The GIFT Under The TREE - The One Neglected Annually

MATTHEW 2:10-12
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy,
11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

As the year draws to a close, we are once again anticipating another celebration of the birth of Christ - even though we who are well versed in the Scriptures know that He was probably born either in late Spring or early Fall, depending on which source is cited. Nevertheless, December 25th is recognized the world over as the day of Christmas.

What is becoming less recognized is the One for Whom we set this day as special. Too much of Santa Claus, too much of Frosty and Rudolf; too much of glistering trees and wreaths, mistletoe and holly - and of course WAY TOO MUCH of commercialism and "buy, buy, BUY! On sale now! And get these while they last!"

REAL CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN

There is an old expression, "The more things change, the more they stay the same."

This means different things to different people, I'm sure, but to me, this says that as things on the surface of our real world changes, the heart of what 'makes it tick' doesn't change at all.

Another SMOKE SIGNAL: A HOPE BEYOND AS WELL AS FOR LIFE

Some see hope as wishful thinking; a yearning for the improbable with little chance of it ever happening. Some cling to hope that is false and disappointing, leaving a person dejected, disillusioned and bitter. There is much about this world that can cause one to feel disappointed, disillusioned and bitter.  

I was such an individual once. I was born with multiple deformities and health issues that left me a weak and inept child that had few friends, was ridiculed and mocked in school, never excelled at much of anything and felt the nevertheless up-beat and happy child that I was slowly wither away until all that was left was a hardened, bitter, vindictive and lonely person.

I needed answers in life, and sought out spiritual wisdom.

I was born into and raised as a Roman Catholic, but what answers they provided were superficial; the entire event of the Mass was one repetitive Sunday after the next with very little variation. It was ritual, but no reality of the spiritual sort for me.

The GOD of BALANCE - Based on various Scriptures for this topical study

In PROVERBS 11:1 it states:

A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.

And in PROVERBS 20: 23 it also says:  

23 Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.   

Everywhere we look, we see and understand that God is a God of order, and balance; justice and fairness; grace and truth. He is a God of peace as well as a God of design. Such things as injustice, deceit, lawlessness, chaos, oppression and iniquity are an offense to Him. Those words spoken in Proverbs testifies that during times of commerce in Israel when trade was going on between people in business, goods were measured in scales and the weights used to measure the weight of product were sometimes false weights that claimed to weigh so much, but in reality weighed far differently. Basically there were dishonest businessmen who were ‘ripping people off’!     
God declares such things as an abomination – that’s very strong language for God to use and yet it demonstrates how the LORD sees things that are not balanced or in harmony with the order that He Himself created, physically as well as spiritually and morally and legally.

Consider the account in Genesis during the creation week:

GENESIS 1: 1-2

1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

The word for “darkness” can mean simply that – darkness. But it can also refer to destruction, misery, death among other things. The fact that the earth was “without form” and that this darkness was apparent shows that at the beginning, things seemed to be very much out of order. A rather strange idea when one considers how orderly God really is – why would things start out in such a chaotic state? Why didn’t God create everything in a state of perfect order to begin with?


Interesting questions to be sure, but ones that we must forego in this study so that we can focus on other things; suffice it to say, that God throughout this time of six literal days of 24 hours each (Ex. 20: 9-11) gradually increased a state of order, replacing the disorder of this primordial world. Everything was eventually tuned to an extremely finely tuned balance - so much so, that scientists who propose the idea of evolution as being scientifically valid are hard pressed to explain what they call 'the anthropic principle'; that is, the idea that everything seems tuned to the exact specifications and parameters in order for life, and specifically mankind to live on the earth. If any of these specifications was not tuned precisely as it is, then life would not be possible on this planet! Wow, huh?
Each evening and day of these six days in which God worked in establishing His order of creation was a time in which disorder was exchanged for that which God called “good”:


“ . . . and God saw that it was good . . . ” – vs. 4, 10, 12, 18, 21, and 25. Then on the sixth and final day of creation, God created His ‘grand finale’ by making man and on that day of completion, after fashioning Adam from the dust of the earth:


GENESIS 1: 31

31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Upon completion of His creative work, it states that God rested (ceased) from His work, having completed His order. In Hebrews 4 it further states that God rested:


HEBREWS 4: 4-5, 9-11

4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.

5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.

9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

Just as God rested in His creative work, once He completed His redemptive work on the Cross, dying for the sins of the world (propitiation in atonement) He likewise rested in that there was nothing more that needed to be done in order to provide our salvation. The order of salvation was completed and any that enter into this rest of redemption enjoys this order established by God through the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.
It wasn’t until the day that Adam and his wife Eve fell into sin by succumbing to the temptation of Satan in the eating of the forbidden fruit that chaos and disorder was introduced into God’s perfect creation of order.

One could justifiably refer to this time as a ‘new world order’ that actually started in heaven when Lucifer rebelled against the order that God established by an attempt of usurping God’s authority with an authority of his own. For this, Lucifer was cast out of heaven and became Satan who then seduced man into sin and thus, brought about the disorder that has been a curse upon this world ever since!
We see this disorder as it effects nature: earthquakes occur when the tectonic plates that make up the earth’s crust shift and expand due to seismic, molten pressures: a kind of geologic storm.

We also see it in meteorological storms like thunder storms, tornados, and hurricanes when massive weather fronts of warm and cold air masses collide, accumulating vast amounts of water vapor and electrons resulting from violent weather.

Interestingly enough, when the LORD Jesus spoke of “earthquakes in diverse places” (Matt. 24:7) as one of the signs of the last days, the word used for earthquakes in the Greek is seismos and it not only refers to earthquakes but also tempests and storms of the meteorological sort; the fact that these phenomena of disorder and imbalance are increasing is noteworthy as part of the “birth pangs” bringing in the last days!


