Podcasts about 1pet

The Tongue Conquers Enemies  (Audio) David Eells 9/22/24   A shaking is on the way. War appears to be breaking out on the surface.  The Covert war between the Alliance and the DS is likely to break out in larger overt operations. The DS has invaded the cities with terrorists and military-aged men and CCP Chinese along with others that are expanding the voter rolls within, in order to overthrow President Trump and the Alliance. They are preparing for terrorist acts because of the Brunson case has gone to the Supreme Court which will overthrow the DS government.  This from Operation Disclosure: The Brunson Brothers Voter Fraud Case before the Supreme Court asked a simple question: Did Congress investigate 50 formally filed allegations of voter fraud before certifying the 2020 Election? Obviously not, and rumor was that the Supreme Court had already ruled such on the case. We awaited an announcement likely in favor of Brunson that would dissolve the Biden Administration and all of Congress, plus bring in Martial Law until a new election was held.  Five separate assassination teams actively targeting President Trump. Three are foreign, two domestic. Three Assassination Attempts have come in the last few weeks. Your prayers and faith have cast down all five of these teams. President Trump is insulated.  Congressman Tim Burchett exposed the CIA's Sinister MK ULTRA plot to assassinate Trump! amg-news.com.  As we will see below your prayers and confession will cast most of the lawlessness down.  The DS anarchists plan on mass anarchy and destruction of cities and the Alliance military is being spread coast to coast before the announcement of the Supreme Court ruling in order to defend the cities and liberty from the lawless left who will not accept democracy. We cast down their weapons of warfare.     A New War Is Coming   Michael Boldea Jr. - 04/06/2007   Jeremiah 50:22 A sound of battle is in the land, and of great destruction. James 5:8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.   I dreamt I was hearing what were at first faint hoof beats, but the closer they got, the louder they grew, until it was a thundering roar of not one or two horses but what seemed like hundreds. I felt as though the ground beneath me was shaking from the onrushing horses, and the sound of them became so loud, that I suddenly awoke in my bed. As I blinked a few times, adjusting to the darkness in my room, I noticed a shadow at the foot of my bed. I blinked again, and there stood the same man I have seen on previous occasions, dressed in battle armor, his hands resting atop each other before him, on the hilt of his sword.   “What is the meaning of what I just dreamt?” I asked, somehow knowing he had come to give me the interpretation.   “What you heard”, he began, “were the chariots of war, and they are swiftly approaching. A new war is coming, but it will be unlike this present one. Speak as you have spoken, pray as you have prayed, and walk as you have walked for dark days will soon come upon the land to which you are returning. Even now their enemies plot, even now their enemies unite under one banner, and soon they will make their intentions known to the world. There is no refuge but in the Father, and He will guide and protect those who know His voice”. (And confess His promises.)  I blinked again, and the man was gone, and I was left to ponder the words I had heard. I struggled with whether I should make this dream public, for I know the reaction that some will have to it, and the last thing I desire is to stir fear in the heart of any man. After much prayer I felt I was supposed to publish the dream, and though some may receive it as a reason to fear, the true children of God will receive it for what it was, the forewarning of a loving Father, preparing His children for what is to come. God's desire for us is not ignorance, but rather knowledge, that we may prepare our hearts, in prayer and fasting, that we may draw closer to Him, that we make Him our place of refuge long before hardship forces us to seek one. The wise man prepares, while the foolhardy is caught unaware.   Jeremiah 19:15 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: 'Behold, I will bring on this city and on all her towns all the doom that I have pronounced against it, because they have stiffened their necks that they might not hear My words.       Terrorists Hiding in the States   Michael Boldea Jr. - May 5, 2003  I dreamt I was on a very high ridge, with a great valley spanning out beneath me. The night was calm, the moon and stars shining brightly in the sky. As I looked around trying to get my bearings, I was stunned to see my grandfather (Dumitru Duduman) standing next to me. He looked young and vibrant, his hands in his pockets, and a smile on his face.   “Interesting times ahead my boy, interesting times ahead”, he said. For a minute I was so shocked I couldn't say anything. Finally I blurted out the only thing that came to mind, “They have been interesting ever since you left. Trial after trial, hardship after hardship”.   “Now you know how Jesus felt when He walked the earth”, he answered, “always doing good, always in the Father's will, yet always mocked and rejected, always misunderstood and despised. Besides, it was all a test anyway”.  “A test of what?” I asked.   “For you personally, God wanted to see if you would stay true to your calling even when all seemed lost. He was preparing you and purging you, refining you, for the time when He will use you, and speak to you as He spoke to me”.   Before I could say anything, he lifted his hand to stop me. His fingers were no longer crooked from his arthritis, they were straight, and normal.   “I know what you're going to say my boy, it's not what you want, it's not what you asked for. But you should know by now it is the task you were chosen for. In this you have no choice, besides where can you hide from the face of God? Men have tried before, look how it turned out in the end. To reject what God has planned for you is to deny God. You know what the consequences are”. Unable to find the words to answer, I simply nodded my understanding and allowed him to continue speaking.   “As for why the ministry had to go through what it went through, God has already spoken that to your heart. You already know the answer. God wants all that know of this work, to be certain of one thing. It is He who sustains it; it is He who blesses it, and not the hands of men or their gimmicks. Do you think any of it would still be here after all that has happened if not for God? Never doubt Gods promises concerning this work, or His ability to fulfill them. Hope in God never disappoints; hope in man always leads to disillusionment.” (Amen. God has been preparing and sanctifying His Reformers to be leaders for the soon coming tribulation.)   “Now for the reason I am here. I was sent to show you something. Look and see”, he said, pointing down to the valley below. As I looked, I saw the outline of a map of America then the outlines of states began taking shape. As I continued to watch this map solidify, small lights began to flicker on and off in some of the states. I recognized California, Illinois, Michigan, Arizona, Washington State, Florida, and New York, among the states that lit up. The light was rhythmic, almost like a homing beacon, constant in its progression. I continued watching the lights go on and off, waiting for something else to happen, but nothing did. Finally I said, “I don't understand. What does this mean?”   “These are the places where those who were sent here long ago, to bring fear and cause chaos, have situated themselves. They lay in waiting, planning and plotting destruction. They are as coiled serpents, looking forward to the hour when they will be loosed upon this nation. If God's children pray, once more will He delay the season of sorrow that is yet to come”. (I believe He has done this.)   We stood on the ridge in silence for a long time. After a while the lights stopped flickering in the valley below, and the map began to fade away. Suddenly my grandfather turned his head toward the east, and began to sniff the air as he used to do. “Storms coming my boy, and it's a bad one”, he said. “Now give an old man a hug and let me be on my way. Be vigilant and work while you still can, it's all God asks of any of His servants. If the Father wills it, we will speak again”.   As I hugged my grandfather, I began to hear the rumbling of a great storm. The sky darkened overhead, and the booming of thunder was now audible. In my dream I closed my eyes, and when I opened them again, I was in my bed, awake. I wiped at my cheeks with the back of my hand, and realized I had been crying. As my eyes began to adjust to the dark, I saw that my wife was sitting up in bed, staring at me. When I asked her why she wasn't sleeping, she said I'd been talking in my sleep for over thirty minutes. I tried going back to sleep but sleep would not come. Finally I gave up trying, went into the kitchen and prayed until morning.   Over the past few days, I have spent much time in prayer as to whether I should share this dream or not. I believe that I am supposed to. My prayer is that no one would perceive it as a reason for fear, but rather a reason to hope. God hears the prayers of His children, and as long as He encourages us to pray, we must do so without reservation. The day will come, a day I anticipate with great dread, when God will speak to His children as He spoke to Jeremiah, and say do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry for them any longer. For now, while we still can, may we ceaselessly bring our petitions before the Lord.       Our Secret Place of Safety   David Eells   Everyone is looking for the place of safety in the tribulations to come. One man says the safe place is to be with the Ark of the Covenant, which is said to be in a Chapel next to St Mary of Zion, Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Axum, Ethiopia. I believe that Solomon gave a copy of the Ark to the Queen of Sheba who carried it there.   Be that as it may; God no longer dwells in houses made by men, so the ark is a relic. (Acts 7:47) But Solomon built him (God) a house. (48) Howbeit the Most High dwelleth not in [houses] made with hands. That just tells us that the ark in the temple was just a type and shadow of Jesus in His body. As He said, “I in them, and thou in me, that they may be perfected into one” (Jn.17:23). God now dwells in the ark of Christ and Christ now dwells in the Body of Christ. In us He is the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein [was] a golden pot holding the manna (of the Word in us), and Aaron's rod that budded (a sign of the authority of the High Priest in us), and the tables of the covenant (of the law written on our heart) (Heb.9:4).   The presence of the Ark ensured Israel of victory and protection. When the Philistines captured the Ark it brought a curse on them so terrible that they sent it home with an offering. On the other hand Jesus said in (Mat.5:13) Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men.   Another brother asked me if I thought the Christians will flee for safety to the city of Petra in Jordan. I told him that I thought Petra would be far too small to accommodate them and it would be a natural trap where they could be wiped out. I do believe that some natural Jews will find shelter in Petra, which is the Greek word for “rock”. However, spiritual Jews who are circumcised in heart, have the spiritual Rock of Jesus as a place of safety. Jesus said that standing on Him was the place where Hell had no power over us. (Mat.16:18) And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter (Gr: “Petros”, meaning a piece of the rock), and upon this rock (Greek: Petra) I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. Jesus is our rock of safety.   Peter himself said that Jesus was the Rock that we are to be founded on. (1Pet.2:5) ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (6) Because it is contained in scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: And he that believeth on him shall not be put to shame. (7) For you therefore that believe is the preciousness: but for such as disbelieve, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner; (8) and, A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence; for they stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. The disobedient stumble through unbelief in the Word and so are not founded on the Rock. Judgment will take them away wherever they hide.   Those who are obedient to the Word through faith are on the safety of the Rock. (Mat.7:24) Every one therefore that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man, who built his house upon the rock: (25) and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and if fell not: for it was founded upon the rock. (26) And every one that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand: (27) and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and smote upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall thereof. The apostate churches belittle obedience to the Word because of their unbelief.  We don't stand on the Rock in our own strength but our faith gives us God's strength. My wife had a dream of me after we first became Christians. She saw me standing on a Rock in the middle of the ocean. I had leg braces on like crippled people wear to strengthen their legs. I perceived that the Rock was Christ or the Word and the ocean was the curse as was the flood. In our own strength we are crippled and not able to stand on the Word, but the filling of His Spirit and faith in His promises empowers us to be what we normally are not.   It has come to me that only the rich in a time of economic collapse and wrath would be able to fly to the city of Petra, but salvation is for the poor. No amount of money can buy us safety, because it is not a place but a state of being. (Pr.11:4) Riches profit not in the day of wrath; but righteousness delivereth from death. (6) The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them; But the treacherous shall be taken in their own iniquity.   Faith in the Lord makes Him our secret refuge. (Psa.91:1) He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Notice the confession that puts us on the Rock. (2) I will say of Jehovah, He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in whom I trust. The secret place of safety will be hidden to many who are only called “Christian” but the righteous are safe right in the middle of judgment. (7) A thousand shall fall at thy side, And ten thousand at thy right hand; [But] it shall not come nigh thee. (8) Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold, And see the reward of the wicked. (The good confession that puts us in safety.)  9 For thou, O Jehovah, art my refuge! Thou hast made the Most High thy habitation; 10  There shall no evil befall thee, Neither shall any plague come nigh thy tent. God's angels will protect the righteous wherever they are. (11) For he will give his angels charge over thee, To keep thee in all thy ways. (12) They shall bear thee up in their hands, Lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. They do this for the righteous who believe. (Gal.3:13) Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: (14) that upon the Gentiles might come the blessing of Abraham in Christ Jesus.   A friend of mine had a very clear dream about the coming invasion of America. He said everyone in the Gulf States was fleeing toward the north to get as far away from the invading army as possible. He was going to get on a shuttle and go too, but the Lord told him to give his place to someone else and sent him and his family into a local city that had been nuked. He had no fear of the radiation or the enemy. It is obvious that God's people will not need to follow the world's example. Paul was not hiding but sharing the Gospel in the most effective time to do so. He said, “[in] journeyings often, [in] perils of rivers, [in] perils of robbers, [in] perils from [my] countrymen, [in] perils from the Gentiles, [in] perils in the city, [in] perils in the wilderness, [in] perils in the sea, [in] perils among false brethren” (2 Cor.11:26).   The Lord told me that this time represented the second 3½ years of the tribulation period. Paul also said, “what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me” (2Tim.3:11). He also said, “But the Lord stood by me, and strengthened me; that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. The Lord will deliver me from every evil work, and will save me unto his heavenly kingdom” (2Tim.4:17,18).   If one is called to be a martyr, they will have the protection of God until their testimony is finished and even then only their flesh will be given up for a sacrifice. (Rev.11:7) And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that cometh up out of the abyss shall make war with them, and overcome them, and kill them.      Agree with the Blessed Provisions   David  We are in a battle which can be won by those who will speak the Word of the Lord and confess His promises for safety and provision. The Bible tells us that Death and life are in the power of the tongue (Pro.18:21). Let's look at how we can cooperate with God in the process of sanctification so that we are those who speak life and partake of the benefits of the Kingdom and able to give them to others. (Jas.3:8) But the tongue can no man tame; [it is] a restless evil, [it is] full of deadly poison. (9) Therewith bless we the Lord and Father; and therewith curse we men, who are made after the likeness of God: (10) out of the same mouth cometh forth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. (11) Doth the fountain send forth from the same opening [sweet water] and bitter? (12) can a fig tree, my brethren, yield olives, or a vine figs? neither [can] salt water yield sweet. We want to learn by the grace of God to bring forth those “sweet waters” so that we will not suffer with the wicked.  When Moses and the children of Israel came up to Marah, meaning “bitterness” (Exo 15:22-25), they couldn't drink the water. God commanded that a tree be cast into the waters so that they would be made sweet. Marah represents the bitter waters of the fountain, or mouth, which were cured by the tree, representing the Cross. The Cross has conquered our tongue and has given us this gift of the sweet waters so we can bring forth blessings, instead of the cursings, out of this spring of our mouth. Believe this.  The Bible also tells us, The heart of the wise instructeth his mouth, And addeth learning to his lips (Pro.16:23). So we want to educate ourselves to be swift to hear, slow to speak and slow to wrath (Jas.1:19). We need to think about what we are saying and disagree with the devil because he tempts us to speak the things under the curse and not the things of the Kingdom. The Lord is helping us and He has already conquered the tongue, which no man can tame, but the Lord can through His Word and promises. Jesus was the sacrifice Who gave us a new tongue through the reconciliation.   It says in (Jos.1:6) Be strong and of good courage; for thou shalt cause this people to inherit the land which I sware unto their father to give them. (7) Only be strong and very courageous, to observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest have good success whithersoever thou goest. Notice that God said that Joshua (Hebrew: “Jesus”) was going to cause His people to be brought into their inherited Promised Land. This land belongs to us, not every Pagen alien they can invade us with and we will win this battle with them.  We know that the Promised Land is also us. Heb 6:7-8 For the land which hath drunk the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them for whose sake it is also tilled, receiveth blessing from God: 8 but if it beareth thorns and thistles, it is rejected and nigh unto a curse; whose end is to be burned. Jesus bore this curse let us confess Him before men.  The Son of God is being manifested in His people. (Col.1:27) … Christ in you, the hope of glory. He is a product of the Word of God being assimilated in our life and mouth; Christ is the Word of God (John 1:14). He saved us from our enemies. (Luk.1:70-74) (As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets that have been from of old), 71 Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; ...74 To grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies Should serve him without fear,  You crucify the spiritual man when you walk and talk in the flesh and for those who have been filled with the Holy Spirit and enlightened, who have tasted of the heavenly gift, this will become a curse unto them. (Heb.6:7) For the land which hath drunk the rain (Those who have partaken of the Word from heaven.) that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them for whose sake it is also tilled, receiveth blessing from God: (8) but if it beareth thorns and thistles, it is rejected and nigh unto a curse; whose end is to be burned. The word “rejected” is adokimos, meaning, specifically, “reprobated.” The apostle Paul said that he kept his body under control if, perhaps, after he had preached to others, he himself would be “rejected” or “reprobated” (1Co 9:27). This has been demonstrated to us.   God doesn't reprobate land; He reprobates people. The Bible is very plain; in the original Greek, we are God's “tilled land” (1Co.3:9). God wants to plow this earth, our natural life, and plant His seed in the midst of it, bringing forth the fruit of Jesus Christ in us. The land that Joshua wants to cause us to inherit is referring to our new fruit and life. Part of that is our bold faith. The spiritual man, the Israelite, is to conquer this land with the edge of the Sword, the Word of God. The spiritual man is to take the land from the enemy, the Canaanite and live in his house, our body, and plant his crop and bear the fruit of the spiritual man.   (Jos.1:7) Only be strong and very courageous, to observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest have good success whithersoever thou goest. Notice that turning to the right or left would cause failure to take our Promised Land from the enemies.   I had a dream many years ago where I was standing on a mountain, looking down into a valley and a road that went down the side of this mountain. The road had a ditch or trench down the middle of it. I was in a car, with one set of tires on one side of the trench and the other set on the other side, going down this road to the bottom of the mountain. I realized I couldn't turn to the right or the left because, if I did, two wheels would fall into the trench and that would be the end of any progress; I wouldn't go any farther. I steered very carefully, not to the right and not to the left, as I went down this mountain. Let us speak what the Word says about us.  The Lord gave me the understanding afterward that this mountain represented the kingdom of the world – man, self or the old life. I was to navigate this road and not turn to the right or left, until I got off of this mountain. As soon as I was at the bottom, I immediately realized that there were enemies everywhere. To the extent that we humble ourselves to the Word of God, going down the mountain of “self,” the more enemies we will have, even religious enemies or so-called “Christian” enemies. (2Ti.3:12) … All that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But as we hold fast to the confession of our hope the enemies will be conquered as our faction was and the political faction shall be. (Luk10:19) Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you.  Most of the persecution toward Jesus and the disciples came from the people who called themselves the “people of God” but were not. When I got to the bottom and knew that the enemy was everywhere, I went under a bush and there I found tools that I picked up, and treated them as if they were treasure. These tools were hammers, screwdrivers, wrenches and so on. The Lord later revealed to me that these tools represented the authority to bind and loose (Mat 18:18), as all of these tools do. The Lord made me to know I was coming to a time, when under the bush, I was going to manifest more of this authority. Let us bind our enemies in the name of Jesus.   At the time of the burning bush, Moses was given authority to go into Egypt to act for the Lord. I've been binding and loosing for many years but I believe that we're coming to a time of real power from God. It's only going to come to those who humble themselves and don't turn to the right or to the left, but stay on God's road, a self-crucifying path of obedience to the Word of God. When I picked up these tools, I went up another mountain, which represented Mount Zion. I went through the front doors of a great temple, which I believe represented the New Jerusalem on Mount Zion and I saw Jesus sitting on His throne. I went over and sat down next to Him, as He said that overcomers would do. (Rev.3:21) He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit down with me in my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father in his throne. This is the throne of dominion over our enemies.  As I was speaking with Jesus, I heard people trying to come into the throne room by a back way and not through the door that I had come through. Jesus is the door in John 10:1. Jesus saw these people and said, “Don't worry about them; they can't come in here.” So these were people looking for “throne room” authority but they wouldn't humble themselves to the Word of God personally. The Pharisees only had physical authority as in our day. God will give authority only to those who overcome according to Rev 2:26. Back to (Jos.1:8) This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate thereon day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. The spiritual man speaks the Word so that as you walk, it will bring good success when conquering our Promised Land for the Lord. The first fruits are approaching this point. We must speak according to God's promises, even in the midst of the fiery trial. As Christians, we “calleth the things that are not, as though they were” (Rom.4:17). We speak the things we have according to promise and not according to what we see in the world. This is how we change the things around us. This is God's plan. We let the Word, or our agreement with the Word in what we say, come from our mouth so that we may have good success in conquering our Promised Land.   Further on in Joshua, we see that he is still leading the people of God to conquer their Promised Land in order to put to death their enemies there. In this particular case, the head of God's people, Joshua, is conquering the Amorites. (Jos.10:12) Then spake Joshua to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel; and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; And thou, Moon, in the valley of Aijalon. I believe God is showing us here to what extent He would go to give our enemy into our hands, if we would speak the Word with boldness.   (Jos.10:8) And the Lord said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thy hands; there shall not a man of them stand before thee. On a personal and spiritual level that “man” He was referring to was the old man who lived in the Promised Land of our life before the new man took possession. He represented the lusts of the flesh, which would not be able to stand. On a physical and political level it would be the DS and their invading army. Joshua and the children of Israel were having victory over the Amorites but they were running out of time. Remember, the Lord said that if we confess Him before men, He shall confess us before the Father in Mat 10:32.   Likewise, Joshua confessed in the sight of Israel. He was bold and full of faith and he spoke it right in front of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; And thou, Moon, in the valley of Aijalon (Jos.10:12). (13) And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, Until the nation had avenged themselves of their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jashar? And the sun stayed in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.   Now at first, I thought God just stopped Earth from spinning, but I later realized that the moon stayed in the same relative position as the sun and Earth didn't spin. It's possible the whole solar system had stopped. This is a very dangerous thing to do, unless you also control the rest of the universe. Things would tend toward collision down the road somewhere. Can you imagine that God stopped the solar system and more, just so Israel could conquer their enemy? What kind of other big miracle can you imagine that God would do for us to give us victory over our enemy? God gave the Israelites an awesome victory over their enemies! Of course, they needed the time and, for a whole day, the system was frozen. We have all heard of NASA finding the missing day so they could calculate where things would be at a certain time.  People claim that God only did that back then and does not do that today, simply because of the verse right after it. (Jos.10:14) And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the Lord hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the Lord fought for Israel. Well, the Lord still hearkens unto our voice, for many people speak miracles today and they come to pass as they did in the Bible long after Joshua. The key here is “voice of a man” The creation now hearkens to the voice of God through man.  Jesus said, the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, and are life (Joh.6:63), meaning they are His Spirit and His life. In other words, it's the life of God living in us; it's the spiritual man who speaks in agreement with the Word of God. Also, it is the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Eph.6:17). Therefore, it's not as if God is hearkening unto the voice of a man, but He is hearkening unto the voice of His sons. That spiritual man in us is not man, but God. The Son of God is manifesting in His people speaking His Words out of us. When we come into agreement with the Word, we can be trusted. The Lord said, If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you (Joh.15:7). Why? The Word in you is trustworthy to God. If you fill yourself up with the Word and you desire earnestly to walk in agreement with it, God says you're trustworthy.   A long time after Joshua, the Lord wrote this: (Isa.45:11) Thus saith the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: Ask me of the things that are to come; concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands, command ye me. Does God really do that? When you command something to be done, like when His disciples commanded healings, deliverances, provision and so on, God fulfilled it. God gave them the authority, which is the right to use power and it's what we do when we speak in agreement with the Word of God. In effect, what we are doing is commanding God, since He said that if we do, He will do it and Jesus said the same.   Psalm 8 was spoken concerning the natural Adam and his seed, but also in type to spiritual Adam, Jesus Christ, and His seed. (Psa.8:6) Thou makest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet. This was said of man and the Son of man. Jesus said that God had given Him authority because He is son of man (Joh.5:27). Man was given authority on the earth but when Adam sinned, he lost that authority to Satan. However, we gained it back through Jesus Christ because He was faithful. We now have this authority over the works of God's hands when we speak in agreement with the Word of God and He fulfills it. (Lam.3:37) Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?   The next thing we see in Joshua is that they went after the five kings who were ruling the Promised Land. (Jos.10:16) And these five kings fled, and hid themselves in the cave at Makkedah. (17) And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings are found, hidden in the cave at Makkedah. (18) And Joshua said, Roll great stones unto the mouth of the cave, and set men by it to keep them: (19) but stay not ye; pursue after your enemies, and smite the hindmost of them; suffer them not to enter into their cities: for the Lord your God hath delivered them into your hand. The first thing they did was trap the five kings in the cave and then they rolled great stones over the mouth of the cave.   Adam was created from the dust of the earth and this old man is earthly, but as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly (1Co.15:49). We are both earthly and heavenly, a spiritual man of the heavens and the carnal man of the earth represented by this cave in the earth. The carnal man of the earth has a mouth and here it's called “the mouth of the cave.” The Lord made the spiritual men roll these great stones over the mouth of the cave. The five kings represent the five senses and the spiritual man put stones, which represent the Word, over the mouth so the carnal senses are not permitted to speak and bring a curse.   The Bible says that senses must be exercised by the Word of God so that we understand the difference between good and evil. (Heb.5:13) For every one that partaketh of milk is without experience of the word of righteousness; for he is a babe. (14) But solid food is for fullgrown men, [even] those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil. Born-again people have born-again senses. As spiritual men, we must have spiritual senses. Our carnal senses trap and rule over us and our land when we live according to what we see, hear and feel as the old man and the world does.   God teaches us how to spiritually see in (2Pe.1:3) Seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue. We see that God has already provided us everything that pertains unto life and godliness! Now you have the eyes of a dove (Son 1:15). You have the eyes of the Spirit when you begin to see that the promises are true, but the world is transitory. (2Pe.1:4) Whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises (the stones at the mouth of the cave); that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust.   Having eyes to see, we can partake of God's nature. We will have spiritual eyes, ears, touch, spiritual smell (or discernment), spiritual taste and words. We've been given these spiritual gifts that enable the spiritual man to take over. The Israelites had captured the five kings who ruled the Promised Land in a cave and they closed up the mouth with great stones. And we know, Jesus is the Stone; He's the Rock which is the Word of God. These great stones represent the great promises of the Word of God. We're adding learning to our lips, which are the “mouth of the cave.”   When we study the Word of God, we learn and see what we are supposed to say and what we're not supposed to say. It gives us restraint to not say things that would permit a curse upon our life. The Israelites had to conquer the Promised Land, and conquer these kings that ruled over the carnal man and bring the curse upon him. And this is what the parable points to – rolling out those stones in front of the mouth. (Eph.4:29) Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for edifying (building-up) as the need may be, that it may give grace to them that hear.   We can see that we can apply many verses when speaking of conquering the DS with all their invaders who are getting ready to overthrow this land we live in. Just a couple come quickly to mind. (Mat.18:18-19) Verily I say unto you, What things soever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and what things soever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father who is in heaven. And (Mar.11:23-24) Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that what he saith cometh to pass; he shall have it. 24 Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. These will come in useful when the invaders rise up.  If we see and walk in the Spirit, then we speak in agreement with the Spirit. (2Co.7:1) Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Our nature is changed by the Word of God when …we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit. (2Co 3:18) When we see a need, such as someone living under the curse, we should speak truth with grace to them to overcome, grace to meet that need, whatever it may be. When we speak according to the Kingdom, we are meeting someone's need for God and His benefits. Saving this country from the invaders to whatever extent God permits is a need.  They will be permitted to persecute the apostate Church for it is in rebellion to the Word of our covenant. (Col.3:17) And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, [do] all in the name (Greek: “nature, character and authority”) of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Do everything as if you are representing Him because you are an ambassador of Christ (2Co 5:20), so speak His words to this world and His enemies. We're called to confess Him before men always and to speak in His name.   (1Pe.4:11) If any man speaketh, speaking as it were oracles of God; if any man ministereth, [ministering] as of the strength which God supplieth: that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, whose is the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen. When we speak as an oracle of God, that is His Word coming out of us, we're letting the spiritual man, who is in communication with God through our spirit, do the speaking. We don't let the carnal man, the flesh, do the speaking.   To walk holy is to walk separate. The Greek word for “holy” is the same word for “sanctified” and it means “separate”; that is, separated from the world, from sin, separated unto God. We speak His words, think His thoughts and we do His works because He lives in us. The more we do that, the more we grow in holiness. It's the place of Holiness, preservation and provision. Without holiness, no man can see the Lord (Heb 12:14). Holiness is what we grow in when we bear the fruit of Jesus Christ. It is separation from the old man, who is moved and ruled by the carnal senses, unto the new man, who is ruled according to the spiritual senses.   Now let's go to (Isa.11:2) 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 his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord; and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither decide after the hearing of his ears; (4) but with righteousness shall he judge the poor (This is poor in the things of the Kingdom), and decide 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 waist, and faithfulness the girdle of his loins.   He's talking about Christ in His first-fruits Man-child in the end-time who will not walk according to the carnal senses because he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither decide after the hearing of his ears (Isa.11:3). Instead, we are to have our senses exercised to discern good from evil (Heb 5:14) by the Word of God, which is the washing of water with the word (Eph.5:26). As our senses are exercised, we begin to see and hear spiritually; we begin to hear and speak the Voice of the Spirit.   It's similar to when David went to slay Goliath, the giant in the land. He went to the brook and pulled out those five smooth stones that were exercised by the washing of the water, which represents the Word. He took only one of those stones and he felled Goliath (1Sa 17). David spoke it to him ahead of time, declaring that he would take off Goliath's head and feed him to the birds. That's very bold! And because David spoke it, that's exactly what he did. The stone, or sense, that David was using was the tongue. The tongue senses tastes but it also speaks the Word. David conquered Goliath because he had spiritual senses.   Now we can return to Joshua. He told the Israelites to go after their enemies, since the five kings were already trapped in the cave and closed off with the stones. Now they were able to conquer those whom the kings had ruled over. (Jos.10:20) And it came to pass, when Joshua and the children of Israel had made an end of slaying them with a very great slaughter, till they were consumed, and the remnant which remained of them had entered into the fortified cities, (21) that all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace: none moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel.   (22) Then said Joshua, Open the mouth of the cave, and bring forth those five kings unto me out of the cave. (23) And they did so, and brought forth those five kings unto him out of the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon. (24) And it came to pass, when they brought forth those kings unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the chiefs of the men of war that went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them.   They let them out of the cave and they had to keep them from speaking, so they put their feet on their necks. It reminds me of the dream I've shared before about being in a war with a giant and not letting the old man speak. When he did, he said, “Bigger, bigger, bigger!” We have a lot of giants around us – a lot of big problems and a lot of big enemies. But we can't let the old man, whom I captured in the dream and who was in bondage to me, speak out of our mouth. I didn't want to let him speak because the old man has the authority to make the situation worse and make the enemy stronger and bigger. I refused him and demanded that the giant be reduced, saying, “No! Smaller, smaller, smaller.”   Similarly, the Israelites put their feet on the kings' necks, causing the five senses to not speak or to rule over the body. (Jos.10:25) And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed; be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the Lord do to all your enemies against whom ye fight. (Notice, you speak the Word and the Lord will do it. In Rev.12:11, the devil and his angels were cast down by the “word of their testimony” of the saints.)  (26) And afterward Joshua smote them, and put them to death, and hanged them on five trees: and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening. Notice that all of our enemies, firstly our old man, will be conquered in this way. Father said against Babylon in Jer.51:3 …Utterly destroy all her army. We are not permitted to wrestle with flesh nor use fleshly weapons but to “resist not” and if opportunity arises we are to preach Christ to them.  But we have authority over all their power and that includes the principalities and powers. (Luk.10:19) Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you. As an example to us, before Jesus' time of crucifixion, when the Jews sought to throw him off a cliff, he just passed through their midst unharmed. I was shot at by an assassin from close range and my angel made the bullet disappear. A tractor back blade was thrown straight at my head by a demon, while Michael watched, but all I felt was a finger on my nose pushing me to the ground with zero pain. That was just ahead of the blade. Michael was sure it had hit and killed me.  My tractor wheel fell into a hole and the tractor was flipping into a gully. I was looking straight down at the ground when the tractor uprighted with me stuck in the seat. It was a work of our satanists. Several other times I escaped them. (Luk.1:68) ...For he hath visited and wrought redemption for his people... 71 Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us...74 To grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies Should serve him without fear.  Jesus Christ was hanged upon a tree, or cross, and they wanted to take Him down before evening, too. Jesus also was buried in a cave. So why is God applying this to the senses of the old man? (Gal.2:20) I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me. That includes our five senses. The Lord has already taken care of this problem when He was crucified on that tree and you were crucified with Him. You have been given this gift of the new man, for by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified (Heb.10:14).  We walk in the spirit according to these divine senses that are attuned to the Kingdom of Heaven. These senses see how to walk in the Kingdom. It comes quite naturally to us to walk in the world but it comes supernaturally to us to walk in the Kingdom; that is, to have our senses exercised by the Word of God to see and hear the way God sees and hears, and to smell, or discern, the way God does. It is also to have our emotions in communication with God.   We have the victory over the old man and his senses because he's dead and the new man, Who is Jesus Christ, lives in you. Because of your faith and speaking that faith, God will bring it to pass. He will do it through our faith and not by our works. (Eph.2:8) For by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, [it is] the gift of God; (9) not of works, that no man should glory.   Father, we pray that You will (Psa.141:3) Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; Keep the door of my lips. Amen.  So we know that in the Kingdom of Heaven, there is singing, praise, worship and thanksgiving to the Lord our King. When we do this, we are bringing more of His Kingdom down here to earth. (Mat.6:10)  We have ‘authority over all the power of the enemy' (Luk.10:19). We have power in praise. When we praise the Lord, He gives us the victory!       Worship and Praise   Vines Expository Dictionary on the Greek word Worship: “to make obeisance, do reverence to” (from pros, “towards”, and kuneo, “to kiss”), is the most frequent word rendered “to worship”. It is used of an act of homage or reverence. In other words, worship is an act of love toward God.   Father is looking for those who worship Him with their all: (Joh.4:21) Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, shall ye worship the Father. (22) Ye worship that which ye know not: we worship that which we know; for salvation is from the Jews. (23) But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth: for such doth the Father seek to be his worshippers. (24) God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship in spirit and truth. There is much fake worship -- words without heart and spirit.   Worship is the way to bring God's presence: (Psa.100:1) Make a joyful noise unto Jehovah, all ye lands. (2) Serve Jehovah with gladness: Come before his presence with singing. (3) Know ye that Jehovah, he is God: It is he that hath made us, and we are his; We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. (4) Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, And into his courts with praise: Give thanks unto him, and bless his name. (5) For Jehovah is good; His lovingkindness endureth forever, And his faithfulness unto all generations.   Worship reveals our love and admiration for God and He knows it: (1Ch.29:11) Thine, O Jehovah, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Jehovah, and thou art exalted as head above all.   Praise Him everywhere, with a new song that comes from your heart, and dancing and with all instruments and enemies will be conquered: (Psa.149:1) Praise ye Jehovah. Sing unto Jehovah a new song, And his praise in the assembly of the saints. (2) Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. (3) Let them praise his name in the dance: Let them sing praises unto him with timbrel and harp. (4) For Jehovah taketh pleasure in his people: He will beautify the meek with salvation. (5) Let the saints exult in glory: Let them sing for joy upon their beds. (This will bind our enemies works against us.)  (7)  To execute vengeance upon the nations, And punishments upon the peoples;  (8)  To bind their kings with chains, And their nobles with fetters of iron;  (9)  To execute upon them the judgment written: This honor have all his saints. Praise ye Jehovah. (Children can conquer enemies in worship.) Psa 8:2  Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou established strength, Because of thine adversaries, That thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. (150:1) Praise ye Jehovah. Praise God in his sanctuary: Praise him in the firmament of his power. (2) Praise him for his mighty acts: Praise him according to his excellent greatness. (3) Praise him with trumpet sound: Praise him with psaltery and harp. (4) Praise him with timbrel and dance: Praise him with stringed instruments and pipe. (5) Praise him with loud cymbals: Praise him with high sounding cymbals. (6) Let everything that hath breath praise Jehovah. Praise ye Jehovah. It is the will of the Lord to worship in songs and hymns: (Eph.5:17) Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (18) And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Spirit; 19 speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; (20) giving thanks always for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; We give thanks to God; this is a secret of power because we believe we have already received what we asked, right?   Praise (meaning “brag on”) Him to everyone: (1Ch.16:23) Sing unto Jehovah, all the earth; Show forth his salvation from day to day. (24) Declare his glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples. (25) For great is Jehovah, and greatly to be praised: He also is to be feared above all gods. (26) For all the gods of the peoples are idols: But Jehovah made the heavens. (27) Honor and majesty are before him: Strength and gladness are in his place. (28) Ascribe unto Jehovah, ye kindreds of the peoples, Ascribe unto Jehovah glory and strength; (29) Ascribe unto Jehovah the glory due unto his name: Bring an offering, and come before him: Worship Jehovah in holy array. (30) Tremble before him, all the earth: The world also is established that it cannot be moved. (31) Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; And let them say among the nations, Jehovah reigneth.   We are taught to worship, praise and pray with hands lifted up to the Lord: (1Ti.2:8) I desire therefore that the men pray in every place, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and disputing. (Psa.63:4) So will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. (Lam.3:41) Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens. (Neh.8:6) and Ezra blessed Jehovah, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with the lifting up of their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped Jehovah with their faces to the ground.   Why lifting up hands? Offering our hands to the Lord for His works and to conquer His enemies: (Exo.17:9) And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to-morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand. (10) So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. (11) And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. (12) But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; And his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. (13) And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.   Worship and praise will conquer overwhelming enemies: (2Ch.20:17) Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of Jehovah with you, O Judah and Jerusalem; fear not, nor be dismayed: to-morrow go out against them: for Jehovah is with you. (18) And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground; and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before Jehovah, worshipping Jehovah. (19) And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites, stood up to praise Jehovah, the God of Israel, with an exceeding loud voice.   (20) And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem: believe in Jehovah your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper. (21) And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed them that should sing unto Jehovah, and give praise in holy array, as they went out before the army, and say, Give thanks unto Jehovah; for his lovingkindness endureth forever. (22) And when they began to sing and to praise, Jehovah set liers-in-wait against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, that were come against Judah; and they were smitten. (The angels will smite the enemies in the land.)  Worship to bind the enemy and their kings: (Psa.149:6) Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand; (7) To execute vengeance upon the nations, And punishments upon the peoples; (The Lord is doing this.) (8) To bind their kings with chains, And their nobles with fetters of iron; (9) To execute upon them the judgment written: This honor have all his saints. Praise ye Jehovah.   Because judgment and enemies are near, fear God and worship Him: (Rev.14:7) and he saith with a great voice, Fear God, and give him glory; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made the heaven and the earth and sea and fountains of waters. (Dan.3:16) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer thee in this matter. (17) If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of thy hand, O king. (18) But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.   (2Ki.17:38) and the covenant that I have made with you ye shall not forget; neither shall ye fear other gods: (39) but Jehovah your God shall ye fear; and he will deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.   We can clap and shout our triumph over our enemies. Triumph is celebrating the victory before we see it: (Psa.47:1) Oh clap your hands, all ye peoples; Shout unto God with the voice of triumph. (Jos.6:20) So the people shouted, and the priests blew the trumpets; and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, that the people shouted with a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.   Praise in Hebrew is “Hallal”, meaning brag on the Lord. Give credit or ascribe to the Lord: (Psa.29:1) Ascribe unto Jehovah, O ye sons of the mighty, Ascribe unto Jehovah glory and strength. (2) Ascribe unto Jehovah the glory due unto his name; Worship Jehovah in holy array. (3) The voice of Jehovah is upon the waters: The God of glory thundereth, Even Jehovah upon many waters. (4) The voice of Jehovah is powerful; The voice of Jehovah is full of majesty. (5) The voice of Jehovah breaketh the cedars; Yea, Jehovah breaketh in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. When we speak in agreement with the Word of God, we are giving “voice” to the Word and the angels hearken to His voice. (Psa.103:20) Bless Jehovah, ye his angels, That are mighty in strength, that fulfil his word, Hearkening unto the voice of his word. Amen! 

