It's very much the same as what the writer of HEBREWS stated to his readers (a mixed multitude of truly believing Jews and mere professors of truth, but not possessors of the Truth):</span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>HEBREWS 6:9-13</b><br />9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, <u>They do alway err in their heart</u>; and <u>they have not known my ways</u>. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be <u>in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God</u>. </span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin</span>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Willful unbelief and deceitful sin will bring about hardness of heart.<br />Because you see, there is believing and then there is believing. One can give intellectual assent to the truth, but it's not from the heart of faith "mixed with faith" and as a result, they cannot enter into "rest" that is, salvation in the finished work of Christ so that they don't have to work (for the impossible) themselves (</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">HEB 4:1-7</span>).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In just a few verses the LORD is going to tell them directly that unless they eat His flesh and drink His blood, that they have no life in them (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 6:53</span>). Not only were they offended at the notion of the LORD Jesus "coming down from heaven" but also this idea of committing cannibalism! Yet the LORD clarified this for them by saying,</span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>JOHN 6:61-63</b><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">61 Doth this offend you? </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? </span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life</span>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">On the one hand He was saying, You don't believe I came down from heaven - well the day is coming I will ascend up and return there! What are you going to say then??<br />On the other hand, He was explaining that this consumption of "flesh" and "blood" is on a spiritual level; that we receive Christ for salvation; that we account His offered body on the Cross as the exclusively acceptable propitiation (sacrifice) for our sins, and that by His holy blood, there is remission of sins (See </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">HEB 9:21-26; 10:5</span>).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">At the church we have just begun a study in NUMBERS (Intro, Ch's. 1 & 2; watch the Facebook video <a href="https://www.facebook.com/101569624809844/videos/599455038010665" target="_blank">here</a>) as we travel the length of breadth of the Old Testament, and the primary theme of this book is "Unbelief will bar a person from the blessing of GOD and His promises".</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">May this be a warning to us all, that we make certain of our genuine faith in Christ and not mere professors of the faith; examination of our hearts is necessary under the guidance of the Holy Spirit to determine this (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">2 COR 13:5</span>) and that if we in fact have genuine faith in Christ, if there is evidence of fruit in our lives, that our hearts truly love the LORD and obey Him, then we may be assured that we have eternal life (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">1 JOHN 5:13</span>).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The LORD is gracious and plentiful in His provisions, of His grace and truth, love and peace, all of the "Bread of Life" that He is! Let's partake of this abundance daily! AMEN?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">.</span></p>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-37529493188540777852021-11-17T12:51:00.001-08:002021-11-17T12:53:36.859-08:00JEWELS FROM THE GOSPEL OF JOHN: JOHN 6:40 - SEEING And BELIEVING<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SSkCyJOzbWw/YZVYyluHR7I/AAAAAAAACP4/KgwAnsC0pvklFouDo7fNXedtVxfgMfjDwCNcBGAsYHQ/s427/FMF%2BJewels%2BJohn.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="427" height="337" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SSkCyJOzbWw/YZVYyluHR7I/AAAAAAAACP4/KgwAnsC0pvklFouDo7fNXedtVxfgMfjDwCNcBGAsYHQ/w479-h337/FMF%2BJewels%2BJohn.jpg" width="479" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The following is a series of short exhortations, brief commentary, and writings to convey thoughtful meditation on God's Word. I have chosen the Gospel of John as the subject. I pray that these will be a blessing and an edification for the saints.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>JOHN 6:40</b><br />40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day</span>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In <span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 6:36</span>, the title for that devotion was <a href="https://fromthemindoffire.blogspot.com/2021/09/jewels-from-gospel-of-john-john-636.html" target="_blank">SEEING Is Not BELIEVING</a>. Believing what we see with our natural eyes does not equate with true belief based on faith ("For we walk by faith, and not by sight" <span style="color: #3d85c6;">2 COR 5:7</span>)</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Now we have this entry that's entitled SEEING <i>And</i> BELIEVING. There is the spiritual insight, brought about by GOD's revealing Spirit - a revelation from GOD, that allows us to see spiritual truth, and having seen it, we by faith, trust GOD for His Word of Truth.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It's GOD's will that we should see His Son and that we should believe "on Him" - and note that: it doesn't say believe "in" but "on" and in the Greek this has special implications. It's one thing to believe that a train will arrive on time - but it's another to depend on that train being on time. That's what the Greek word implies: a dependence upon, reliance in, to trust implicitly. This is the essence of faith.