However, just as the LORD brought order from disorder and chaos in the creation, the LORD Jesus Christ brought order to the storms that the disciples suffered while traversing the Sea of Galilee (Matt. 14: 22-33; Mark 4:35-41).
The kingdoms of the Gentile nations are often portrayed in Scripture as the sea roaring (Isaiah 57:20), tumultuous and without order, chaotic in fact. Kingdoms in scripture are also referred to as mountains, such as the kingdom of heaven for example (Dan. 2: 35, 45).

It’s worth our time to consider that when the LORD returns in power and authority to this rebel planet as the Messiah of Israel, the following will take place:

ISAIAH 40: 1-5

1 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.

2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD's hand double for all her sins.

3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:

5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

Just as mountains are portrayals of kingdoms, so likewise valleys are seen as places of death and oppression. There is a tremendous imbalance in the political and economic world today where the extremely powerful in government and business oppress those whom governments (and corporations as something ethical) are to serve and protect.

The masses can be seen as those dwelling in the “valley” (Psalm 23: 4).

Note also that once the LORD Jesus left the mountain of Transfiguration, He was met by none other than a father whose boy was oppressed by a demonic spirit (Mark 9: 1-27).


On that Day when the Messiah (the “stone cut without hands” as seen in Daniel chapter Two) comes to this world and sets up His kingdom, every kingdom based on iniquity, darkness, destruction, wickedness – essentially every kingdom and political power that’s within this world, will be cast down; and all who are righteous but oppressed and downtrodden will be exalted. Every mountain made low, every valley exalted . . . God's justice and balance in executing His Holy Law in this unholy world will know full fruition; as I am fond of saying, there is no such thing as eternal injustice!
For your consideration, from The RED PILL CONSORTIUM, here is an article based on ISAIAH Ch. 59 and the spiritual principles of truth and justice and how the decimation of these is leading to The Demise of a Civilization.

The very same idea is found in individuals who because of their pride exalt themselves while the humble remain in a lowly state. The Scriptures are clear that God ensures that a balance of justice will prevail in these matters of the heart:

LUKE 1:51-53

51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

1 PETER 5:5-6

5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

(Also James 1: 8-10; 4: 10; Ps. 138: 6).

Interesting that every mountain and valley will be leveled during that time when the Earth is refurbished during the Millennial period, but there is one mountain that will never be made low:

ISAIAH 2:2-4

2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

War is yet another example of imbalance and chaos, and yet when the LORD returns and enacts a final act of war against this rebel planet, its ruler (Satan, particularly embodied in the Beast of Revelation) and all opposing forces, there will never be another war ever again on the Earth (When Satan is loosed at the end of this period, it will hardly constitute a war, but a rout and a completion of the course of evil which will be excised at that time!).

In the Christian life, we can see an imbalance even here; we have our sinful nature, that we inherited from our father, Adam. Yet as Christians we also have the divine nature of Jesus and His Spirit that dwells within us.


ROMANS 5: 12

12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

EPHESIANS 2:2-3

2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

The holy, godly nature that is ours through the LORD Jesus Christ:

2 PETER 1:3-4

3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

To the degree that we, as Christians, experience frustration, aggravation, dissatisfaction, anger, depression, ruinous impulses and other destructive emotions, we are experiencing the imbalance due to sin and for the believer, to gain the balance that God would desire for us, His children, we must put off these things much as it states in Colossians. Colossians chapter Three speaks of the beginning of the balance that God wants for us, starting right from verse 1 (actually the entire Bible is the Book of Balance as given us by our LORD):


COLOSSIANS 3: 1-2, 6-10, 12-16

1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

To achieve the balance of blessedness, we are to put off the things of the old man (our sinful nature) and put on the things of the new man (our new, heavenly nature):

6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

15 And let the peace of God rule* in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

* “rule” – as in to impose dominion; in this case, God’s order in our lives!

We see the same contrast in Galatians chapter 5:

GALATIANS 5: 19-21 and 22-23

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. See also 2 Cor. 6: 14-18.

How is this divine sense of balance even gained? One first must submit and surrender to the order of God through Jesus Christ and become born into the family of God and His kingdom, via the Cross of Christ:

GALATIANS 5: 24-25

24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk* in the Spirit.

* In order to walk properly without falling a sense of balance must be maintained.

The process of dying to self, by way of the Cross is an ongoing process whereby we slowly gain the blessedness of God’s beautiful balance as He intends for us in the Person of Christ Jesus. This is what enables us to walk in the Spirit even as we are born of God’s Spirit.

The second means by which we gain this balance, this order of God’s awesome state of being for us in by His Word: The Word of God is perfect, bringing the Law of God, the Order of God… the very balance of God which He intends us to be blessed with, into the hearts and lives of us, His children.

PSALM 1:1 - 6

1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. (Read the entire Psalm and meditate upon it)

HOMEWORK: Examine the first chapter of the book of James and look for the ‘balance of God’ in these verses. 

Another Smoke Signal: SECRETS AMONG FRIENDS

Think about all the friends that you have; which of them would you confide your most closely guarded secret to? Of course, any friend that you are closest to, the one that you can trust the most, right?

Such closeness and trust didn't come spontaneously though did it? Over the course of time, developing your relationship with your friend, you learned of their trustworthiness and integrity. They could more than likely share their deepest secret with you as well.

This is the nature of friendship; the relationship of the best of friends can withstand the hardest criticism from one to the other, because when such hard words are said, we understand that our friend knows that they need to be said. It's been said that an enemy will smile at you while stabbing you in the back, while a true friend will stab you in the front but with tears of pain. The Bible says it like this:

PROV 27:5-6
5 Open rebuke is better than secret love.
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

Friends weather the severest storms together, carry one another's burdens gladly as if they were no burdens at all. Friends don't wait to be asked to help. They are there for us even when we don't want anyone around.

They don't give up on us, and at times they push us when we need it. Friends are a gift of God and I personally have been enormously blessed with many that I am honored with; some of them have come into my life even just recently!