Because Jesus is The Wonderful Word, we are delighted to live in the light of His face, and we cannot get enough when He opens His Word to us. 1. The wonderful light of the Word. (v.129-130) 2. The wonderful light of The LORD. (v.131-135) 3. We share The LORD's grief about widespread darkness. (v.136) In what ways are God's Words wonderful? What is wonderful about God's actions? Ps.139:14 Who loves God's name? Mt. 23:37, Rom. 9:1-5 1Pet.2:2 How is The Word opened to us? Lk. 24:31,32,45, Ac.17:2-3

God Cares For You More Than You Think Delivered by Pastor Brad Smith 13/05/25. Gods word has the answer for all aspects of our weaknesses and fears... The following list reveals just how widespread God's care is for the human race... particularly those who are trying to walk in his ways. Scriptural References. Joh 14:27, 1Pet 5:6-7, Joh 14:18, Psa 46:1, Psa 34:17, 1Cor 14:33, Psa 32:8, Rom 8:37-39. A PDF copy of the talk notes is available to view or download at: https://www.brf.org.au/articles/articles.jsp?category=9 A MP3 audio of this talk is available to listen to or download at: https://www.brf.org.au/audio/audio.jsp?category=1

Rom 6:15; Heb 10:30; 2Cor 5:10; Rev 22:11; 1Pet 4:17; Heb 9:27; Mat 12:36; Jn 5:21; Mat 7:1; Luk 22:28;Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/what-jesus-says--4116133/support.

Vince Kember joins us again, this time to talk about the practice of showing hospitality. What is hospitality? What does it do, and what does it look like in real life? In a grace-based way, Vince encourages us to start now in showing hospitality. Scriptures Referenced:Gal 6:9-10; Eph 4:3, 28; Titus 1; 1Tim 6; Heb 13:16; 1Pet 4:9; 2Cor 6:11-13; Jam 2:1-6 Visit PracticologyPodcast.com for more episodes.Follow the Practicology Podcast on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MandMsPodcast

2Cor 5:21; Isa 61; Pro 21:21; Pro 21:2; Psa34:15; 1Pet 3:14; Psa 37:5; Pro 11:18; Rom 14:17; Mat 6:33Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/what-jesus-says--4116133/support.

In Ephesians 6:11,13, Paul commands us to put on the whole Armour of God (which God provides to us through His Word). Then in v14-18 he describes the 7 pieces of the Armour of God. Derek shares about the Belt of Truth and how to put it on (v14), and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the spoken word (rhema) of God (v17), and how they work together. The Belt of Truth consists of God's Word (John 17:17), which we are to put on tight by wrapping our heart around with His commands and promises, bringing our thoughts into alignment (1Pet 1:13). Our Belt consists of the Word of God that we know and have embraced until it is part of us. It is the foundational piece of Armour, which is why it is mentioned first (the sword, shield and breastplate were attached to it). If loose, the whole armour falls apart. The Sword of the Spirit fits in the Belt. In a fight, a soldier pulls his sword from his belt. Likewise, in a spiritual fight, we pull a Scripture-Sword from our Belt of Scriptures as quickened by the Spirit, and put in our mouth and speak it. It will then go forth in the power of the Spirit against the enemy. God's Word is like a sharp sword (Hebrews 4:12). Jesus used His Sword 3 times to defeat Satan, saying: "it is written" (Matthew 4:3-10). For the Sword to work we must first have our Belt on tight (know the Word well). We also see the Sword in action in Revelation 12:11, Isaiah 54:17, and Psalm 149:6-9.

In Ephesians 6:11,13, Paul commands us to put on the whole Armour of God (which God provides to us through His Word). Then in v14-18 he describes the 7 pieces of the Armour of God. Derek shares about the Belt of Truth and how to put it on (v14), and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the spoken word (rhema) of God (v17), and how they work together. The Belt of Truth consists of God's Word (John 17:17), which we are to put on tight by wrapping our heart around with His commands and promises, bringing our thoughts into alignment (1Pet 1:13). Our Belt consists of the Word of God that we know and have embraced until it is part of us. It is the foundational piece of Armour, which is why it is mentioned first (the sword, shield and breastplate were attached to it). If loose, the whole armour falls apart. The Sword of the Spirit fits in the Belt. In a fight, a soldier pulls his sword from his belt. Likewise, in a spiritual fight, we pull a Scripture-Sword from our Belt of Scriptures as quickened by the Spirit, and put in our mouth and speak it. It will then go forth in the power of the Spirit against the enemy. God's Word is like a sharp sword (Hebrews 4:12). Jesus used His Sword 3 times to defeat Satan, saying: "it is written" (Matthew 4:3-10). For the Sword to work we must first have our Belt on tight (know the Word well). We also see the Sword in action in Revelation 12:11, Isaiah 54:17, and Psalm 149:6-9.

We are called to fight the good (victorious) Fight of the Faith (the Word of God) according to 1Timothy 6:12 and 2Tim 4:6. Derek describes the nature of this fight and the keys to successful spiritual warfare. The fight is to stand on and stay true to God's Word, in faith and practice, against all opposition, deception and wiles of the enemy. It is the fight to stay in the faith, to continue to trust God and His Word. The strategy of the enemy is to try to get you off God's Word. Then you lose. We fight it with God's Word, by standing, speaking and doing His Word. (1) Our posture in the fight is to stand on His Word (Eph 6:11-14), which means standing on the finished work of Christ, who has already won the victory over every enemy (Col 2:15, Matt 28:18, Eph 1:19-21, Phil 2:9-11, 1Pet 3:22), and has shared the victory with us in His Name (Eph 2:4-6). So, in Christ we are overcomers (1John 2:13-14, 4:4, 5:4-5), more than conquerors (Rom 8:37) in the Name of Jesus (on the basis of His victory, power and authority). As we stand in faith we are automatically in the victory. (2) We must reject pride, and submit to God and resist the enemy (Jam 4:6-7, 1Pet 5:5-9, Job 41:34), by exercising our will in making a quality decision to trust in and stand firm on His Word and not be moved, no matter what happens, enforcing this by confessing the good (victorious) confession of His Word, just as a wrestler does everything in his power to stay on his feet (Eph 6:12, 1Tim 6:12, Isa 54:17, Rev 12:11), (3) As we do this, we must depend on and lay hold of the power of the Holy Spirit (God's eternal life that He gives us by grace - John 3:16, 1John 5:11-12), which is continually available to us by grace (Eph 1:19, 3:20, 5:18, 6:10, 1Tim 6:12). This is necessary, if we are to stand, because we wrestle against principalities and powers (Eph 6:12). Therefore our role in the battle is to submit to God and stand on His Word and resist the devil, standing in the victory of Christ, trusting in His Name, and depending on the power of His Spirit to strengthen our heart (will).

We are called to fight the good (victorious) Fight of the Faith (the Word of God) according to 1Timothy 6:12 and 2Tim 4:6. Derek describes the nature of this fight and the keys to successful spiritual warfare. The fight is to stand on and stay true to God's Word, in faith and practice, against all opposition, deception and wiles of the enemy. It is the fight to stay in the faith, to continue to trust God and His Word. The strategy of the enemy is to try to get you off God's Word. Then you lose. We fight it with God's Word, by standing, speaking and doing His Word. (1) Our posture in the fight is to stand on His Word (Eph 6:11-14), which means standing on the finished work of Christ, who has already won the victory over every enemy (Col 2:15, Matt 28:18, Eph 1:19-21, Phil 2:9-11, 1Pet 3:22), and has shared the victory with us in His Name (Eph 2:4-6). So, in Christ we are overcomers (1John 2:13-14, 4:4, 5:4-5), more than conquerors (Rom 8:37) in the Name of Jesus (on the basis of His victory, power and authority). As we stand in faith we are automatically in the victory. (2) We must reject pride, and submit to God and resist the enemy (Jam 4:6-7, 1Pet 5:5-9, Job 41:34), by exercising our will in making a quality decision to trust in and stand firm on His Word and not be moved, no matter what happens, enforcing this by confessing the good (victorious) confession of His Word, just as a wrestler does everything in his power to stay on his feet (Eph 6:12, 1Tim 6:12, Isa 54:17, Rev 12:11), (3) As we do this, we must depend on and lay hold of the power of the Holy Spirit (God's eternal life that He gives us by grace - John 3:16, 1John 5:11-12), which is continually available to us by grace (Eph 1:19, 3:20, 5:18, 6:10, 1Tim 6:12). This is necessary, if we are to stand, because we wrestle against principalities and powers (Eph 6:12). Therefore our role in the battle is to submit to God and stand on His Word and resist the devil, standing in the victory of Christ, trusting in His Name, and depending on the power of His Spirit to strengthen our heart (will).

Pastor Nathan Harris continues our “Encounter” series with “Grace”.  Have you had assumptions that weren't quite right? How about salvation? How can we be with Jesus in paradise? What is Grace? It is amazing! It is a gift. This week's passages: Luke 23: 32-43, Eph 2: 8-9, Heb 12: 15, 1Pet 1: 3-5Date: 09.03.2025Please send prayer requests to prayer@bridgeman.org.au or on our website: www.bridgeman.org.au/prayer/To contact Bridgeman Baptist Community Church please email hello@bridgeman.org.auIf you would like to give at Bridgeman Baptist Community Church please go to www.bridgeman.org.au/giving/ Please view our Sermon List if you would like to order from our back catalogue, please email bridgemedia@bridgeman.org.au 

The Sword or the Cross? (audio) David Eells 2/23/25 Please be patient with me and I will share something that just may save your physical and eternal life. If you are not willing to believe only what the scriptures say concerning your relationship to this evil world and its God-ordained plan in your life, you don't need to waste your time with this revelation. When Peter used the sword to keep Jesus from going to the cross, He said, “All they that take the sword shall perish with the sword”. Even though the true saints will not agree with much that is about to happen in this world, they will not take “the sword” of man and break their covenant with God as the apostates and their leadership will. God's plan for His people is demonstrated by Jesus. (Joh.12:23) And Jesus answereth them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. (24) Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a grain of wheat fall into the earth and die, it abideth by itself alone; but if it die, it beareth much fruit. (25) He that loveth his life loseth it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. (Loseing our life is mostly losing our carnal self life to partake of the life of Christ.) (26) If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will the Father honor. As Jesus was a seed sown in the dirt of this earth, so must we be. The wicked of this world are the dirt that puts to death the fleshly husk of the seed so that the inner life may come forth and bear fruit. As a lamb does not struggle with a wolf, the seed does not struggle with the dirt but permits it to fulfill its purpose. (Luk.10:3)...I send you forth as lambs in the midst of wolves. In God's plan wolves devour the flesh of the lambs. He uses the wicked to chasten His children. (2Sam.7:14) I will be his father, and he shall be my son: if he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men. (2Cor.4:11) For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. (16) Wherefore we faint not; but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day. (17) For our light affliction, which is for the moment, worketh for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory. The glory of God will be manifested in those who will “resist not him that is evil” but will “turn the other cheek” and permit the dirt to do its job. No one else can drive the nails, friend. You are unable to do it and other Christians shouldn't do it. It is God's plan to use the harlot and the beast to crucify our old man. (Act.2:23) Him (Jesus), being delivered up by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye by the hand of lawless men did crucify and slay. (4:27) For of a truth in this city against thy holy Servant Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, were gathered together, (28) to do whatsoever thy hand and thy council foreordained to come to pass. Through death to self at their hands, the world will see Jesus in us and we will be enabled to fulfill the great commission. (1Pet.4:1) Forasmuch then as Christ suffered in the flesh, arm ye yourselves also with the same mind; for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; (2) that ye no longer should live the rest of your time in flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. In the days when God's people were ruled over by the Roman beast it was written: (Rom.13:1) Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God; and the [powers] that be are ordained of God. (2) Therefore he that resisteth the power, withstandeth the ordinance of God: and they that withstand shall receive to themselves judgment. Though Christians are forbidden to take the mark and image of the beast, they are also forbidden to take up arms against secular nations over them. This puts the people of God in a position of weakness like Jesus when He submitted to His cross instead of fighting. (Note: Some falsely say that the U.S. is not typed in the Scriptures. In Revelation, we see that Babylon is the Queen of the world, an end-time world superpower, a very rich nation that trades with the whole world. Both Revelation and Daniel say it is the head of all the nations and was called the “great eagle” in Ezekiel 17. Jeremiah 25 shows that it will bring destruction to the Middle East and then fall in what appears to be a nuclear attack from the nations. Revelation 18 says this will be in one hour of one day. Who, with common sense, would not see that this ancient eagle lives again in our day and has been secretly ruled by a satanic, corrupt, and perverted deep state? Most recently Babylon is being conquered by our modern day Cyrus who ruled in ancient times as Media-Persia. Using Babylon and her king as a type of the U.S. and her President, God warned his people to submit to her as far as secular matters go. (Jer.27:5) I have made the earth, the men and the beasts that are upon the face of the earth, by my great power and by my outstretched arm; and I give it unto whom it seemeth right unto me. (6) And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant.... (7) And all the nations shall serve him.... (8) And it shall come to pass, that the nation and the kingdom which will not serve the same Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and that will not put their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, that nation will I punish, saith the Lord, with the sword, and with the famine, and with the pestilence, until I have consumed them by his hand. This has happened. (9) But as for you (Christians), hearken ye not to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreams, nor to your soothsayers, nor to your sorcerers, that speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon: (10) for they prophesy a lie unto you, to remove you far from your land, and that I should drive you out, and ye should perish.... (12) And I spake to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all these words, saying, Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live. (13) Why will ye die, thou and thy people, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, as the Lord hath spoken concerning the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon? The modern day apostate leadership has served Babylon turning against the Word of the Lord. And the rebels have been chastened by their “sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence”. (14) And hearken not unto the words of the prophets that speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon; for they prophesy a lie unto you. (15) For I have not sent them, saith the Lord, but they prophesy falsely in my name; that I may drive you out, and that ye may perish, ye, and the prophets that prophesy unto you. And these depopulationists have murdered the apostates who trust in man's vaccines rather than the clear Word. Also we will see that true Christians are not to take up arms in the worlds wars. Our kingdom is not of this world as Jesus said. That is not to say that God doesn't have mercy on ignorance. In this way God will cleanse His body of those that refuse to obey and go to their cross. We are now close to the beginning of the first 3 ½ years of the tribulation in Revelation 12 where the dragon/serpent chases the woman Church into their wilderness refuge to be taught of the Man-child. What brings us to our cross? Jesus said, “Love your enemies”, not shoot them, and “turn the other cheek”, not make war on them. God will chasten the Christians who “take the sword”. Our Lord said, “All they that take the sword shall perish with the sword”. I am certainly not excusing the government's actions in any of this but if David Koresh, the leader of the Davidians' stronghold in Waco, Texas, in early 1993 had not broken God's covenant and stored up that arsenal with the intent to use it against the government, he and his followers would still be alive. Bear witness that God did not defend them. God will bring the U.S. against His people and their apostate leaders because they have ignored His covenant. (Hos.8:1) [Set] the trumpet to thy mouth. As an eagle [he cometh] against the house of the Lord, because they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against my law. (2) They shall cry unto me, My God, we Israel know thee. (3) Israel hath cast off that which is good: the enemy shall pursue him. (4) They have set up kings, but not by me; they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off. In the days of Jesus, the apostate people of God were in bondage to the Roman beast for their rebellion against the Word. These stiff-necked people of God were in constant revolution against the Romans and paying a great penalty for it. (Mar.15:6) Now at the feast he used to release unto them one prisoner, whom they asked of him. (7) And there was one called Barabbas, [lying] bound with them that had made insurrection (revolution), men who in the insurrection had committed murder. (8) And the multitude went up and began to ask him [to do] as he was wont to do unto them. (9) And Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews? (10) For he perceived that for envy the chief priests had delivered him up. (11) But the chief priests stirred up the multitude, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them. (Jn.18:40) They cried out therefore again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber. Notice that Barabbas and many with him were in prison for making a revolution against the Romans. Jesus suffered in the place of this Jewish patriot. In like manner, the true body of Christ will suffer innocently because of “Christian” patriots who will revolt against the beast. In another type, Barabbas was chosen out of all the Jews that were in prison with him to be released. Barabbas means “son of the father”. Because Jesus went to the cross, a remnant of these people who truly are “sons of the Father” will be forgiven and saved. Militant patriots do not understand what the Holy Spirit showed in this text, that killing Romans or Americans is “murder” and that those who steal from them are “robbers”. Remember, God did not defend almost 1000 very religious patriots whom the Romans destroyed. In 66 A.D. when the Jews rebelled against the Romans, they captured this mountain 1000 meters above the Judean wilderness. In a well-supplied, seemingly impregnable fortress, the Jews attempted for seven years to hold out against the Roman beast. In a clear type, all but a remnant of seven committed suicide and brought an end to the worldly state of Israel. “Christian” rebels in our day will, in effect, commit suicide by fighting against the beast and bringing an end to the worldly state of the Church. The Timothy McVeigh's of this world are not patriots in God's kingdom. The real heroes are those who leave worldly governments up to God and choose their cross over rebelling against His Word. Like Jesus, Paul gives us a type of how innocent Christians in our day will be falsely accused as rebels and imprisoned or killed. In Acts 21:38, a chief captain said to him, “Art thou not then the Egyptian, who before these days stirred up to sedition and led out into the wilderness the four thousand men of the Assassins?” Notice once again that an Egyptian, representing the old carnal man, was leading Jews to kill Romans. The “Christians” who are led of the old man today will fight against the beast. God will not tolerate those who call themselves patriots in order to rebel against governments and God's Word. (Rom.13:1) Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God.... (2) Therefore he that resisteth the power, withstandeth the ordinance of God: and they that withstand shall receive to themselves judgment. Let our Cyrus do his job to take down Babylon while we preach the gospel to all, which is our job. Jesus gave us permission to “flee” like sheep before the wolves, but not to fight in the flesh as wolves. (Mat.10:16) Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. (23) But when they persecute you in this city, flee into the next: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone through the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. Notice that this persecution will spread the Word through the cities of God's people and He will come. Praise His Name! While the carnal people of God were having their revolution against the government, Jesus and the disciples were having a spiritual revolution against their flesh. Jesus said, “Think not that I came to send peace on the earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword (the Word). For I came to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law: and a man's foes [shall be] they of his own household” (Mat.10:34-36). Notice when you get saved they are often on the other side until they get saved. Tertullus, speaking against Paul's spiritual revolution, said, “For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of insurrections (revolutions) among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes” (Acts 24:5). They always call us a sect or cult for obeying the Word. Jesus and Paul's revolution was to use the Word to separate the chosen from the carnal church of his day. Neither of them had anything to do with wrestling with a flesh and blood beast system. That was the harlot's revolution. We are to be patriots of the Lord's kingdom, not the U.S. Like Jesus, “My kingdom is not of this world”. Because they would not obey Jesus, the Jews were led by their deceiving leadership to their own destruction and that of their city in 70 A.D. This was also the cause of its destruction in other times. (Ezr.4:19) And I decreed, and search hath been made, and it is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein. (5:12) But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon. Every beast kingdom was raised up by God to chasten and bring into bondage and crucifixion His rebellious people and so it is with the Babylon of our day. Our warfare is not with flesh and blood men but with the demon principalities and powers that rule them (Eph.6:12). (Mat.5:38) Ye have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: (39) but I say unto you, Resist not him that is evil: but whosoever smiteth thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. (Jas.4:7)...resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Many will fight to keep from going into captivity but only God determines if one needs this for their maturing. (Rev.13:9) If any man hath an ear, let him hear. (10) If any man [is] for captivity, into captivity he goeth: if any man shall kill with the sword, with the sword must he be killed. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. Only God gives authority to the beast to bring His people into bondage or death. M. Cox relates a dream he had concerning these principles. I had a dream so real that every time I think about it, it becomes more vivid just as if I was there. I was sleeping in our small farmhouse with a few other people one night. Sometime in the dead of the night all of a sudden I heard the thunderous boom of these military helicopters and airplanes. Then this helicopter landed right beside our house. All the occupants of our house were rounded up and taken away by the helicopter, probably to prison work farms. I was just standing there amazed, thinking these people never resisted, or tried to run away. And they all acted like I wasn't there. I thought that they had forgotten me. Soon after they left, another helicopter came. They were probably told that they had forgotten one of the occupants. I was naturally scared so I hid under the bed, shaking like a leaf with my legs sticking out. The soldiers didn't have any U.N. symbol but were probably a makeshift multi-national army. A black and a white soldier had yellow torches and machine guns with them. They were looking and thrashing everywhere trying to look for me. The black soldier was looking under the bed I was under. The funny thing was I was right in front of him with my feet sticking out but it appeared he couldn't see me. Suddenly, it dawned on me that I was invisible to the soldiers. They couldn't see me. After a while, the soldiers left frustrated at not being able to find me. I must say that the fear and terror of the situation was unbelievable. A few days later this helicopter came and sprayed this chemical and the surrounding place turned all brown. They probably had been given orders to let no survivors that they couldn't find live. Anyway, even before they sprayed I noticed that the surrounding vegetation looked brownish, maybe from nuclear fallout. Miraculously, with all this happening I was still alive and the dream ended there. Notice that God's people did not resist and only those who needed captivity were taken. We should not put it beyond God's ability to supernaturally hide those who do not need more crucifixion. If He could translate me halfway around the world to preach, He can certainly make us invisible to the enemy. Bob Aicardi also had a dream like this. I found myself cautiously walking the floors of a very large government building, which was occupied by foreign troops, and I knew that as an American I was not supposed to be there. I was noticed by a worker, who set off an intruder alert. Down the corridor, the entrance doors slammed shut and locked. As I walked up to the doors they opened and I passed through to escape. Once outside, perimeter guards were alerted and were all about. I walked through them as invisible and saw another man doing the same thing. I said to him, “Isn't the blood of Jesus wonderful?” We see that not only can God protect those who are mature but He can also give rest to those who need to submit to their cross. (Joh.19:11) Jesus answered him, Thou wouldest have no power against me, except it were given thee from above. Like our Lord, we are to receive everything as from God and leave retaliation up to Him. (Rom.12:17) Render to no man evil for evil. Take thought for things honorable in the sight of all men. (18) If it be possible, as much as in you lieth, be at peace with all men. (19) Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath [of God]: for it is written, Vengeance belongeth unto me; I will recompense, saith the Lord. (20) But if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him to drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head. (21) Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. Our old man wants to live by defending self and retaliating, but our obedience to these commands crucifies that carnal nature in us. Satan seeks through well-meaning people to keep us from this cross. (Mat.16:21) From that time began Jesus to show unto his disciples, that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up. (22) And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall never be unto thee. (23) But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art a stumbling-block unto me: for thou mindest not the things of God, but the things of men. Notice that Peter, by the spirit of Satan was a stumbling block by trying to dissuade Jesus from going to His cross. Peter later took the sword, to try to enforce his way and again met with rebuke. (24) Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. (25) For whosoever would save his life shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it. Even when we are at our best, the hidden carnal nature must be crucified. (1Pet.2:20) For what glory is it, if, when ye sin, and are buffeted [for it], ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer [for it], ye shall take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. (21) For hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow his steps: (22) who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: (23) who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, threatened not; but committed [himself] to him that judgeth righteously. What could be clearer? We are to follow in Jesus' steps by cooperating with God's process of using the harlot religious system and the beast kingdom to bring us to the cross. We are not to resist them by force. The laws of our kingdom do not permit us to fight in the flesh to escape captivity. (Joh.18:36) Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. In the days leading up to a civil war in the midst of the One World Order, many will stand up against the U.S. as the king of the South. Included among these are some of God's people who will try to impose their vision of the kingdom of God in the U.S. by violent methods, but they will be killed. (Dan.11:14) And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the children of the violent among thy people shall lift themselves up to establish the vision; but they shall fall. God will not permit fleshly methods to have any success so that His people learn to walk in the Spirit. (12:7)...It shall be for a time, times, and a half; and when they have made an end of breaking in pieces the power of (self in) the holy people, all these things shall be finished. Notice that our temptation to use our own power must be crucified. (Zec.4:6)...Not by (our) might, nor by (our) power, but by my Spirit, saith Lord of hosts. War is of the world and is motivated by lust, not God. (Jas.4:1) Whence [come] wars and whence [come] fightings among you? [come they] not hence, [even] of your pleasures that war in your members? (2) Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and covet, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war; ye have not, because ye ask not. Those who join with the world to make war on their enemies are enemies of the cross and of God. (4) Ye adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world maketh himself an enemy of God. Those who preach peace and safety and refuse to cooperate with God in this process of falling to the earth to die will be cut off. (Amo.9:8) Behold, the eyes of the Lord are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth; save that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, saith the Lord. (9) For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all the nations, like as [grain] is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least kernel fall upon the earth. (10) All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, who say, The evil shall not overtake nor meet us. We are coming to the same tribulation days of sifting as it was with Peter. (Luk.22:31) Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat: (32) but I made supplication for thee, that thy faith fail not. Even though Peter initially denied the Lord, he got back up and became a strong leader who gave up his old life. Satan is ordained of the Lord to sift the disciples to get the husk that is his, so that God may have the pure fruit of Christ. Here is a prophecy through Thomas S. Gibson that relates the persecution the U.S. will bring against Christianity to separate the true saints from the tares. Thus says the Lord, repent and listen to the Word of God. Note that there shall be persecutions arising in all places, throughout the U.S. and Canada, and through Europe. These nations shall rise up in persecutions against My people. It shall purge the Church. Those of Mine, that are truly Mine, who walk in power and are committed to Me, they shall stand in this persecution no matter what it brings. But listen to Me, and heed Me. For thus saith the Lord, I am God, and I am allowing this, for it shall purge My Church. For there are many that shall quickly deny Me, shall quickly deny the truth, quickly revert to a world religion, shall quickly deny the power of the Word; they deny the truth of the Word. They shall quickly deny many things, and they shall become politically correct for the day and the age that they live. For they do not want to be in persecutions and they do not want to stand against the world. They love the world, and they are part of the world, and they were never part of Me. But they have a form of Godliness in the Church, and they were in the Church, shining as Christians and looking as Christians in outward appearance, but in their heart they were not of Me. This shall purge the Church and bring to pass what I have said; I will separate the sheep from the goats; that is, My people from the world. God is sovereign in the happenings of history in order to show us what will happen in the latter days, for, “That which hath been is that which shall be”. In the time of the tribulation of Christ's day, Rome had swallowed up the people of God. Through Babylon's type we see that the U.S. would swallow up the people of God before her fall. (Jer.51:34) Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon hath devoured me, he hath crushed me, he hath made me an empty vessel, he hath, like a monster, swallowed me up, he hath filled his maw with my delicacies; he hath cast me out. (35) The violence done to me and to my flesh be upon Babylon, shall the inhabitant of Zion say; and, My blood be upon the inhabitants of Chaldea, shall Jerusalem say. Because Babylonish U.S. tried to save herself by sacrificing God's lambs on the altar of religious unity and political correctness, God will take vengeance on her. (36) Therefore thus saith the Lord: Behold, I will plead thy cause, and take vengeance for thee; and I will dry up her sea, and make her fountain dry. (37) And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwelling-place for jackals, an astonishment, and a hissing, without inhabitant. ... (41) How is Sheshach taken! and the praise of the whole earth seized! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations! (42) The sea (of men) is come up upon Babylon; she is covered with the multitude of the waves thereof. (43) Her cities are become a desolation. by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence Please also listen to the audio series Honor the king? and How Shall We Die? and read Torment to Those Who Fight Back.   The Militant Apostates Rebel God is raising up the beast kingdom of the tribulation to crucify us as their forefathers crucified our Master. At the same time, the beast will purge Christianity of those who refuse to go to their cross of death to self. At first you may think I am wrong about this but if you will bear with me you will be overwhelmed with proof from God's Word. This is God's M.O. Because Christians do not stick to their command of spreading the Great Commission a competition has raised up which is unhealthy for us. When God is fighting against our enemies with His angels we are seen as guiltless and there is no competition between us and the world, which ruins our witness. The devil is being permitted by God to stir up competition so that paranoid, disobedient Christians will fight this government in the flesh and be destroyed. The Lord said to me once that “Spirits of paranoia will stir up Christians to fight against this country. In this way I will cleanse my Church of those that refuse to obey and go to their cross.” Conspiracy addicts are the prime spreaders of this paranoia. But we are to fear nothing but God who “works all things after the counsel of His will.” (Isa.8:11) For the Lord spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me not to walk in the way of this people, saying, (12) Say ye not, A conspiracy, concerning all whereof this people shall say, A conspiracy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be in dread [thereof]. (13) The Lord of hosts, him shall ye sanctify; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. You ask, “But David, what about the Deep State Illuminati conspiracy that has taken over our government to bring war and their New World Order?” Fear “him who worketh all things after the counsel of His will” (Eph.1:11). The Deep State Illuminati are nothing without God's permission. They and many others like them are sent by God to deceive those who do not love truth and to judge those who need it. Therefore, we are not to wrestle with flesh and blood but principalities and powers. Physically we are to permit them to cleanse the body.  (2Th.2:9) [even he,] whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, (10) and with all deceit of unrighteousness for them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. (11) And for this cause God sendeth them a working of error, that they should believe a lie: (12) that they all might be judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. “The lowest of men” are raised up to lead the beast to crucify rebellious Christians. We need them. (Pro.16:4) The Lord hath made everything for its own end (Hebrew: His own purpose); Yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. Some say, “But I know some of these conspiracies are real”. I do, too, but the flesh is stirred up to fight when we think on the conspiracies, rather than the promises and the way of the cross. We are taught to study Truth rather than the evil in conspiracies because Truth has power unto Godliness, which delivers from evil. (Rom.16:19)....I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple unto that which is evil. Those who are taught to recognize counterfeit bills don't study counterfeits because there are too many possibilities. They study the real bills. That way they can recognize all counterfeits. The Word gives us eyes to see all errors. Some waste all their time studying evil governments and have no faith. But what we bind on earth is bound in heaven and He has given us authority over all the power of the enemy. All secular governments are evil just as the one in Jesus' day but He stuck to the business of the Father, taught the Word, and let patriots like Barabbas fight with flesh and blood to their own destruction. I also know that the beast government will persecute and crucify the saints when the time comes. I say along with Jesus, “Not my will, but thine be done”. If we are not willing to give up our carnal life in order to be obedient to the Word, then we will not be counted worthy of a heavenly life. Any who stir up God's people to take the sword will be guilty of their blood when they die by the sword, as the Word says will surely happen. Antichristian militant “Christians” will not stand for their rights being taken away and will fight against their governments. What do you think they will do when world law is imposed and the mark of the beast is inevitable? Civil war. States are seeing their Constitutional authority undermined by the socialistic moves of the past Obama and Biden administrations and the Deep State shadow government. Also, a litany of leftist, global U.N. treaties that were resisted by more conservative administrations are waiting in the wings to give sovereignty to the U.N. beast over families, women, and children, opposing free trade, opposing democracy and Christian freedom, bringing intrusive emissions laws, etc. The last three leftist presidents were just the men to open the flood gates. But God through the saints confession has and will cast down the dominion of Satan. Rev 12:7  And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels going forth to war with the dragon; and the dragon warred and his angels;  8  and they prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9  And the great dragon was cast down, the old serpent, he that is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world; he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him. 10  And I heard a great voice in heaven, saying, Now is come the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accuseth them before our God day and night. 11  And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony; and they loved not their life even unto death. Militia's of conservatives, including many of God's people, have already trained and armed to fight against the U.S. government but look what God can do! Satan, who starts wars is cast down. Presidential voting fraud fiascos revealed the underlying dangerous polarization between conservatives and liberals. Ammunition sales rose significantly as did talk of civil insurrection and state secession. Much of this was by conservatives. Congressmen were openly warning of civil violence. Ammunition and gun sales began to get worse when the Obama and Biden administrations took the country in a sharp left turn. Clearly, the fear of where we are going and the conspiracies are corrupting people's minds and taking away their peace. Whether you agree with their militant thinking or not, all Christians will be blamed for these excesses. The liberal news media, although wounded now, will gladly continue to sway popular opinion against their historic enemy, the conservative Christians. Left-wing harlot “Christianity” will, of course, join in this attack proclaiming to be the true heirs of Christ, while they sleep with the beast in their politically correct tolerance of other faiths. What happened to the Jews in WWII will happen to the Christians and, ultimately, what happened to Germany will happen in the world. The world will become more antichrist and increasingly hate, persecute, kill, and bring God's carnal people into bondage. Oh, because of the recent successes you don't believe this? Read Revelation 12 and 13, which speaks of persecution and leads to the mark of the beast, without which many will be put to death and go to heaven. Ezekiel, as a type of the Man-child, prophesied that the apostate leadership of God's people would be brought into bondage by the “great eagle”, as a type of the U.S. He also saw and warned that part of that leadership would lead part of God's people to rebel against the “great eagle” to their own destruction. (Eze.17:2) Son of man...speak a parable unto the house of Israel; (3)...A great eagle with great wings...came unto Lebanon, and took the top of the cedar: (God's people were likened in Scripture to the tall cedar evergreens of Lebanon because of their properties of eternal life.) (4) he cropped off the topmost of the young twigs thereof (the immature leadership of Christianity), and carried it unto a land of traffic (Babylon); he set it in a city of merchants (Babylon). The top apostate leadership of Christianity, typed by Zedekiah, was taken into bondage in Babylon and his sons were killed and his eyes were put out, and he was put to death. (5) He took also of the seed of the land (God's people), and planted it in a fruitful soil; he placed it beside many waters.... God's people will be put “beside many waters”, which are the peoples of the world depicted by the “many waters” that the harlot sits upon in Revelation 17:1,15. Therefore the people of God, righteous or apostate, were taken into bondage and put under the authority of the religious harlot, as it was in Jesus' day. (6) And it grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature (the harlot cannot overcome to lift herself from the earthly), whose branches turned toward him, and the roots thereof were under him: so it became a vine. The false prophet leadership of the harlot will rule with the ten kings as the little horn among the ten horns in the U.N. beast under the “great eagle”. The Lord confirms this interpretation in the text. (12) Say now to the rebellious house... Behold, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, and took the king thereof, and the princes thereof, and brought them to him to Babylon. The nations with the “great eagle” at the head will confirm a covenant with this false prophet leadership of God's New Testament people, uniting them with the false religions in the U.N.. (13) And he took of the seed royal, and made a covenant with him; he also brought him under an oath, and took away the mighty of the land. Notice in these verses that the king and all of the princes of Israel were called “him” meaning they are a corporate False Prophet. This covenant will be hidden from the apostates and their leaders. They will fulfill the type of the Jews in Jesus' day, who didn't realize that they had made a covenant with the beast to crucify the saints. To keep the peace, the Roman beast gave the apostates authority over the saints. History repeats. The strong delusion of the letter of the Word has already convinced the false leadership of Christianity of a fairytale covenant between a man called the antichrist and the letter Jews. Meanwhile, the real covenant will be fulfilled in the spirit under their noses. To them this could not be the covenant because they have not yet been raptured and their antichrist hasn't shown up. This covenant with the beast will make God's apostate people preach an even more impotent gospel because it is a covenant of tolerance for all false religions and all sinners in a vain effort to bring peace to the world. (14) That the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping his covenant it might stand. The apostates will be permitted to stand in the world as the base kingdom of the religious harlot. We just saw the word “covenant” mentioned in verses thirteen and fourteen. It was at this point in my revelation that the Spirit said to me, “From the first mention of the word “covenant” in verse thirteen count. How many verses does the word “covenant” cover?” Thirteen is the number in Scripture that stands for apostasy and rebellion. Including verse thirteen, the word “covenant” covers seven verses (13-19). I was impressed that this represents the seven years of the covenant of the beast in the Tribulation. Then I heard, “How many times is the word “covenant” spoken in those verses?” “Covenant” is mentioned six times in these seven verses. Six is the number of man and of the beast. As we saw, the sixth book, sixth chapter, sixth verse and sixth word of the New Testament is “man” (Rom.6:6). It was at this point the Spirit directed me to count, “How many verses before the “covenant” is broken?” In the “midst” of the fourth verse the words “covenant he brake” are spoken. That makes 3 ½ verses or years before the break and 3 ½ verses or years after the break. The covenant is broken “in the midst of the seven” years. (16) As I live, saith the Lord, surely in the place where the king dwelleth that made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he (the apostate leadership) brake, even with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die. This also is in the “midst of the seven” verses, which is a quote from the Hebrew in Daniel 9:27. “And he shall make a firm covenant with many for one seven: and in the midst of the seven (Hebrew) he (beast) shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease”. Notice in these two verses that the apostate rebel leadership of God's people will break the covenant so the beast will cause the “sacrifice” to cease. At the time when the crowns of authority will be taken from the seven heads and given to the ten horns, the beast will make the mark compulsive. This will be a vain attempt to enforce peace by identifying those who are in covenant with the beast and those who are enemies and/or commit crimes. This will cause both true Christians and militants to be enemies of the state. The U.S. already has created the literal mark and is exporting it to the world. The U.S. will use its persuasion over the beast kingdom to make the mark compulsive in the midst of the Tribulation. Many apostate Christians will take it and become reprobated. What is left of their life of submitting their “bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God” will cease as an “abomination that maketh desolate”. In this same text we see the nature of this rebellion which breaks the covenant of peace. (15) But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give him horses and much people. Shall he prosper? shall he escape that doeth such things? shall he break the covenant, and yet escape? This covenant is broken when the rebellious people of God, who were told by God to submit to Babylon, as we shall see, instead went to another “great eagle with great wings”, Egypt, for strength to fight with arms against her. (Eze.17:7) There was also another great eagle with great wings and...this vine did bend its roots toward him. Notice that the same terminology is given to describe a second eagle. This is because both of these great eagles represent the U.S. Foolish Christians in the U.S. will go down to Egypt to fight with her when they see their rights being taken away or, for some when they see the mark coming. What does Egypt represent? God's people came out of Egypt and were baptized in the Red Sea where the Egyptians, representing the old man, died. To go back to Egypt spiritually is to trust in the strength of the old man, the arm of the flesh. (Isa.30:1) Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me; and that make a league, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin, (2) that set out to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to take refuge in the shadow of Egypt! (3) Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the refuge in the shadow of Egypt your confusion. Some of God's foolish people with a conservative patriotic faction of this nation will take up arms to fight against it. This pits the “great eagle” against the “great eagle”, or civil war. God asked the question in our seven verse text: “shall he break the covenant, and yet escape” (Eze.17:15)? God's answer to this question is that these rebels will be crushed: (17) Neither shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company help him in the war.... (18) For he hath despised the oath by breaking the covenant; and behold, he had given his hand, and yet hath done all these things; he shall not escape.... (21) And all his fugitives in all his bands shall fall by the sword, and they that remain shall be scattered toward every wind: and ye shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it. When Peter used the sword to keep Jesus from going to the cross, He said, “All they that take the sword shall perish with the sword” (Mat.26:52). Even though the true saints will not obey the religious aspects of this peace covenant, they will not take “the sword” of man and break their covenant with God as the apostates and their leadership will. The last of the seven verses says this. (19) Therefore thus saith the Lord: As I live, surely mine oath that he hath despised, and my covenant that he hath broken, I will even bring it upon his own head. The righteous will keep God's covenant even if it costs them their physical life but the self-willed will rebel. Some religious people say the mark of God trumps the mark of the beast, and that because they believe in once saved always saved. After bringing apostate Israel as a type of the Christians under his dominion in the beginning of what we would call the tribulation, Nebuchadnezzar appointed the Zedekiah administration to rule over them. This is the “he” above who rebelled with a large portion of Israel. Jeremiah, who represented the Man-child, prophesied against these apostate rebels in the parable of the two baskets of figs. (Jer.24:8) And as the bad figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so bad, surely thus saith the Lord, So will I give up Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and them that dwell in the land of Egypt, (9) I will even give them up to be tossed to and fro among all the kingdoms of the earth for evil; to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them. (10) And I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, among them, till they be consumed from off the land that I gave unto them and to their fathers. On the other, hand those who submitted to the Word of the Lord through the Man-child Jeremiah were the blessed of the Lord. (24:4) And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, (5) Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel: Like these good figs, so will I regard the captives of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans, for good. (Notice that this captivity is going to be “for good” to the “good figs” who obey the Word and refuse to rebel.) (6) For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land (Notice Father will bring them to the New Jerusalem and land because Nebuchadnezzar had destroyed the former apostate Jerusalem and land.): and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up. (7) And I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God; for they shall return unto me with their whole heart. All we have to do is replace the church in the Ezekiel 17 parable of civil rebellion above with natural Israel and we see another more natural interpretation, which is being attempted now. The U.S., which is at the head of the nations, is pushing Israel hard to give up land and make a covenant with the nations around them. Israel's natural ally in the United States is the apostate Christians and Jews who militantly support her. Since this ultimately will be a political and religious covenant both of these interpretations are coming to pass at the same time. It is certainly true that the beast is forcing both Israel and the Christians to give up their land now. Beastly laws are forcing Christians out of the moral ground that they have held on to issues such as abortion, sexuality, schooling, displays of Christian heritage, etc. In the U.S., this holy ground has been held since the more Christian times of the founding fathers. Eventually Israel and the apostate Christians will rebel against this covenant and turn to the militant arm of flesh represented by the great eagle of Egypt. Then they will both find themselves a burdensome stone that have something in common; the ire of the nations. Perhaps this is God's plan to infuse more Christian influence into Israel so that the elect among them will be saved and come out. Now I would like to share a few revelations that warn of these things.   Survivalism Coming in Evil Times G.W. - 08/22/2012 (David's notes in red) I had a dream where David and I were sitting and talking in what I believe represented the world. As we talked, there was complete and utter chaos going on all around us. It appeared that the whole world was turned upside down and was shaking. Several major catastrophic events had occurred. (Eve saw seven major earthquakes go around the world. The shakings are coming now to prove what is not to be trusted in: governments, nationalism, personal strength, religion, money, people, etc. Heb.12:25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not when they refused him that warned [them] on earth, much more [shall not] we [escape] who turn away from him that [warneth] from heaven: (If we don't obey God's voice, we will be shaken and judged.) 26 whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more will I make to tremble not the earth only, but also the heaven. 27 And this [word], Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, that those things which are not shaken may remain. 28 Wherefore, receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace, whereby we may offer service well-pleasing to God with reverence and awe: 29 for our God is a consuming fire. The people who were around us started to act completely insane. They were worse than animals because animals have some sense of control. These people were consumed by fear of the shaking that they were experiencing. It was almost like everything was falling apart all around and nothing was holding together. (Shakings like natural disasters, failed economy and incomes, loss of food and basic services, no health care, crime, martial law, war, terrorism, no fixes in sight, etc., will cause men's hearts to fail them. Luk.21:25 And there shall be signs in sun and moon and stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the billows; 26 men fainting for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world: for the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. David said, “I told you they would act like this”. As he said this, a hysterical young girl started to try and grab me (persecution from immature Christianity). It was apparent that she had no sense of sanity left. (She acted like a drowning person who would pull someone under to save herself.) (They will fall for the beast promises of a worldly fix, like a covenant with many.) It was apparent to me that the girl possessed no inward thoughts; her whole focus had become grabbing and groping (with the intent to destroy) everything around her. As the unfolding happened, I began to think about relationships I had when people would lose control when the pressure was too much, but it was nothing compared to this. Everywhere I went there was disorder. It was the basic breakdown of every fundamental element of society. I saw people on the floor shaking for excessive drunkenness and cliques forming that were full of evil and worldly behavior. (When domestic dogs lose the moral compass of a master, they revert back to the pack mentality to survive. It's us against them, guns and crime for survivalism.) One of the people looked like an old Popeye (I can't remember in the dream what he was doing). (Popeye was the worldly hero who was endowed with worldly strength to solve every problem.) I could discern before ever knowing the guy that things were not right with him. But I wanted to give people the benefit of the doubt and a chance. In the end, he proved just as corrupt as everyone else. (Those who are strong and righteous in the world's eyes will fail for not having the spiritual answer to their problems.) I thought to myself, I knew I shouldn't have been hanging out with that guy. What was I thinking? I knew he would do this. (Let us not be influenced by their ways of seeking help or solutions.) At the end of the dream, I remember tasting blood in my mouth and it was very painful. I took my hand to wipe my mouth of the blood and when I looked down on my hand, there were little white meat particles on my hand, instead of blood. (A warning to not devour one another, as the strong in the world will do to save themselves. Gal.5:15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.) These coming times are to separate the wheat from the tares. The wheat will not compromise their convictions and will endure the trial trusting in the Lord and holding to His Word. Mat.13:40 As therefore the tares are gathered up and burned with fire; so shall it be in the end of the world. 41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things (not numeric) that cause stumbling, and them that do iniquity, 42 and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. 43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He that hath ears, let him hear. Don't be bribed by your need to break God's Word. He has given all authority to you to receive your needs by His Word. Php.4:19 And my God shall supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Inflation and the War on the Saints Jerod Thomas - 10/22/2010 (David's notes in red) There was this dollar bill that was about the size of a small computer monitor, like a 17-inch screen. (Strangely enough I have an enlarged hundred dollar bill and I just measured it at 17 inches long.) And, interestingly enough, it had what looked like a screen because I could see images forming out of it. Words were forming out of it. I saw one of the words was “punishment”. I also saw this country (the U.S.) and the face of Benjamin Franklin. (Benjamin's face is on the $100 bill. Will the punishment of the U.S. be that what a dollar would buy would soon cost $100, as the value drops and they print more and more creating inflation?) Then I saw Cain, Abel's brother. Cain's eyes were bloodshot and he looked like a character from a western movie. He had shot his gun. (Cain, who “was of the evil one” [1Jn.3:12], slew the chosen seed, as it will be in these days.) He had a very strong spirit on his face. It was the spirit of murder and then his eyeballs disappeared and I was able to see inside of his eye sockets; it was as if I was staring into the very depths of his soul. It was pure darkness, literally. It was pitch black. Mat 6:22-23 The lamp of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is the darkness! And then I saw an image of Satan as that darkness. He was in an elevator, as in that “Devil” movie (2010) that just came out in theaters. (The seven-headed, ten-horned body of the dragon in Revelation 12 represents a corporate Cain, the body of all lost mankind inhabited by Satan. These will attempt to devour the woman Church.) It was the most awful, defiling presence I had ever felt from demons. Satan was trying to scare and consume me with that spirit of murder and through my fear I would have given in, but I didn't want to wake up out of my sleep and run because I felt the LORD was with me and I wanted to fight that devil. (Through murder, Satan will attempt to intimidate the saints into obedience to him, which is the spiritual mark of the beast.) My voice was different because I was in the middle of a war and that war was resisting the devil, and I spoke with a very aggressive and raspy voice, and I said to that devil, “God is greater!” Then that devil left. Jas.4:7 ... Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Luk.10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Praise God Almighty that I was able to experience this and triumph through Him. To Him be the glory and honor, dominion and power now and forevermore, in Jesus' name, Amen. What Is Inflation? A simple commonly used definition of the word inflation is simply “an increase in the price you pay for goods”. In other words, a decline in the purchasing power of your money”. But there is more to inflation than that. There is “Price Inflation” and “Monetary Inflation”. Technically, Price Inflation is when prices get higher or it takes more money to buy the same item. Monetary Inflation is an increase in the money supply which generally results in price inflation. This acts as a “hidden tax” on the consumers in that country. Monetary inflation is commonly referred to as the government “printing money” although the actual process is a bit more complex than just cranking up the printing presses the effects are essentially the same. As the money supply increases, the currency loses its purchasing power and the price of goods and services increases. This process usually takes 18 months to two years, so the government is able to spend the newly minted dollars at the old value before consumers realize that they have been cheated into accepting something that will purchase less than they originally thought it would. Summary: When inflation skyrockets and poverty is everywhere, men become desperate and crimes against humanity become rampant. Governments who are looking for scapegoats and want to cut someone out of their meager benefits will find that the god of this world, who has taken them over, will anoint them with reasons to blame and persecute the Christians. The dragon/beast is coming to make war on the saints. Make sure you have your armor on.