</span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: helvetica;"><b></b></span></p><blockquote><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: helvetica;"><b>JOHN 1:14</b><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth</span>.</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It was GOD's will that we should behold the glory of His Son, for His Son is the express image of the Father (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">HEB 1:3</span>), and any who have seen the Son, has seen the Father, for "like Father, like Son" (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 14:9</span>).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This world, and even the religious world contained within it has such a warped view of GOD - even the Judaism that was around during the days of our LORD's earthly ministry was warped! So much so, that the Father decided to send His Representative, to rightly reveal the heart of GOD, His fatherly nature, His good will toward men (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">LUKE 2:14</span>), His desire to redeem rather than to destroy.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So He sent His Son and named Him <i>Y'shua</i> - a contraction of <i>Yehovah'shua</i> which means "Our GOD IS salvation" - He doesn't merely bring salvation or grant it - He Himself <i>is</i> salvation: He is the LAMB of GOD!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>JOHN 1:29</b><br />The next day John <u>seeth</u> Jesus coming unto him, and saith, <u>Behold</u> the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world</span>.</span></blockquote><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Just as the Baptist could see Jesus coming, there was a revelation from GOD which gave him understanding, that this same man that he could call cousin, would be The LAMB of GOD! The Baptist then called upon all that were there to "behold" and by GOD's grace, see and believe! <br />Likewise, the LORD must grant human beings, spiritually blind (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">2 COR 4:4</span>), spiritual sight to perceive Jesus for Who He is! As the LORD did also for Peter when He asked His disciples for His Identity:</span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b></b></span></span></p><blockquote><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>MATTHEW 16:15-18</b><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not <u>revealed it unto thee</u>, but my Father which is in heaven.</span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it</span>.</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Everyone who sees the Son and believes </span><u style="font-family: helvetica;">on</u><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> Him will have </span><i style="font-family: helvetica;">everlasting</i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> life - a life unending, a salvation secured and sealed by the Holy Spirit (</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: helvetica;">2 COR 1:22; EPH 1:13</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">). </span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: helvetica;"><b></b></span></p><blockquote><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: helvetica;"><b>EPHESIANS 4:30</b><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption</span>.</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This seal is an earnest - a down payment made by GOD with the promise of returning to make good on the entire act of redemption (that of our bodies; <span style="color: #3d85c6;">ROM 8:23</span>). How long does this promise last? All the way up to the time when our corrupt bodies put on incorruption, that is the day of the rapture/resurrection of the church! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">All this begins when we begin to see with the eyes of faith - we aren't governed by our senses in this Kingdom of GOD; but by the Word of Truth and the Holy Spirit. So often, GOD directs us contrary to our 'good' sense and lean on Him instead (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">PROV 3:5-6</span>).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This everlasting life will allow us to bask in the love and sweet fellowship with our Maker and Redeemer forever and ever! Who would want such an experience to ever end?!? What a let down that would be! - and that is the understatement of history!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But the joyous truth is that we will have fellowship with our Beloved forever and ever. It's what the whole message of the Gospel and the Bible as a whole is all about! From the first few pages of GENESIS where we read about the Tragedy of the Ages, when our Parents fell into sin, and the work of GOD that initiated this wonderous revelation of this "seed of the woman" Who would not only come to save the souls of man, but bring back all of creation into harmony with its Creator, but also to render His condemnation of the one that initiated the corruption that has spread across heaven and earth - Lucifer, the fallen.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Our blessedness is experienced now to the degree that we are able to know GOD as our Abba Father, Jesus as our LORD, Savior and Friend - more like BFF!! - and the Holy Spirit as our Comforter. Yet we still see it all (by faith) through a dim mirror, but that's only for now!<br />There is coming a day when - GLORY TO GOD!! - we shall see our LORD face to FACE!<br /><br />And not only that . . . we shall know Him even as He knows us!!</span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b></b></span></span></p><blockquote><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>1 CORINTHIANS 13:12</b></span><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known</span>.