There is no one, absolutely no one who is as faithful, trustworthy, truthful, gracious and loving as the LORD Jesus Christ and our Father (not to mention the Holy Spirit as well!), and I find it interesting that those who are considered friends of God, are those that He willingly shares His secrets with.

Take Abraham for example . . . he was a saint that held the illustrious title of "...the friend of God..." (2 CHRON. 20:7; JAMES 2:23). One day when the LORD (along with two of His angels) came to visit Abraham and once He sent His spiritual servants off on a deadly errand to Sodom and Gomorrah He pondered the question:

GENESIS 18:17
17 And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;

God foreknew Abraham and saw that the integrity of his heart and those of his generation would be steadfast towards Him; the mark of a true friend! So while the angels were off on duty, God asked this question, and obviously the answer was 'No, I will not hide from Abraham' because the LORD then proceeded to tell him exactly what He was up to.

He intended on judging Sodom and Gomorrah for their rebellion and sin. Yet Abraham thought on his nephew Lot and his family that resided in Sodom and began to 'barter' with the LORD about how few righteous ones would have to reside in Sodom for God to spare the city and the LORD patiently heard him out, graciously answering him every time.

True friends indeed!

Another Old Testament saint: Daniel, of whom the angel declared that he was "greatly beloved" -

DANIEL 10:11-12
11 And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.
12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.

Another friend of God that the LORD Almighty was agreeable with in sharing His secrets. The future for us human beings, creatures of time and space is a mystery indeed! Some resort to fortune tellers and psychics in order to try and learn about our future or future events (NOT a good idea; any that seek the counsel of such are actually opening themselves up to deception and demonic influences; this is why such involvement is prohibited by God [LEV. 19:26, 31]).

Yet Daniel was given such prophetic revelations, that have proven to be so absolutely accurate, that Bible skeptics have had to claim the book was written far, far later than it was purported to be. God shared the secrets of the future events of the last days with His friend Daniel!

What about others in the Old Testament? In AMOS 3:7, while they are called "servants" the LORD counts them among His friends, just as He did the prophet and Law giver, Moses with whom the LORD spoke face to Face as one does with a friend (EXOD 33:11).

Do we see any New Testament parallels at all? Absolutely! Read through the Gospel of John and witness the intimacy and tenderness between our LORD and the young apostle John; the appellation "the disciple whom Jesus loved" is almost always attributed to this apostle, who was the brother of James.

Just as the LORD God granted prophetic revelation to Daniel, likewise He shared His secrets with John by giving him the Apocalypse (which literally means, "the unveiling"). Talk about sharing your secrets!

What about the other apostles? Were they considered to be friends of the LORD as was John? Oh, yes - absolutely!

JOHN 15:14-15
14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

Note that word, "all" - not most or much or some: "all"!
Certainly the world doesn't know of anything that the LORD has revealed because the world doesn't hear the LORD just as they don't hear His friends (JOHN 8:42-44) nor can the world see the LORD for all of their spiritual blindness (2 COR. 4:4) but because we love the LORD, those of us who are saints (saved by grace from our sins, not because we've been canonized by some church!) are accounted as friends of God.

EPHESIANS 3:5-6
5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

And certainly we who are of the body of Christ are accounted as not only friends of God, but children of God as well (JOHN 1:12-13)! An awesome privilege that one is not born to (that is, everyone that is born into this world - these are not by nature the children of God) but "born-again" to as in JOHN 3:3-5; also 2 COR. 5:17; TITUS 3:5; JAMES 1:18; and 1 PETER 1:2-3.

Think about this: because you have the Holy Spirit indwelling you and creating in you a Temple for His habitation (1 COR. 3:16-17), and because of this, you cry out Abba, Father (ROM 8:15; GAL. 4:6) - and you have the Word of God, the Holy Scriptures in your possession - you know the Author of the Book, you as well have been told the secrets of God that are not known to those out in the world. You know the name of God, you know where He lives, you know the times and the seasons of His return, you know His agenda for the ages. These are things that baffle, mystify and perplex the people of this world...

So even as these days draw to a close and events get increasingly scarier as time goes by, we have no cause for worry really; we know how it all ends, even if the world doesn't. The people of this world may fear and worry and fret . . . but not you, because you are a friend and child of God! And our Abba loves to share His secrets with us, doesn't He?

JOHN 15:9 - 15

9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

Of CHAOS and CONFUSION - a film by PAUL FLYNN

The following is intended as an advertisement of sorts but also as an endorsement of Paul Flynn's ministry of Megiddo Films (http://megiddofilms.org/) as well as his podcasts as found on Pod-o-matic, Megiddo Radio (http://megiddofilms.podomatic.com/).

Quite soon he will be releasing a new film called OF CHAOS and CONFUSION. Here is a brief clip of what to expect:

Of CHAOS and CONFUSION: The MODERN CHURCH (note: the clip states this film will be released in the winter of 2011, but Paul updated the release date to the summer of 2012, which is very soon!).

The chaos and confusion that has overtaken the church which has for the most part lost her ability or at least her volition to discern the teachings and dogmas that are being promoted in our day.
We have addressed this issue of discernment on TTUF with the article:

Is The Discernment Gene Becoming Recessive in the Body of Christ?

And the following article from The RED PILL Consortium:

Our State of Affairs: Nationally and Spiritually

I am greatly anticipating this film from our brother Paul and would eagerly suggest that you likewise order this film from his ministry web site. Once we obtain copies of these, may we share them with other believers and continue to be on guard against any such "leaven" that is, false teachings and practices that are encroaching and infiltrating our church fellowships, even ones that were formerly solid doctrinally.

I'm sure we have all felt the anguish of teachers of the WORD whom we received from and been blessed by their ministry in the past, but since then have gone wayward, joining the apostasy of this present age.

This is why it's vital that every believer, every disciple of Jesus Christ truly be a student of the Word of God, studying for themselves and learning the truth of Scripture and not depending on a pastor or teacher for the entirety of their spiritual nourishment and edification.