In this episode we field a question from a child: "What do angels do?" We answer (with a little help from Tim Chester): angels are God's postal service, police force, and praise choir, for the aid of every believer in Jesus Christ. (Note: We also talk about the upcoming February reading challenge. Remember to get your copy of C. S. Lewis's "The Screwtape Letters"!)Scriptures Referenced: Dan 10:10-14; 1Pet 1:12; Gen 3:24; Exod 14:19-20; 2Ki 19:35; Zech 1:10-11; 1Ki 19:5-6; Heb 1:14, 13:1-2; 2Ki6:16; Mat 26:53; Job 38:7; Ps 103:20-21; Rev 5:11-12; Heb 12:22-24 Visit PracticologyPodcast.com for more episodes.Follow the Practicology Podcast on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MandMsPodcast

Dr. Mitchell concludes his study in 1st Peter with this lesson. We are looking at 1st Peter 5:8-14. He gives an overview of scriptural teaching about the devil. In this lesson in verse 9, we are told to resist the devil firm in the faith. Dr. Mitchell shares several scriptures on resisting the devil even as our Lord did during His earthly temptation found in Mt.4 and Luke 4. The victory against this adversary is found in the Word of God, which is the sword of the Spirit. While suffering, our strength is found in the God of all grace. God will be glorified as He has the dominion forever and ever. Amen! Peter writes this epistle testifying that this is the true Grace of God and to stand firm in it. Here is Dr. Mitchell on the Unchanging Word Bible Broadcast, 1Pet. 5:8.

Pastor Steve Maharg shares the message from our "The Light That Overcomes" Christmas series with "Hope For All". Who is excited about Christmas? What does Jesus' coming mean to the world? What was happening prior to Jesus' coming? What is your Christmas prayer? Who is God's hope for? What is Jesus' message? Hope is unlocked. You can change the world, be a sign of hope.This week's passages:  Luke 2: 8-12, Rom 15: 13, 5: 3-4, Heb 6: 19, 1Pet 1: 3Date: 22.12.24Please send prayer requests to prayer@bridgeman.org.au or on our website: www.bridgeman.org.au/prayer/To contact Bridgeman Baptist Community Church please email hello@bridgeman.org.auIf you would like to give at Bridgeman Baptist Community Church please go to www.bridgeman.org.au/giving/Please view our Sermon List if you would like to order from our back catalogue, please email bridgemedia@bridgeman.org.au 

We want to be a transitional point for the presence of God; a legal gateway. Is 9:6-7 / Ps 24 / Gen 1:1 / Rom 4:17 / Gen 3:7 / Gen 3:21 / Eph 1:7-9 / Ex 15:26 / 3John 1:2 / 1Cor 4:1-2 / 1Pet 4:10 / John 10:27 / Rev 11:15-19

Waiting For You - HOPE   ADVENT: adventus - the coming or the arrival    Jn 1:14 1Thess 4:16-17   Advent: a) Jesus came b) He dwell among us by the Holy Spirit c) He is returning and we will see Him face to face    1) Anticipation   Isa 9:2&6   Micah 5:2   Jn 3:16&17   Luke 2:30-31   2) Assessment   “You look forward by looking backward, trusting nothing but God's character” The Bible Project    Ps 42:5   3) Acceptance    Jn 1:10-12   Rom 15:13   Rom 4:17-21   4) Action   Heb 11:1   1Pet 1;13  

Dr. Mitchell continues looking into the conduct of the people of God during persecution, in verses 13-17 of 1st Peter chapter 2. In this passage of scripture, the apostle Peter writes to these dispersed, suffering and persecuted Christians concerning their responsibilities within society. Specifically in verses 13-17, the scripture tells us what our responsibility is towards the government under which we find ourselves. The submission of the Christian to the governing authorities is for the Lord's sake. The apostle Paul also writes of this in Romans 13. Likewise, 1Pet.2:14 reveals what the attitude and responsibility of the ones who govern should also be. Dr. Mitchell shares the wisdom of Proverbs 8:14 where wisdom from God for governing is given to the one who has ears to ear. Join us now in 1st Peter chapter 2 verse 13 with Dr. John G. Mitchell here on the Unchanging Word Bible Broadcast.

We continue with Christ's redemption thru His precious blood, 1Pet.1:19-21, with Dr. John G. Mitchell. He shares the four scriptures stating the sinlessness of Christ. Jesus is blameless and spotless, both in His person and His character. From before the foundation of the world, the savior was to come to this earth to glorify God His father by doing the will of God. Part of that will was to die for the sinner. He came to earth and was born without sin to do this will of God. As previously written in the scroll of the book, Jesus did all the will of God while on earth. He is still doing it now in heaven for you and me. What a wonderful savior! Let us fellowship with Him each day in the Word of God. Here, on the Unchanging Word Bible Broadcast, is Dr. Mitchell, 1Pet.1:19.

In 1st Peter 1:17, Dr. Mitchell speaks of God the Father as judge. God is equitable in all His dealings within His family. If necessary, He will discipline the one who is in need of spiritual training in righteousness, that he may share in the holiness of the Lord, without which no one will see the Lord. In verses 18-19, Dr. Mitchell states,"Because of the cost of our redemption we ought to live godly as obedient children of God." Redemption has to do with sin. Christ purchased us out of sin for Himself at the price of His own blood on the cross. 1st Jn.1:7 says, "if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son, keeps on cleansing us from all sin." Here is Dr. Mitchell, 1Pet.1:17

1Pet.1:13, is one of the 5 times that Peter writes of the revelation of Jesus Christ in this epistle. Peter was one of the three disciples to witness the coming of the Lord Jesus at the transfiguration. His heart of expectation and hope is reflected here in verse 13. In view of the coming of Lord, how shall we then live? In verse 14, Dr. Mitchell looks at the motive, that just as the Lord is holy, one is to be holy in the whole lifestyle. This is brought about by the obedience of faith to the word of God Himself. The Unchanging Word Bible Broadcast seeks to enable each one to know, believe and follow the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us and rose again that we may live in hope of His appearing. Along with Dr. Mitchell, let's open our Bible to 1Pet.1:13, here on the Unchanging Word Bible Broadcast.

Dr. Mitchell looks into 1Pet.1:10-12 which reveals the Old Testament prophets searching who the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating. It was revealed to them that they were serving future generations who would be reading the Old Testament Scriptures. Jesus said to His disciples in John 16:13 "When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things to come." Now, in the New Testament, they have written down the words of Christ and the truth of His person and work. They are here to be read and believed. Now you and I can know something of the grace of God, unlike the angels which know nothing of this grace. Here is Dr. Mitchell, 1Pet.1:12.

A purified faith rejoices--Looking forward to the revelation of Jesus Christ which results in the completion of one's salvation. 1Pet.1:10-13 has a threefold witness to this salvation. The O.T. prophets searched what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when He predicted the work of Christ. Dr. Mitchell asks these questions. Do you know what God's purpose is for the church? Do you know the purpose of God for Israel? Do you know what God is going to do with the nations? Do you know what God is going to do with the animal creation? Do you know what God is going to do with you? Should we not search and find out what God has revealed concerning what He is and will be doing? Here is Dr. Mitchell, ⁠1Peter 1:7-11⁠, on the ⁠Unchanging Word Bible Broadcast⁠.

Peter authors and writes his first epistle from the city of Babylon in 60 A.D. by a faithful brother named Silvanus. He writes to suffering believers in the world. Dr. Mitchell looks at 1Pet. 1:1-3. In verses 1 and 2 he looks at 3 truths. These exiles were elect of God the Father and honored for suffering, they were sanctified by the Spirit in witnessing and by the work of Christ and the sprinkling of His blood, they were cleansed for service and fitted for the presence of God. Going on to verse 3, he states what each believer has in Christ. First is a guaranteed living and future hope for each believer. This has been accomplished by the resurrection of Christ from out among the dead ones. Here is Dr. Mitchell on the Unchanging Word Bible Broadcast, 1st Peter chapter 1 verse 1.