</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"...and I will raise him up at the last day</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">".</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And on that day, we will never again experience a night; no more any darkness will our eyes see! The glory from the face of our LORD Jesus will shine with all of its penetrating love and joy, finally being reunited with His bride (in His immediate presence). </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Having been risen from the dead - or simply risen from this fallen world (as is the case with those yet living at the time of the LORD's appearing), we will never again walk this Earth under the dominion of the devil. Never again will we experience evil, or oppression, or victimization, or any other wicked thing! Once we return to this world at the LORD's Second Advent, this world, weary with the burden of sin and the curse that plagues it, there will be joy forever more - "and sorrow and sighing shall flee away"! </span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: helvetica;"><b></b></span></p><blockquote><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: helvetica;"><b>ISAIAH 35:10</b><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away</span>.</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span><p></p>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-47780507707915119362021-10-13T13:00:00.001-07:002023-12-11T15:11:38.095-08:00Second Star to the Right - - and Straight on til Morning<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tf9AmavNxYI/YWcY_gqNnjI/AAAAAAAACL8/-IINyBP3ju4QreIR7eTCmpoonW2BrAumACNcBGAsYHQ/s1920/Second_Star_to_the_Right.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="349" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tf9AmavNxYI/YWcY_gqNnjI/AAAAAAAACL8/-IINyBP3ju4QreIR7eTCmpoonW2BrAumACNcBGAsYHQ/w615-h349/Second_Star_to_the_Right.jpg" width="615" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">That famous line from PETER PAN, "...the second star to the right, and straight on til morning" that which led the way to Neverland - the place where children need never grow up; because when one grows up, they eventually get old; then they die. This expression rings with angst in our souls.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The conundrum of humanity is summed up by Gertrude from the Shakespearean play <i>Hamlet</i> when she addresses her young prince regarding his late father, recently (mysteriously) dead:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"<i>Do not forever with thy vailèd lids seek for thy noble father in the dust. Thou know’st ’tis common. All that lives must die, Passing through nature to eternity</i>.</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">" </span></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Death is the insult to our existence, the infringement and lastly the denial of what we would have - life unending (though there are those who find this idea abhorrent, having nothing to compare an eternal life with, other than the present one, fraught with sorrows and strife). Neverland was the symbol of exuberance, the escape from death, the perpetuation of youth, of life and vigor - and quite simply, <i>fun! </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Those who know <i>Star Trek</i>, recognize that especially in TOS, they would often have titles for their episodes which referred to the classics, and John Barry's <i>Peter Pan</i> was often quoted. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In fact in <i>Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country</i>, that was the closing line of Captain Kirk himself "...<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrizm2gnQBo" target="_blank">second star to the right, and straight on til morning</a>". Then in the next (and last) appearance of Kirk in <i>Star Trek VII: Generations</i>, with his dying breath, the famed Captain of the <i>USS Enterprise 1701-A</i> recollected the sum of his life and simply said to the present Captain of the <i>USS Enterprise-D</i>, Jean-Luc Picard, "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8_oqgPwHfI" target="_blank">It was fun!</a>" Which was the ultimate goal of Peter Pan and Company.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We see some of those about us with wrinkled faces, aged and bent bodies, yet there is still a twinkle in their eye, that relentless exuberance for fun that burns brightly, having never dimmed from their youth. And yet for all that, in the end, all grows dim and like a candle it gets snuffed out. That soul flees from its mortal coil and flies to - who knows where?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We seldom give consideration to life and its meaning. As children we grow towards maturity, and in these travels the wonder and magic of life dims; it most often becomes tarnished, if not ruined. Life becomes routine as we get settled in, finding and embracing our significant other that offers a thrill that doesn't always last, we raise children which offers thrills of their own, but they grow up themselves and move on (and often away); we work towards retirement, enjoying these bright spots amidst the grayish and mundane hues of life, peppered with the dark blights of struggle, hardships, and broken-heartedness.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And in the end, we pass from this life, and tragically, hardly ever give any consideration to 'what it's all about' - until it's too late, and we're gone.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>Are you feeling at all uncomfortable yet, reading this?</i> I think we're meant to. But more than uncomfortable - bothered, <i>haunted</i> - with that ever present specter looming in the background, and every so often whispering to us, reminding us that death is just a breath away, always.