John 8: 31-32

31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

2 Tim. 2: 15

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (emphasis mine)


2 Timothy 3:15-17

15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
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 perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

May the LORD bless you and keep you in HIS TRUTH, free from the entanglements of deception, spiritual lethargy, lukewarmness and the chaos and confusion of this present age; and secure in the grace, peace and truth and the love and joy of the LORD!

The WORTHY ONE: The Once and ALWAYS KING!

THE ONE WORTHY OF RULE and THOSE HE IS SANCTIFYING TO JOIN HIM -

JUST LOOK at the current situation the world over, in each nation, in every government over the course of the last century; examine the history books (that is, those that have not been tampered with by Revisionist fingers) and witness how rulers of nations and representatives in governments have conducted themselves throughout time.

Even if one examines the history of kings that ruled over Israel (and Judah when the two regions separated into two different houses) the performance of most of these kings is quite weak and bleak to say the least.

It's been said before that if a man cannot govern his own heart, then how can he rightly govern his family, or a city, or a nation? Or in the biblical example, if one cannot rule well his own family, how then can he take care of the church (1 Tim. 3:5)?

When the deplorably illicit conduct of former President Clinton came under the spot light, the question was asked if this man was worthy of the office of the Presidency. Many held the opinion that "whatever he does in his personal life is his own affair (every pun intended by yours truly); this by no means, they said, affects his professional career and his ability to function in office as the President."

I couldn't disagree more! Whether personal or professional, its the very same person that operates in both. If there is a lack of morality, integrity, trustworthiness and good character in one area, it will inevitably 'spill over' into all other areas (a little leaven, leavens the whole lump, as it were!). Later it was revealed to varying degrees on just how much 'spilled over' into this man's so-called professional career.

Yet Clinton is not alone. Look at our current administration - or the one immediately preceding it. Look at the leaders of the nations of the world and one can readily recognize a lack of good character and upstanding integrity in any of the world's leadership, most especially among the 'Goblins'; that oligarchal band of nefarious globalists that want to remake the world according to their own (and even more relevantly, Satan's!) desires.

If the world is starving for economic security and stability, its well nigh starved to death (even if they don't recognize it) for worthy governance and rightful rule.

Nietzsche spoke about "the will to power" which essentially means that those who should rule, will have the propensity and the endowments inherent within to pursue and obtain power by any means possible, regardless of any moral right or representation. The "ends justifies the means" philosophy. These are the sort that will intimidate, manipulate, connive, cheat, lie, steal and do whatever is necessary in order to seize power and control and keep it, and thereby push those less ambitious beneath themselves (in their minds: where they belong!)

It's been said that the only difference between crooks and politicians is that politicians are elected to office! Obviously this comparison of politicians to crooks isn't universally applicable to all of them. There may yet be some idealistic, moral folks who are interested in politics and running for office within the various tiers of government, but I fear that these ranks are diminishing all too rapidly!

Where can this weary world look for proper leadership, for those whose character and life rightly reflect the propriety of ruling over mankind? How is such leadership - if it even exists - developed and established?

We as Christians understand that there is still a brilliant hope, the ONLY Hope - the Blessed Hope (!) for mankind; that even if all of the oceans of humanity is discounted as unworthy - there is still one shining example of One who is absolutely and entirely worthy:

Revelation 5: 5 - 10

5 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

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;

10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Here is a scroll in the hand of the Almighty - and it's stated that its written within and without. Typically, scrolls in that day were written only on one side. The process whereby papyri was manufactured would involve smoothing one side so as to make it suitable for writing. However legal documents were often so detailed, it required the use of both sides of the papyri, and so for these special scrolls (of such things as title deeds) required this process.

This is what the LORD God held in His hand: the title deed of the whole world! And the question rang out, "Who is worthy to open this book?" No one was worthy - none at all. If such a demand was asked today, it would be with the same result. No one is worthy to open this title deed of the world, or even (if there are such things) title deeds of the many different nations over which our present rulers preside.

It's no wonder that John wept, because without any to open that title deed, expressing ownership, then by default the world would remain under the tyranny of Satan the great Oppressor, whose own children (those who are not born again in Christ Jesus) follow his example of tyranny and oppression, and the human race would be utterly without hope,bent on self-destruction!

Yet from the ranks of those that dwelled in heaven, One made His way to that Throne, to the sublimely delightful joy and blessing of all the onlookers. No hesitation or doubt was observed in the confident stride of this Man, the Servant of the LORD (Is. 42: 1-3; Matt. 12:18), whose wounds were evidence aplenty (Zech. 13:6) of His holy service to God the Father and to the vast assembly of the human race (Is. 53: 10); this Man Who came not to receive service, but to serve the unfortunate and damned souls that He intended to redeem (Matt. 20:27-29): not with the blood of goats and bulls, but with His own blood (Heb. 9: 12; 10: 3-5; 13:12), freely spilled by His magnificently holy heart of pure grace and love!

On that glorious Day, came forth Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah of Israel, the King! He Who is the I AM, the First and the Last, the Alpha and Omega, the Shepherd and Bishop of saved souls, the Head of the Church, the Lamb of God, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah! The KING of Kings and LORD of Lords and lay hold of that title deed, and this brought all of heaven - saints, angels and living creatures alike - to their knees in worship! Hear again their words of adoration:

"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" And elsewhere, more of the same:

Revelation 5:11-13

11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

Here is glory and majesty in all of its holy brilliance whose least and lowest emblems would shame the greatest claims of royalty of any king that ever lived. This High and Exalted KING of Heaven will ever receive such adoration and worship throughout eternity; the songs of the saints reverberating across the halls of heaven, without end!

