JEWELS From the GOSPEL of JOHN: DEITY’s OWN DOCTRINE – JOHN 7:14-17

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.

JOHN 7:14-17
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.

The PROBLEM Of PROSPERITY vs. PERSECUTION In The CHURCH

We here at TTUF have dealt with the issue of persecution before with ARE YOU PERSECUTION PROOF? and FIGHTING FIRE With FIRE – PREPARING For PERSECUTION For RIGHTEOUSNESS SAKE. Also, The PORTENT of PERSECUTION and PERILOUS TIMES and CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION: PERILOUS TIMES AHEAD. Also found on our primary website we have a series LIVING In The LAST DAYS – which deals with, among other things, the persecution of the church.

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 (MATT 5:16) and subsequently persecuted by them, just as they persecute the church in other lands, and have done so throughout history.

JOHN 3:20
For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.

YouthFire! June 2023 Newsletter - Things As They Are

 

Things As They Are

June 2023

Dear Friends,

When I came to El Paso in 1987, it was a life assignment from the Lord. I drove here in my VW Beetle packed with most of my worldly goods, and that’s all. By faith I rented an apartment and waited on God for His orders.

Within a month He opened up the doors for me to become involved in a ministry called the WATCH Network, 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. 

“BLEMISHED OFFERINGS”

MALACHI 1:6-14
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. 

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.

JEWELS From the GOSPEL of JOHN: DIVIDED & SUBTRACTED – JOHN 7:8-13

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.

JOHN 7:8-13
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.

JEWELS From the GOSPEL of JOHN: HATING THE TESTIFIER – JOHN 7:1-7

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.

JOHN 7:1-7
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.

JEWELS FROM THE GOSPEL OF JOHN: JOHN 6:70-71 – Looks Like The Devil

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.

JOHN 6:70-71
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.

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.