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">William Shatner, now at 90 years of age, confided in a few recent interviews that he has a nervous anticipation, and fear of death. <br />As of this morning, October 13th, 2021, he went on record as<a href="https://www.cnet.com/how-to/william-shatner-rockets-to-space-and-back-with-blue-origin/" target="_blank"> the oldest person ever to ascend into space</a>, and he found it "the most incredible experience of my life. To see this vibrant, soft blue planet beneath us, and above the utter blackness of space. The contrast of life below and death above..."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">All of this begs the question: What<i> is</i> life all about? What happens to us upon death?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Are we merely sacks of meat, full of bio-chemical substances that react to stimuli, and appropriate by evolutionary processes the mere illusions of thought, of self, of significance?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Or are we actually living souls, encased in bodies, that will forever exceed the existence of our 'flesh-cages'?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As as a biblical Christian, I whole-heartedly believe the latter - and because of this belief, based on the Holy Scriptures, I know what life is all about (that sounds a bit arrogant, but it's true).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The question hounded me through my teenage years. I realized that if I met life and apprehended it with gusto, I could achieve the greatest of success; or resign myself to passivity and live a modest or even meager existence. In the end, if we are merely 'sacks of meat' that become worm food, it doesn't matter either way; <i>it means absolutely nothing at all</i>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Intuition screamed its conviction to the depths of my soul that this was not so. Even Yoda of <i>Star Wars</i> fame admonished young Jedi Luke Skywalker, "<i>Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter</i>". We are more, <i>far more</i> than flesh and blood. So what is life all about? Why are we here? What purpose does this world and our lives in it serve?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Life is about the ultimate choice that patiently waits for our approach, that fateful fork in life's road; some of us recognize that the One standing there is Mr. Truth. Truth is far more than a mere concept or philosophical abstract. Truth is a Living, Breathing Person Who embodies the very Deity that created all that we see - and don't see.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And while He created all things perfectly, it wasn't too long before the agent of evil crept in and spoiled it all, and corrupted that which was perfect.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And GOD allowed it - and many have asked, <i>Why?</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">There are many answers to this question, but I think the primary one is to provide us, we who are Pilgrim Souls that traverse time and space in this finite world, that has as definitive a terminus as we ourselves, with a choice between life and death, between choosing to ally ourselves to either Mr. Truth or His opponent, Mr. Chaos.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">You see, when GOD created all things, He created them in order, for He Who is the Creator, loves and establishes order - and this in accord with His very nature. The pollution of this order, resulting in chaos (that is growing exponentially in these last days) occurred when our First Parents decided to reject Mr. Truth's order, and side with Mr. Chaos and that plunged us into the miserable state that the human race has been burdened with ever since.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Again, from the play Hamlet: in this life we are destined "...<i>to grunt and sweat under a weary life</i>...</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>Why allow such misery?</i> I believe so that we may taste the bitterness, the baneful flavor of sin and all of its reckless powers to ruin and devastate. People will often curse GOD for their misfortunes, but are they laying blame to the right 'God'? <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It's not the Creator GOD that plunged us into this abject and forlorn existence - but rather at the coaxing and murmuring and false promises of Mr. Chaos ("<span style="color: #3d85c6;">the god of this world</span>"<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> 2 COR 4:4</span>) - the serpent, the Devil that led us away from the perfect order of our Creator. It was our own sin from the beginning that opened this Pandora's Box of Perdition and Peril.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">People protest and say that they had nothing to do with that choice - it isn't fair that we people, thousands of years after the fact, should have to suffer from the ill-fated choice of our First Parents!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Yet this choice in life that holds eternal consequences is before us; Mr. Truth has patiently awaited our approach, but since the terminus of this world is speedily coming upon us, and many are neglecting this ultimate choice in this temporary life, He is approaching every soul that has yet to make this decision between Truth and Chaos.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">By choosing life, by making allegiance to Mr. Truth, we are promised to be delivered out from under the burden of this corruption and enter into life and blessing as GOD intended it!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>DEUTERONOMY 30:19</b><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life</span>...