Yet this KING was not granted the right and privilege out-of-Hand, as was Adam - who was created to rule the Earth but lost the stewardship to Satan (Gen. 1:28; 3: 6-7; Matt. 4: 8-10). He would have to gain this right by going the long way; to be born of the virgin Mary, to grow up in the midst of fallen, sinful humanity (Is. 53:1-3) , to reach and teach disciples who were so very slow to learn and found bickering among their ambitious selves to obtain the highest degree of rulership (Luke 22:24); to know grief, bitterness, shame, ridicule, abuse and rejection from religious leaders, His own people and pagan soldiers alike.
Finally to suffer the ultimate shame, deplorable abasement and absolute agony upon the Cross - where He suffered the full, undiluted wrath and judgment of His Holy Father who vented and depleted His entire store of retributive reckoning upon Him (Is. 53: 5-7; Rom. 8:3; 2 Cor. 5:21), rather than on the world that He "so loved . . . that whoever would believe in [JESUS] might not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16)!

A spiritual Truth that cannot be abrogated or disannulled is that any who exalts himself will be abased (eventually) by God - a prime example is Lucifer (See Is. 14: 12-17; Ez. 28: 12-19); those that humble themselves are those that will be exalted by God - and there are none that have humbled themselves to the degree of the LORD Jesus!

Philippians 2:7-9

7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Yet before He came to this point, He had to endure life here, and learn obedience by the things He suffered (Heb. 5:7-9). And through this time, He was "made perfect" that is 'complete' in His human character as the Son of Man, displaying all the evidences that proved His worthiness for rule. Let us examine some of the verses that elaborate on this.

We already looked at Rev. 5:11-13 where the saints explode in exuberant worship of Him Who was [willingly] slain for their sins. This willingness to sacrifice for others at the cost of oneself is a worthy attribute for ruler-ship. Too many leaders today are willing to sacrifice others for their own benefit! Not so with the LORD Jesus!

Isaiah 11: 1 - 5

1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

2 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;

3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:

4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.

Just look at the treasure trove of spiritual endowment placed upon the LORD Jesus and witness to the truth that here we have the ultimate ruler whose virtues are literally unparalleled by any other! There is none so wise as He! None with greater knowledge and understanding! None that exhibits the pure and absolute trust in and faithfulness to God the Father, as He! Who is as Righteous and Just as the LORD Jesus? Who possesses the depths of His compassion and tender mercies upon the broken hearted, the enslaved and the meek as the LORD Jesus Christ, our Beloved?

Who can deny this Man's worthy right to rule over humanity? (See also Isaiah 61: 1-3)

Matthew 11: 28-31

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

We know that Jesus is God (John 10:30) , and that God is love (1 John 4:8), thus the description of love ("charity") in 1 Corinthians is a perfect portrait of the LORD Jesus, God the Son:

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

The fruit of the Spirit is a competent and complete roster of the character found in the LORD Jesus, this Once and ALWAYS KING:

Galatians 5: 22-23

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

In their many times of argument and strife, when the disciples quarreled among themselves as to who should be the greatest, the LORD Jesus explained His kingdom principles to them in no uncertain terms: Hear now the testimony of the Gospel writers!

Matt. 20: 20 - 28

20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedees children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.

21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.

22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.

23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.

24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.

25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.

26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;

27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:

28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Mark 9: 33-37

33 And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?

34 But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.

35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.

36 And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them,

37 Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.


Luke 22: 24-27

24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.

25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.

26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

27 For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.


John 13: 13-17

13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.

14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.

15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

The ambition for greatness was never something that the LORD Jesus rebuked; He only reproved His followers by the methods they chose - by means of self-exaltation and argument as to why they themselves were 'more worthy' than their colleagues.

Any that would be great, must follow our KING's example of servanthood. I believe the one ambition allowed for the saint is that declaration made by John the Baptist:

John 3:30
He must increase, but I must decrease.

As we allow the LORD to sanctify us by His Word and His Spirit (John 17:17; Rom. 15:16; Heb. 10:10, 14) as we are conformed to Christ (Rom. 8:29-30), and transformed by the renewing of our minds (Rom. 12:1-3) so that we think (1 Cor. 2:16; Phil. 2: 4-6) behave, and conduct ourselves (Phil. 3:11-13; 1 Peter 5:10) in the Spirit of JESUS CHRIST, being conformed to His death (Phil. 3:10b), and raised to continually new resurrection life (Phil. 3:10a; Rom. 6:4), as we die to self (Rom. 8: 12-14; Col. 3:5) and are made alive in Him (1 Cor. 15:21-23) and display His spiritual fruit, His character, His holiness - we are then powerful servants, able ministers, and well suited to sit besides our KING as His bride and rule heaven and earth with Him, our BELOVED!

All that is required is that we overcome by faith in Jesus Christ (1 John 5:4) - that is, overcome the 'old man' of sin (Eph. 4:21-22) and the world and Satan that still plagues us (1 John 4:4), to put on the 'new man' in Christ (Eph. 4:23-25), that He increase in us, and we ourselves decrease, so that Jesus is manifest (Gal. 2:20) in our lives as we exemplify servanthood to God and to others. Such overcomers will find themselves as ever blessed by the Once and ALWAYS KING!

Phil. 2: 9-11

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Rev. 3:21-22

21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Revelation 2:25-27

25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.

26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

May the LORD truly bless us in causing us to be conformed to the image of His dear SON and thereby have His glorious character and nature manifested in us, future co-regents of the KING of Kings and LORD of Lords!

Romans 8:29
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

The PROTOCOLS of the GREATEST PROPHET: The Ministry of John the Baptist

Of all the prophets of the Old Testament history, which would you elect as the greatest?

There are those whose ministry was incredibly dramatic with awesome miracles like Moses, Elijah and Elisha; others whose writings were lofty in their language and with unequaled eloquence like Isaiah and Zechariah. There were also those of great passion and fervor such as Jeremiah, Amos and Nehemiah (though he wasn’t a prophet).