John 21:14 This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead. 15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs."16 He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My sheep." 17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep. 18 "Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish." 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me." Today we look a little closer at the three do you love Me statements and what they mean to us in practical terms of what we need to do and how we need to live in light of these questions. Peter is like us in that he is not willing to totally commit to something unless we are sure WE can pull it off. So, Jesus gives a prophecy of how Peter will die. He tells Peter that he will live to be an old man and then they will put him on a cross. That he will glorify God through his death. That is just like God to let us know, yes you have failed, yes you are hesitant to fully commit now because of your failure, but I am going to use you anyway. Also, I want to let you know that when it comes time to stand up for me, you will not fail, you will not make the same mistake again and you will ultimately do the will of God as you are supposed to when it really counts. 2Co 9:15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! 14 This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead. Joh 20:19,26 John said that this was the third post-resurrection appearance "to the disciples" (i.e., the apostles, cf. 20:19-23, 26-29). Chronologically this was at least Jesus' seventh post-resurrection appearance (cf. 20:11-18; Matt. 28:8-10; 1 Cor. 15:5; Luke 24:13-32; John 20:19-23, 26-29). Nevertheless it was the third appearance to the disciples, and the third appearance to the disciples that John recorded. John viewed this appearance as further proof of Jesus' resurrection. Perhaps he viewed it as completing a full complement of testimonies since he drew attention to its being the third appearance to the disciples. The number three in Scripture sometimes connotes fullness or completeness (e.g., the three Persons of the Trinity). However by calling this appearance a "manifestation" (Gr. ephanerothe, cf. v. 1) John indicated that he also viewed it as a revelation of Jesus' true character. So far Jesus had reminded these disciples of lessons that He had taught them previously that were important for them to remember in view of their mission. He had also set the stage for an even more important lesson that would follow. I believe there are lessons to be learned from this miracle in the light of its similarity to the great fish harvest of Luke 5. Because of the fishing miracle in Luke 5, Peter and the other disciples came to see Jesus (and themselves) in a whole new light. There, Peter realizes he is not worthy to be in the same boat with Jesus. In John 21, Peter and the others are once again awed by our Lord and His works. In both texts, these professional fishermen were not able to catch anything on their own, even though they were laboring in the area of their expertise. Jesus taught them that He is the source of their success, He is the One Who, when obeyed, makes men fruitful fishermen. In Luke 5, the disciples were called to leave their fishing boats and to become “fishers of men” (5:10). I believe that John 21:1-14 is a reaffirmation of that original call. The disciples are all waiting around, wondering what to do with their lives. I believe that by means of this miracle Jesus reiterates and reinforces their original call, which came in Luke 5. There are some interesting differences in these accounts as well—and lessons to be learned from them. The most obvious (and probably the most important) difference is that in Luke 5, Jesus was in the boat. In John 21, Jesus is on the shore. You may think I am pressing the limits of this story, but there is a lesson here: “Jesus is able to guide, to provide for, and to watch over His disciples just as well (better?) from a distance, as He is able to care for them “up close and personal.” From 100 yards away, Jesus knew they had caught no fish. From 100 yards away, Jesus could guide them to an abundance of fish. Even before they saw Him, Jesus was prepared to provide for their needs. He had breakfast “on the table,” so to speak, when they arrived on shore. Were the disciples uneasy about Jesus going away, about Jesus leaving them to return to His Father? Such fears are unfounded. He is just as able to care for them when He is in heaven as He was to care for them while He was on earth. I think this was a significant part of the lesson He wanted them to learn. That is why this story is included here -- to teach us that in the work of evangelizing, whether through mass evangelism or individual witnessing, God himself is working with us and will supply far more than we ever dreamed. Both of these accounts refer to Peter as "Simon Peter." Recall that when the Spirit of God uses the name "Simon" Peter, the natural Peter, the one with whom we feel a kinship, the Peter in us all, is in view. And three times, Jesus is going to ask Peter the same question, or at least, we think it’s the same question, but as we’ll see as we move through this there’s actually a subtle shift in this question that we can’t see in our English Bibles, right? It’s a rich picture of how intimately Jesus knows His friend, Peter, and by implication, how He knows us. So, not only the guilt of, “Oh, I failed, and I didn’t respond well,” but, “Let me restore you to a place of usability that’s far beyond your wildest imagination.” We need to keep this in mind as well, especially those of us who are very aware of our own sins, and how we have failed… No matter how great a person is, he may fall (cf. 1 Cor. 10:12).[i] Would you begin to understand that nothing you will ever done will make Him love you more, -and nothing you have ever done will make Him love you less. And when you start there, I believe the prayer thing is going to take care of itself.” But we’re all in this performance quota, “I have to do this before God will look on me favorably.” He could not have demonstrated His love more profoundly than He already has. Why would He then change that conditionally based upon our works? So the motivation is, “I love you, and I want to respond well to you.” Not, “I need to pray more, I need to be more faithful, I shouldn’t have done that.” What a terrible way to live the Christian life. Ultimately, that performance mindset that you’re talking about is legalism. It’s an attempt to self-justify and we have to come back and say do we believe that Christ has paid it all, and that we’re accepted not because of what we do, - but because of what He has done? And Peter had to realize that as well. As we pick up this account in John’s Gospel, Jesus has just finished cooking breakfast for His friends, and He’s about to have a conversation with Peter. to follow Christ as maybe we have promised to do. Jesus is in the business of restoration. I am inclined to understand verses 1-14 in terms of evangelism—being fishers of men. But it is not enough to simply bring a lost sinner to faith in Jesus Christ; that person should also be discipled, and thus brought to maturity in Christ. This seems to be implicit in the Great Commission: Lu 24:33 So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, "The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" Mr. 16:7 "But go, tell His disciples--and Peter--that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you." Jesus is not seeking to correct (or even rebuke) Peter here for his three-fold denial. Jesus personally revealed Himself to Peter, probably before He appeared to the disciples as a group (1 Corinthians 15:5; Luke 24:34; Mark 16:7). I believe it is there that our Lord dealt with Peter’s three-fold denial, and forgave him. In our text, Peter is eager to be with our Lord. I believe this is because Peter’s sins have already been confronted and forgiven, and thus he has already been restored to fellowship with the Master I am not even inclined to see this text as Peter’s restoration to leadership. There are some scholars who hold that Peter was restored to fellowship in his private interview with Jesus, and that this incident is his public restoration to leadership. I see the emphasis of this passage falling on humble service, not on leadership, per se.????????? this passage is more about love than about leadership. Love for Jesus is demonstrated by faithfully caring for His sheep. So, too, when we care for the sheep whom our Lord loves, and for whom He gave His life, we show our love for the Shepherd. caution should be exercised in making too much of the two different words for “love” which are employed in this text. The two verbs are agapao and phileo. The first two times Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him, the word for love is agapao. The third time Jesus asks, He employs the term phileo. Every time Peter responds to Jesus’ question, indicating his love, he employs the word phileo. The distinctions that some make between these two terms may hold true in some cases, and for some authors. They do not seem to hold true for John, who often uses different terms for the same concept. When commentators do seek to emphasize the distinctions between the two Greek words John uses, they do not agree as to what the meaning and emphasis of these terms are. We should keep in mind that when Jesus spoke to Peter and asked him these three questions, He spoke not in Greek (the language in which the Gospel of John is written), but in Aramaic, the language spoken by the Jews of that day. The change in words may have some significance, but I hardly think it is the key to understanding the passage. Jesus began by addressing Peter as Simon the son of Jonas. In the Gospels, Jesus addressed Peter this way on only the most important occasions. These were his call to follow Jesus (1:42), his confession of Jesus as the Son of God (Matt. 16:17), and as he slept in Gethsemane (Mark 14:37).???????????? When Jesus addressed Peter this way here, Peter probably realized that what Jesus was about to say to him was extremely important. "His [Peter's] actions had shown that Peter had not wanted a crucified Lord. But Jesus was crucified. How did Peter's devotion stand in the light of this? Was he ready to love Jesus as he was, and not as Peter wished him to be?" His will is content with following. His work is compelled by love. His way is committed to God. And his work, or his will is content with following, but his words are about Jesus. Number one, his work is compelled by love. A real committed Christian operates on the basis of his love for the Lord. Two, his way is controlled by God. He has learned how to give his life totally to God and trust Him for it. His will is content with following. He's happy to do what Jesus leads him to do. Fourth, his words are concerning Jesus. His work is compelled by love. His way is controlled by God. His will is content with following. And his words are concerned with Jesus. A committed Christian operates on the basis of his love for the Lord. 15 ¶ So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs." Each question begins with Simon, son of John. It’s funny to me that He names him Peter, but He never calls him Peter but one time. At least, it’s only recorded one time that He calls him Peter. He still calls him Simon. I think it has to do with the person of him before the Holy Spirit indwells him because in Acts he’ll be known primarily as Peter. But now, Jesus still calls him Simon. Called Him Simon Peter every time something important occurred. Original calling, garden of gethsemane, and now. Peter had denied that he was one of Jesus' disciples and that he even knew Jesus three times. Thus Jesus' question was reasonable. He wanted Peter to think about just how strong his love for Jesus really was. "There can be little doubt but that the whole scene is meant to show us Peter as completely restored to his position of leadership. . . . It is further worth noting that the one thing about which Jesus questioned Peter prior to commissioning him to tend the flock was love. This is the basic qualification for Christian service. Other qualities may be desirable, but love is completely indispensable (cf. 1 Cor. 13:1-3)." Our Lord’s addition of the words, “more than these do,” really got to the heart of the matter. Our Lord’s prediction of Peter’s denials came in the midst of Peter’s confident boasting that even if all the others denied Jesus, he certainly would not. In other words, Peter was claiming a higher level of devotion than the rest. Jesus is simply asking him to re-evaluate his boastful claim. And this Peter did. Peter could truthfully affirm that he did love Jesus, but he would not go so far as to claim that his love was greater than that of his fellow-disciples. He also speaks of his love in terms of the Savior’s assessment of it: “Yes, Lord, You know I love You.” To this our Lord replied, “Feed My lambs.” There is some discussion over what Jesus means here. The verse could be translated (and understood) in several ways. (1) “Peter, do you love me more than these fish, more than this boat and the nets, and the things which represent your life of a fisherman?” (2) “Peter, do you love Me more than you love these men?” (3) “Peter, do you love me more than these men do?” But a comparison of these two accounts reveals that what he means is, "Do you love me more than these men love me?" Before he denied Jesus, Peter had inferred that he loved Jesus much more than they. "All men will forsake you, Lord, but I will lay down my life for you," he had said. Clearly he regards himself as more faithful and more committed than the others, whom he expected would desert the Lord in a time of danger. Thus Jesus addresses these words to him, "Do you love me more than these?" When we bring that into our context, taken together, “Peter, now that you’ve denied me three times, remember I told you you’d deny me? Now that you’ve denied me three times, can you tell me that you love me more than these people love me?” That’s the question He’s posing to him. And Peter is saying, “Look, Lord you knew I was going to deny you three times, you know if I love you or not, Lord.” Now, Peter is starting to develop a fuller Christology. This Jesus Christ knows everything about him. And He knows everything about him now. That’s why it grieved him, I think. Three times, “Lord, you know I love you. You know everything.” Peter has learned some painful but necessary lessons. He does not judge himself in relationship to the others, but reads his own heart and replies, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." He makes no mention of the others. Here is a great lesson on how we are to look at others. Peter indicates he has learned to read his Lord's mind better. In the Garden of Gethsemane he felt that his love for Jesus required that he assault the enemies of his Lord, but here he learns that he is responsible to feed the sheep of Jesus. That is the correct manifestation of love. Jesus responded graciously by giving Peter a command, Tend My lambs” This is an PRESENT ACTIVE IMPERATIVE. All three of these statements are the same grammatical form. Note that Christ gives Peter a new commission: he is now a shepherd (pastor) besides being a fisher of men. (See 1 Peter 5.) He is now to shepherd the lambs and sheep and feed them the Word of God. All Christians are expected to be fishers of men (soul-winners), but some have been called into the special ministry of shepherding the flock. What good is it to win the lost if there is no church where they might be fed and cared for? When Peter sinned, he did not lose his Sonship, but he did fall away from his discipleship. For this reason Christ repeated His call, “Follow Me.” Christ also confronts Peter with the cross (v. 18), indicating that Peter would one day be crucified himself. (See 2 Peter 1:12–14.) Before we can follow Christ, we must take up the cross. When you recall that earlier Peter tried to keep Christ from the cross, this commandment takes on new meaning (Matt. 16:21–28).[ii] He told Peter to tend (Gr. boske, feed) His lambs (Gr. arnia). Previously Jesus had referred to Himself as the Good Shepherd (10:14). Now he was committing the care of His flock to this disciple who had failed Him miserably in the past. Jesus had formerly called Peter to be a fisher of men, an essentially evangelistic ministry (Matt. 4:19). Now he was broadening this calling to include being a shepherd of sheep, a pastoral ministry. The image, however, changes from that of the fisherman to that of the shepherd. Peter was to minister both as an evangelist (catching the fish) and a pastor (shepherding the flock). It is unfortunate when we divorce these two because they should go together. Pastors ought to evangelize (2 Tim. 4:5) and then shepherd the people they have won so that they mature in the Lord. Here is the chief work of a shepherd. Jesus says to Peter, "Feed my lambs"; "Tend my sheep"; "Feed my sheep." Three aspects of feeding are suggested here: "Feed my lambs." Teach the children. Do not wait for them to grow up. Teach children from the Word what life is all about. Peter was grieved because Jesus found it necessary to ask virtually the same question three times. I do not like to be asked the same question repeatedly. I conclude that either the person asking the question wasn’t paying attention (this could not be the case with Jesus), or that my answer was not acceptable or credible. The three-fold repetition must have registered with Peter as being related to his three-fold denial. Peter was grieved because he realized that the bold and even arrogant claims he had made proved to be empty. Peter is not distressed with Jesus; he is grieved over his own sin. Jesus is not attempting to shame Peter; he is seeking to reaffirm his call to service. Did Jesus question Peter about his love for Him three times? Then note that three times Jesus instructed Peter to care for His sheep. Does Peter fear he has been cast aside as useless? Jesus tells him to return to His work, three times! Peter really did love Jesus. But Peter needed to understand that his love for the Savior was not as great as he thought, just as his ability to catch fish was not as great as he seemed to think. In loving, and in landing fish, Jesus was supreme. Even in the thing Peter did best (fishing), he could not hold a candle to Jesus, who proved to be far better at fishing than he. Peter sought to prove his love for Jesus by boasting about it, by arguing with his fellow-disciples about it (see Luke 22:24), and by being the first to draw his sword and lop off an ear, or perhaps even by being the first man into the water and onto the shore. These were not the benchmarks our Lord had established for testing one’s love for Him. The proof of one’s love for God is sacrificial service —feeding our Lord’s sheep. The way I understand verses 15-19 is something like this: “Peter, do you really love Me as much as you say? Then prove your love for Me by taking care of My sheep.” Jesus is the “Good Shepherd,” Who cares for His sheep (see John 10). If Peter really loves his Lord, then his passion will be the Lord’s passion. The circumstances must have reminded Peter of the scene of his denial. And if the circumstances as such did not remind him of this, what was about to happen was bound to do so. Note the following resemblances: 1. It was at a charcoal fire that Peter denied his Master (18:18). It is here at another charcoal fire (21:9) that he is asked to confess (his love for) his Master. 2. Three times Peter had denied his Master (18:17, 25, 27). Three times he must now own him as his Lord, whom he loves (21:15-17). 3. The prediction with reference to the denial had been introduced with the solemn double Amen (13:38; see on 1:51). The prediction which immediately followed Peter’s confession was introduced similarly (21:18). Ps 1:1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But it has been shown that the resemblance is even more pointed. In reverse order the same three ideas—1. following, 2. a cross, 3. denying—occur here in 21:15-19 as in 13:36-38.” William Hendriksen, Exposition of the Gospel According to John, II , p. 486. John 21:15-17 is more about love than about leadership. “Peter if you’re going to love me, part of that will be shepherding and feeding and caring for my sheep, but the manifestation of those attributes come connected to your love to me. If you love me, Peter, you will shepherd the flock that I will give to you. My passion, Peter, will be your passion. The things I’m concerned about, Peter, will be the things you’re concerned about, if you love me.” 16 He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My sheep." Ac 20:28; Heb 13:20; 1Pe 2:25; 5:2,4 Now the first and third words for “feed”, “Feed my sheep… feed my lambs… “ is the same word. The middle word is the word I want to talk about. The middle word is the word shepherding. Some of your translations use the word “care for”, and it has the root of a pastor. In fact, the word that Jesus uses here for Peter to shepherd is the word for pastoring and for eldering. Pastoring is the gift, eldering is the function. It is a shepherd; one who cares for people. The shepherd-sheep relationship describes the spiritual task of leaders of God’s people. The command ‘to shepherd’ includes guiding, guarding, feeding, protecting. Then, "Shepherd my sheep." The word means, watch over, guard them. In Peter's first letter he says to the elders to whom he is writing, "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, watching out for them," (1 Peter 5:2). Try to discern where they are at, apprehend the coming dangers, warn and guard them. That is the work of a shepherd. The verbal tense conveys urgency. It calls upon the elder to have the official life of devotion to serving the flock of God.” 17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep. Joh 2:24-25; 16:30 Jesus is the “Good Shepherd”; He is the Shepherd who came to lay down His life for His sheep. If Peter really loves Jesus, he will care for the Master’s sheep, and he, like the Master, will lay down his life for the sheep. Love manifests itself in service—humble, sacrificial, service. You become like the people you love. The things they love, you love. If Peter really loves his Lord, Who is the Good Shepherd, then Peter will surely seek to shepherd in the same way. He will seek the lost sheep (evangelism). He will feed and tend the young and vulnerable lambs (discipleship). And, like the Good Shepherd, he will lay down his life for the sheep. That is why the Lord moves so quickly and easily from verses 15-17 to verses 18 and 19. Peter had assured his Lord that he was willing to die for Him (Matthew 26:35), and so he will. But he will not die in the manner that he once supposed—seeking to keep His Master from being arrested and crucified. Peter will die, as the Savior did, as a good shepherd, and for the sake of the gospel. Finally, "Feed my sheep, my grown-up ones." The instrument of feeding, of course, is the teaching of the Word of God. Open their minds to the thoughts of God. This is the missing element in the church today. The primary function of shepherding is in teaching and explaining the Gospel and the Word to the flock of God. People are not thinking the thoughts of God, not looking at life the way God sees it, but following blindly after the fantasies and the illusions of the world. What is necessary is the unfolding of the mind of God in obedience to the word of Jesus: "Teach the word." The weakness of the church flows from a famine of the Word of God. Peter had learned not to make rash professions of great love. Therefore he did not compare his love for Jesus to the love of the other disciples as he had done before. He simply appealed to Jesus' knowledge of his heart. Notice that throughout this interchange Jesus consistently referred to the sheep as His sheep, not Peter's sheep. Moreover Jesus described Peter's ministry in terms of acts, not in terms of an office. Later Peter wrote to elders urging them to apply these same viewpoints to their pastoral ministry (1Pet. 5:1-4). The Greek word for “sheep” at the end of John 21:17 means “dear sheep. A committed Christian’s way is controlled by God. Having loved Jesus Christ to that extent that you'd give your life for Him, it's no problem to hand Him your life and let Him keep it. Didn't Paul say, "I'm confident that what I've given the Lord He'll keep till the day of Jesus Christ?" And as a Christian, you can say, "All right, Lord, I love You, here's my life, You've got it now, it's up to You to do what You want." Are you willing to say that? Whatever God's will is, he'll do it. The committed Christian yields the control of his destiny to God, no questions asked. Psalm 37:5 puts it this way, "Commit thy way unto the Lord, trust also in Him." Just let it go. Here's my life, God, and it's Yours, do whatever You want. And Paul says, "If I live, I live unto the Lord. If I die, I die unto the Lord. So, if I live, if I die, I'm the Lord's." See. I gave myself to Him. 18 "Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish." Joh 13:36; Ac 12:3-4 Peter had been learning how his self-confidence led to failure and how he needed to depend on Jesus more (i.e., "You know vv. 15, 16, 17). Jesus reminded Peter that as time passed he would become increasingly dependent on others even to the point of being unable to escape a martyr's death. Therefore, Jesus implied, Peter should commit his future to God rather than trying to control it himself as he had formerly tried to do. "The long painful history of the Church is the history of people ever and again tempted to choose power over love, control over the cross, being a leader over being led." For Peter, following Jesus would involve more than teaching, it would ultimately involve pain, suffering, deprivation, and death. This was historically fulfilled. Clearly this book was written after the death of Peter, as John records the way Peter would die. Eusebius, the church historian, tells us that when Peter went to Rome at the close of his life (by the way, he did not found the church at Rome at all; he went there much later), he was finally imprisoned, his hands were bound and he was led out to the place of execution, and there he was crucified. At his own request he was crucified upside down because he did not feel he was worthy to share the manner of his Lord's death. Jesus is saying that preaching and teaching the Word of truth in a mixed-up world like ours will call for sacrifice. It may mean living in primitive conditions, under difficult circumstances, and not feeling harassed, but privileged, to teach and to suffer for the sake of the Word of God. Peter found this to be true. He ultimately obeyed his Lord. He had said, "I will lay down my life for you," and Jesus replied, "You will indeed, not like you once thought, not in defense of me with a sword, but in the teaching and preaching of the Word. Eventually you will lay down your life for me." A committed Christian’s will is content with following. 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me."2Pe 1:14 Follow Me” This is a PRESENT ACTIVE IMPERATIVE as is v.22. This is related to the renewal and reaffirmation of Peter’s call to leadership Our Lord’s words, “Follow Me!” must have brought new joy and love to Peter’s heart. Literally, Jesus said, “Keep on following Me.” Immediately, Peter began to follow Jesus, just as he had done before his great denial. Peter later wrote that Christians who follow Jesus Christ faithfully to the point of dying for Him bring glory to God by their deaths 1Pe 4:14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's matters. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. He lived with this prediction hanging over him for three decades 2Pe 1:14 knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. Notice that Jesus does much more than predict Peter’s death. John wishes us to understand that Jesus went so far as to predict the way in which Peter would die: “(Now Jesus said this to indicate clearly by what kind of death Peter was going to glorify God.)” (verse 19). Peter’s previous effort to resist the arrest of Jesus was contrary to the gospel, and this is why Jesus rebuked him and abruptly ordered him to stop resisting His arrest. The death which Peter will experience is a death that will glorify God. Jesus also indicates that Peter will die in his old age, and thus he is informed that his death is not imminent. But his death for the Savior’s sake is certain: Notice it says that his death would glorify God. How? Because anybody who dies for their faith in Jesus Christ is a glory to God. I agree with those who see here a prophecy that Peter truly will follow Jesus, by dying on a Roman cross: More important is the way stretch out your hands was understood in the ancient world: it widely referred to crucifixion (Haenchen, 2. 226-227). … Bauer (p. 232) proposed long ago that this ‘stretching’ took place when a condemned prisoner was tied to his cross-member and forced to carry his ‘cross’ to the place of execution. The cross-member would be placed on the prisoner’s neck and shoulders, his arms tied to it, and then he would be led away to death. The words, “Follow Me,” constitute the first calling of the disciples (Matthew 4:19; Mark 1:17; John 1:43). As time passed, these words took on a much deeper meaning. Following Jesus meant putting Jesus above family (Matthew 8:22). It meant a whole new way of life, where former practices would be unacceptable (Matthew 9:9; Mark 2:14). Before long, Jesus let His disciples know that following Him meant taking up one’s cross (Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34). (At this point in time, our Lord’s reference to “taking up one’s cross” was, at best, understood symbolically.) For the rich young ruler, it meant giving up his possessions (Matthew 19:21; Mark 20:21). And now, for Peter, it means not only carrying on the Master’s work, but taking up a very literal cross. It would seem that at every point where following Jesus is more precisely defined, another challenge to follow Him is given. So it is in our text. I fear that Christians today understand these two words, “Follow me,” in a superficial way. When Paul writes, “For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21), we interpret his words in a somewhat self-indulgent fashion. We suppose that Paul means living as a Christian is glorious, trouble-free, and fulfilling. It is, to put it plainly, “the good life.” In other words, we get to live it up here, and then when we die, it gets even better. There is a certain sense in which this is true. But we must understand Paul’s words in the light of what Jesus is telling Peter here, in our text, about following Him. To follow Christ is to walk in His steps, to live as He lived, to serve others as He did, and to lay down your life for the sheep, like Him. In Philippians chapter 1, Paul is therefore saying, “For me, to live is to live just as Christ did, taking up my cross daily, laying down my life for His sheep.” "Obedience to Jesus' command, Follow Me, is the key issue in every Christian's life. As Jesus followed the Father's will, so His disciples should follow their Lord whether the path leads to a cross or to some other difficult experience." Peter got the message. He was willing to lay down his life for the Savior. Do you know what Jesus is saying to him here? "Peter, you're going to grow old, “because He says, "When you’re old, so you're going to have a full life, Peter. And when it comes to the end of your life, you're going to be crucified." That means, to Peter, that when it comes down to the crux at that hour, he's going to confess Christ and die for Him, right? Now don't you think that's good news to Peter who last time he had a chance to die for Jesus blew it? And so He says, "Peter, I'm going to give you another chance, you're going to live a full life and then at the end you're going to hang in there, it's going to come down to a life/death issue and you're going to stand up and say I believe in Jesus boldly and you're going to die for it." Now I can imagine the thrills were shooting up Peter's back like crazy because he was going to get a chance to prove his love for Jesus. Peter committed his life to Christ and Christ said, "Peter, you'll live for Me and you'll die nailed to a cross." That's the destiny that God had designed for Peter. That's a beautiful promise. O Peter I'm sure in his heart just was saying over and over again...if I only had another chance...if I only had another chance to show the Lord I could be faithful in a crucial situation...if I only had one more chance to show Him my love in a life/death thing, O I'd do it, I'd do it. And so the Lord says, "Peter, you'll do it...you'll do it." And, you know, it's a good thing He told Peter cause Peter would have lived his whole life a nervous wreck thinking that every time he came to a real issue he'd blow it. And a leader with no confidence is no leader at all. And the Lord knew that Peter would worry himself about this so the Lord says, "Peter, you can relax through your whole ministry. When it comes to the end, you'll proclaim My name, you'll die a crucifixion death, don't worry about it." Following Jesus means being where He is. Jesus said in John 12:26 that, "If any man serve Me, let him follow Me that where I am, there will My servant be also." In other words, Jesus wants servants to go where He goes. That's the first thing about following. You go where He goes. Real simple. And in all the days of your life, in all the circumstances of your life, in all the places of your life, in all the relationships of your life, you should be able to say when asked, "Why are you here?" I'm here because I'm following Jesus and this is where He's led me today. Following Jesus means to pattern our lives after His attitudes. His holiness and His purity and His obedience to God becomes the pattern for us. Jesus said in Matthew 5:48, "Be ye perfect even as I am perfect." We are to pattern our lives after Him. As He was faithful to the Father and obedient, so are we to be faithful and obedient.. Thirdly, following Jesus means a willingness to suffer sacrifice for His sake. That's the nitty-gritty. Are you willing to do that? In Matthew 16 Jesus said, "If any man follow Me, take up his cross," right, "and follow Me." Now that's talking about the suffering sacrificial side of following Jesus. But what does it mean to take up your cross, to bear your cross? in those days the victims of crucifixion bore the crossbeam of their own cross on their back as they marched to crucifixion. And in Matthew, as this was being spoken, the people in Galilee would well understand it because when the Roman General Varus had broken the revolt of Judas of Galilee, he crucified as a punishment two thousand Jews and he placed their crosses along all the roads leading through Galilee so that everywhere that everybody went they saw people hanging on crosses, two thousand of them. And all these people had borne the crossbeam on their back to their own death. What Jesus is saying here is that means to be willing to sacrifice yourself for a cause. That's what it means. And Jesus is saying the same thing, are you willing to sacrifice everything you hold dear, everything you love, all the stupid little things that occupy your time, all your dreams and all your ambitions to be obedient to His cause? That's the real issue. Mark 8:36 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Have you trusted Him as your Savior? He can Save you if You ask Him based on His death, burial, and resurrection for your sins. Believe in Him for forgiveness of your sins today. “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” -John 8:32 Our mission is to spread the gospel and to go to the least of these with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ; We reach out to those the World has forgotten. hisloveministries.podbean.com #HLMSocial hisloveministries.net https://www.instagram.com/hisloveministries1/?hl=en His Love Ministries on Itunes Don’t go for all the gusto you can get, go for all the God (Jesus Christ) you can get. The gusto will get you, Jesus can save you. https://www.facebook.com/His-Love-Ministries-246606668725869/?tn-str=k*F The world is trying to solve earthly problems that can only be solved with heavenly solutions [i] Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1985). The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Jn 21:15–17). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books. [ii] Wiersbe, W. W. (1992). Wiersbe’s expository outlines on the New Testament (270). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

The 1st Part of Psalm 22 (v1-21) is a Prophecy of Christ's suffering & prayers on the Cross. Its 3rd Lamentation (v12-18), describes His physical sufferings inflicted by the Romans, described as DOGS (v16), and oppression by demonic powers (BULLS, v12) & Satan (LION, v13, 1Pet 5:8). Then He turns to God asking Him to draw near to Him, release His mighty power on His behalf (‘O My strength'), deliver, help & save Him (v19-21a). In this prayer He asks for deliverance from the same 3 animals, causing His suffering: DOG (v20), LION (v21), WILD OXEN (Reem, an extinct massive wild BULL, v21). We note the Chiastic Structure of these animal verses (His prayer names them in reverse order to His lament), so we have in His lament: (1) BULLS (v12), (2) LION (v13), (3) DOGS (v16), and in His prayer: (3) DOG (v20), (2) LION (v21) and (1) BULLS (v21). This means we have 3 sets of parallel verses to be compared. In particular, v16, where DOGS PIERCE His hand & feet (the key act in crucifixion), and v20, where the DOG's power is in the SWORD (of capital punishment) are parallel, confirming ‘they pierced my hands & feet' is the correct translation, rather than ‘like a lion' which destroys the symmetry. His prayer concludes with a triumphant declaration: “You have answered Me” (v21b). This dramatic change of tone marks the transition to Part 2 (v22-31), a Prophecy of His resurrection, declared in faith on the Cross, knowing God will answer His Prayer for deliverance from death & enemies (v1-21), by raising Him from death, resulting in God's salvation going to the whole world (v22-31). At this point, it dramatically transitions from a lament-prayer of suffering in the DARK to thanksgiving for salvation in the LIGHT. Dawn is when light overcomes darkness, and this is His announcement of the dawning of a new day, not just for Himself, but for all His people, the dawning of a new day of history, brought about by His resurrection at dawn on Sunday, April 3rd AD 33. The Light (Christ) has overcome the darkness by His death & resurrection! At this point, Psalm 22 moves from travail to triumph, from suffering to the glory that would follow. It's significant that the title is the ‘Hind of the Morning' or ‘Deer of the Dawn.' Christ is the deer, hunted by the lion, dogs & wild bulls, springing up in new life to victory in resurrection power, bringing in the dawning of a new day. This is a Prophecy that this sinless man, who is executed, will be resurrected. It reveals His dramatic reversal of fortunes, from depths of despair to exuberant praise. for God has heard His prayer. v22: “I will declare Your Name to MY BRETHREN; in the midst of the Assembly (Church) I will praise You.” Before He was alone and surrounded by enemies. He's no longer alone, but in the midst of a great congregation of His friends. The 1st thing He wants to do is to praise God in the Assembly. This shows the importance of public praise, and that Jesus is in the midst when we gather together in His Name (Matt 18:20), revealing God to us, and glorifying God through us, empowering our praises & preaching (John 17:26). This verse also announces the 1st accomplishment of His death & resurrection - the creation and formation of a new spiritual family in Christ, the Birth of His Church. This is signified by Him calling us His BRETHREN. Thru His resurrection, as the Head of the New Creation of humanity, He's now the firstborn among many brethren (Rom 8:29, Col 1:18, Heb 12:23). Believers sharing in His resurrection life are now BORN AGAIN, sons of God, by His resurrection (1Pet 1:3), and so are members of God's family. His life is our life, and our lives belong to Him. The New Birth is a New Covenant reality, not available before. ‘Brethren' also speaks of His ongoing humanity, and reveals His purpose in becoming a man was to bring men to God, so we would be born again into His forever family, and might all know and praise Him. Immediately after He rose, He said to Mary: “Go to MY BRETHREN and say to them: ‘I am ascending to My Father & your Father, and to My God & your God” (John 20:17). He was declaring to her that Ps 22:22 was now being fulfilled, that we are now in the 2nd Part of Ps 22, just as He'd declared v1 on the Cross to tell us He was fulfilling Part 1. He was telling them that to understand the new reality, study the 2nd half of Ps 22. (He'd not used this description ‘MY BRETHREN' before, as it reflects the new reality, which Ps 22 predicted with the same term). He reinforced this by saying that His Father was also now their Father, so they were in the same covenant relationship with God as He was. This vital verse is quoted in Hebrews 2:11-12. This is another proof that the whole Psalm is Messianic, fulfilled by Jesus. It confirms that the fruit of His work is that we would be reborn from the same womb as Christ, through His death & resurrection, so that in His humanity, He is now our brother, the firstborn among many brethren (Rom 8:29).

The 1st Part of Psalm 22 (v1-21) is a Prophecy of Christ's suffering & prayers on the Cross. Its 3rd Lamentation (v12-18), describes His physical sufferings inflicted by the Romans, described as DOGS (v16), and oppression by demonic powers (BULLS, v12) & Satan (LION, v13, 1Pet 5:8). Then He turns to God asking Him to draw near to Him, release His mighty power on His behalf (‘O My strength'), deliver, help & save Him (v19-21a). In this prayer He asks for deliverance from the same 3 animals, causing His suffering: DOG (v20), LION (v21), WILD OXEN (Reem, an extinct massive wild BULL, v21). We note the Chiastic Structure of these animal verses (His prayer names them in reverse order to His lament), so we have in His lament: (1) BULLS (v12), (2) LION (v13), (3) DOGS (v16), and in His prayer: (3) DOG (v20), (2) LION (v21) and (1) BULLS (v21). This means we have 3 sets of parallel verses to be compared. In particular, v16, where DOGS PIERCE His hand & feet (the key act in crucifixion), and v20, where the DOG's power is in the SWORD (of capital punishment) are parallel, confirming ‘they pierced my hands & feet' is the correct translation, rather than ‘like a lion' which destroys the symmetry. His prayer concludes with a triumphant declaration: “You have answered Me” (v21b). This dramatic change of tone marks the transition to Part 2 (v22-31), a Prophecy of His resurrection, declared in faith on the Cross, knowing God will answer His Prayer for deliverance from death & enemies (v1-21), by raising Him from death, resulting in God's salvation going to the whole world (v22-31). At this point, it dramatically transitions from a lament-prayer of suffering in the DARK to thanksgiving for salvation in the LIGHT. Dawn is when light overcomes darkness, and this is His announcement of the dawning of a new day, not just for Himself, but for all His people, the dawning of a new day of history, brought about by His resurrection at dawn on Sunday, April 3rd AD 33. The Light (Christ) has overcome the darkness by His death & resurrection! At this point, Psalm 22 moves from travail to triumph, from suffering to the glory that would follow. It's significant that the title is the ‘Hind of the Morning' or ‘Deer of the Dawn.' Christ is the deer, hunted by the lion, dogs & wild bulls, springing up in new life to victory in resurrection power, bringing in the dawning of a new day. This is a Prophecy that this sinless man, who is executed, will be resurrected. It reveals His dramatic reversal of fortunes, from depths of despair to exuberant praise. for God has heard His prayer. v22: “I will declare Your Name to MY BRETHREN; in the midst of the Assembly (Church) I will praise You.” Before He was alone and surrounded by enemies. He's no longer alone, but in the midst of a great congregation of His friends. The 1st thing He wants to do is to praise God in the Assembly. This shows the importance of public praise, and that Jesus is in the midst when we gather together in His Name (Matt 18:20), revealing God to us, and glorifying God through us, empowering our praises & preaching (John 17:26). This verse also announces the 1st accomplishment of His death & resurrection - the creation and formation of a new spiritual family in Christ, the Birth of His Church. This is signified by Him calling us His BRETHREN. Thru His resurrection, as the Head of the New Creation of humanity, He's now the firstborn among many brethren (Rom 8:29, Col 1:18, Heb 12:23). Believers sharing in His resurrection life are now BORN AGAIN, sons of God, by His resurrection (1Pet 1:3), and so are members of God's family. His life is our life, and our lives belong to Him. The New Birth is a New Covenant reality, not available before. ‘Brethren' also speaks of His ongoing humanity, and reveals His purpose in becoming a man was to bring men to God, so we would be born again into His forever family, and might all know and praise Him. Immediately after He rose, He said to Mary: “Go to MY BRETHREN and say to them: ‘I am ascending to My Father & your Father, and to My God & your God” (John 20:17). He was declaring to her that Ps 22:22 was now being fulfilled, that we are now in the 2nd Part of Ps 22, just as He'd declared v1 on the Cross to tell us He was fulfilling Part 1. He was telling them that to understand the new reality, study the 2nd half of Ps 22. (He'd not used this description ‘MY BRETHREN' before, as it reflects the new reality, which Ps 22 predicted with the same term). He reinforced this by saying that His Father was also now their Father, so they were in the same covenant relationship with God as He was. This vital verse is quoted in Hebrews 2:11-12. This is another proof that the whole Psalm is Messianic, fulfilled by Jesus. It confirms that the fruit of His work is that we would be reborn from the same womb as Christ, through His death & resurrection, so that in His humanity, He is now our brother, the firstborn among many brethren (Rom 8:29).

Psalm 22 is a detailed & accurate prophecy describing a righteous man being executed by crucifixion by evil men, written 800 years before crucifixion was invented. Nothing in Ps 22 was fulfilled by David, either in the details of his suffering or in the world-wide consequences of his death. Rather as a prophet (Acts 2:30), David spoke by the Spirit of Prophecy, enabling him to describe Messiah's inner thoughts & feelings on the Cross. Whereas the Gospels record outward events, Messianic Psalms (like 22) reveal His inner experience. It is messianic from start to finish, a prophecy of His death & resurrection, followed by the Gospel going to the world, and the establishment of God's Kingdom. This is confirmed by New Testament quotes from Ps 22, claiming Jesus is the fulfilment. Along with Isa 53, it has special importance in providing a detailed revelation of the Cross. It's written in 2 Parts corresponding to (1) Christ's SUFFERINGS (v1-21), and (2) the GLORIES that would follow (v22-31), see 1Pet 1:10-11. The 1st Part is a Lament, in which an isolated man, surrounded by enemies, suffers & prays on the altar of sacrifice (v1-21a). He describes his sufferings, but also turns to God and declares his faith, requesting God to draw near to save Him. Then it moves from travail to triumph in v21b, when he declares: “You have answered me”. The 2nd Part is a Thanksgiving Psalm, where He rejoices in his victory, and thanks God for accepting his sacrifice and delivering him from death, and for all the blessings released as a result. He is no longer alone, but praises God in the midst of His brethren. He declares the Gospel of His finished work will be declared around the world and down the ages, resulting in the salvation of the Gentiles (as well as Jews), and God's Kingdom established over all. *Part 1 consists of 3 Laments: (1) His spiritual suffering & desolation (v1-2), followed by a declaration of faith in God (v3-5). (2) His mental suffering & humiliation as a social outcast (v6-8), followed by a faith-declaration and request to God (v9-11). (3) His physical suffering - the torture of crucifixion (v12-18), followed by a faith-declaration & request (v19-21). Each time, He first expresses His feelings and describes His suffering (the focus is on ‘I' & ‘ME'). Then He turns his focus to God, saying: “BUT YOU.” So it is fine to express our feelings to God, but don't stop there, as if they are the final word. Don't stop with the negative, but go on to declare the truth of God, who has the final word. *Lament 1 describes his spiritual suffering, as he felt totally forsaken by God: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me (v11,19) and from the words of My groaning (roaring)? O My God, I cry in the DAYTIME, but You do not hear; and in the NIGHT season, and am not silent” (v1-2). He had a covenant relationship with God (‘My God') and walked with God all His life (v9-10,31), yet now all fellowship was broken. He experienced total separation from God's Presence. Ps 22 starts with him asking ‘Why?' The answer to this unlocks the meaning of the whole Psalm. The answer as revealed in v31 is that He was bearing the sin of mankind, as our sin-offering, and so experienced Hell (total separation from God's Presence) for us. Thus, the result of this one man's suffering is salvation for the world (v22-31). He suffered separation from God, so we might be restored to God's Presence. During the supernatural darkness on the Cross, Jesus quoted v1 in Matt 27:45 & Mark 15:33-34. By quoting the start of Ps 22, He pointed to the whole Psalm, saying He was fulfilling it all: ‘if you want to know what I am experiencing and what the outcome will be read Ps 22'. He prayed it all, ending with the proclamation: “He has done (finished) it” (v21). So, just before He died, He quoted the last verse saying: “It is finished!” (John 20:30). As v2 predicted, Jesus suffered on the Cross during the day (9am – noon), when He was the burnt offering, and during a night, when He was the sin offering (the supernatural darkness, noon to 3pm, Amos 8:9, Joel 2:31, Acts 2:20). Throughout this time, He called on God in faith to help Him. The physical pains did not cause Him to roar v1 in agony, for He only did this in the darkness, when He experienced God's wrath on our sin and the spiritual darkness of total separation from His Presence, as predicted by v1-2, fulfilled in Matt 27:45. We discuss the secular evidence for the supernatural darkness and prove it was indeed a night (v2, Gen1:5,14-18), and how this solves the paradox of the 3 days & 3 nights between His death & resurrection, and how it confirms He died in AD 33. In v3-5 Christ moves from His 1st Lament to a declaration of faith: “BUT You are HOLY.” This shows He knew the answer to His question in v1. When Christ became sin, God's holiness required Him to pour His wrath on him, and separate Himself from him. Thus, He praised God & vindicated His righteousness.