</span></p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We call JESUS our <a href="https://fromthemindoffire.blogspot.com/2015/10/our-kinsman-goel-our-redeemer-jesus.html" target="_blank">Redeemer</a>, and for every good and excellent reason, for He is in process of redeeming all things: not just our souls, but one day these aging bodies; likewise the animal and plant kingdoms - all of the heavens and the earth as He tosses away the old and establishes the new - that will truly be as incorruptible as we ourselves shall be, </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and immune to sin and its dreadful consequences.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">What must we do to be a part of this eternal world, this glorious kingdom that has such a King reigning over it? Let's hear from the King Himself, after He rose from the dead and spoke to some of His disciples:</span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>LUKE 24:46-48</b><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. </span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">48 And ye are witnesses of these things</span>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">For some articles on '"the 'price' of admission" into the Kingdom of GOD, check these out:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2019/07/by-james-fire-in-this-day-andage-sound.html" target="_blank">A TTUF LOOK at REPENTANCE – WHAT IS IT and IS IT NECESSARY?</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://fromthemindoffire.blogspot.com/2015/11/the-sinners-prayer-is-it-biblical.html" target="_blank">The SINNER'S PRAYER: Is It Biblical?</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It's because Jesus Christ rose from the dead, after having borne our sins and the judgment associated with it, which should have fallen upon us, but was willingly received by this LAMB of GOD Who takes away the sin of the world (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 1:29</span>) - that His order in total, will be restored - and Mr. Chaos will at that time be promptly removed to receive the just and eternal punitive action that he is due.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Do you think it's just a figure of speech, that we are called "<i>children</i> of GOD"? Do you suppose that in the glories of heaven, we shall experience <i>blessed and joyous fun as we've never before?</i> Do you wonder at what life will truly be like once we step outside of this tainted space/time continuum and enter into <i>the glorious eternity our Abba has prepared for us?</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Whether by our own demise, when these failing bodies gasp their last breath, or at the sound of the trump when Christ returns to interrupt this satanic initiative of iniquity and comes to rule and reign forever, there is coming a day - <i>Oh, Blessed Day!</i> - when all of the chaos of corruption and the sorrowful seeds of sin that blossomed such baneful and deadly fruit in our lives will be utterly vanquished, destroyed and forgotten.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And every tear will be wiped away:</span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: helvetica;"><b>REVELATION 21:4</b><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away</span>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">May those who are seeking Mr. Truth, recognize Him in the face of Jesus Christ, and understand that to navigate from this weary world to that wonderful world that must be seen to be truly believed (as in to comprehend). There is no other star to guide you other than <a href="https://reasonsforhopejesus.com/bright-morning-star/" target="_blank">the Morning Star</a><span style="font-size: medium;">*</span> that shines most brilliantly just before the dawning of the New Day which He will usher in upon His (soon!) arrival!!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">therefore choose life...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;">*</span> </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This title of "Light Bearer" was once adorned upon GOD's mightiest and wisest of angelic cherubim, Lucifer, but since his rebellion, that title has been stripped from him and granted to the far more Worthy One, Jesus Christ (See <span style="color: #3d85c6;">REV 22:16</span>).</span></p><p></p>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139054044250446039.post-11734847526226691732021-10-12T12:08:00.002-07:002021-10-12T12:12:18.862-07:00JEWELS FROM THE GOSPEL OF JOHN: JOHN 6:37-39 - A No Lose Situation <p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fv5AvRfuKsk/YWXT34KVixI/AAAAAAAACLw/lng7fpSk36Uniq2F5NoeIglXuySa3oAhACNcBGAsYHQ/s427/FMF%2BJewels%2BJohn.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="427" height="297" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fv5AvRfuKsk/YWXT34KVixI/AAAAAAAACLw/lng7fpSk36Uniq2F5NoeIglXuySa3oAhACNcBGAsYHQ/w422-h297/FMF%2BJewels%2BJohn.jpg" width="422" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> The following is a series of short exhortations, brief commentary, and writings to convey thoughtful meditation on God's Word. I have chosen the Gospel of John as the subject. I pray that these will be a blessing and an edification for the saints.</span><p></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>JOHN 6:37-39</b><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. </span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day</span>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This is an argument that's lasted throughout the ages of the church: can a true child of GOD forfeit their salvation? Many solid arguments on both sides of that debate. It was a question I wrestled with as a young believer and in those days, I wasn't at all certain which view was correct. The one thing I was certain about was, <i>I wasn't willing to experiment! </i>So I held fast as close to Jesus as I could!