Yet, as we all know, the one to receive the title of the greatest prophet according to our LORD Jesus was John the Baptist:

MATTHEW 11:10-11
10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Yet John the Baptist performed no miracles (JOHN 10:41), not even one; nor did he ever set pen to parchment and write a single word as Inspired by God. So what made John the greatest of all the prophets? Have you ever wondered that?

Polarization via Different Unities - John 17

How many of you remember that old Coca-Cola commercial that talked about how "I'd like to teach the world to sing, in perfect harmony"?
If you've never seen it or can't remember it (I bet those of you over 50 years old do!) here is the commercial for your viewing:  

I'D LIKE TO TEACH THE WORLD TO SING IN PERFECT HARMONY

Then of course there was that song that was produced by numerous famous song writers:

                                                     We Are the World

This was a tremendous ensemble of musical artists like Ray Charles, Kenny Rogers, Michael Jackson, Cindy Lauper, Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan and very many others who came together for a charity event to help the starving of Africa.

Now, don't get me wrong - it's not my intention to denigrate or criticize the intentions and purpose of this effort, but it does demonstrate certain false assumptions that serve to create a sense of false unity in the world.

Before I get too far into this examination however, I must admit that as I watched the video, I did get a bit misty-eyed. Who doesn't yearn for peace and harmony in our world? Who doesn't want charitable and loving gestures of compassion to be expressed to everyone in our world?

Everyone would be happy to see an end to suffering, to poverty, to war and violence and injustice of course - but upon what basis? What vehicle will be utilized as the foundation for this peace that we are all seeking for in our world?

Here are a couple of lines from the song, We Are The World:

"We're all part of God's family" Tina Turner sang.

"God has shown us by turning stone to bread" and Willy Nelson added.
Isn't it interesting that this twisting of Scripture should be done in just this manner.

God never changed stone to bread; it was Satan's temptation of Jesus to do so when He was on His forty day fast (LUKE 4:1-13). And what was the LORD's answer? "Man shall not live by bread alone but by every Word of God." While such charity is commendable for the poor and needy of Africa (I used to collect for UNICEF as a child (something I don't recommend however due to UN policy) and today I sponsor a child through Compassion Int'l.) but after feeding their bodies, what was done for their eternal souls?

We are indeed to "LIVE by EVERY WORD of GOD"!

Of course, and sadly - it's not at all true that we are all part of God's family, though God would have it so, I'm sure, such is His love for the souls He has created, but the truth must be told.

We are not all God's children:

JOHN 1:10-13
He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

The world did not know Him - the very One that is their Creator! He was a stranger to them all, and just as was the case with Israel ("His own") so too with the majority of the world: "they received Him not" (See LUKE 13:22-24; MATT 7:13-15; JOHN 3:18-20).

To be a part of God's family one must receive Christ, and then through the supernatural act of God, be born spiritually anew "by the will . . . of God". Until a person is reconciled to God (make peace) for the sins committed in their lives by receiving the atonement of Jesus and His shed blood on the Cross for those sins, they can never know true, lasting peace in their hearts. And if no peace exists in the hearts of humanity, there can be no peace in this world! None (though a false peace is coming via the anti-Christ in the last days to come)!

So there are actually 'two families' represented in the world - the family ("children") of God: see
ROM 8:16-17,21; GAL 3:26; 1 JOHN 5:2, among many other passages.

ROMANS 8:15-17
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

And the children of disobedience, children of the devil the wicked one, of darkness:
MATT 13:38; JOHN 8:43-45; COL 3:6; 1 JOHN 3:10; 1 THESS 5:4-8.

1 JOHN 3:10 
In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

Of course any that "does righteousness" are those who trust Jesus Christ the Righteous as their LORD and SAVIOR; those that trust in His work on the Cross have only one work to fulfill themselves:

JOHN 6:28-29
Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

But as mentioned previously, those who are the children of the devil will not believe, will not receive and thus remain part of this present world and not included in the kingdom of God.

Thus we have a polarization in our reality - ever since the beginning of time (and perhaps even before then) a disunity was created when Lucifer rebelled against God and one third of the angels joined with him (REV 12:4).

That disunity, that inharmonious cacophony was spread to the earth when Satan (either in form or possession of the serpent in the garden) tempted Eve and both she and Adam fell into sin, procuring then a sin nature that was passed onto their progeny - thus subjects of the new ruler ("god") of this world (2 COR 4:4) who has been the lord over all of the world system now for well over six thousand years.

How can one teach the world to sing "in perfect harmony" when we are as a race in rebellion against our Creator? Upon what foundation would such a harmony be built if not upon God and His Truth?

It will be built upon the foundation of God's enemy, Satan and based upon the lie instead (2 THESS 2:10-12).

Yet when Christ Jesus came to this world, lived among us, taught us the Truth, and finally died upon the Cross for our sins, rose from the dead and imparted the life-giving Spirit to indwell all who would by faith, receive such salvation and become the children of God (Remember JOHN 1:12), there was a union restored with our Creator Who then became our "Abba, Father".

We can see this polarization then between the children of light - God's own; and the children of darkness - those still enslaved by Satan and sin. There are those in the church today, wolves and heretics all: who are trying to blur the lines of this spiritual distinction; that we of the church can and should have fellowship with and work alongside the people of this world. They teach that we are to be busy about building God's kingdom on earth.

Yet no where in Scripture is the church given this mandate. We are to preach the Gospel for the salvation of souls, delivering them from sin and death and hell through no other authority but by Christ Jesus - to Whom belongs all the glory as this is truly His work through us and not our own. We are to be committed to those things which are above, that is the eternal kingdom of God; not temporary things below here in this world - we are to "set [our] affections" in heaven! (COL 3:1-3).

The Kingdom will arrive only when the King does (DAN 2:34-35, 44-45), and on that Blessed Day we the church will be coming along with Him out of heaven (JUDE 1:13-15).