The Tongue Conquers Enemies  (Audio) David Eells 9/22/24   A shaking is on the way. War appears to be breaking out on the surface.  The Covert war between the Alliance and the DS is likely to break out in larger overt operations. The DS has invaded the cities with terrorists and military-aged men and CCP Chinese along with others that are expanding the voter rolls within, in order to overthrow President Trump and the Alliance. They are preparing for terrorist acts because of the Brunson case has gone to the Supreme Court which will overthrow the DS government.  This from Operation Disclosure: The Brunson Brothers Voter Fraud Case before the Supreme Court asked a simple question: Did Congress investigate 50 formally filed allegations of voter fraud before certifying the 2020 Election? Obviously not, and rumor was that the Supreme Court had already ruled such on the case. We awaited an announcement likely in favor of Brunson that would dissolve the Biden Administration and all of Congress, plus bring in Martial Law until a new election was held.  Five separate assassination teams actively targeting President Trump. Three are foreign, two domestic. Three Assassination Attempts have come in the last few weeks. Your prayers and faith have cast down all five of these teams. President Trump is insulated.  Congressman Tim Burchett exposed the CIA's Sinister MK ULTRA plot to assassinate Trump! amg-news.com.  As we will see below your prayers and confession will cast most of the lawlessness down.  The DS anarchists plan on mass anarchy and destruction of cities and the Alliance military is being spread coast to coast before the announcement of the Supreme Court ruling in order to defend the cities and liberty from the lawless left who will not accept democracy. We cast down their weapons of warfare.     A New War Is Coming   Michael Boldea Jr. - 04/06/2007   Jeremiah 50:22 A sound of battle is in the land, and of great destruction. James 5:8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.   I dreamt I was hearing what were at first faint hoof beats, but the closer they got, the louder they grew, until it was a thundering roar of not one or two horses but what seemed like hundreds. I felt as though the ground beneath me was shaking from the onrushing horses, and the sound of them became so loud, that I suddenly awoke in my bed. As I blinked a few times, adjusting to the darkness in my room, I noticed a shadow at the foot of my bed. I blinked again, and there stood the same man I have seen on previous occasions, dressed in battle armor, his hands resting atop each other before him, on the hilt of his sword.   “What is the meaning of what I just dreamt?” I asked, somehow knowing he had come to give me the interpretation.   “What you heard”, he began, “were the chariots of war, and they are swiftly approaching. A new war is coming, but it will be unlike this present one. Speak as you have spoken, pray as you have prayed, and walk as you have walked for dark days will soon come upon the land to which you are returning. Even now their enemies plot, even now their enemies unite under one banner, and soon they will make their intentions known to the world. There is no refuge but in the Father, and He will guide and protect those who know His voice”. (And confess His promises.)  I blinked again, and the man was gone, and I was left to ponder the words I had heard. I struggled with whether I should make this dream public, for I know the reaction that some will have to it, and the last thing I desire is to stir fear in the heart of any man. After much prayer I felt I was supposed to publish the dream, and though some may receive it as a reason to fear, the true children of God will receive it for what it was, the forewarning of a loving Father, preparing His children for what is to come. God's desire for us is not ignorance, but rather knowledge, that we may prepare our hearts, in prayer and fasting, that we may draw closer to Him, that we make Him our place of refuge long before hardship forces us to seek one. The wise man prepares, while the foolhardy is caught unaware.   Jeremiah 19:15 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: 'Behold, I will bring on this city and on all her towns all the doom that I have pronounced against it, because they have stiffened their necks that they might not hear My words.       Terrorists Hiding in the States   Michael Boldea Jr. - May 5, 2003  I dreamt I was on a very high ridge, with a great valley spanning out beneath me. The night was calm, the moon and stars shining brightly in the sky. As I looked around trying to get my bearings, I was stunned to see my grandfather (Dumitru Duduman) standing next to me. He looked young and vibrant, his hands in his pockets, and a smile on his face.   “Interesting times ahead my boy, interesting times ahead”, he said. For a minute I was so shocked I couldn't say anything. Finally I blurted out the only thing that came to mind, “They have been interesting ever since you left. Trial after trial, hardship after hardship”.   “Now you know how Jesus felt when He walked the earth”, he answered, “always doing good, always in the Father's will, yet always mocked and rejected, always misunderstood and despised. Besides, it was all a test anyway”.  “A test of what?” I asked.   “For you personally, God wanted to see if you would stay true to your calling even when all seemed lost. He was preparing you and purging you, refining you, for the time when He will use you, and speak to you as He spoke to me”.   Before I could say anything, he lifted his hand to stop me. His fingers were no longer crooked from his arthritis, they were straight, and normal.   “I know what you're going to say my boy, it's not what you want, it's not what you asked for. But you should know by now it is the task you were chosen for. In this you have no choice, besides where can you hide from the face of God? Men have tried before, look how it turned out in the end. To reject what God has planned for you is to deny God. You know what the consequences are”. Unable to find the words to answer, I simply nodded my understanding and allowed him to continue speaking.   “As for why the ministry had to go through what it went through, God has already spoken that to your heart. You already know the answer. God wants all that know of this work, to be certain of one thing. It is He who sustains it; it is He who blesses it, and not the hands of men or their gimmicks. Do you think any of it would still be here after all that has happened if not for God? Never doubt Gods promises concerning this work, or His ability to fulfill them. Hope in God never disappoints; hope in man always leads to disillusionment.” (Amen. God has been preparing and sanctifying His Reformers to be leaders for the soon coming tribulation.)   “Now for the reason I am here. I was sent to show you something. Look and see”, he said, pointing down to the valley below. As I looked, I saw the outline of a map of America then the outlines of states began taking shape. As I continued to watch this map solidify, small lights began to flicker on and off in some of the states. I recognized California, Illinois, Michigan, Arizona, Washington State, Florida, and New York, among the states that lit up. The light was rhythmic, almost like a homing beacon, constant in its progression. I continued watching the lights go on and off, waiting for something else to happen, but nothing did. Finally I said, “I don't understand. What does this mean?”   “These are the places where those who were sent here long ago, to bring fear and cause chaos, have situated themselves. They lay in waiting, planning and plotting destruction. They are as coiled serpents, looking forward to the hour when they will be loosed upon this nation. If God's children pray, once more will He delay the season of sorrow that is yet to come”. (I believe He has done this.)   We stood on the ridge in silence for a long time. After a while the lights stopped flickering in the valley below, and the map began to fade away. Suddenly my grandfather turned his head toward the east, and began to sniff the air as he used to do. “Storms coming my boy, and it's a bad one”, he said. “Now give an old man a hug and let me be on my way. Be vigilant and work while you still can, it's all God asks of any of His servants. If the Father wills it, we will speak again”.   As I hugged my grandfather, I began to hear the rumbling of a great storm. The sky darkened overhead, and the booming of thunder was now audible. In my dream I closed my eyes, and when I opened them again, I was in my bed, awake. I wiped at my cheeks with the back of my hand, and realized I had been crying. As my eyes began to adjust to the dark, I saw that my wife was sitting up in bed, staring at me. When I asked her why she wasn't sleeping, she said I'd been talking in my sleep for over thirty minutes. I tried going back to sleep but sleep would not come. Finally I gave up trying, went into the kitchen and prayed until morning.   Over the past few days, I have spent much time in prayer as to whether I should share this dream or not. I believe that I am supposed to. My prayer is that no one would perceive it as a reason for fear, but rather a reason to hope. God hears the prayers of His children, and as long as He encourages us to pray, we must do so without reservation. The day will come, a day I anticipate with great dread, when God will speak to His children as He spoke to Jeremiah, and say do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry for them any longer. For now, while we still can, may we ceaselessly bring our petitions before the Lord.       Our Secret Place of Safety   David Eells   Everyone is looking for the place of safety in the tribulations to come. One man says the safe place is to be with the Ark of the Covenant, which is said to be in a Chapel next to St Mary of Zion, Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Axum, Ethiopia. I believe that Solomon gave a copy of the Ark to the Queen of Sheba who carried it there.   Be that as it may; God no longer dwells in houses made by men, so the ark is a relic. (Acts 7:47) But Solomon built him (God) a house. (48) Howbeit the Most High dwelleth not in [houses] made with hands. That just tells us that the ark in the temple was just a type and shadow of Jesus in His body. As He said, “I in them, and thou in me, that they may be perfected into one” (Jn.17:23). God now dwells in the ark of Christ and Christ now dwells in the Body of Christ. In us He is the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein [was] a golden pot holding the manna (of the Word in us), and Aaron's rod that budded (a sign of the authority of the High Priest in us), and the tables of the covenant (of the law written on our heart) (Heb.9:4).   The presence of the Ark ensured Israel of victory and protection. When the Philistines captured the Ark it brought a curse on them so terrible that they sent it home with an offering. On the other hand Jesus said in (Mat.5:13) Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men.   Another brother asked me if I thought the Christians will flee for safety to the city of Petra in Jordan. I told him that I thought Petra would be far too small to accommodate them and it would be a natural trap where they could be wiped out. I do believe that some natural Jews will find shelter in Petra, which is the Greek word for “rock”. However, spiritual Jews who are circumcised in heart, have the spiritual Rock of Jesus as a place of safety. Jesus said that standing on Him was the place where Hell had no power over us. (Mat.16:18) And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter (Gr: “Petros”, meaning a piece of the rock), and upon this rock (Greek: Petra) I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. Jesus is our rock of safety.   Peter himself said that Jesus was the Rock that we are to be founded on. (1Pet.2:5) ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (6) Because it is contained in scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: And he that believeth on him shall not be put to shame. (7) For you therefore that believe is the preciousness: but for such as disbelieve, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner; (8) and, A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence; for they stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. The disobedient stumble through unbelief in the Word and so are not founded on the Rock. Judgment will take them away wherever they hide.   Those who are obedient to the Word through faith are on the safety of the Rock. (Mat.7:24) Every one therefore that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man, who built his house upon the rock: (25) and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and if fell not: for it was founded upon the rock. (26) And every one that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand: (27) and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and smote upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall thereof. The apostate churches belittle obedience to the Word because of their unbelief.  We don't stand on the Rock in our own strength but our faith gives us God's strength. My wife had a dream of me after we first became Christians. She saw me standing on a Rock in the middle of the ocean. I had leg braces on like crippled people wear to strengthen their legs. I perceived that the Rock was Christ or the Word and the ocean was the curse as was the flood. In our own strength we are crippled and not able to stand on the Word, but the filling of His Spirit and faith in His promises empowers us to be what we normally are not.   It has come to me that only the rich in a time of economic collapse and wrath would be able to fly to the city of Petra, but salvation is for the poor. No amount of money can buy us safety, because it is not a place but a state of being. (Pr.11:4) Riches profit not in the day of wrath; but righteousness delivereth from death. (6) The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them; But the treacherous shall be taken in their own iniquity.   Faith in the Lord makes Him our secret refuge. (Psa.91:1) He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Notice the confession that puts us on the Rock. (2) I will say of Jehovah, He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in whom I trust. The secret place of safety will be hidden to many who are only called “Christian” but the righteous are safe right in the middle of judgment. (7) A thousand shall fall at thy side, And ten thousand at thy right hand; [But] it shall not come nigh thee. (8) Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold, And see the reward of the wicked. (The good confession that puts us in safety.)  9 For thou, O Jehovah, art my refuge! Thou hast made the Most High thy habitation; 10  There shall no evil befall thee, Neither shall any plague come nigh thy tent. God's angels will protect the righteous wherever they are. (11) For he will give his angels charge over thee, To keep thee in all thy ways. (12) They shall bear thee up in their hands, Lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. They do this for the righteous who believe. (Gal.3:13) Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: (14) that upon the Gentiles might come the blessing of Abraham in Christ Jesus.   A friend of mine had a very clear dream about the coming invasion of America. He said everyone in the Gulf States was fleeing toward the north to get as far away from the invading army as possible. He was going to get on a shuttle and go too, but the Lord told him to give his place to someone else and sent him and his family into a local city that had been nuked. He had no fear of the radiation or the enemy. It is obvious that God's people will not need to follow the world's example. Paul was not hiding but sharing the Gospel in the most effective time to do so. He said, “[in] journeyings often, [in] perils of rivers, [in] perils of robbers, [in] perils from [my] countrymen, [in] perils from the Gentiles, [in] perils in the city, [in] perils in the wilderness, [in] perils in the sea, [in] perils among false brethren” (2 Cor.11:26).   The Lord told me that this time represented the second 3½ years of the tribulation period. Paul also said, “what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me” (2Tim.3:11). He also said, “But the Lord stood by me, and strengthened me; that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. The Lord will deliver me from every evil work, and will save me unto his heavenly kingdom” (2Tim.4:17,18).   If one is called to be a martyr, they will have the protection of God until their testimony is finished and even then only their flesh will be given up for a sacrifice. (Rev.11:7) And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that cometh up out of the abyss shall make war with them, and overcome them, and kill them.      Agree with the Blessed Provisions   David  We are in a battle which can be won by those who will speak the Word of the Lord and confess His promises for safety and provision. The Bible tells us that Death and life are in the power of the tongue (Pro.18:21). Let's look at how we can cooperate with God in the process of sanctification so that we are those who speak life and partake of the benefits of the Kingdom and able to give them to others. (Jas.3:8) But the tongue can no man tame; [it is] a restless evil, [it is] full of deadly poison. (9) Therewith bless we the Lord and Father; and therewith curse we men, who are made after the likeness of God: (10) out of the same mouth cometh forth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. (11) Doth the fountain send forth from the same opening [sweet water] and bitter? (12) can a fig tree, my brethren, yield olives, or a vine figs? neither [can] salt water yield sweet. We want to learn by the grace of God to bring forth those “sweet waters” so that we will not suffer with the wicked.  When Moses and the children of Israel came up to Marah, meaning “bitterness” (Exo 15:22-25), they couldn't drink the water. God commanded that a tree be cast into the waters so that they would be made sweet. Marah represents the bitter waters of the fountain, or mouth, which were cured by the tree, representing the Cross. The Cross has conquered our tongue and has given us this gift of the sweet waters so we can bring forth blessings, instead of the cursings, out of this spring of our mouth. Believe this.  The Bible also tells us, The heart of the wise instructeth his mouth, And addeth learning to his lips (Pro.16:23). So we want to educate ourselves to be swift to hear, slow to speak and slow to wrath (Jas.1:19). We need to think about what we are saying and disagree with the devil because he tempts us to speak the things under the curse and not the things of the Kingdom. The Lord is helping us and He has already conquered the tongue, which no man can tame, but the Lord can through His Word and promises. Jesus was the sacrifice Who gave us a new tongue through the reconciliation.   It says in (Jos.1:6) Be strong and of good courage; for thou shalt cause this people to inherit the land which I sware unto their father to give them. (7) Only be strong and very courageous, to observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest have good success whithersoever thou goest. Notice that God said that Joshua (Hebrew: “Jesus”) was going to cause His people to be brought into their inherited Promised Land. This land belongs to us, not every Pagen alien they can invade us with and we will win this battle with them.  We know that the Promised Land is also us. Heb 6:7-8 For the land which hath drunk the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them for whose sake it is also tilled, receiveth blessing from God: 8 but if it beareth thorns and thistles, it is rejected and nigh unto a curse; whose end is to be burned. Jesus bore this curse let us confess Him before men.  The Son of God is being manifested in His people. (Col.1:27) … Christ in you, the hope of glory. He is a product of the Word of God being assimilated in our life and mouth; Christ is the Word of God (John 1:14). He saved us from our enemies. (Luk.1:70-74) (As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets that have been from of old), 71 Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; ...74 To grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies Should serve him without fear,  You crucify the spiritual man when you walk and talk in the flesh and for those who have been filled with the Holy Spirit and enlightened, who have tasted of the heavenly gift, this will become a curse unto them. (Heb.6:7) For the land which hath drunk the rain (Those who have partaken of the Word from heaven.) that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them for whose sake it is also tilled, receiveth blessing from God: (8) but if it beareth thorns and thistles, it is rejected and nigh unto a curse; whose end is to be burned. The word “rejected” is adokimos, meaning, specifically, “reprobated.” The apostle Paul said that he kept his body under control if, perhaps, after he had preached to others, he himself would be “rejected” or “reprobated” (1Co 9:27). This has been demonstrated to us.   God doesn't reprobate land; He reprobates people. The Bible is very plain; in the original Greek, we are God's “tilled land” (1Co.3:9). God wants to plow this earth, our natural life, and plant His seed in the midst of it, bringing forth the fruit of Jesus Christ in us. The land that Joshua wants to cause us to inherit is referring to our new fruit and life. Part of that is our bold faith. The spiritual man, the Israelite, is to conquer this land with the edge of the Sword, the Word of God. The spiritual man is to take the land from the enemy, the Canaanite and live in his house, our body, and plant his crop and bear the fruit of the spiritual man.   (Jos.1:7) Only be strong and very courageous, to observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest have good success whithersoever thou goest. Notice that turning to the right or left would cause failure to take our Promised Land from the enemies.   I had a dream many years ago where I was standing on a mountain, looking down into a valley and a road that went down the side of this mountain. The road had a ditch or trench down the middle of it. I was in a car, with one set of tires on one side of the trench and the other set on the other side, going down this road to the bottom of the mountain. I realized I couldn't turn to the right or the left because, if I did, two wheels would fall into the trench and that would be the end of any progress; I wouldn't go any farther. I steered very carefully, not to the right and not to the left, as I went down this mountain. Let us speak what the Word says about us.  The Lord gave me the understanding afterward that this mountain represented the kingdom of the world – man, self or the old life. I was to navigate this road and not turn to the right or left, until I got off of this mountain. As soon as I was at the bottom, I immediately realized that there were enemies everywhere. To the extent that we humble ourselves to the Word of God, going down the mountain of “self,” the more enemies we will have, even religious enemies or so-called “Christian” enemies. (2Ti.3:12) … All that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But as we hold fast to the confession of our hope the enemies will be conquered as our faction was and the political faction shall be. (Luk10:19) Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you.  Most of the persecution toward Jesus and the disciples came from the people who called themselves the “people of God” but were not. When I got to the bottom and knew that the enemy was everywhere, I went under a bush and there I found tools that I picked up, and treated them as if they were treasure. These tools were hammers, screwdrivers, wrenches and so on. The Lord later revealed to me that these tools represented the authority to bind and loose (Mat 18:18), as all of these tools do. The Lord made me to know I was coming to a time, when under the bush, I was going to manifest more of this authority. Let us bind our enemies in the name of Jesus.   At the time of the burning bush, Moses was given authority to go into Egypt to act for the Lord. I've been binding and loosing for many years but I believe that we're coming to a time of real power from God. It's only going to come to those who humble themselves and don't turn to the right or to the left, but stay on God's road, a self-crucifying path of obedience to the Word of God. When I picked up these tools, I went up another mountain, which represented Mount Zion. I went through the front doors of a great temple, which I believe represented the New Jerusalem on Mount Zion and I saw Jesus sitting on His throne. I went over and sat down next to Him, as He said that overcomers would do. (Rev.3:21) He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit down with me in my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father in his throne. This is the throne of dominion over our enemies.  As I was speaking with Jesus, I heard people trying to come into the throne room by a back way and not through the door that I had come through. Jesus is the door in John 10:1. Jesus saw these people and said, “Don't worry about them; they can't come in here.” So these were people looking for “throne room” authority but they wouldn't humble themselves to the Word of God personally. The Pharisees only had physical authority as in our day. God will give authority only to those who overcome according to Rev 2:26.   Back to (Jos.1:8) This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate thereon day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. The spiritual man speaks the Word so that as you walk, it will bring good success when conquering our Promised Land for the Lord. The first fruits are approaching this point. We must speak according to God's promises, even in the midst of the fiery trial. As Christians, we “calleth the things that are not, as though they were” (Rom.4:17). We speak the things we have according to promise and not according to what we see in the world. This is how we change the things around us. This is God's plan. We let the Word, or our agreement with the Word in what we say, come from our mouth so that we may have good success in conquering our Promised Land.   Further on in Joshua, we see that he is still leading the people of God to conquer their Promised Land in order to put to death their enemies there. In this particular case, the head of God's people, Joshua, is conquering the Amorites. (Jos.10:12) Then spake Joshua to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel; and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; And thou, Moon, in the valley of Aijalon. I believe God is showing us here to what extent He would go to give our enemy into our hands, if we would speak the Word with boldness.   (Jos.10:8) And the Lord said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thy hands; there shall not a man of them stand before thee. On a personal and spiritual level that “man” He was referring to was the old man who lived in the Promised Land of our life before the new man took possession. He represented the lusts of the flesh, which would not be able to stand. On a physical and political level it would be the DS and their invading army. Joshua and the children of Israel were having victory over the Amorites but they were running out of time. Remember, the Lord said that if we confess Him before men, He shall confess us before the Father in Mat 10:32.   Likewise, Joshua confessed in the sight of Israel. He was bold and full of faith and he spoke it right in front of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; And thou, Moon, in the valley of Aijalon (Jos.10:12). (13) And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, Until the nation had avenged themselves of their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jashar? And the sun stayed in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.   Now at first, I thought God just stopped Earth from spinning, but I later realized that the moon stayed in the same relative position as the sun and Earth didn't spin. It's possible the whole solar system had stopped. This is a very dangerous thing to do, unless you also control the rest of the universe. Things would tend toward collision down the road somewhere. Can you imagine that God stopped the solar system and more, just so Israel could conquer their enemy? What kind of other big miracle can you imagine that God would do for us to give us victory over our enemy? God gave the Israelites an awesome victory over their enemies! Of course, they needed the time and, for a whole day, the system was frozen. We have all heard of NASA finding the missing day so they could calculate where things would be at a certain time.  People claim that God only did that back then and does not do that today, simply because of the verse right after it. (Jos.10:14) And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the Lord hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the Lord fought for Israel. Well, the Lord still hearkens unto our voice, for many people speak miracles today and they come to pass as they did in the Bible long after Joshua. The key here is “voice of a man” The creation now hearkens to the voice of God through man.  Jesus said, the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, and are life (Joh.6:63), meaning they are His Spirit and His life. In other words, it's the life of God living in us; it's the spiritual man who speaks in agreement with the Word of God. Also, it is the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Eph.6:17). Therefore, it's not as if God is hearkening unto the voice of a man, but He is hearkening unto the voice of His sons. That spiritual man in us is not man, but God. The Son of God is manifesting in His people speaking His Words out of us. When we come into agreement with the Word, we can be trusted. The Lord said, If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you (Joh.15:7). Why? The Word in you is trustworthy to God. If you fill yourself up with the Word and you desire earnestly to walk in agreement with it, God says you're trustworthy.   A long time after Joshua, the Lord wrote this: (Isa.45:11) Thus saith the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: Ask me of the things that are to come; concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands, command ye me. Does God really do that? When you command something to be done, like when His disciples commanded healings, deliverances, provision and so on, God fulfilled it. God gave them the authority, which is the right to use power and it's what we do when we speak in agreement with the Word of God. In effect, what we are doing is commanding God, since He said that if we do, He will do it and Jesus said the same.   Psalm 8 was spoken concerning the natural Adam and his seed, but also in type to spiritual Adam, Jesus Christ, and His seed. (Psa.8:6) Thou makest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet. This was said of man and the Son of man. Jesus said that God had given Him authority because He is son of man (Joh.5:27). Man was given authority on the earth but when Adam sinned, he lost that authority to Satan. However, we gained it back through Jesus Christ because He was faithful. We now have this authority over the works of God's hands when we speak in agreement with the Word of God and He fulfills it. (Lam.3:37) Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?   The next thing we see in Joshua is that they went after the five kings who were ruling the Promised Land. (Jos.10:16) And these five kings fled, and hid themselves in the cave at Makkedah. (17) And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings are found, hidden in the cave at Makkedah. (18) And Joshua said, Roll great stones unto the mouth of the cave, and set men by it to keep them: (19) but stay not ye; pursue after your enemies, and smite the hindmost of them; suffer them not to enter into their cities: for the Lord your God hath delivered them into your hand. The first thing they did was trap the five kings in the cave and then they rolled great stones over the mouth of the cave.   Adam was created from the dust of the earth and this old man is earthly, but as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly (1Co.15:49). We are both earthly and heavenly, a spiritual man of the heavens and the carnal man of the earth represented by this cave in the earth. The carnal man of the earth has a mouth and here it's called “the mouth of the cave.” The Lord made the spiritual men roll these great stones over the mouth of the cave. The five kings represent the five senses and the spiritual man put stones, which represent the Word, over the mouth so the carnal senses are not permitted to speak and bring a curse.   The Bible says that senses must be exercised by the Word of God so that we understand the difference between good and evil. (Heb.5:13) For every one that partaketh of milk is without experience of the word of righteousness; for he is a babe. (14) But solid food is for fullgrown men, [even] those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil. Born-again people have born-again senses. As spiritual men, we must have spiritual senses. Our carnal senses trap and rule over us and our land when we live according to what we see, hear and feel as the old man and the world does.   God teaches us how to spiritually see in (2Pe.1:3) Seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue. We see that God has already provided us everything that pertains unto life and godliness! Now you have the eyes of a dove (Son 1:15). You have the eyes of the Spirit when you begin to see that the promises are true, but the world is transitory. (2Pe.1:4) Whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises (the stones at the mouth of the cave); that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust.   Having eyes to see, we can partake of God's nature. We will have spiritual eyes, ears, touch, spiritual smell (or discernment), spiritual taste and words. We've been given these spiritual gifts that enable the spiritual man to take over. The Israelites had captured the five kings who ruled the Promised Land in a cave and they closed up the mouth with great stones. And we know, Jesus is the Stone; He's the Rock which is the Word of God. These great stones represent the great promises of the Word of God. We're adding learning to our lips, which are the “mouth of the cave.”   When we study the Word of God, we learn and see what we are supposed to say and what we're not supposed to say. It gives us restraint to not say things that would permit a curse upon our life. The Israelites had to conquer the Promised Land, and conquer these kings that ruled over the carnal man and bring the curse upon him. And this is what the parable points to – rolling out those stones in front of the mouth. (Eph.4:29) Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for edifying (building-up) as the need may be, that it may give grace to them that hear.   We can see that we can apply many verses when speaking of conquering the DS with all their invaders who are getting ready to overthrow this land we live in. Just a couple come quickly to mind. (Mat.18:18-19) Verily I say unto you, What things soever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and what things soever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father who is in heaven. And (Mar.11:23-24) Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that what he saith cometh to pass; he shall have it. 24 Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. These will come in useful when the invaders rise up.  If we see and walk in the Spirit, then we speak in agreement with the Spirit. (2Co.7:1) Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Our nature is changed by the Word of God when …we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit. (2Co 3:18) When we see a need, such as someone living under the curse, we should speak truth with grace to them to overcome, grace to meet that need, whatever it may be. When we speak according to the Kingdom, we are meeting someone's need for God and His benefits. Saving this country from the invaders to whatever extent God permits is a need.  They will be permitted to persecute the apostate Church for it is in rebellion to the Word of our covenant. (Col.3:17) And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, [do] all in the name (Greek: “nature, character and authority”) of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Do everything as if you are representing Him because you are an ambassador of Christ (2Co 5:20), so speak His words to this world and His enemies. We're called to confess Him before men always and to speak in His name.   (1Pe.4:11) If any man speaketh, speaking as it were oracles of God; if any man ministereth, [ministering] as of the strength which God supplieth: that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, whose is the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen. When we speak as an oracle of God, that is His Word coming out of us, we're letting the spiritual man, who is in communication with God through our spirit, do the speaking. We don't let the carnal man, the flesh, do the speaking.   To walk holy is to walk separate. The Greek word for “holy” is the same word for “sanctified” and it means “separate”; that is, separated from the world, from sin, separated unto God. We speak His words, think His thoughts and we do His works because He lives in us. The more we do that, the more we grow in holiness. It's the place of Holiness, preservation and provision. Without holiness, no man can see the Lord (Heb 12:14). Holiness is what we grow in when we bear the fruit of Jesus Christ. It is separation from the old man, who is moved and ruled by the carnal senses, unto the new man, who is ruled according to the spiritual senses.   Now let's go to (Isa.11:2) 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 his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord; and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither decide after the hearing of his ears; (4) but with righteousness shall he judge the poor (This is poor in the things of the Kingdom), and decide 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 waist, and faithfulness the girdle of his loins.   He's talking about Christ in His first-fruits Man-child in the end-time who will not walk according to the carnal senses because he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither decide after the hearing of his ears (Isa.11:3). Instead, we are to have our senses exercised to discern good from evil (Heb 5:14) by the Word of God, which is the washing of water with the word (Eph.5:26). As our senses are exercised, we begin to see and hear spiritually; we begin to hear and speak the Voice of the Spirit.   It's similar to when David went to slay Goliath, the giant in the land. He went to the brook and pulled out those five smooth stones that were exercised by the washing of the water, which represents the Word. He took only one of those stones and he felled Goliath (1Sa 17). David spoke it to him ahead of time, declaring that he would take off Goliath's head and feed him to the birds. That's very bold! And because David spoke it, that's exactly what he did. The stone, or sense, that David was using was the tongue. The tongue senses tastes but it also speaks the Word. David conquered Goliath because he had spiritual senses.   Now we can return to Joshua. He told the Israelites to go after their enemies, since the five kings were already trapped in the cave and closed off with the stones. Now they were able to conquer those whom the kings had ruled over. (Jos.10:20) And it came to pass, when Joshua and the children of Israel had made an end of slaying them with a very great slaughter, till they were consumed, and the remnant which remained of them had entered into the fortified cities, (21) that all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace: none moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel.   (22) Then said Joshua, Open the mouth of the cave, and bring forth those five kings unto me out of the cave. (23) And they did so, and brought forth those five kings unto him out of the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon. (24) And it came to pass, when they brought forth those kings unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the chiefs of the men of war that went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them.   They let them out of the cave and they had to keep them from speaking, so they put their feet on their necks. It reminds me of the dream I've shared before about being in a war with a giant and not letting the old man speak. When he did, he said, “Bigger, bigger, bigger!” We have a lot of giants around us – a lot of big problems and a lot of big enemies. But we can't let the old man, whom I captured in the dream and who was in bondage to me, speak out of our mouth. I didn't want to let him speak because the old man has the authority to make the situation worse and make the enemy stronger and bigger. I refused him and demanded that the giant be reduced, saying, “No! Smaller, smaller, smaller.”   Similarly, the Israelites put their feet on the kings' necks, causing the five senses to not speak or to rule over the body. (Jos.10:25) And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed; be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the Lord do to all your enemies against whom ye fight. (Notice, you speak the Word and the Lord will do it. In Rev.12:11, the devil and his angels were cast down by the “word of their testimony” of the saints.)  (26) And afterward Joshua smote them, and put them to death, and hanged them on five trees: and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening. Notice that all of our enemies, firstly our old man, will be conquered in this way. Father said against Babylon in Jer.51:3 …Utterly destroy all her army. We are not permitted to wrestle with flesh nor use fleshly weapons but to “resist not” and if opportunity arises we are to preach Christ to them.  But we have authority over all their power and that includes the principalities and powers. (Luk.10:19) Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you. As an example to us, before Jesus' time of crucifixion, when the Jews sought to throw him off a cliff, he just passed through their midst unharmed. I was shot at by an assassin from close range and my angel made the bullet disappear. A tractor back blade was thrown straight at my head by a demon, while Michael watched, but all I felt was a finger on my nose pushing me to the ground with zero pain. That was just ahead of the blade. Michael was sure it had hit and killed me.  My tractor wheel fell into a hole and the tractor was flipping into a gully. I was looking straight down at the ground when the tractor uprighted with me stuck in the seat. It was a work of our satanists. Several other times I escaped them. (Luk.1:68) ...For he hath visited and wrought redemption for his people... 71 Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us...74 To grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies Should serve him without fear.  Jesus Christ was hanged upon a tree, or cross, and they wanted to take Him down before evening, too. Jesus also was buried in a cave. So why is God applying this to the senses of the old man? (Gal.2:20) I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me. That includes our five senses. The Lord has already taken care of this problem when He was crucified on that tree and you were crucified with Him. You have been given this gift of the new man, for by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified (Heb.10:14).  We walk in the spirit according to these divine senses that are attuned to the Kingdom of Heaven. These senses see how to walk in the Kingdom. It comes quite naturally to us to walk in the world but it comes supernaturally to us to walk in the Kingdom; that is, to have our senses exercised by the Word of God to see and hear the way God sees and hears, and to smell, or discern, the way God does. It is also to have our emotions in communication with God.   We have the victory over the old man and his senses because he's dead and the new man, Who is Jesus Christ, lives in you. Because of your faith and speaking that faith, God will bring it to pass. He will do it through our faith and not by our works. (Eph.2:8) For by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, [it is] the gift of God; (9) not of works, that no man should glory.   Father, we pray that You will (Psa.141:3) Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; Keep the door of my lips. Amen.  So we know that in the Kingdom of Heaven, there is singing, praise, worship and thanksgiving to the Lord our King. When we do this, we are bringing more of His Kingdom down here to earth. (Mat.6:10)  We have ‘authority over all the power of the enemy' (Luk.10:19). We have power in praise. When we praise the Lord, He gives us the victory!       Worship and Praise   Vines Expository Dictionary on the Greek word Worship: “to make obeisance, do reverence to” (from pros, “towards”, and kuneo, “to kiss”), is the most frequent word rendered “to worship”. It is used of an act of homage or reverence. In other words, worship is an act of love toward God.   Father is looking for those who worship Him with their all: (Joh.4:21) Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, shall ye worship the Father. (22) Ye worship that which ye know not: we worship that which we know; for salvation is from the Jews. (23) But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth: for such doth the Father seek to be his worshippers. (24) God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship in spirit and truth. There is much fake worship -- words without heart and spirit.   Worship is the way to bring God's presence: (Psa.100:1) Make a joyful noise unto Jehovah, all ye lands. (2) Serve Jehovah with gladness: Come before his presence with singing. (3) Know ye that Jehovah, he is God: It is he that hath made us, and we are his; We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. (4) Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, And into his courts with praise: Give thanks unto him, and bless his name. (5) For Jehovah is good; His lovingkindness endureth forever, And his faithfulness unto all generations.   Worship reveals our love and admiration for God and He knows it: (1Ch.29:11) Thine, O Jehovah, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Jehovah, and thou art exalted as head above all.   Praise Him everywhere, with a new song that comes from your heart, and dancing and with all instruments and enemies will be conquered: (Psa.149:1) Praise ye Jehovah. Sing unto Jehovah a new song, And his praise in the assembly of the saints. (2) Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. (3) Let them praise his name in the dance: Let them sing praises unto him with timbrel and harp. (4) For Jehovah taketh pleasure in his people: He will beautify the meek with salvation. (5) Let the saints exult in glory: Let them sing for joy upon their beds. (This will bind our enemies works against us.)  (7)  To execute vengeance upon the nations, And punishments upon the peoples;  (8)  To bind their kings with chains, And their nobles with fetters of iron;  (9)  To execute upon them the judgment written: This honor have all his saints. Praise ye Jehovah. (Children can conquer enemies in worship.) Psa 8:2  Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou established strength, Because of thine adversaries, That thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. (150:1) Praise ye Jehovah. Praise God in his sanctuary: Praise him in the firmament of his power. (2) Praise him for his mighty acts: Praise him according to his excellent greatness. (3) Praise him with trumpet sound: Praise him with psaltery and harp. (4) Praise him with timbrel and dance: Praise him with stringed instruments and pipe. (5) Praise him with loud cymbals: Praise him with high sounding cymbals. (6) Let everything that hath breath praise Jehovah. Praise ye Jehovah. It is the will of the Lord to worship in songs and hymns: (Eph.5:17) Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (18) And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Spirit; 19 speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; (20) giving thanks always for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; We give thanks to God; this is a secret of power because we believe we have already received what we asked, right?   Praise (meaning “brag on”) Him to everyone: (1Ch.16:23) Sing unto Jehovah, all the earth; Show forth his salvation from day to day. (24) Declare his glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples. (25) For great is Jehovah, and greatly to be praised: He also is to be feared above all gods. (26) For all the gods of the peoples are idols: But Jehovah made the heavens. (27) Honor and majesty are before him: Strength and gladness are in his place. (28) Ascribe unto Jehovah, ye kindreds of the peoples, Ascribe unto Jehovah glory and strength; (29) Ascribe unto Jehovah the glory due unto his name: Bring an offering, and come before him: Worship Jehovah in holy array. (30) Tremble before him, all the earth: The world also is established that it cannot be moved. (31) Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; And let them say among the nations, Jehovah reigneth.   We are taught to worship, praise and pray with hands lifted up to the Lord: (1Ti.2:8) I desire therefore that the men pray in every place, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and disputing. (Psa.63:4) So will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. (Lam.3:41) Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens. (Neh.8:6) and Ezra blessed Jehovah, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with the lifting up of their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped Jehovah with their faces to the ground.   Why lifting up hands? Offering our hands to the Lord for His works and to conquer His enemies: (Exo.17:9) And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to-morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand. (10) So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. (11) And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. (12) But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; And his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. (13) And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.   Worship and praise will conquer overwhelming enemies: (2Ch.20:17) Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of Jehovah with you, O Judah and Jerusalem; fear not, nor be dismayed: to-morrow go out against them: for Jehovah is with you. (18) And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground; and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before Jehovah, worshipping Jehovah. (19) And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites, stood up to praise Jehovah, the God of Israel, with an exceeding loud voice.   (20) And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem: believe in Jehovah your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper. (21) And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed them that should sing unto Jehovah, and give praise in holy array, as they went out before the army, and say, Give thanks unto Jehovah; for his lovingkindness endureth forever. (22) And when they began to sing and to praise, Jehovah set liers-in-wait against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, that were come against Judah; and they were smitten. (The angels will smite the enemies in the land.)  Worship to bind the enemy and their kings: (Psa.149:6) Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand; (7) To execute vengeance upon the nations, And punishments upon the peoples; (The Lord is doing this.) (8) To bind their kings with chains, And their nobles with fetters of iron; (9) To execute upon them the judgment written: This honor have all his saints. Praise ye Jehovah.   Because judgment and enemies are near, fear God and worship Him: (Rev.14:7) and he saith with a great voice, Fear God, and give him glory; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made the heaven and the earth and sea and fountains of waters. (Dan.3:16) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer thee in this matter. (17) If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of thy hand, O king. (18) But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.   (2Ki.17:38) and the covenant that I have made with you ye shall not forget; neither shall ye fear other gods: (39) but Jehovah your God shall ye fear; and he will deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.   We can clap and shout our triumph over our enemies. Triumph is celebrating the victory before we see it: (Psa.47:1) Oh clap your hands, all ye peoples; Shout unto God with the voice of triumph. (Jos.6:20) So the people shouted, and the priests blew the trumpets; and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, that the people shouted with a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.   Praise in Hebrew is “Hallal”, meaning brag on the Lord. Give credit or ascribe to the Lord: (Psa.29:1) Ascribe unto Jehovah, O ye sons of the mighty, Ascribe unto Jehovah glory and strength. (2) Ascribe unto Jehovah the glory due unto his name; Worship Jehovah in holy array. (3) The voice of Jehovah is upon the waters: The God of glory thundereth, Even Jehovah upon many waters. (4) The voice of Jehovah is powerful; The voice of Jehovah is full of majesty. (5) The voice of Jehovah breaketh the cedars; Yea, Jehovah breaketh in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. When we speak in agreement with the Word of God, we are giving “voice” to the Word and the angels hearken to His voice. (Psa.103:20) Bless Jehovah, ye his angels, That are mighty in strength, that fulfil his word, Hearkening unto the voice of his word. Amen! 