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I don't presume that this simple devotional will settle the argument at all - particularly since that isn't the purpose of this series (theological arguments and doctrinal addresses are for other articles).</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I will say right up front (so that those who don't agree with this position won't have to waste any more time and can dismiss this devotional) that a far more important question to ask, is not - can a true child of GOD lose their salvation, but rather, is a person truly a child of GOD in the first place? I believe that once a soul is genuinely saved, born again, sealed by the Holy Spirit that it's a done deal. He initiated salvation, He will complete what He started (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">PHIL 1:6</span>). There are those that put a conditional clause between "began" and "perform (complete)" that says, "IF we continue to be faithful". <br />To me, that puts the burden of keeping salvation on us - by our own will and effort (but <span style="color: #3d85c6;">GAL 3:1-4</span> states that this is entirely a work of the Spirit - and all we need to do is yield to Him to do the work only He can.)<br /><br />I contend that a true child of GOD will remain faithful unto the end - and why do I make this contention? Any who don't produce fruit are cast away; if they produce no fruit - not even the fruit of repentance - then they aren't born of the Spirit Who alone produces the fruit after His kind:</span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b></b></span></span></p><blockquote><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>GALATIANS 5:22-23</b><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, </span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law</span>.</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Note the word "faith" which in the Greek is <i><a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/4102.htm" target="_blank">pistis</a></i>; this word not only means faith, but also "faithfulness". A true child of GOD will bear the fruit of faithfulness, will be faithful, and experience the LORD's work of enduring grace Who will complete us.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The Gospel of today is the Happy Gospel, and one that doesn't demand <a href="https://www.thetruthunderfire.com/2019/07/by-james-fire-in-this-day-andage-sound.html" target="_blank">repentance</a>, doesn't expect holiness or fruit of the Spirit, and will assure a person of their salvation, based on nothing more than them mouthing a sinner's prayer. Because of this, many disparage "the sinner's prayer" as invalid - which has some merit, but <a href="https://fromthemindoffire.blogspot.com/2015/11/the-sinners-prayer-is-it-biblical.html" target="_blank">such a prayer</a> isn't necessarily invalid. The forlorn result of such a false Gospel are false converts - which some would say are those who lost their salvation. And in order for them to regain salvation, they would need to be . . .? Born again - <i>again?</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As I said, this isn't a treatise on validating eternal security, but merely devotional commentary on the subject, so let's start with the first verse of our text:</span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: helvetica;"><b>JOHN 6:37</b><br /></span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: helvetica;">37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The Father grants these souls to the Son; both the Son and the Spirit draw souls to the LAMB of GOD and teaches them (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">JOHN 12:32; 15:26-27; 16:13-14</span>). The LORD Jesus emphatically claims that He will cast no one out that comes to Him (He actually expresses this in a double negative for emphasis ("Not no way will I cast them out")!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This must be a work of the Spirit because not one soul of themselves is determined to seek GOD by their own volition:</span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b></b></span></span></p><blockquote><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>ROMANS 3:11-12</b><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">11 There is none that understandeth, <u>there is none that seeketh after God</u>. </span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one</span>.</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This is not to say that the LORD compels or forces us to seek Him, but that the sweet influences of the Holy Spirit woos and directs us to the Cross of Christ. Having brought us to the Cross doesn't mean that we are saved because of the Spirit delivering us there. Simply, that having brought us, we are then confronted with Christ and must come to a decision either way, to accept Him or not (The Calvinist would say that we have no choice in the matter; that it's solely up to GOD whether we are saved or not, and we heartily disagree with that assertion).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>JOHN 6:38</b><br />38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me</span>. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This would seem to suggest that the will of the Father and that of the Son are at times contrary; yet since both are members of the Godhead, and GOD is truth, we know that truth can't contradict itself, therefore neither can the Father and the Son.<br />Jesus is simply stating that, as with any dutiful and faithful son, He is obedient to the Father in all things, and is determined to see His will fulfilled.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Christians can sometimes have divided hearts: on the one side is the will of the LORD and His desires and plans for us; on the other side we have our own desires and plans for ourselves. Just as a divided house cannot stand (<span style="color: #3d85c6;">MARK 3:25</span>), neither can a divided heart prosper.