In John's account of the Gospel, chapter 17, the LORD JESUS prayed to the Father:

JOHN 17:15-21 
I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

This is the only unity and "one"ness that can ever endure, because it's not founded on human will power nor on the deceptions of Satan (that "all men are brothers") - that oneness that we are blessed with in our communion with the LORD Jesus Christ, Who is in some spiritual, unfathomable sense joined with our spirit (1 COR 6:16-17).

Do you know that all the effort among churches and denominations to create unity is wasted? All the plans and actions that so many are working laboriously for in instilling a sense of unity for the church is non-essential.

Too often such efforts are terribly unbiblical as we hear the cry "unity at any cost! Let's not get hung up on doctrine!"

There are those who desire to point out falsehood and deceits, bad teaching and erroneous theology who are labeled as divisive and unloving - but wait a minute!

Nothing could be more loving than giving the truth to others; the truth will bring every benefit there is to those who will receive it; lies and deceptions or even teaching that is 98% true and 2% false will eventually wreak spiritual ruin (1 COR 5:6-7; GAL 5:8-10)!

As for being divisive, it most certainly is not the one that is pointing out genuine, unbiblical errors that's being divisive, but the one who is teaching something contrary to the Word of God which is our very foundation as the body of Christ!

We need the pure Word of God for the unity that the LORD Jesus prayed for us in John 17, and as well as this, the Spirit of God:

EPHESIANS 4:3 -6
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

One Spirit. One faith (that is, credence in allegiance to the Word of God in the expression of a living faith that transforms us by His Spirit). Ecumenism is a very poor (and most often Satanic!) substitute for the unity that we already have in possession! All we are called to do is "keep" that which is already given "in the bond of peace" through the Prince of Peace, the LORD Jesus Christ!

So we can see that all the world can be divided into these two different groups: children of light and children of darkness. Tares and wheat. Sheep and goats. Good fish and bad (EPH 5:8; MATT 13:24-30,47-48; 25:32-33).

We are ambassadors to this world (2 COR 5:20) and foreigners and pilgrims (1 PET 2:11) but we are not of this world even as our LORD is not of this world (JOHN 17:16). Our associations with the world are to be maintained very lightly and only in regards to demonstrating the life of Jesus as His Spirit resides in us, not partaking of the life and love for the things of this world (2 COR 6:13-15), but rather committed to the proclamation of the Gospel.

1 JOHN 2:14-16
I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Unfortunately too many that have named the Name of Christ have apparently left their presumably "first love" and the blessedness of the kingdom to 'go native' and adopt the ways and loves of this world as their own. They "looked back", they "returned to their wallowing in the mire", they have chosen to enjoy the pleasures of this world rather than to suffer the afflictions of Christ! Just the opposite of the choice that Moses made (HEB 11:25-27)!

Let us be aware always of this determined distinction between the things of the world, and most especially the religious world! - and the things of Christ and His Holy Word. Compromise, 'conversation and dialogue', consensus, 'getting along' should not be in the vocabulary of the saint of God where it jeopardizes our witness and testimony for our LORD or does damage to our representation of the truth.

Let us likewise have great joy and expectation for the Day is indeed coming when there will INDEED be harmony restored, and all the world (those who will honestly and willingly bend the knee in repentance to the LORD Jesus Christ and receive His salvation via the Gospel and reject the prince of this world (Satan) and sin) will sing His praises and worship Him Who is wholly worthy of our worship!

PSALM 68:31-35
Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God. 32 Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; Selah: 33 To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice. 34 Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds. 35 O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God.

PSALM 66:3-5 
Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee. 4 All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah. 5 Come and see the works of God: he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men.

GLORY TO GOD!!

Lament Over Lazarus?

Thy Name Be Sorrow -

There are many titles of Jesus Christ in the Scriptures - the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Lamb of God, The Son of David and the Good Shepherd being just a few of them.
Another that we don't usually think of right away is "a man of sorrows."

ISAIAH 53:3
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

If left to our imagination, would we ever think of God Almighty, come to earth as a human being someone Who would be "acquainted with grief"? Or Someone that was not "esteemed"?
Yet such was (and is) the case in this world of rebellion, sad to say.

In the Scripture, it speaks of a couple of times specifically when Jesus wept. Once when He was overlooking the city of Jerusalem. Let's go and visit that time for a brief moment:

God's Grief over His City -

In Luke Chapter 19, the LORD invites Himself to Zacchaeus' house - he who was a tax collector and despised by the Jews as a traitor that collected money from his brethren for Rome. Yet here was a man who expressed repentance and salvation, as so declared by the LORD Jesus Himself.

He then spoke a parable against the Pharisees and religious leader that despised Him as well as this tax-collecting sinner; a parable that nailed those religious hypocrites to the wall!

Then having gone through Jericho and nearing Bethany and Bethphage, He began to ascend up (in elevation) to Jerusalem and ordered His disciples to get a particular colt for Him so that He might ride into the city.

As He did so, His disciples took of their own garments, and palm leaves from nearby trees and strew them for a path, and began to rejoice for all the works that the LORD had done, which they personally witnessed:

LUKE 19: 37 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;
38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.
39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.
40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.
43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,
44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.

Lament over Lazarus -

Then there was that time in JOHN 11, a very personal and intimate time of grief at the grave of a beloved friend of whom it was said by his surviving sisters (Mary and Martha) "Lord, he whom thou lovest is sick".

The shortest and yet one of the most powerful verses in the Scriptures:

JOHN 11:35 Jesus wept.

There are many different thoughts about why the LORD wept at Lazarus' tomb. Some said that He wept because of the unbelief of those around Him, concerning His claim to be the Resurrection and the Life and doubted His abilities to raise Lazarus from the dead. Others suppose that in His humanity, He was simply grieving at the loss of His beloved friend.

I don't see any reason why both assertions couldn't be true. Yet I think there was something much more than simply these things, valid though they are.