Sacrifice and Discipleship  (audio)  David Eells (8/14/24)  I thought I'd share a little bit about sacrifice and discipleship. The Lord Jesus is known by His people as a sacrifice and as a Savior, but far fewer know Him as an example of an overcomer. Many don't see Jesus as an example of an overcomer because they don't see it as an opportunity for us to even walk in the steps of Jesus, which 1 John tells us that everyone that abides in Him are to walk as He walked (1Jn 2:6). So many of those not understanding the Gospel have really sold many Christians short on what the Lord has given us as a great opportunity.   The Lord Jesus came as an example of an overcomer. He came to give us an example of what it is to walk as Christians. And not just as a sacrifice and a Savior. All those things are important, but they misunderstand, really, the very nature of Jesus. And I want to share just a just a little bit concerning that so we can understand this sacrificial life that Jesus gave is the same sacrificial life that He wants us to give.   As we know, He told us to take up our cross and follow Him, or we weren't His disciples. Let's look at Philippians 2. We're told this a few times concerning the Lord in the Scriptures. Php 2:5 Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, (or a thing to be clutched to) 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. Now most Christians believe that the Lord Jesus came down in all the omnipotence of God. But actually He didn't come that way. He came as, we're going to see from this text, He came very much like a spirit-filled man who had the Life of Christ inside, and He was the first born among many brethren the Bible says. And many people don't understand that.   But notice, He emptied himself, taking the form of a servant being made in likeness of men. You know, Jesus called Himself the Son of Man far more often than the Son of God. “Son of Man”, He wanted to emphasize His humanity and really, truly, He was the Son of Man. Romans 1:3 says that He was declared to be …born of the seed of David, according to the flesh, but ….the Son of God according to the spirit of holiness… His body really was the “seed of the woman”, the seed of David through Mary. He was truly human and truly God.   And I'm going to read in Php 2:8 and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross. So we see that the Lord Jesus came to walk as a man and to be sacrificed; actually He came to live as a sacrifice and to manifest the sacrifice of the cross, also.   In Hebrews Chapter 2 is another text that's really an eye opener for a lot of Christians to understand the very nature of Jesus. In verse 10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings. We don't think too much about Jesus becoming perfect. I think most people believe that Jesus was always perfect from the time He was a baby. The word perfect there means “complete”, it means “mature” or “full grown”. The Bible says that Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and with man. (Luk 2:52) So it says here that He became perfect through suffering.   It also says in Heb 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear, 8 though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered; (Yes, Jesus learned obedience by the things which he suffered.) 9 and having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation;  Well, that's the truth, it's the word of God. Some people think it's blasphemy, but it comes right out of the Word of God. Jesus was truly an overcomer. He had something to overcome as we're going to see in just a minute. Most people think Jesus didn't have anything to overcome. Jesus suffered in coming to perfection according to what Heb 2:10 says.   I'm going to go to Heb 2:11 For both he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, Truly the sons of God are brothers of Jesus. Now, Jesus was the only “begotten” Son of God, meaning, “born” Son of God. But we have to be reborn sons of God. We're being born-again sons of God. Born again first in spirit, then in soul, and ultimately in body. It says in verse 14 Since then the children are sharers in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same; (Jesus partook of the same flesh and blood that we do.) that through death he might bring to nought him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; The same flesh and blood of the “seed of David according to the flesh”. He called himself, “the Son of Man.” And of course, we know He was the Son of God and all true Christians are impressed with that fact. But sometimes they're not as impressed with the fact that He was the Son of Man and that He suffered as a Son of Man in coming to perfection and in bearing fruit and so on and so forth. People don't see that.   In fact, I'm going to show you verse 17 here, it says. Heb 2:17 Wherefore it behooved him in all things to be made like unto his brethren,… If we want truth and understanding we must believe exactly what the Word says. Once again, Jesus came as the Son of God manifesting in the Son of Man, as a spirit-filled Son of Man. It says in Romans 8, that He came …in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh. (Rom 8:3) So we see that Jesus came to truly be an overcomer of His flesh. Going on in verse 18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor (or come to the help of) them that are tempted. So Jesus understands us because He's been there, He's done that; He was tempted. When Peter told Jesus He would not go to His cross, Jesus rebuked him calling him a stumbling block. How could Jesus be tempted? Well, let's go to Heb 4:15 For we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; (Jesus suffered temptation.) but one that hath been in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. In all points He was tempted like us, yet without sinning. Is temptation sin? Obviously not. Temptation is not sin, but it does tell you that Jesus was in a real flesh and blood body.   We read in Jas 1:14 but each man is tempted when he's drawn away by his own lust and enticed. When a person is tempted, it's because they're drawn by their own lust or desires and enticed. Everybody has flesh that's been passed on down through humanity. We know Jesus, from Romans 1:3, had that kind of flesh, the same flesh. The flesh is tempted because they're drawn away by their lust. Now the word “lust” here is translated from the same word that means “desire.” In fact, sometimes the word for lust is translated in a positive way in other places. It's just translated “desire.” The word lust just means “desire”. So they translated it as lust here because they knew it was negative and lust has a negative idea to us. Jesus had His own desire when He wanted to escape the cup of suffering but did not give in but accepted the cup. But a man is tempted when he's drawn away by his own desires and enticed. The Bible doesn't say that this is sin. It goes on to say, 15 Then the [desire], when it hath conceived, beareth sin: and the sin, when it is fullgrown, bringeth forth death. So just being tempted by your desires is not sin. It's said about Jesus that that he was tempted in all points like as we yet without sin. In other words, He didn't give in to those desires. He had the desires very plainly, but He didn't give into them. He was a true overcomer.  Isn't that what we're called to do? We can't do anything about the desires other than not giving into them. If you give in to them, if you stir them up, you make them stronger. The more you give in to them, the stronger they get; so we can do that. We've been passed on down through our heritage from our natural parents, the “desires of the flesh.” And we see here that Jesus was also tempted with the desires of the flesh. Now I'm getting somewhere with this so please stay with me.   I want to show you how much Jesus suffered and how much He sacrificed even before the cross. He spiritually bore His cross a long time before He ever went to His physical cross. He tells us we're supposed to take up our cross and follow Him. So as we just read, when a person is tempted, they're drawn away by their desires. Jesus had desires, He just didn't give in to them. We don't have to either because of what He did on the cross; we do not have to give in to temptation. He has given us the victory.   We are going to suffer in the flesh when we refuse to give in to it. 1Pet 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ suffered in the flesh, arm ye yourselves also with the same mind (Again, He wants us as man, the spirit filled man, to have the same mind that was in Christ. In other words, God used Him as an example for us, to be armed with the same mind.); for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2 that ye no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh to the lusts (or desires) of men, but to the will of God. There are many desires of men we obviously don't have to serve, that are not even necessarily negative, and I'll point out a few things to you.   Jesus gave up a lot of things in order to be Who He was even before the cross. If He was tempted in all points like as us, because of His desires, then He probably as a man, had a desire for a family, a wife and a home. He probably had desires for these things. He saw other people His own age desiring these things, and in themselves, these are not bad things, they're just desires, right? But He denied Himself many things, because He was really consumed with His Father's will. He was consumed with the harvest that was coming and He spoke of it many times.   But He gave up His desires for all these things, much like the apostle Paul did. The apostle Paul gave up desires for these things because he was also consumed with the harvest. Now, we are also coming to a time in history when the first fruits Man-child, who is going to walk in the steps of Jesus, who is also going to be consumed with the harvest. So much so that other things will be less important to them, like they were to Paul, like they were to Jesus and Jesus is our example.   The Bible says, That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. (Ecc 1:9) Jesus spoke of coming again as a Man-child born to a woman in John 16 and we find in Revelation 12, just that, the Man-child born to the woman. We know that to be the first fruits of those to walk in His steps in these days. That's why I'm studying this, because we need to know what it is to walk in His steps. So now, what about these desires, that in themselves are not bad, but they would certainly distract from the purpose of God, and from the very very important thing of the harvest to come?  Let's look at Joh 4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to accomplish his work. Well His disciples asked Him about this prior in verse 32 But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not. 33 The disciples therefore said one to another, Hath any man brought him aught to eat? Jesus was talking about the thing that keeps Him alive. Meat is for the mature and milk is for those that are without experience in the Word. It says in Heb 5:13 For every one that partaketh of milk is without experience of the word of righteousness; for he is a babe. So meat is those that have experience of living and acting and doing the Word of righteousness. And Jesus was receiving His meat because He was fulfilling the will of the Father that sent Him and He was accomplishing His work.   And going on in Joh 4:35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh the harvest? (Can you imagine that the same thing could be said in our day? There's always been a harvest, hasn't there? We know that there's a harvest in the last seven years, a great harvest! But also throughout history there's been a harvest and Jesus said, ‘don't be waiting for the harvest because the fields are already white.') behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, that they are white already unto harvest. 36 He that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal;   Notice the people that reap in this harvest. This is what God has called us to. No, we're not all going to be in the Man-child, nor are we all going to be in the two witnesses. But we're all going to be laboring in the harvest. In our little part of the world here at UBM, we've got brothers and sisters in the Lord that are laboring at the sacrifice of their own lives, at the sacrifice of being with their families; and at the sacrifice of things that they would love to do. They're sacrificing their lives to work in the harvest, to get prepared to feed multitudes of people. And I praise God for all of you.  36 He that reapeth receiveth wages, (Well, that's interesting, in a time when the disciples are basically giving up their livelihood, God is talking about giving them wages for working in the harvest. Many people today are worried about, “Lord, what am I going to do when the tribulation comes and this job is not there and so on?” Well, guess what? The Father is still going to pay you. He doesn't have hirelings, they do it for love, but He's still going to pay them. The laborer is worthy of his hire, He said.   So there are people that are going to have needs in the coming days and I want to tell you, God's people are going to be busy in the harvest. They're going to know the end is near. They're going to be working towards the thing that the Lord has called us to work in from the beginning. Most people are just playing religion! They're living after their own “desires”. But the Lord was giving up His desires in order to fulfill this wonderful harvest.   Going on, 36 He that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal (Sounds pretty important, doesn't it?); that he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. 37 For herein is the saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. 38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye have not labored: others have labored, and ye are entered into their labor. Some exhort, witness, or do evangelism and some enter into those labors and do teaching. Some are lazy busybodies. The Lord Jesus' normal, natural desires, were overpowered and overwhelmed by this desire to please the Father and to work in the harvest. And you know, the Great Commission is all about us going forth to do that harvest, too. And yet very few people have been obedient to it. Very few people are willing to sacrifice their desires to give up what they have in the world to do this. Moms have their own evangelistic work but they can pray for God to open other doors too.  When Jesus went to disciple, we read in Mat 4:16 The people that sat in darkness Saw a great light, And to them that sat in the region and shadow of death, To them did light spring up. The same thing is going to happen in our day. Some are laying a foundation for when the Man-child goes forth; a great light is going to be given to God's people who have been sitting in darkness. And verse 17 From that time began Jesus to preach, and to say, Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 18 And walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brethren, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishers. 19 And he saith unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20 And they straightway left the nets, and followed him.  Can you imagine with no more convincing than that! These men must have been prepared by God to be ready to follow the Man-child at this very simple plea, because they just immediately dropped their their livelihood, which of course they were feeding their families with. And as we just read that they would receive wages for working in the Lord's harvest, but they just dropped their living and they followed Jesus.   Do you think that possibly a lot of people are coming to this situation? I'm convinced of it. I'm convinced that it's not just the Man-child who was represented here by Jesus; and the two witnesses, which are represented by those disciples that He sent out two by two, which is a corporate body of two witnesses in our day. But also the Lord is preparing others. He's not only preparing the Man-child, who's lived a sacrificial life, and are not consumed with their own desires. And the witnesses who are to be raised up by the Man-child are also not consumed by their own desires.   Obviously, they were willing to drop their livelihood, the only thing that they'd  known all their lives, the very thing that they were feeding their families with. You may be asking, “David, do you think they had families?” Yes, they had families and most of these Jewish men were married at a young age. Some of them were arranged marriages which was very, common. I'll speak more of their families in a moment. But let's read the rest of this text in verse 21 And going on from thence he saw two other brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. 22 And they straightway left the boat and their father, and followed him.  Notice that they just gave up their livelihood to follow Jesus. Multitudes of people are going to find themselves in the same situation, with the overcoming grace of God to give up their normal desires. Not necessarily bad desires, just their normal desires like Jesus and Paul did, and these disciples are now doing. I know I'm talking to some people who have families and you thought that possibly this was going to constrain you from doing the work of the Lord, or possibly it's constraining you now from jumping into the harvest, right? It is clear Jesus' disciples families were provided for. 1Ti 5:8 But if any provideth not for his own, and specially his own household, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever. Now Paul is saying in 1Co 9:5-6 Have we no right to lead about a wife that is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? So this was after the Ministry of Jesus, and we see that Paul and Barnabas were single, but all the rest of them at this time in Corinthians, were leading about a wife, and I can guarantee you, children too.   During the time when the disciples followed Jesus, we don't find any indication that their wives or their children were with them. But they were following Jesus, and guess what? Somebody was taking care of their families because they were seeking first the Kingdom and His righteousness. The Lord was taking care of their families while they were doing this. They were giving up all the things that men normally desire in life in order to have the great joy of seeing the benefits of the Kingdom of God, given to God's people and sacrificing everything to do this.   Verse 6 Or I only and Barnabas, have we not a right to forbear working? Notice this, that all the rest of the apostles, and those disciples were forbearing working. They weren't working for a living, they were working for God.   You know, when I first came to Pensacola, I was ministering in a revival. I hadn't been working at a regular job for some time. I've been just working for the Lord from the time I left Louisiana, many, many years ago. And while there, I had a lady walk up to me and asked me, “David, what about these verses, here? I mean, should you be working while you're doing what you're doing?” I said, “I'll tell you what, why don't you go and ask the Lord that question? I already know it for myself, but I'd rather you get it from Him. Go and ask the Lord that question and tell me what He says.” So the next day she was back and she said, “David, I got a real clear answer from the Lord. He told me that you ARE working. You're working for Him.” I said, “That's right. He's the one ordained me. He appeared to me twice to do it. He ordained me to do what I'm doing.”   You know what, folks? We all have to work. Paul said. If a man doesn't work, he doesn't eat, in Thessalonians, right? And so Paul, in verse 6, for the first part of his ministry was working for a living while he was serving the Lord and doing the work of the Kingdom. He was working for living, but notice none of the rest of the apostles were. He said he had a right to do exactly what they were doing, but he wasn't taking that right. I remember doing the same thing for the first ten years of my ministry. I worked while I ministered, while I taught and while I pastored. But there came a time, just like with Paul, I didn't have time to work.   By the time 2 Corinthians came around, Paul wasn't working either. He was taking wages from other people so that he could serve God continually, but for part of his ministry he was working. Now we all have to work; I'm not talking about not working, because like the apostle Paul said, we if a man doesn't work, he doesn't eat. But now notice that these men who followed Jesus, they were working for the Lord and the Lord was paying their wages. Now, I've been asked of people, “Well, how is it that in the Tribulation period people are going to be going out just serving God? How is it they're going to make a living, and how is their family going to make a living?” I tell you folks, the laborer is worthy of his hire. The Lord will see to it. He's doing it today with people who are walking by faith.   He's done it with me, for 50 years in the ministry, He's taken care of us. I haven't had any visible means of support, but I was listening to the Lord and following Him and He always came through. I never took up an offering for myself.  When I went on tour they took up offerings for me. He brought us through some wonderful trials! Trials that helped me to learn to walk by faith in the Lord, Who is always our Jehovah Jireh, our Provider. But I wouldn't have traded those trials for anything, honestly. I would not have traded those trials to see the miracles of God providing for me and providing for my family, I wouldn't have traded that for anything in the world.   And God's been absolutely, totally faithful. I've seen Him do wonderful things like multiply food and seen Him multiply money. So we're not talking about not working, but there is coming a time when men, especially Christians, who cannot be a part of the Beast system any longer and not be able to work. But they will get wages because finally God's people are going to be into the same thing that Jesus and His disciples were into, and that is the harvest. Right now, so many people are living after the desires of their flesh.  I want to say something else, we are told in Heb 12:1 Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Well, notice they ‘lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us…' Paul had a right to lead about a wife, even as the rest of the apostles and that desire is not sin at all. It wasn't a sin for Jesus if He had wanted to be married and a family. He had those desires, they were not in themselves sin, except that the Father had a plan for Jesus, and these things would have been a weight. They would have kept Him from fulfilling the job the Lord sent Him to do. Am I preaching that men shouldn't have these things? No, I'm not preaching that at all. I'm just saying that we have some desires that are perfectly legal but will not bring forth the end result that the Father sent us to do.   Many of them would be weights holding us back. They are simply human desires. The Lord wants us to find our desire in the things that He desires. He wants to work in us, to will, and to do of his good pleasure. And I'm sure that the human desires Jesus had were totally overwhelmed by the desire that God put in His heart, and that was to see souls saved; to see the sick healed, to see deliverance of God's people! I'm sure that was His great desire and it's very fulfilling to see that.   Now, these disciples were in very primitive situations. Look what it says in Mat 8:19 And there came a scribe, and said unto him, Teacher, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. Well, would everybody follow Him in the rather primitive provision the Lord gives to people that do this? He says, 20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the heaven have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. That didn't sound like He had a home or had any kind of worldly provision. Father provided for them, but it seemed like they were living a pretty primitive and simple life in order to get the Gospel out; they couldn't carry a lot with them. I know that there's spiritual revelations here too, but I'm just looking in the natural here.  And in verse 21 And another of the disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 22 But Jesus saith unto him, Follow me; and leave the dead to bury their own dead. In other words, there are a lot of things that we might think are important that God doesn't think are as important as doing the will of the Father and bringing forth the Great Commission.   So we are being called by the Lord more than anything, to seek to have His desires in these days, before these days actually come upon us. There's a repetition of history seen in the Gospels and in the Book of Acts about to come upon this world and God's going to find some people willing to take up their cross and follow Him in this work. He has others to do much of the support work. We've got a lot of brethren allied with us to do this; supporting us with their funds, supporting us with their gifts and their talents. They support us by giving up things that they normally could do in order to bring forth this harvest. And we praise God for them.   Continuing in Mat 8:23 And when he was entered into a boat, his disciples followed him. 24 And behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the boat was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. 25 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Save, Lord; we perish.  I've seen many people ‘tried' who have come into our ministry. They have the funny idea that they may not have to sacrifice anything of their natural life; things that are normal to everybody, like the fellowship with their children. Did you know Jesus' disciples sacrificed the fellowship they could have had with their wives and children, or building their homes? They sacrificed these kinds of things for the work of the Kingdom. And now we see that when they chose to follow Jesus, they even ran into tempests, storms, troubles, and different tribulations.   People who came to our ministry to help, didn't realize that just because you're serving the Lord, doesn't mean you're not going to run into these ‘tempest, troubles and tribulations'. The Lord permits it. He lets the devil bring forth a storm or a tribulation and some people think, “Well, I must have missed God somewhere, because I'm going through this, and here I am trying to serve the Lord. Here I am doing this work of the ministry. Maybe I'm missing God somewhere.” No, we are told, through much tribulation shall you enter the Kingdom.   This tempest came upon the disciples and the Lord was their Savior in the midst it. He didn't save them from the tempest, but He saved them in the midst of it. He didn't keep them from the trial, but He saved them in the midst of it. All of God's people who serve Him in this harvest are going to be opposed by the devil. It's permissible by God for this to happen, and we're going to be rejected. It's not because we've missed God, it's because we we're in the will of God.   The disciples found themselves in primitive situations while they were sacrificing the normal desires of their life, and yet they were leaving all to follow Jesus, and they spoke to Jesus about this in Mark 10. I'm going to start in verse Mar 10:17 And as he was going forth into the way, there ran one to him, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? 18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good save one, even God. 19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor thy father and mother. 20 And he said unto him, Teacher, all these things have I observed from my youth. 21 And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.  Saints, we're coming to such a time as this, where God is going to demand this from some people. Because of the Beast kingdom, many people are going to have to give up many things that they have, which are not necessarily bad in themselves, but in order to walk through the wilderness, in order to be tried, in order to be come forth as a gold, they're going to go through these things.   Mar 10:22 But his countenance fell at the saying, and he went away sorrowful: for he was one that had great possessions. 23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 24 And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 26 And they were astonished exceedingly, saying unto him, Then who can be saved? 27 Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for all things are possible with God. 28 Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.  This very thing is coming very soon. There are people who are going to leave all to follow the Lord. I'm not talking about just in the capacity of these apostles or these disciples, but many others are going to leave all to follow the Lord. They're not going to be distracted by the things of the world. They can't carry these things with them and the Lord Jesus is going to bring them through wonderful times of provision. ‘They that reapeth, receiveth with wages'; Father is going to take care of them and provide for them.   Mar 10:29 Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or mother, or father, or children, or lands, for my sake, and for the gospel's sake, 30 but he shall receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.   Even today people are giving up the fellowship of family, houses and lands. They're giving up these things, which the Lord said He would multiply back to them because obviously we've got family everywhere, we've got houses everywhere. Everywhere we go there's a provision, there's a door opened, and God says, now in this time, and in the world to come, eternal life. God is going to multiply back for those people who do give up something. Don't forget the Lord will give it back, He will multiply it back. The Bible says He will multiply your seed for sowing in 1 Corinthians chapter 8.  31 But many that are first shall be last; and the last first. What do you think He meant by that? You know, if we put ourselves first and Him last, then we're going to be last in the Kingdom. But if we put Him first and us last, we're going to be first in the Kingdom and that's what He was talking about doing here. Like people who give up normal things of life to follow Him, not because they're sin, but because they are weights. I think God's got a calling on all of us and it's going to be the Great Commission and we're all going to be fulfilling our parts as far as bringing this Great Commission forth. We should have been doing it for the last 2000 years, but God's people have really been caught up in materialistic Christianity rather than fulfilling what He desires for us. Now the desires that we have are normal, but we give them up as a sacrifice for the greater good of bringing forth this harvest into eternal life. God bless you, Brethren!

Having described God's general revelation thru Creation (v1-6), Ps 19 transitions to God's special revelation thru His Word. Creation reveals God as EL, the Almighty Creator, whereas Scripture reveals God as YAHWEH, the God who brings His people into personal covenant relationship with Himself. Both revelations agree for God created His world by His Word. The written Word is more comprehensive, detailed, clearer & personal. Also, the fall means creation is under curse, so corrupted nature sends mixed signals, so people can misunderstand God's nature, when they see evil in the world. So, we need a clearer revelation of God - His written Word, which is perfect, without error, and extolled in v7-11. Psalm 19:7-9 lists 6 descriptions of God's Word (its nature), followed by 6 things it will accomplish in us if we receive it (its power). (1) “The LAW of the LORD is PERFECT (blameless, inerrant, complete & sufficient revelation of God and His will for our lives, 2Pet 1:3-4, 2Tim 3:16-17), converting (restoring, reviving, imparts new life to) the soul.” (2) “The TESTIMONY (His witness to Himself) of the LORD is SURE (dependable, reliable, firm, Ps 119:89), making wise the simple (imparting wisdom for life to the humble).” (3) “The STATUTES (precepts, instructions) of the LORD are RIGHT (morally right not crooked), rejoicing (imparting joy, peace, blessing & satisfaction to) the heart.” (4) “The COMMANDMENT (not suggestion) of the LORD is PURE (lit: 'radiant') enlightening the eyes (giving illumination for life).” (5) “The FEAR of the LORD (it reveals His majesty, authority & holiness, producing in us the fear of God - Deut 4:10), is CLEAN (free from impurity, making us clean, by imparting the fear of the Lord to us), enduring forever (enabling us to endure forever - 1Pet 1:23-25, 1John 2:17, our unshakable foundation for life).” (6) The JUDGMENTS (verdicts) of the LORD are true and righteous altogether (giving us reliable guidance for our life, to think & act right). In view of its origin, nature and beneficial transforming power, we should value & embrace it above all earthly things, for it is both (1) desirable & (2) enjoyable: “(1) More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold (Prov 3:13-18), (2) sweeter also than honey & the honeycomb (‘honey in the combs'- Prov 16:24)” (v10). It imparts (1) spiritual riches of great value, above all natural possessions, and (2) the sweet grace of God. Honey is pleasant to eat, but God's Word is sweeter still, for it reveals the beauty of the Lord. It provides experiences greater & deeper than the experiences of the senses & the enjoyment of natural things. How much we value it is important, for "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Luke 12:34), and the measure of attention we give His Word determines the measure of blessing we receive (Mark 4:24). His Word can accomplish all the things in v7-10, as it is the Word 'of the LORD' (repeated x6), which reveals the Lord of the Word. Thru His Word we find, meet & know the Lord personally. We come into union with Him by faith, and thereby receive His life, wisdom, blessing, light, strength & cleansing (John 5:39-40). The Lord Himself imparts Himself to us thru His Word, and does great things in our lives. So, if you desire God, desire His Word, not just for its positive impartation of blessing (v10), but also because it reveals & warns us of our sin, bringing repentance & cleansing, for sin separates us from God & His life: “Moreover, by them (God's words) Your servant is warned (of folly, sin & dangers), and in keeping them there is great reward" (v11). God's purpose in revealing Himself to us thru His Word, is that we might come to know Him as our Redeemer & Rock (Strength). Therefore, the 3rd Part of Ps 19 describes our right response to His revelation (v12-14). His Word reveals His perfection and by contrast our sin. He also reveals Himself as our Redeemer from sin, and our Strength, to empower us to walk in righteousness (v14). Sin impedes our fellowship with God, so we must turn from sin, asking for His cleansing (v12,13), and surrender ourselves to God, for Him to fill us with His Spirit & strengthen us to do His will (v14). There are 2 kinds of sin (1) sins of ignorance & (2) deliberate sins. First, David prays about 2 kinds of sins of which he is unaware: “(1) Who can understand his errors? (2) Cleanse me from secret faults" (v12). Even though these are hidden to us, they still darken the soul. He asks God to (1) reveal his errors of thinking & (2) cleanse his sins committed in ignorance. He opens his heart to God's light inviting Him to cleanse him (1John 1:7). Then he prays about his deliberate sins, which must be confessed to God to restore fellowship (1John 1:9): "Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins (wilful sins); let them not have dominion over me (when we yield to our sin-nature, we become enslaved to that sin, so it becomes habitual, increasingly dominating u

Having described God's general revelation thru Creation (v1-6), Ps 19 transitions to God's special revelation thru His Word. Creation reveals God as EL, the Almighty Creator, whereas Scripture reveals God as YAHWEH, the God who brings His people into personal covenant relationship with Himself. Both revelations agree for God created His world by His Word. The written Word is more comprehensive, detailed, clearer & personal. Also, the fall means creation is under curse, so corrupted nature sends mixed signals, so people can misunderstand God's nature, when they see evil in the world. So, we need a clearer revelation of God - His written Word, which is perfect, without error, and extolled in v7-11. Psalm 19:7-9 lists 6 descriptions of God's Word (its nature), followed by 6 things it will accomplish in us if we receive it (its power). (1) “The LAW of the LORD is PERFECT (blameless, inerrant, complete & sufficient revelation of God and His will for our lives, 2Pet 1:3-4, 2Tim 3:16-17), converting (restoring, reviving, imparts new life to) the soul.” (2) “The TESTIMONY (His witness to Himself) of the LORD is SURE (dependable, reliable, firm, Ps 119:89), making wise the simple (imparting wisdom for life to the humble).” (3) “The STATUTES (precepts, instructions) of the LORD are RIGHT (morally right not crooked), rejoicing (imparting joy, peace, blessing & satisfaction to) the heart.” (4) “The COMMANDMENT (not suggestion) of the LORD is PURE (lit: 'radiant') enlightening the eyes (giving illumination for life).” (5) “The FEAR of the LORD (it reveals His majesty, authority & holiness, producing in us the fear of God - Deut 4:10), is CLEAN (free from impurity, making us clean, by imparting the fear of the Lord to us), enduring forever (enabling us to endure forever - 1Pet 1:23-25, 1John 2:17, our unshakable foundation for life).” (6) The JUDGMENTS (verdicts) of the LORD are true and righteous altogether (giving us reliable guidance for our life, to think & act right). In view of its origin, nature and beneficial transforming power, we should value & embrace it above all earthly things, for it is both (1) desirable & (2) enjoyable: “(1) More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold (Prov 3:13-18), (2) sweeter also than honey & the honeycomb (‘honey in the combs'- Prov 16:24)” (v10). It imparts (1) spiritual riches of great value, above all natural possessions, and (2) the sweet grace of God. Honey is pleasant to eat, but God's Word is sweeter still, for it reveals the beauty of the Lord. It provides experiences greater & deeper than the experiences of the senses & the enjoyment of natural things. How much we value it is important, for "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Luke 12:34), and the measure of attention we give His Word determines the measure of blessing we receive (Mark 4:24). His Word can accomplish all the things in v7-10, as it is the Word 'of the LORD' (repeated x6), which reveals the Lord of the Word. Thru His Word we find, meet & know the Lord personally. We come into union with Him by faith, and thereby receive His life, wisdom, blessing, light, strength & cleansing (John 5:39-40). The Lord Himself imparts Himself to us thru His Word, and does great things in our lives. So, if you desire God, desire His Word, not just for its positive impartation of blessing (v10), but also because it reveals & warns us of our sin, bringing repentance & cleansing, for sin separates us from God & His life: “Moreover, by them (God's words) Your servant is warned (of folly, sin & dangers), and in keeping them there is great reward" (v11). God's purpose in revealing Himself to us thru His Word, is that we might come to know Him as our Redeemer & Rock (Strength). Therefore, the 3rd Part of Ps 19 describes our right response to His revelation (v12-14). His Word reveals His perfection and by contrast our sin. He also reveals Himself as our Redeemer from sin, and our Strength, to empower us to walk in righteousness (v14). Sin impedes our fellowship with God, so we must turn from sin, asking for His cleansing (v12,13), and surrender ourselves to God, for Him to fill us with His Spirit & strengthen us to do His will (v14). There are 2 kinds of sin (1) sins of ignorance & (2) deliberate sins. First, David prays about 2 kinds of sins of which he is unaware: “(1) Who can understand his errors? (2) Cleanse me from secret faults" (v12). Even though these are hidden to us, they still darken the soul. He asks God to (1) reveal his errors of thinking & (2) cleanse his sins committed in ignorance. He opens his heart to God's light inviting Him to cleanse him (1John 1:7). Then he prays about his deliberate sins, which must be confessed to God to restore fellowship (1John 1:9): "Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins (wilful sins); let them not have dominion over me (when we yield to our sin-nature, we become enslaved to that sin, so it becomes habitual, increasingly dominating u