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And the point being, Father Knows Best - when deliberating which plan I should go for, I will lose every time - if I am wise. GOD's knowledge is perfect, His wisdom is impeccable, His power is absolute, His heart towards us is devoted in pure love. Who wouldn't want someone like this in charge of their lives?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">My own plans and purposes for myself utterly pale in comparison.<br />Look what GOD's plans for His Son brought Him:</span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b></b></span></span></p><blockquote><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>PHILIPPIANS 2:8-11</b><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; </span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father</span>.</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b></b></span></span></p><blockquote><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>PSALM 2:6-8</b><br />6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">7 I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. </span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession</span>.</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And as a result of Christ's obedience, the benefits we receive!</span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b></b></span></span></p><blockquote><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>REVELATION 5:9-10</b><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; </span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth</span>.</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>JOHN 6:39 </b><br /></span></span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: helvetica;">And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In the end, GOD gets what He wants - the redemption of souls: regardless of the comparative numbers between those whose eternal destiny is heaven, and those who will end up in hell, still - a vast numberless assembly of souls will be worshiping the LAMB of GOD and rule as kings and priests in the Kingdom of GOD!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And it's the will of the Father that of all those that the LORD Jesus receives from Him, none should be lost. And the LORD Jesus testifies of this truth later on in His high priestly prayer to the Father:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><blockquote><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: helvetica;"><b>JOHN 17:12</b><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled</span>.</span></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Judas Iscariot, as we know, is that son of perdition - the man who couldn't bring himself to call Jesus LORD - but instead, only Master (that is, teacher; see <span style="color: #3d85c6;">MATT 26:25</span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I find it enormously comforting and encouraging that my salvation doesn't rest upon my narrow, weak, inept shoulders, but rather upon those Almighty shoulders that bore my cross in my place. That since I came to receive Christ - I know that the Father has given me to Jesus, and the Father's will is that the LORD Jesus will lose not one.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Rather than get into the details of this subject here (having only lightly touched upon it), I would rather get into a more detailed study at a latter time (and probably on the mother site of <a href="https://www.thetruthunderfire.com/" target="_blank">The TRUTH Under FIRE</a>). In the mean while, I can offer a book that I highly recommend by William MacDonald (a beloved co-laborer and friend of the late Dave Hunt), where he covers arguments from both sides and shows from Scripture that we who are saved through Christ are saved indeed and to the uttermost!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/ONCE-CHRIST-FOREVER-William-MacDonald/dp/1882701437" target="_blank">ONCE IN CHRIST IN CHRIST FOREVER</a> by William MacDonald.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">One thing that we can all agree on . . . <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"... but should raise it up again at the last day".<br />There is coming a day in which the LORD will raise up all of His saints, and usher us into His Kingdom . . . </span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b></b></span></span></p><blockquote><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>REVELATION 21:3-5</b><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. </span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful</span>.</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Prophetically speaking these are the last days of lawlessness and while we are grieved at the increasing iniquity and wickedness, we have profound hope of the Kingdom that draws near, for these are in fact THE LAST DAYS of lawlessness, and soon we are going Home - and then all of this nightmarish evil won't even be so much as a bad memory!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So no matter what happens between now and then, no matter how extreme evil may get, we are assured that the ultimate victory is ours because of the Cross of Christ, where He procured the victory for us 2,000 years ago - and there is no undoing that! We saints are in a no lose situation in regards to our salvation in Christ (by GOD's grace, may we be obedient to the LORD in all things so that we may also be in a no lose situation regarding rewards at <a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/judgment-seat-Christ.html" target="_blank">the Bema Seat of Christ</a>)!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Then we will get on with the program that GOD intended all along: eternal fellowship with our Creator and Redeemer among all of His saints, forever and ever, world without end! AMEN! </span></p>James J. Firehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941017472141869327noreply@blogger.com0