Goblins and Monkees -

Now what has this got to do with this exhortation, you might ask? What is this about 'goblins and monkees, James?' you would inquire - 'something about a transgenic experiment that resulted in flying monkeys like on the Wizard of Oz (those monkey creatures gave me nightmares as a little kid!)?'

As most of you know, I write for two other sites besides this one; one of them is The RED PILL Consortium, and the latest series of articles I've written on that blog is a survey of sorts on Dr. Stan Monteith's book, The Brotherhood of Darkness - Part 6. This link will bring you to the latest of this series; if you wish to read the other previous five articles, you can follow them by the links found at the right hand column.

I caution you however that this subject matter is very heavy and dark and at times very depressing. It reveals how Satan is ever at work, through his witting and unwitting minions at gaining territories for his own kingdom of darkness . . . the very reason why we as children of Light ought to be "redeeming the time because the days are evil" (EPH 5:16).

When I completed the sixth installment of this series, explaining further on the schemes, plans, actions and deeds of these globalist 'goblins' it was only a matter days before I learned of the news concerning Davy Jones, former member of the Monkees. A singing musical group that had their own comedy show in the early 60s.

I was very saddened by this news, remembering as a child all the silly antics and fun that I roared in laughter at while watching their show. Then something surprising happened to me while I thought of the demise of this man; I actually choked up and found my eyes misting over with tears!

This is the end of the Innocence?

I was thinking to myself, Well any death is sad and tragic of course, but what's all this for a TV personality? As I pondered the reasons for this rather peculiar lament, I found that I was not only mourning the death of this man, but also thinking about that 'innocent' time of childhood; (we all understand we have a sin nature and that no one except Jesus is really innocent in nature, but...) as children we are most usually unaware of our own depravity and we generally think of the world in a naive way as being friendly, good and non-dangerous.

Researching all of what's happening in today's world (and yesterday's for that matter) I have come to learn more and more that this world is decidedly NOT friendly OR good OR non-dangerous! It's a very wicked world full of danger and deceit where the rich and powerful oppress the poor and weak just as they've always done throughout history (read the Psalms and look at all the times the writers of such plead with God to deliver them from their oppressors!).

I was not only mourning the death of a beloved and funny lil guy like Davy Jones, but also mourning that time of relative innocence as a child, and also mourning the deplorable, wretched condition of mankind where ambition to subvert freedom, subjugate peace, pervert justice and ruin genuine love is the game of choice which these goblins love to play.

A Plan Perverted, Then Postponed -This is not the ideal world which God originally had in mind! It's a fallen world full of fallen people, some of which believe that they are 'holier than thou' (ISAIAH 65:6) religiously righteous folk when in actuality they are spiritually blind, miserable and naked and seek to war against the true saints of the LORD who express genuine faith in Him and His Word, apart from the religious accouterments and trappings (MATT 23: 16, 24; REV 3:17). Others are deplorably self-interested predators who seek only for themselves and are entirely unsympathetic towards their fellow man.

God Who is perfect in holiness looks down upon this unholy world full of unholy people committing unholy thoughts and unholy deeds; even we Christians have only a partial understanding of what holiness is . . . Every soul born into this world has known only an existence of sin as the reality we all have known since we aware of this world. A person who was born sick and has remained so every day of their lives has no concept or understanding of what health is like; the same could be said of those born blind and dear in relationship to colors and sounds.

HOLY, HOLY, HOLY -

Yet God is fully aware of holiness as an integral part of His Being; Jesus, being God made flesh, Who dwelled in that perfect domain that is heaven, suffered by even entering into this world of sin and enduring such sinners as we (HEB 12:3)! Only God Who is perfect in Holiness can really and truly understand how terribly sick and wretched we sinners are and how this dreadfully powerful force had ruined us!

Weeping For This Night in the World -

And God weeps. The paragon of His creation, spiritually murdered by Satan, and impoverished of the riches that He endowed upon our First Parents Adam and Eve and all the tumultuous trial and trouble that we have experienced since that fateful day is witnessed by the LORD of Heaven and His heart is broken for us.

I believe that was primarily why the LORD Jesus wept at Lazarus' tomb - what sin had brought into the world: death like that of a beloved friend; destruction like that of the beloved city Jerusalem - because of sin and ignorance of God's Truth, we are vulnerable and even naked in protective provisions from an enemy who is fervently lusting for our utter ruin. And God the Son weeps.

PSALM 30:5 
For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

The Genuine JOY of JESUS -

Yet this man of sorrows, acquainted with grief is also the LORD of glory, Who endured the cross, despised the shame and now sits at the right hand of the throne of God and looks on with JOY, sublime; holy JOY with the eyes of eternity and sees us complete in HIM - free from the marr and stain of sin and misery, delivered from destruction, loosed from the livid and evil lusts that plague us, no longer weighed down with oppression, loneliness, suffering, injustice and heartache.

He sees us beautified in the Spirit as the Bride of Christ, whose garments are white and without wrinkle (REV 19:6-7; EPH 5:27), and jeweled with the character of Jesus our LORD! His weeping endured for the width and breadth of that night of sin, the blackness of depravity that was draped upon His holy soul at the Cross - and He actually became sin for us Who knew no sin - and we are made the righteousness of no one less than God Himself (2 COR 5:21)! But that time is over in Eternity, and there is the JOY of our LORD which we will enter into when we shall finally see our Beloved face to Face!

What a blessed time we will experience, a time never ending; a reality of "the abundance of peace" which we will delight in -

PSALM 37:11 
But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

Yet for now, we may indeed sympathize with those that mourn - they are blessed who mourn over their own spiritual poverty (MATT 5:4) and weep with those that weep (ROM 12:15), but also let us exhort one another and introduce those who are yet foreigners to the Kingdom of God - of the Blessed Hope Who is one Day soon returning to end this night of weeping for us all who trust in Him - and see the Son Rise to the glory and establishment of His Kingdom of Peace upon this Earth!

ISAIAH 65:19
And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.

ISAIAH 9:6
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

LUKE 1: 30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.