April 21, 2024 - Sunday 6:00PM Auditorium Speaker   Speaker: Dan Winkler     John 20 - The Resurrection 20 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes. Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene 11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her. Jesus Appears to the Disciples 19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” Jesus and Thomas 24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” 26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” The Purpose of This Book 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.     Jesus Is Lord Rom 1:3, 4 -raised from the dead Jn 21 – the resurrection is the most consequential event in the history of the world. With this He IS the son of God and the Christ and better be your Lord. Lord – found 41 times in John, 14 of them are in Ch 20-21 Goal in reading the passage Jn 20:1-30 > Pay particular attn to the word(s) SEE, SEEN, SAW Blecco – see with the eyes Theoreo – connect the dots/question Orao – see with the mind's eye “aha” or lightbulb moment                Jn 20:1 – see with the eyes                Jn 20:5 – see with the eyes                Jn 20:8 – AHA – now he understood he must rise                Jn 20:12 – connect the dots                Jn 20:14 – connect the dots                Jn 20:18 – AHA                Jn 20:25 – AHA                Jn 20:29 - AHA 2 Observations Proof of the resurrection Power of the resurrection Proof of the Resurrection 4 lines of evidence at the tomb At the tomb                The graves stone 20:1-2, a stone would be extremely large , 20 men would not have been able to move it.  It had been TAKEN AWAY. Matt, Mark, and Luke all say rolled way while John says “taken” or carried. Explain the movement of the stone without a miracle. The tomb was also sealed and two Roman guards were placed. The Grave Clothes V5 the linen cloth V7 Face covering was folded The Body There wasn't one Graves unspoken message The AHA V10 they went back to their homes. Picture John going home and telling Jesus' mother (Acts 1) Mom and former unbelieving brothers are there. Evidence away from the tomb. (12) post resurrection appearances – 4 are in Jn 20-21  (20:16, 20:19-23, 20:26-29, 21:1-25) Power of the Resurrection in our lives today                1Pet 1:3 – to be with Jesus in Heaven, b/c of resurrection you and I can look forward with confidence that you will go to Heaven. He is your redeemer and his blood is effective b/c he was raised from the dead.                1Pet 3:20-21 – baptism saves us b/c of the resurrection of Jesus. Forgiveness happens in the heart of God and in His forgiveness you are NEW…because of the resurrection.   Video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1iAf7hQ-MQ   Duration 49:55

Sanctified From Wickedness (3)  (Audio)  Escaping Apostasy David Eells 5/12/24  Let's look at the letters to the seven churches since there's so much in them about the apostasy or falling away among God's people. I believe that the letters to the churches are also letters to certain kinds of Christians, which are symbolized by each church. Of course, I know that there's a prophetic value there, too (Revelation 1:3), but people should be able to recognize themselves in one of these churches. This is not a complete study of the Churches, but some very important things that we can take warning from.  Beginning in (Rev.2:1) To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, he that walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks: (2) I know thy works, and thy toil and patience, and that thou canst not bear evil men, and didst try them that call themselves apostles (People who fall away because of their pride and so forth, many of them are calling themselves prophets and apostles, but we need to test them. They need to have the signs of an apostle.), and they are not, and didst find them false; (3) and thou hast patience and didst bear for my name's sake, and hast not grown weary.   People do get tired when they don't keep their eyes on the Lord and His promises, which pick you up and give you courage and faith. We must keep our eyes on Jesus and the promises that He's made. Don't get worried or anxious, because the devil likes to wear you down and then, before you know it, you've fallen-away.   (Rev.2:4) But I have [this] against thee, that thou didst leave thy first love. Yes, a lot of people have started out really in love with Jesus and wanting to know all about Him, but it doesn't take long before they've been side-tracked by these false apostles or false pastors or false leaders. (5) Remember therefore whence thou art fallen, and repent and do the first works… The “first works” were wanting to know what it is to please the Lord. You wanted to know how to obey the Lord but you probably didn't read enough of the Book to find out what a church looked like, so you went to something that you thought was a church where, sadly, you were led astray and wasted a whole bunch of time. Go back! Go back and be obedient to the Lord as when you first entered into Christ, before you were led astray by these charlatans who told you that you didn't have to be obedient.   (Rev.2:5) Remember therefore whence thou art fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I come to thee, and will move thy candlestick (The Greek word translated “candlestick” denotes “an oil-fed, portable lamp.”) out of its place, except thou repent. That's a falling-away. He is the One Who stands in the midst of the candlesticks. He is the One Who keeps your “oil-fed, portable lamp,” lit. You have to have fellowship with Him, and He is the Word. The best way to pray is when you read the Word. If you see something you like, then pray it. You can read the Word and pray at the same time. Whenever you run across something you know you need, or are lacking in, anywhere you see a promise, stop and pray. Stop, repent if you need to, and pray. Oh, thank you, Father, for pouring the oil of Your Spirit into the lamps of our portable tabernacles! Amen.   (Rev.2:6) But this thou hast, that thou hatest the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. The Nicolaitans started out with a priestly order, like that of the Old Testament, where there is a priest between you and God, and that's what Catholicism started doing. There is a priest over the church and between you and God and so forth, and the Protestants picked it right up because their apple didn't fall far from the tree and now the pastor is the head of the church for them, too. But there's nothing more false in the whole Scriptures. That is the Nicolaitan error, which He said He hated, and that the church in Ephesus also hated.  (Rev.2:7) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give to eat of the tree of life… Between Adam and the “tree of life” there was the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” (Gen.2:16) And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: (17) but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. Well, as we know, Adam failed that test and he had to be removed from the garden lest he eat of the “tree of life” (Gen 3:22-24). However, we who have been born-again, have the power to do something with the knowledge of good and evil. The natural man doesn't have that; we who are born from above have that.   (1Co.2:14) Now the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually judged. Therefore, we are to study the knowledge of good and evil in the Scriptures, not necessarily what men say is good or evil, but according to what the Scriptures say. We are to study it and know it. (Rev.2:7) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh (That's somebody who studied it; they know it, and they're obeying it.), to him will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.  (Rev.2:8) And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These things saith the first and the last, who was dead, and [lived] again: (9) I know thy tribulation, and thy poverty (but thou art rich)… Yes, they are rich in the ways of the Kingdom. (Jas.2:5) Hearken, my beloved brethren; did not God choose them that are poor as to the world [to be] rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him? And, yes, they are beloved.   (9) I know thy tribulation, and thy poverty (but thou art rich), and the blasphemy of them that say they are Jews, and they are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. It's interesting that this is addressing the church, but he is speaking about the church error, in which there are Jews who claim to be Jews, yet they are not Jews according to the New Covenant, the New Testament. It's important to understand this. Unless you're born-again, you're not a member of the New Covenant, nor are you a Jew according to the New Testament. We're told, (Rom.2:28) For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh: (29) but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.   The Jews had a “letter” Covenant; it was according to the letter. The Christians have a spiritual Covenant; it is a spiritual fulfillment of the Old Testament type. We don't inherit their literal promises; we're not replacing them in a literal way. Their land is not our “land.” Our “land” is a spiritual land, as we were taught (John 17:14,16, John 18:36; 1 John 2:15). So if you're a member of the New Covenant, you have been circumcised in heart, which is having the “flesh” cut away from your heart.   When He says that they are a “synagogue of Satan,” it's obviously identifying physical Jews and He's telling the church that these people are not Jews. They're claiming to be Jews, but they are not. They are a synagogue of Satan. Why would they be a synagogue of Satan? It's because they're not born from above. If you're born from above (John 3:3), you're circumcised in heart. It doesn't matter if you're a physical Jew or a Gentile.  We can see this borne out again very well here. (Rom.9:25) As he saith also in Hosea, I will call that my people, which was not my people (That's because His original people were all physical Jews.); And her beloved, that was not beloved. (So He loves someone that is not a Jew and was not called “my people.”) (26) And it shall be, [that] in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people (This is the Gentiles.), There shall they be called sons of the living God. (27) And Isaiah crieth concerning Israel, If the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, it is the remnant that shall be saved. He's talking about natural Israel there; only a remnant of natural Israel “shall be saved,” however, we know that “all Israel” shall be saved who is grafted into the “Olive Tree” (Rom 11:26).   (Rom.11:19) Thou wilt say then, Branches were broken off (Those “branches” were natural Israel.), that I might be grafted in. (20) Well; by their unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by thy faith. Be not highminded, but fear: (21) for if God spared not the natural branches, neither will he spare thee. In other words, if you walk in unbelief concerning His Word, you also shall be cut-off. (22) Behold then the goodness and severity of God: toward them that fell, severity; but toward thee, God's goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. (23) And they also, if they continue not in their unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.   (24) For if thou wast cut out of that which is by nature a wild olive tree, and wast grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree; how much more shall these, which are the natural [branches], be grafted into their own olive tree? (25) For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant of this mystery, lest ye be wise in your own conceits, that a hardening in part hath befallen Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in;   (26) and so all Israel shall be saved: even as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer;(Jesus in the Man-child reformers) He shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: (27) And this is my covenant unto them, When I shall take away their sins. So we should fear, lest we walk outside the bounds of God's Covenant, which is His Word to us. Many do, and they see no problem with that, whatsoever, but we know it to be extremely dangerous because we're going to be judged according to our works.   Going back to the church of Smyrna (Rev2:10) Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer… Yes, we will suffer, although many people falsely think we won't have to suffer. We will suffer, and that suffering, of course, is losing our life: It's the “old man” dying and the “new man” taking his place. Whatever we have to go through to lose our old life and gain our new life, it is necessary, and it is suffering. You have to suffer the loss of your carnal life and the carnal way of living. You need to remember that there's an important difference between those who are “sons” of God and those who are “children” of God. “Sons” of God follow the Spirit of God; “children” do not.   Christ is our example of suffering. (1Pet.4:1) Forasmuch then as Christ suffered in the flesh… He went to His Cross; His flesh was crucified. He said, (Mat.10:38) … he that doth not take his cross and follow after me, is not worthy of me. And also, (Luk.14:27) Whosoever doth not bear his own cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. That means we, too, must go to a spiritual cross of death to self. (2Co.4:16) Wherefore we faint not; but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day. As you die, you live.   (1Pet.4:1) Forasmuch then as Christ suffered in the flesh, arm ye yourselves also with the same mind; for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin… There is no law against somebody who has “ceased from sin”. Suffering in the flesh gives a person the fear of God and it's a proof that they're losing their life. A person losing their carnal life is not going to fall away. Suffering is the normal Christian life, and we should expect it to be that.   (2) that ye no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. This is extremely important, because if we walk after the flesh, we must die (Rom 8:13). That's a falling-away, isn't it? How do we avoid the falling-away? The flesh has to die, because it will do nothing but try to subvert you the rest of your life. And according to this, we don't have to live the rest of our “time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.” We have to live the crucified life. People grow very quickly once they realize that their cross is to deny themselves and follow Jesus. Most religion doesn't teach denying self, but then, people don't grow up in God through most religion, either. So we see that this must be done. It is a suffering, but it must be done.   (Rev.2:10) Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer: behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried… We know of somebody who was cast into prison to be a type and shadow for us, and that was Joseph (Gen 39:20), who came out of that prison to become the second ruler of the kingdom (Gen 41:40). He represents Jesus, and he also represents the Man-child in our day. The Man-child company in these days is suffering at the hands of wicked men, and it is for the good purpose of their crucifixion. That will prepare the Man-child to lead the Woman into the wilderness, but the Woman in the wilderness still needs to have the same fruit of Jesus Christ.   That means there is a time for the Woman in the wilderness to also suffer in the exact same way, to suffer by being “cast into prison.” You know, there are lots of things we can't do. We're limited by the “bars” of the Word of God from doing them, because obeying the Word crucifies us. It restrains the “old man” to the point that he dies. Joseph was prepared through a death to rule, and Jesus preached to the souls in prison until He was resurrected to rule, and now He reigns. That's a parable for us. We, too, all of us, not just the Man-child but the Bride and Woman who goes into the wilderness will also be going through the exact same thing that the Man-child has gone through, at the hands of wicked people.   (Rev.2:10 …that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life. Notice the condition here. People falsely think that salvation has been put into their hand when, actually, salvation is in Christ. And we know that when Christ went to the Cross, we went with Him as far as the sacrifice is concerned. (Gal.2:20) I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me: and that [life] which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, [the faith] which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.   We still need to go to our cross, but we reckon that it was done at the Cross. We believe we have received, as Jesus taught us (Mark 11:24). We need to be “faithful unto death,” the death of self, and, if necessary, the death of this old fleshly body. For some, it will take that much for them to enter into the Kingdom. But we, at the very least, have to die to self. Self is the enemy of God that must be crucified, and that's what we're here to do. We need to learn that lesson well.   So as we read, (1Pe.4:2) … ye no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. Once you learn how to cooperate with God, you can do this fairly quickly, and then you're in a position where God can use you. You get the “crown of life” for death; you enter into God's Life through death, death to self. Before that, you're not trustworthy because you're living after the flesh. You have many idols to distract you, many rulers besides God but, of course, once you're crucified, there is only one Ruler, and that's the Lord. When He is the Head, there's not much chance that you're going to fail God because it's the flesh that walks astray; it's not the spiritual man.   (Rev.2:11) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. “Overcoming” is overcoming the things that we're reading about. It's obvious that when people fall away, they're not overcoming, but we're called to be overcomers. There are no promises in the letters to the churches for those who are not overcomers, therefore, we must lose our life. Just as our Lord took up His Cross, we are here to take up our cross and follow Him.   (Rev.2:11) …He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. What is the “second death”? (Rev.20:11) And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat upon it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. (12) And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne; and books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works.   Everybody's going to be judged according to their works. You may say, “David, I thought we are judged according to our faith.” No, faith is manifested through works. Faith without works is dead (James 2:17). The proof of faith is works. If a person believes, they will walk with the Lord. If they don't believe, they won't walk with the Lord. Therefore, all that God has to do to judge our faith is to judge our works. That's why it says, “according to their works.”   Those people who think they can live any way they want to live and still call themselves a “Christian” or “believer,” they don't believe that their sins were taken away. If they did believe that their sins were taken away, they would constantly be being taken away and it would be seen in how they live. No, their faith is hollow; they're just “accepting the Lord,” but there's nothing about “accepting the Lord” in the Bible. We're commanded to repent and believe the Gospel The Greek word for “repent” means to “change your mind” and believe what God says. This is what religion refuses to do, and that's why they're in rebellion, and that's why there's a great falling-away. There is a great falling-away, and it's their fault. Their blood is on the Harlot. (Rev.17:6) And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all that have been slain upon the earth.   (Rev.20:13) And the sea gave up the dead that were in it; and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. (14) And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, [even] the lake of fire. (15) And if any was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire. How do you get into the Book of Life? Well, according to that text, it has everything to do with your works.   Then how do we change our works? We do that through the Blood of the Lamb. We accept the fact that we were crucified with Him and now it's no longer we who live, but it's Christ Who lives in us. And our good confession is accepted by the High Priest of our Confession, and that is Jesus Christ. He is the One Who gives us authority over the old flesh. He is the One (Php.2:13) … who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure. That's not true of everybody who claims to be a “Christian.” Many don't have the Will of God in them; they have their own will, which is self-will. That's why “self” has to die.   (Rev.2:12) And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These things saith he that hath the sharp two-edged sword: (13) I know where thou dwellest, [even] where Satan's throne is; and thou holdest fast my name… That is, of course, what it takes not to fall away. (Now this is not a study of Revelation, this is a study of the falling-away, so there are things I'm going to skip over in order to emphasize the things that could possibly cause you to fall away.) We know that the word “name” in the Greek is onoma, which means “nature, character, and authority.” We hold fast to the real Jesus, His nature, His character, and His authority.   I would say that a lot of the church has denied that. They have created a new “Jesus” in these days, as Paul said (2 Cor 11:3-4; Gal 1:6-9) and, of course, that only makes you anti-Christ. A new Jesus makes you anti-Christ. The prefix “anti” not only means “against,” it also means “in the place of” because you've replaced the Jesus of the Bible with the Jesus of your religion. We need to learn not to go astray from the real Jesus.   (Rev.2:13) I know where thou dwellest, [even] where Satan's throne is; and thou holdest fast my name, and didst not deny my faith… As we've seen, this is so important because “he that endureth to the end” in faith, is going to have what they're believing for, by the grace of God. Don't deny the faith. Many people do deny the faith every time they speak, since they speak totally contrary to the promises of God. The Bible says, (Rom.10:9) … if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus [as] Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. We need to speak, what the Bible says about us. The word “confess” is the Greek word homologeo, which means “to speak the same as.” We are told to say what God says.   (Rev.2:13) …and didst not deny my faith, even in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwelleth. Yes, of course, some will die. Some will be martyred. We're all going to be spiritual martyrs if we're going to make it into the Kingdom. The old man is going to be crucified, so we're all going to be spiritual martyrs, and some will be physical martyrs, too, but if they stay faithful unto death, He will give them a “crown of life”.   (Rev.2:14) But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there some that hold the teaching of Balaam… We know Balaam was a hireling. Balak hired him, and he was tempted and lusted after the things that Balak had to offer him. There are many hirelings out there that do what they do for profit, and when a person is perverted in that way, you can't trust anything they say or teach. If all they have their eyes on is the money, the gain, and the ego trip, they're not trustworthy; they have no business being in the ministry at all and you shouldn't be following them. It's sad, but there are many Balaams out there.   (Rev.2:14) …who taught Balak to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication. What is it to “sacrifice” to “idols”? Anything can be an idol if it is more important to you than God. When you put it before God, if you serve it, if your money is wound-up in it, if your time is wound-up in it, then you're robbing God of the time that a disciple would spend with Him and money that would be going toward doing His work. One way or the other, it's a sacrifice. You can be sacrificing the old life, or you can be sacrificing the new life. So in the church at Pergamum, they were sacrificing things to idols. We are told in, (1Jn.2:15) 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. That's the same way with idols. However much you love an idol, it's that much that you do not love the Father.   (1Co.10:14) Wherefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. (15) I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. (16) The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a communion of the body of Christ? “Communion” means “having in common.” Do you spend a lot of time with people who are idolators? Do you have things in common with people who are idolators?   Scripture tells us very plainly how we are to live. (Rom.12:1) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice (Are you presenting your body as a living sacrifice to the Lord and to His work? Or are you sacrificing your body to the world and to the love of the world and the things of the world?), holy, acceptable to God, [which is] your spiritual service. (2) And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. We are to sacrifice of our own mind and thoughts and actions because we give in to God's mind and thoughts and actions. We make this body do what is in agreement with the Word. We should not sacrifice our spiritual, higher, life to this world.   People can be idols in your life, as Jesus said. (Mat.10:37) He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. After you come into the Kingdom and you're of age, you are called upon to follow your heavenly Father, your Lord, Jesus Christ. You're not called to follow your earthly father or mother; you're called to honor them, but not to follow them. They may not know what you know and so you would, of course, be an idolator if you followed them instead of Jesus. (Mat.10:38) And he that doth not take his cross and follow after me, is not worthy of me. (39) He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.   Let's go back to (Rev.2:15) So hast thou also some that hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans in like manner. Now remember what we've already learned about the Nicolaitans. (Rev.2:6) But this thou hast, that thou hatest the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. The Greek word Nikolaités which is translated “Nicolaitans,” is made up of two words: nikos meaning “a conquest, triumph, victory,” and laos meaning “a people, particularly used of the people of the Lord...the root of the English term ‘laity.'” When you put them together, “Nikolaités means “to conquer the people.” God says He hates this, and the people of the church at Ephesus also hated it.   It's a very destructive doctrine that's prevalent in the churches. The Nicolaitans followed the Old Testament, priestly order. They put the priest between you and God, which is false doctrine. We know that we are a “kingdom of priests”, but we've been called to not follow a priestly order. In these days, we are all priests and we all have a sacrifice to make, the sacrifice of this old flesh. We've been called to follow the Lord.  That priestly order came through Catholicism right on down to the Protestants, who have put the pastor in the place of the priestly order. The pastor is the undisputed head of the church and it revolves around him but, of course, we know that this is totally false doctrine because the Bible says otherwise. In (Eph.4:11) And he gave some [to be] apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (12) for the perfecting of the saints… Notice the Lord gave the five-fold ministry “for the perfecting of the saints.” Their one-fold ministry cannot perfect the saints. Any church that is working properly will have a multiplicity of input of the gifts, of the ministries, and so on. This is where we're headed; We're going back to the five-fold ministry as God has chosen. It is a place of safety for God's people.   (Eph.4:12) For the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering… He's raising us up to minister in one form or another. Not everybody can be a preacher or an elder in the church; it's not permitted, in many cases, but we can all minister. The Greek word translated “minister” is diakonia and it just means “serve.” (13) … till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a fullgrown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.   When everybody but the pastor is a spectator, and they just sit there and they're not learning to serve, they're not learning to be ministers, does it surprise you that nobody's growing up under this Nicolaitan error? That's why God says He hates it so much, and He gives credit to the churches that also hate it. (Eph.4:14) That we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men (Yes, this is what a Nicolaitan preacher is all about.), in craftiness, after the wiles of error.    There's another important benefit of the five-fold ministry: (Pro.11:14) Where no wise guidance is, the people falleth; But in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. The true Church is made up of specialists. The Nicolaitan error is that the pastor usurps the rest of the five-fold ministry. That is not permitted, because “in the multitude of counselors, there is safety.” If one man goes astray, he's going to take everybody with him, unless there's a church split where some people disagree with the man and others blindly follow him. (Pro.15:22) Where there is no counsel, purposes are disappointed; But in the multitude of counsellors they are established. The purposes of God are established in “the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering.” The purposes of the Christian, in growing up and not staying a child the rest of their life, is a purpose that needs to be fulfilled. When will the five-fold ministry be restored to the Church. History repeats. Jesus the Man-child raised up the apostolic leadership who raise up churches and appointed five-fold elders to rule them. So the coming Man-child body will repeat this in the beginning of the Tribulation. (1Ti.5:17) Let the elders that rule… First of all, you have to see here that the elders rule. The elders are not assistants to the pastor. That's the Nicolaitan error. The elders are the five-fold ministry but this escapes a lot of people. (1Ti.5:17) Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching. Let me show you how elders are ordained of God as ministers of God as a five-fold ministry. (Act.20:17) And from Miletus he (This is the apostle Paul.) sent to Ephesus, and called to him the elders of the church. An elder is first somebody who is older in the Lord, who is able to lead other people not someone who has been merely ordained by men to that position. So Paul called the elders together.   (Act.20:18) And when they were come to him, he said unto them … (28) Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops (“Bishop” is the Greek episkopos meaning an “overseer.” Notice that the elders are the “bishops,” the “overseers,” the five-fold ministry ordained by God. Some qualifications for Bishops or elders are in 1Ti 3: 2  The bishop therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, orderly, given to hospitality, apt to teach;  3  no brawler, no striker; but gentle, not contentious, no lover of money;), to feed the church of the Lord (Teaching and feeding the Church is the job of the five-fold ministry.) Back to Acts 20:28…which he purchased with his own blood. (29) I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Yes, these “wolves” are a bunch of dictators that usurped the authority of the five-fold ministers who were ordained of the Lord Jesus Christ, and they took over the church, usurping every other avenue of God's wisdom and gifts to the church, “not sparing the flock.” (Act.20:30) And from among your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.   (Act.20:31) Wherefore watch ye, remembering that by the space of three years I ceased not to admonish every one night and day with tears. (32) And now I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build [you] up, and to give [you] the inheritance among all them that are sanctified. This is the job of the five-fold ministry and this is why Paul called the elders to him to explain their job.   (33) I coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. That's not true of any of the apostate leaders today, but who is there to stop them? They're the head. Who is there to say, “No, you can't do that”? So here Paul is instructing the five-fold ministry, the elders, the bishops, in the ways of the Kingdom and he gives himself as an example. (34) Ye yourselves know that these hands ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. (35) In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring ye ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.   Going back to (Rev.2:15) So hast thou also some that hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans in like manner. (16) Repent therefore; or else I come to thee quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth. They had to repent of the Nicolaitan error, and part of this error was unqualified elders ruling over the people without the qualified five-fold ministry. If you're sitting under the Nicolaitan error, you must be ready to change. God said He hates it. The Man-child leaders are coming to change this soon.  (Rev.2:17) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give of the hidden manna… The “hidden manna” is the Spirit of the Word. The letter is what everybody can see; it's not hidden, however, (2Co.3:6) … the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. God is able to translate for us the parables of the Old Testament, because that's what they were. The letter was given to the letter Jew and the Spirit was given to the spiritual Jew, who is the New Testament born-again, born from-above, Jew.   (Rev.2:17) …To him that overcometh, to him will I give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone… What is this white stone? According to the Old Testament Law, on the Day of Atonement, two goats were presented before the High Priest, and also a pouch with two stones. They were “lots” which were inside the pouch (Lev 16:5-34) and one of those stones was a white stone called “the lot of the Lord.”   The other stone was a black stone called “the lot of the scapegoat.” Without looking, the High Priest would choose a stone from the pouch with his right hand and hold the stone over the right-hand goat. If it was the white stone for the lot of the Lord, that goat would be sacrificed, but the other goat would be set free in the wilderness, which symbolized the Lord's sacrifice in our place. We were set free and He was sacrificed. That's the white stone and it represents God's acceptance of your sacrifice, and the fact that the Lord bore your curse and your sin, and you are free.   (Rev.2:17) …and I will give him a white stone, and upon the stone a new name written, which no one knoweth but he that receiveth it. The “new name” that only the overcomers have and know is the nature, character, and authority of the Father and Jesus.   (Rev.2:18) And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet are like unto burnished brass: (19) I know thy works, and thy love and faith and ministry and patience, and that thy last works are more than the first. Yes, this is the way it is supposed to be. I know many people who started out by getting the beam out of their eye so they could see clearly to serve the people of God, and they did serve for a while, but then they went back to serving themselves.   They gave up their ministry and turned away from the Lord and started doing their own thing again. Their “last works” were not more than their first works. God knows everything we do, and we're going to be judged according to our works, which are all written in His books. Thank God that we have a Blood covering if we're not willfully disobedient! If you're seeking out His Will in the Word of God, seeking to be a disciple, seeking to lose your life in order to gain your life, if you're doing these things, you're not going to fail. You're not going to fall away.   (Rev.2:20) But I have [this] against thee, that thou sufferest the woman Jezebel, who calleth herself a prophetess… There is no office of “prophetess” in the five-fold ministry. There's only the office of “prophet” as part of the five-fold ministry. That's because a “prophet” is an “elder, bishop, overseer,” and a woman cannot teach or take authority over the man. So here is a Jezebel, whom we know well from the Old Testament as a woman who ruled over her Ahab husband, to both his destruction and to the destruction of his whole family.   All of her children through him, died. They were sentenced to death by the Lord Himself. It's the same with this “Jezebel.” She teaches, but her teaching leads the people into sin. She teaches, but she's not supposed to teach. (1Ti.2:11) Let a woman learn in quietness, with all subjection. (12) But I permit not a woman to teach, nor to have dominion over a man, but to be in quietness. And he goes on to say that Adam was the first-formed, and then Eve. She was a help-meet for him. She was to serve him. (13) For Adam was first formed, then Eve; (14) and Adam was not beguiled, but the woman being beguiled (So Adam was not deceived, but Eve was deceived and that was one reason she shouldn't be a teacher.) hath fallen into transgression: (15) but she shall be saved through her child-bearing, if they continue in faith and love and sanctification with sobriety.   Understand that this Jezebel in Revelation made herself a prophetess; she “calleth herself a prophetess.” It's possible she was a prophetess before she fell away, because a “prophetess” is just “a woman with a gift of prophecy.” It does not mean she has the office of prophet; there's a difference. There's the gift of prophecy and there is also an office of prophet as one member of the five-fold ministry. The gift of prophecy does not give her, as a woman, authority in the church to teach or take authority over the man. It is not permitted, but that is what Jezebel does, and that is what Jezebel spirits do.   They take authority over the man: in the family, in the home, in the church. It's an evil spirit that leads people to destruction, and because the woman is more easily deceived in these things, she leads others astray. That's why it is not permitted for a woman to teach or take authority over the man. This is very important to understand and obey this. Now we have an in-depth study covering this subject and about women and their role in our book “The Word, Women and Authority”.  Now let's go back to (Rev.2:20) But I have [this] against thee, that thou sufferest the woman Jezebel, who calleth herself a prophetess; and she teacheth and seduceth my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols. We've seen what it is to partake of “things sacrificed to idols.” An idol is anything more important to you than following and serving the Lord. As for fornication, here is a woman, Jezebel, who is a fornicator in that she is not receiving the seed of the husband. This is spiritual fornication because she is receiving the seed of the devil. The Jezebel spirit is a demon spirit. Somebody who receives a Jezebel spirit is receiving the seed of a very selfish, self-willed, demon spirit that causes a domineering woman to rule over the man, disobeying what the Scripture says.   Maybe you've heard the lying excuse preachers will give about how, “All these things passed away with the apostles and it's different today.” No, it was an everlasting Covenant (Isaiah 24:5, 53:5). We are not to accept anybody who changes the Covenant. (Rev.22:18) I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto them, God shall add unto him the plagues which are written in this book:   (19) and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book. That's because they have led God's people astray and caused them to disobey His Word. It is very important that we obey His Word. So there is fornication, and Jezebel is teaching people to receive another seed that is not the seed of the Husband, Who is the Lord. The Lord is the Word. We have to obey the Word.   (Rev.2:21) And I gave her time that she should repent; and she willeth not to repent of her fornication. We know that all of Jezebel's seed were destroyed, and this is a type and shadow for the things to come. The people who follow Jezebel are going to be destroyed. (22) Behold, I cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of her works. It doesn't sound like they're going to escape this “great tribulation.” There are people who are going to go through this tribulation and do very well, but Jezebel and her seed will not.   (23) And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he that searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto each one of you according to your works. There are good works and there are evil works. Jezebel is an evil work and those whom she trains are evil works. They're going to die in great tribulation, like Jezebel's seed did and Ahab's seed did. It was Ahab who refused to be the head over Jezebel his wife. Instead, he just gave into her and so both of them and all their seed were destroyed (2 Kings 9).   (Rev.2:24) But to you I say, to the rest that are in Thyatira, as many as have not this teaching, who know not the deep things of Satan (Wow! This is saying that the teachings of Jezebel are “the deep things of Satan.”), as they are wont to say; I cast upon you none other burden. (25) Nevertheless that which ye have, hold fast till I come. (26) And he that overcometh, and he that keepeth my works unto the end (His works wouldn't be the teachings of Jezebel, they wouldn't be the Nicolaitan error, and there wouldn't be Gentiles going back to follow Judaism.), to him (he that overcometh.) will I give authority over the nations…   If you have authority in the church, you first had to be an overcomer. There is no true elder who is not an overcomer because he's been given authority. He's not only an authority for the Church, he's an authority against any nation that would hurt the Church. (Rev.2:26) And he that overcometh, and he that keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give authority over the nations: (27) and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to shivers; as I also have received of my Father: (28) and I will give him the morning star. (29) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. Notice that in every address to the churches, He makes promises only to the overcomer. The overcomer is overcoming all of these temptations to go astray from what is written.   (Rev.3:1) And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars: I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and thou art dead. I've always supposed that this name could be “Christian.” (Act.11:25) And he (This is speaking of Barnabus.) went forth to Tarsus to seek for Saul; (26) and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that even for a whole year they were gathered together with the church, and taught much people, and that the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.   The lost people called the disciples “Christians” because they followed in the steps of Jesus. They spoke His Word, they had His Power, they did His Works. It's sad that many people have taken the name of “Christian” but they haven't taken on His Name. When we baptize people, we baptize them into the Name of the Lord, Jesus Christ. When you're baptized and go down in the water, you accept by faith that you have died and are buried with Him in the likeness of His death. The water represents “the washing of water with the Word” (Eph 5:26) and the Word puts to death our old man. So when you go down into the water, you accept by faith that your old man died, and that the One Who comes up is Jesus Christ. You've been baptized into His Name and you are now a member of His Body.  (Rev.3:1) …I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and thou art dead. Until we come into the Name, we are “dead” and of no use to ourselves or anyone else. Coming into the Name is, first of all, coming into the revelation of what it represents, which is the Word of God.   The reason we're here is to bear fruit. Remember the Parable of the Sower, and how it showed that three out of every four people who hear the Word, don't bear fruit and so they fall away. If you're side-tracked by Nicolaitan errors or by Jezebel spirits or by any of the other things we've been speaking about, you're not going to bear fruit. You have to overcome your flesh in order to bear fruit, and this is why I've said, many times, that when people become Christians, they need to start reading in the New Testament and read and read and read to renew their minds with the Word of God. That's the only way to know the truth for yourself. We've been told to each work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. (Php 2:12)   I know God ordained this for me, but I started reading the Word of God only because my Baptist friend challenged me to do it. I didn't have any knowledge of the Word of God because I was raised in Catholicism and they don't teach you the Word of God. Well, that turned out to be a good thing. As I was reading the Bible day and night, since I didn't have anybody to tell me otherwise, I just believed what I was reading and it was changing my mind and it was changing my life. I learned that the Holy Spirit Himself can teach you. He taught me not to add-to, or take-away-from, the Word. These are principles I learned before I ever went to a church and by the time I did go to a church, I already had the Word in my heart, so I didn't stick anywhere very long because I realized that these people had gone astray with religion.   Of course, we have to “repent,” which is to “change your mind,” every time we pick up the Word of God and we see what it says. The Lord taught me that, (Psa.119:160) The sum of thy word is truth; … And (Isa.28:10) For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, there a little. It's a little here and a little there, but when it's all added up, you don't have to reject any of it because it all fits together. If you'll do this, you'll learn quickly enough whether or not you're in a Nicolaitan church, a church which is (2Ti.3:5) holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof. From these also turn away. Leave; just leave. The power is manifested through the specialists of the five-fold ministry.   Once you find out what the Church is supposed to look like, you're a lot less likely to get hung-up in some error and fall away. The “harlot” is a parable of not just a particular religion, but all religion that is apostate, fallen-away, and receiving the seed that is not of the Husband, Christ.   In Jesus' day. He came to the denominations of Judaism and none of them chose Him. Only those people who came out of those denominations chose Him. They were His Church, His “called-out” ones, and today, we are called out of the apostate denominations of Christianity, just as they were called out of the apostate denominations of Judaism. History always repeats. The things that have been are the things which shall be (Ecc 1:9). We are called out from among them to be separate. (2Co.6:16)   We are called to walk as He walked (1John 2:6). We're called to be overcomers. With most doctrines in the denominations, you don't have to overcome anything, but that's not what the promises to the churches say. That's why you need to read and find these things out. So He said to the church in Sardis, “You have a name that lives, but you're dead,” and that's true of an awful lot of people who call themselves “Christian.”   (Rev.3:2) Be thou watchful, and establish the things that remain, which were ready to die… Feed your spirit man on the Word and you will live.  Do what I did 55 years ago; I got rid of all my hobbies. God was my constant hobby after that. Be a disciple of Jesus. Mat 6:33 But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. The heart of man is deceitfully wicked (Jer 17:9). It's very easy to be deceived. That's why God sent us His Word, and proved to us that it was His Word by putting a numeric pattern in it. That numeric pattern is God's “signature.”  The Word is His DNA. Its power and life. (Rev.3:2) …for I have found no works of thine perfected before my God. He's obviously saying that it's a normal thing for our works to be perfected before God, but how can that be, except we have a renewed mind? (Rom.12:2) And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, and ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. How can our works be perfected if we don't have this renewed mind, and don't repent and follow the Lord? Without a renewed mind, we don't know what the truth is.   (Rev.3:3) Remember therefore how thou hast received and didst hear; and keep it, and repent. What the denominations do is train us to ignore Scriptures that disagree with their pet doctrines. They give us reasons of why we need to overlook this or that or the other, and one of their favorite reasons is, “This all passed away with the apostles.” Well, they can't give any proof of that, whatsoever, because we've seen that the Bible says the exact opposite. The Bible says that it was “an everlasting Covenant” from the time it was made, and that we can't add to it or take away from it without falling under a curse. (Rev 22:18-19)   (Rev.3:3) …If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. You never know when your time will be up and, therefore, you need to live every day like it's your last.   (Rev.3:4) But thou hast a few names in Sardis that did not defile their garments… What are these “garments”? (Jud.1:22) And on some have mercy, who are in doubt; (23) and some save, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Our garments are our works so put on Jesus' works; Rom 13:14  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. The spots are works of the flesh. There are many people walking with “defiled garments.” Everything they do is fleshly and defiled, and therefore, everything they reap is defiled. (Gal.6:7) Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (8) For he that soweth unto his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth unto the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal life.   When your “garment” is defiled, what you do is defiled and you're going to reap the same, but God came so that you might sow a good seed and reap a good harvest. Our “actions” are what we “sow” and the Word of God is there to restrict our actions so that we can receive a good harvest. And since our “garments” represent our works, what should we be clothing ourselves with? But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ…  So, how is the Bride dressed? (Rev.19:8) And it was given unto her that she should array herself in fine linen, bright (That's the Greek word lampros and it's also translated as “shining, magnificent, gorgeous, splendid.”) [and] pure: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. (The Bride is radiant and glorious, but what about those who are invited to the marriage feast? What are they wearing?) (Rev.19:14) And the armies which are in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white [and] pure. White here is the Greek word leukos meaning “white”.   Those who are invited to the marriage feast will have the glory that comes with purity, but they will not have the magnificent radiance that is shining forth from the Bride. If you want to be in the Bride, you don't want your “garment” defiled because the Bride has a spotless and blemishless garment. Everything She knows about the Word, She is being obedient to, because She is walking by faith in the Lord and the Lord is working in Her to will and to do of His good pleasure. And He goes on to say, (Rev.3:4) But thou hast a few names in Sardis that did not defile their garments: and they shall walk with me in white; for they are worthy. Well, now we know that that is about one quarter of the people that received the Gospel according to the parable of the sower.   (Rev.3:5) He that overcometh shall thus be arrayed in white garments; and I will in no wise blot his name out of the book of life… When you're born again, you're written in the Book. If you don't overcome, you're erased out of the Book. The only people who are not erased out of the Book are the people that overcome. In other words, overcomers know what is right and they know what is wrong, and they're going to do right. The promise of not being blotted out is only to overcomers. (Rev.3:5) …and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. The angels administer salvation to those who inherit it. They are the ministers of God's salvation to us and through us. (Rev.3:6) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.   (Rev.3:7) And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia… This is the church of brotherly love. “Philadelphia” is formed from two Greek words, philos meaning “affectionate friend” and adelphós meaning “brother, brotherly,” i.e., “loving one's brother.” The Philadelphia church is the greatest of all the churches. Just as Moses, as a type and shadow of the Man-child, married one of seven daughters (Exo 2:16,21), the church in this city, Philadelphia, the church of brotherly love, represents the Bride. The test, of course, is to see how much you love the Lord by keeping His commandments, and how much you love the brethren because you love the Lord. These are the ones who will be chosen.   (Rev.3:7) And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David (David was the ruler in Jerusalem, which was the Bride.), he that openeth and none shall shut, and that shutteth and none openeth. What you bind on earth is bound in heaven. This authority was given to the people of God, but most of them don't have the faith to exercise it, because they don't have the knowledge of the Word that brings about the faith. (Rom.10:17) So belief cometh of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.   (Rev.3:8) I know thy works (behold, I have set before thee a door opened, which none can shut)… Praise the Lord! This is an opening for the work of the Lord to go forth. The Philadelphia church in these days is going to bring resurrection life to the rest of the church, just as Jesus, Who was the Man-child, did. He was the Head of the Bride. John the Baptist told his disciples, (Joh.3:29) He that hath the Bride is the Bridegroom …. Jesus raised up those disciples to go forth and raise up the five-fold ministry. Once again, this is going to happen. The disciples of our day are going to go forth and raise up the five-fold ministry which “none can shut.”   (Rev.3:8) … that thou hast a little power, and didst keep my word, and didst not deny my name. It's easy to deny the Name of the Lord; it's not just Judas and Peter who denied the Lord. There are a lot of people who deny the Lord because every time you read the Word of God, Who is Jesus Christ, and you deny it, you're denying the Lord. If you will not subject yourself to the Word, you're denying the Lord.   (Rev.3:9) Behold, I give of the synagogue of Satan, of them that say they are Jews, and they are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. This speaks of how those natural Jews who will not be born again and become a member of the church, a member of the body of Christ, will be subservient to the Philadelphia church, which He loves. (10) Because thou didst keep the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of trial, that hour which is to come upon the whole world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.   In Revelation 17:12, God speaks about that hour when the beast makes war on the saints, which is not about “flying away”; it's about overcoming so that there is no trial for you. Remember how Moses went through his own wilderness, and that experience prepared him to bring God's people through the wilderness. It was not so much Moses being tried as it was God's people being tried. His trial was them. Their trial was the wilderness. Moses had been in the wilderness and he had overcome, or else God would not have used him to bring God's people there. It was their turn to overcome the wilderness; they had to overcome the fact that they couldn't do things the way they'd always done things. They had to have faith in God, just as Moses had faith in God.   (Rev.3:11) I come quickly: hold fast that which thou hast, that no one take thy crown. Notice that they had the crown; they weren't seeking for the crown. In other places, we see that they were promised the crown “if,” because they had to meet a condition, but these people had the crown. They were the “Crown City.” These were the people of God, spotless and blemishless, walking in all the knowledge that they had. (12) He that overcometh, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go out thence no more: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem…   This is the Bride. They have the Name of their God, the nature, character, and authority of their God, which makes them the Bride, which makes them the one of the seven. It makes them the “Esther” who went into the King's house, but all the rest of the women went back to the house of the women. They were culled and Esther became the Bride, and that's what we're talking about here. The new Jerusalem, which is from above, according to John is coming down out of heaven (Rev 21:2), and here we see the same thing. It's not something that's going to happen in the future, it's something that is happening because you're either being born of this City, the Bride, or you're being born of the rest of Israel.  (12) …and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God… Notice it says “cometh,” which is present tense. We are being born from above. Paul spoke about coming to the Heavenly City, the New Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:18-29). (Heb.12:18) For ye are not come unto [a mount] that might be touched … (22) but ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable hosts of angels,   (23) to the general assembly and church of the firstborn (Jesus is the firstborn and Jesus in the Man-child is the firstborn in our day. They were the head of the Bride body.) who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect. This is not “a mount that might be touched,” but the apostate church erroneously teaches that this is a physical city which is coming down out of heaven at the end of the tribulation, and some push it even further into the future than that. (12) …and mine own new name. (13) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. Oh, thank You, Father!   This is a great prize! Paul said, (Php.3:12) Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect: but I press on, if so be that I may lay hold on that for which also I was laid hold on by Christ Jesus. (13) Brethren, I count not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing I do , forgetting the things which are behind (Forgetting past failures), and stretching forward to the things which are before (Seeing Jesus in the mirror by faith.), (14) I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.   And this will be your prize if you are willing to give up your life in this world to follow after Jesus, as those early disciples did. They gave up their selfish desires and anything else that stood in the way of them serving Jesus. They gave it up, and so it is today. Your most important employer is the Lord Himself. Wherever you are, you're supposed to be representing Him. People will be changed by your witness, by your testimony, by the fact that the Lord, through the Bride, lives in you. People will be changed by that. 

Psychosis by Scamdemic - Searching for CorrelationWebsite: http://www.battle4freedom.com/studio/?psychosis-by-scamdemicNetwork: https://www.mojo50.comStreaming: https://www.rumble.com/Battle4FreedomThrow all your anxieties upon him, because he cares about you.1 Peter 5:7https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1Pet.5.7&version=CJBhttps://www.youtube.com/shorts/U9rIhSGPk20THE PROBLEM WITH PSYCHOLOGISTS @whateverhttps://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13384051/Lawyer-Rob-Dart-covid-breakdown-homeless-LA.htmlHeartbreaking downfall of brilliant lawyer, 44, who walked out on his career and family after being engulfed by mental illness during COVID and who now lives on streets of LA as panhandlerRob Dart was an award winning lawyer and doting dad He collapsed in to a mental health crisis in 2022 during the pandemicHis mom Sherry has spent life savings trying to keep him safe on the streetshttps://www.dailymail.co.uk/yourmoney/housing-market/article-13380905/south-half-housing-inventory.htmlWhy one region of America has over HALF of the housing inventorySome 56.7 percent of free housing inventory in April was located in the South The region has undergone a boom in affordable housing, a new report showshttps://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13383733/Kristi-Noem-puppy-killing-fundraiser-cancelled-death-threats.htmlGOP group is forced to cancel Kristi Noem fundraiser after receiving death threats following South Dakota Governor's revelation that she slaughtered puppy for being naughtyNoem wrote in her memoir about shooting dead her family's dog CricketAdvance copy of the book triggered outrage and tanked her VP chancesDeath threats forced cancellation of a Republican fundraiser she was to speak athttps://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13383497/louisiana-Gilbert-drowning-pushed-lake-ddarbonne.htmlMoment youngsters stood and watched medical student, 26, almost drown for 20 minutes after he was shoved into lake by girl, even though he couldn't swimChristopher Gilbert, 26, was with a group of friends at Lake D'Arbonne in Louisiana when he was 'pushed' into the waterHis mother claimed that 'everyone' knew he could not swim and that his friends did nothing as he disappeared under the surface He was eventually hauled to the surface by patrons at a nearby restaurant who gave him CPR before he was flown to hospital where he remains on life supporthttps://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13371167/plastic-surgeon-botox-warning-effects.htmlPlastic surgeons issue warning over counterfeit Botox that has left 22 women with horrendous reactionsEleven women were hospitalized after being treated by unlicensed providersReported symptoms include fatigue, weakness and even difficulty breathingIn high doses, botulinum toxin - Botox's 'magic ingredient' - can be fatalhttps://www.dailymail.co.uk/yourmoney/consumer/article-13375793/best-worst-states-working-moms.htmlThe best and worst states for working moms REVEALED: Is your home on the list?Each state is ranked based on metrics such as parental leave policies and wages The quality of infrastructure including day care and schools is far from uniformIn 2023, 74 percent of mothers with children under 18 were in the workforcehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CW-iIu1gXEBlack Woman Flawlessly Exposes Democrats For Destroying The Black Community And Being Anti-America

“The (1) WILLING (heart) and (2) OBEDIENT will eat the good of the Land (have good success)” (Isa 1:19). This reveals 2 KEYS to VICTORY: (1) a willing, submitted heart to God - the key to connecting with His grace. We access His grace thru a humble heart of faith. (2) Obedience from a willing heart. When we hear His voice so we know His will, and receive His grace to do it, then we must obey with all our heart, refusing to quit, however hard or impossible it seems, until it's done. That's the winner's attitude. *KEY 1: If something doesn't start from God, then we're not operating under His grace; it's not His work, for His glory, but our work, for our glory. If it's from God, His grace is with us and it will be for His glory. There's a difference between good & God, between what seems good to man, and what is from God. If you seek and connect with God, by coming to Him and submitting to His authority, then you'll hear His voice, know His will and receive His grace to do it. We can only access His grace by bowing to His authority. If we don't come to God with a willing heart (to hear & do what He wants us to do), we'll end up doing un-commanded works, that have less value in His sight (1Sam 15:22). We must SEEK God for HIMSELF, out of love. Seek to know Him and be filled with His grace and be satisfied by Him. If you SEEK God, just to get something from Him, then you're using Him as a means to an end, and what you want is more important than God - idolatry (John 6:26,27). “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (His righteous life within us thru His Spirit, causing us to live to His glory), for they shall be filled” (Matt 5:6). When we trust in His love for us, that He wants our best, we can come to Him in faith and submit to Him (letting go of our idols, committing our plans to Him and giving up our control), knowing He'll pour out His grace on us and give us all things we need. We don't need to worry about the future outcome, if we surrender to Him, as we can be sure His grace will flow into us and uphold us. Our confident faith in His love enables us to let go of all idols & agendas (natural things we trust in for our security, satisfaction & meaning) and submit to Him. When we (1) HONOUR (reverence) Him and surrender to Him (as One far above us) we ACTIVATE His GRACE, for it flows from the throne of grace (Heb 4:16), and He gives it to a submitted heart (Prov 3:34, Jas 4:6, 1Pet 5:5). Then (2) we can then lay hold of His grace by faith. So, we access grace thru a humble heart of faith. Our love activates His grace, and our faith receives it (Gal 5:6). When we surrender our HEART into His HAND, His SPIRIT manifests in our heart as Rivers of Grace: “The kings heart is in the Hand of the Lord (His Holy Spirit) - Rivers of Water. He turns it (our heart) wherever He wishes” (Prov 21:1). We must yield control for His grace to flow. Esther found favour in the king's sight and activated his grace by honouring him, so that he held out to her His GOLDEN SCEPTRE, representing His grace flowing to her from his authority. Then she went near to the king on his throne and touched the top of the Sceptre, and received his grace by faith (5:1-3). *2 KEYS to VICTORY and SUCCESS in God: (1) Connect with God & receive His grace, by coming to Him with a humble, willing, believing heart. (2) Once you know His will, do it with all your heart – refuse to quit, however hard or impossible it seems. Key 2 is illustrated in the story of Elisha & King Joash (2Kings 13:14-25). Elisha told him to take a BOW and ARROWS and put his hand on the bow, and Elisha (representing God) put his hands on the king's hands (v15-16). God's anointing was now on the king. Then he told him to open the window facing Syria and SHOOT; and he SHOT. Elisha said: “The ARROW of the Lord's DELIVERANCE from Syria, for you MUST STRIKE the Syrians at Aphek (and keep striking them) UNTIL you've DESTROYED them (until the job is done)” (v17). This is the WINNER'S ATTITUDE. Then he told the king: “Take the arrows and STRIKE the ground”; so, he STRUCK 3 TIMES and STOPPED. Elisha (representing God) was ANGRY with him, saying: “You should have STRUCK 5 or 6 TIMES; then you'd have STRUCK Syria until you DESTROYED it! But now you'll STRIKE Syria only 3 TIMES” (v18-19). His attitude should have been dictated by God's command in v17. God was angry, as he was HALF-HEARTED, stopping after only 3 STRIKES, when he should have continued until he knew the job was done. The WINNER'S ATTITUDE is to keep striking (attacking) until you've won. As a result of this partial obedience he only got a partial victory (v25). Heb 10:38. Jesus our greatest example of the WINNER'S ATTITUDE was wholehearted in fulfilling His mission to defeat all our enemies and save us. He kept doing God's will every day, until He accomplished our full salvation. He didn't quit, but went to the Cross, and then rose victorious from the dead!

“The (1) WILLING (heart) and (2) OBEDIENT will eat the good of the Land (have good success)” (Isa 1:19). This reveals 2 KEYS to VICTORY: (1) a willing, submitted heart to God - the key to connecting with His grace. We access His grace thru a humble heart of faith. (2) Obedience from a willing heart. When we hear His voice so we know His will, and receive His grace to do it, then we must obey with all our heart, refusing to quit, however hard or impossible it seems, until it's done. That's the winner's attitude. *KEY 1: If something doesn't start from God, then we're not operating under His grace; it's not His work, for His glory, but our work, for our glory. If it's from God, His grace is with us and it will be for His glory. There's a difference between good & God, between what seems good to man, and what is from God. If you seek and connect with God, by coming to Him and submitting to His authority, then you'll hear His voice, know His will and receive His grace to do it. We can only access His grace by bowing to His authority. If we don't come to God with a willing heart (to hear & do what He wants us to do), we'll end up doing un-commanded works, that have less value in His sight (1Sam 15:22). We must SEEK God for HIMSELF, out of love. Seek to know Him and be filled with His grace and be satisfied by Him. If you SEEK God, just to get something from Him, then you're using Him as a means to an end, and what you want is more important than God - idolatry (John 6:26,27). “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (His righteous life within us thru His Spirit, causing us to live to His glory), for they shall be filled” (Matt 5:6). When we trust in His love for us, that He wants our best, we can come to Him in faith and submit to Him (letting go of our idols, committing our plans to Him and giving up our control), knowing He'll pour out His grace on us and give us all things we need. We don't need to worry about the future outcome, if we surrender to Him, as we can be sure His grace will flow into us and uphold us. Our confident faith in His love enables us to let go of all idols & agendas (natural things we trust in for our security, satisfaction & meaning) and submit to Him. When we (1) HONOUR (reverence) Him and surrender to Him (as One far above us) we ACTIVATE His GRACE, for it flows from the throne of grace (Heb 4:16), and He gives it to a submitted heart (Prov 3:34, Jas 4:6, 1Pet 5:5). Then (2) we can then lay hold of His grace by faith. So, we access grace thru a humble heart of faith. Our love activates His grace, and our faith receives it (Gal 5:6). When we surrender our HEART into His HAND, His SPIRIT manifests in our heart as Rivers of Grace: “The kings heart is in the Hand of the Lord (His Holy Spirit) - Rivers of Water. He turns it (our heart) wherever He wishes” (Prov 21:1). We must yield control for His grace to flow. Esther found favour in the king's sight and activated his grace by honouring him, so that he held out to her His GOLDEN SCEPTRE, representing His grace flowing to her from his authority. Then she went near to the king on his throne and touched the top of the Sceptre, and received his grace by faith (5:1-3). *2 KEYS to VICTORY and SUCCESS in God: (1) Connect with God & receive His grace, by coming to Him with a humble, willing, believing heart. (2) Once you know His will, do it with all your heart – refuse to quit, however hard or impossible it seems. Key 2 is illustrated in the story of Elisha & King Joash (2Kings 13:14-25). Elisha told him to take a BOW and ARROWS and put his hand on the bow, and Elisha (representing God) put his hands on the king's hands (v15-16). God's anointing was now on the king. Then he told him to open the window facing Syria and SHOOT; and he SHOT. Elisha said: “The ARROW of the Lord's DELIVERANCE from Syria, for you MUST STRIKE the Syrians at Aphek (and keep striking them) UNTIL you've DESTROYED them (until the job is done)” (v17). This is the WINNER'S ATTITUDE. Then he told the king: “Take the arrows and STRIKE the ground”; so, he STRUCK 3 TIMES and STOPPED. Elisha (representing God) was ANGRY with him, saying: “You should have STRUCK 5 or 6 TIMES; then you'd have STRUCK Syria until you DESTROYED it! But now you'll STRIKE Syria only 3 TIMES” (v18-19). His attitude should have been dictated by God's command in v17. God was angry, as he was HALF-HEARTED, stopping after only 3 STRIKES, when he should have continued until he knew the job was done. The WINNER'S ATTITUDE is to keep striking (attacking) until you've won. As a result of this partial obedience he only got a partial victory (v25). Heb 10:38. Jesus our greatest example of the WINNER'S ATTITUDE was wholehearted in fulfilling His mission to defeat all our enemies and save us. He kept doing God's will every day, until He accomplished our full salvation. He didn't quit, but went to the Cross, and then rose victorious from the dead!

SUN PM SERMONWatch/Listen here using the Embedded Subsplash Playerdiv.sap-embed-player{position:relative;width:100%;height:0;padding-top:56.25%;}div.sap-embed-player>iframe{position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;}Central Baptist Church of Ponca City, OKDATE: March 31, 2024SERMON BY: Dr. John Waterloo SERMON TITLE: A Gospel MindsetSERMON THEME: Thinking Like JesusSERMON SERIES: 90th Anniversary—Easter PMSERMON VERSES: 1Pet 4:1-6A gospel mindset* No longer wants to sin (sanctification)* Wants to do the will of God (dedication)* Isn't worried about what the World thinks about our Christian lifestyle and beliefs (separation)* Understands that God is not willing that ANY should perish (a Gospel mindset)1Pet. 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:1Pet. 4:4   Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: 5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. 6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.— — —Watch/Listen here using our Subsplash WebShare Playerhttps://cbcponca.subspla.sh/2x4dg68Listen on Archive.orghttps://archive.org/download/023124-pm-facebook-stream/023124PM-FacebookStream.mp3

1Pet 3:15; Rev 12:11; Act 1:8; 1Jo 5:10; Phi 1:27 Jam3:1; Jer 23

Apostate Church Witchcraft (4)  (audio)  David Eells - 12/13/23  Separating From The Carnal Authority And System    When the Israelites were in the wilderness, symbolizing the Church in Tribulation, Korah, Dathan, and Abiram as a corporate false prophet usurped the authority of the true ministers of God. (Num.16:1) Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took [men]: (2) and they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the congregation, called to the assembly, men of renown; (3) and they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron….   At that time, as in our time, the extent of the apostasy was so great that almost the entire congregation followed these false prophets. (16:19) And Korah assembled all the congregation against them (the true ministry) unto the door of the tent of meeting. In the Gospels the God-ordained authority was Jesus, the Man-child, and His disciples, the two witnesses. Those whom Jesus said were sons of their father the devil and from beneath usurped the authority of the true ministers of God. So it is in our day.   The Levites were the God-ordained ministers of the sanctuary, and Aaron as high priest was a type of Christ. Korah was a Levite and an ordained minister of God, but he sought to usurp the high priest's office. (16:8) And Moses said unto Korah, Hear now, ye sons of Levi: (9) [seemeth it but] a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself, to do the service of the tabernacle of the Lord, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them;   (10) and that he hath brought thee near, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee? and seek ye the (high) priesthood also? (The Levites were already priests so God was speaking here of usurping the high priesthood.) (11) Therefore thou and all thy company are gathered together against the Lord….   Each believer is like the tabernacle in the wilderness. We have a Holy of Holies, which is our spirit, a holy place, which is our soul, and an outer court, which is our body. Anyone other than the high priest entering the Holy of Holies had the sentence of death upon him. The only One permitted to rule in our spirit is our High Priest, Jesus Christ (1Cor.11:3). This teaches us that a minister is not to take the place of Christ in our life. He is to make disciples of Christ and not of himself. He has authority only when he is in obedience to the Word (Christ). A minister who is leading God's people astray from the Word is usurping the place of the High Priest, Christ. Korah represents one out of three end time apostate ministers who, though ordained, will turn against our High Priest, Jesus, to claim their own authority.   Since Dathan and Abiram were not Levites, they were not ministers ordained of God, but ordained of themselves and men. According to the percentage represented here, two out of every three ministers who go their own way in the Tribulation are not ordained by God but man. History has always supported this claim, but it has never proved more true than today.   (Jer.23:20) The anger of the Lord shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall understand it perfectly. (21) I sent not these prophets, yet they ran: I spake not unto them, yet they prophesied. (22) But if they had stood in my council, then had they caused my people to hear my words, and had turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings. Even a brief examination of the conditions for office in the New Testament would exclude the majority of ministers (1Tim.3:1-10; Tit.1:5-9,16; Act.1:4-5,8; Mk.16:17-20). No one was ordained to go until they were filled with the Holy Spirit in the same way they were first were ordained. Jesus told them to tarry in Jerusalem until they were filled. God separated His true people from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. (Num.16:23) And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, (24) Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. (26) And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins. In Jesus' day all the disciples came out of the apostate denominations of Judaism to follow Him. True disciples still come out of apostate Christianity to follow Christ. The Man-child will bring the same message to those who are fellowshipping among the apostate church in the coming days. (Rev.18:4)...Come forth, my people, out of her, that ye have no fellowship with her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. Notice that to spiritually come out of Babylon is to depart from her sins.   Those who did not come out were judged, along with their Babylonish teachers, “and the earth opened its mouth, and swallowed them up, and their households, and all the men that appertained unto Korah…went down alive into Sheol: and the earth closed upon them” (Num.16:32-33). Notice in verse 26 they had to come out or be “consumed in all their sins”; and here those who didn't “the earth…swallowed them…alive.”   According to Genesis 2:7 the earth and our flesh are one. To be swallowed alive by the earth, our flesh, is to be consumed in sins. All that follow the false prophets will be consumed in their own fleshly lusts. We all know “Christian” leaders whose hidden sins came to light. The New Testament Korahs and Balaams are hidden among us but they are dead while they live. (Jud.1:11) Woe unto them! for they went in the way of Cain, and ran riotously in the error of Balaam for hire, and perished in the gainsaying of Korah. (12) These are they who are hidden rocks in your love-feasts when they feast with you, shepherds that without fear feed themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots.   They are “twice dead” meaning born again and died again, and “plucked up by the roots” meaning removed from being a member of the body, though they are still “hidden rocks in your love-feasts.” In God's eyes they are dead while they are living. In 1 Timothy 5:6 “She that giveth herself to pleasure is dead while she liveth.” Korah, Dathan, and Abiram went down alive into Sheol (Num.16:30,33) because they cared more about feeding their lust for leadership than keeping their own rightful position in God. The falling away of the factious into their lusts have identified many of these people.  When Jeroboam was king of the northern ten apostate tribes he was afraid that his people would go to worship in the ordained temple at Jerusalem, and in so doing, stay and serve the king of Judah, representing Jesus. He decided to make the two golden calves and their altars in Bethel and Dan for the people to worship at. Jeroboam and his people were serving another Jesus. The golden calf was the Egyptian god Apis who was called the creator. In other words, they were worshiping the god they knew in the world before they ate the Lamb and came out of Egypt.   Many “Christians” are worshiping a Jesus that is acceptable to the world and the flesh. He is not the true God but an impostor. Jeroboam and his apostates were also making priests (ministers) who were not Levites in 1Ki.12:31. This tells me that in ten of the twelve tribes the ministers were not ordained of God but men. That is exactly what has happened in the Church today. Ten of the twelve spies brought an evil report and died in the wilderness because they made the congregation to speak against the Lord (Num.14:36-38).   God sent a young prophet to prophesy against the altar in Bethel. “Bethel” in Hebrew means “house of God.” Of course, at this time it was a false house of God because the true house was in Jerusalem. At that time the king was standing at the altar offering incense before the people. When the prophet prophesied against the altar, the king stretched out his arm and pointed his hand at the prophet and told his men to seize him. At that moment the king's hand dried up and he could not draw it back.   The altar rent and ashes poured out, which the prophet prophesied would happen. This obviously symbolized that God did not accept their sacrifices in this place of apostasy. The king asked the prophet to restore his hand, so the prophet prayed and the Lord healed him. As a result the king wanted to take the prophet home and reward him. (1Ki.13:8) And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thy house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place; (9) for so was it charged me by the word of the Lord….  This is perfect advice for many today. What was “this place”? It was the place where God's people were in apostasy and where their leaders were not ordained of God. It was an apostate religious system. We are forbidden to “eat bread” in such a place. Any bread that we would partake of in such a place would be a false Jesus or Word. Jesus is the “bread of life” (Joh.6:48), which is the Word (Joh.1:1). (Joh.6:51) I am the living bread which came down out of heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever…. Jesus said to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees. Leaven changes the bread (the Word) to make it more acceptable to the flesh.  Neither should we drink water in the places of apostasy. Their water represents a false spirit formed by a false word. Jesus commanded us to come unto Him and drink of the living water of the Spirit through the Scriptures. (Joh.7:37)…Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. (38) He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, from within him shall flow rivers of living water. (39) But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believed on him were to receive…. Without this, any spirit we might exhibit is a “different spirit” as Paul said.   The prophet was obediently leaving those backslidden people so as not to be defiled by them. In this city of Bethel there was an older prophet who had evidently been defiled with their lying spirit. He heard what the young prophet did and sought him out. (1Ki.13:15) Then he said unto him, Come home with me, and eat bread. (16) And he said, I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee; neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place: (17) for it was said to me by the word of the Lord, Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou camest.   (18) And he said unto him, I also am a prophet as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the Lord, saying, Bring him back with thee into thy house, that he may eat bread and drink water. [But] he lied unto him. (19) So he went back with him, and did eat bread in his house, and drank water. The young prophet falsely believed that God had changed His Word that was originally given, and so ate and drank of the apostate word. Many old false prophets today are imparting the same lying spirit. (Jud.1:3)…I was constrained to write unto you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints.   Today, many without Scriptural foundation tell us that, after the apostles, God changed what He had called an “eternal covenant.” This lie has robbed the Church of its power by replacing the true bread and water with their own. Daniel and his three friends would not defile themselves with Babylon's food (Dan.1:5-16). After refusing Babylon's food they were said to have ten times the wisdom and understanding of those who did eat of it (Dan.1:17-21). They also were the only ones that did not bow down to the image of the beast (Dan.3:12,18), Babylon's version of the golden calf. The young prophet was deceived into a modern gospel.   (1Ki.13:20) And it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of the Lord came unto the prophet that brought him back; (21) and he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith the Lord, Forasmuch as thou hast been disobedient unto the mouth of the Lord, and hast not kept the commandment which the Lord thy God commanded thee, (22) but camest back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place of which he said to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no water; thy body shall not come unto the sepulcher of thy fathers.   The Lord tried the young prophet, but he was said to have “not kept the commandment” of the Lord, which was synonymous with partaking of apostate spiritual food. He lost his life in that place as many do today. The old prophet of God spoke a lie for personal gain. That place had leavened him and he was now a false “profit.”   We have to respect the Word of God so much that nothing or no one will be able to turn us away from it with “another Jesus.” We have to always be on guard, for even vessels of honor can sometimes be used as vessels of dishonor to try us. When the young prophet left, a lion met him in the way and slew him. (1Ki.13:26)…It is the man of God, who was disobedient unto the mouth of the Lord: therefore the Lord hath delivered him unto the lion, which hath torn him, and slain him, according to the word of the Lord….   The lion was given permission from God to kill the one who ate the apostate spiritual food. (1Pet.5:8)…The devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. “May” is used here because the devil must have permission to devour. He is ordained to devour apostates. The penalty for the young prophet's apostasy was that he would “not come unto the sepulcher of thy fathers,” spiritually meaning he was not joined with his fathers in death, therefore, he would not be among the righteous in the resurrection.   The one who partakes of a false word from the false prophets will lose his life by the devil and will not be among the righteous in the resurrection. (Rev.22:18) I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto them, God shall add unto him the plagues which are written in this book: (19) and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life …. (Gal.1:8) But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema (Greek: “cursed; devoted to destruction”).     False Churches Fall  Chuc Osegueda - 11/05/21 (David's notes in red)  I dreamt that I was in a building on the first floor that had the appearance of an amusement park or a Chuck E. Cheese, which is an American (type of Babylon) family entertainment center and pizza restaurant, however the place was now a church building. (The building description is that of the worldly Babylonish church, where “Christians” play church while being entertained and fed a mixture of flesh pleasing doctrines, and teachings and not the real Gospel that saves.) I was there with a group of people, some being from our local UBM body and one person's presence in particular, I believe was Leon. (The Lion)  Some of the others in the group I did not recognize.  I looked up and could see the second floor, which was a room for smaller children. I was able to see the room through a protruding balcony, and it looked like some of the balconies they use to have at McDonald's restaurants where children could play and look down to see what was going on. (Most of the Church has degenerated into a playground for children who never grow up and whose leadership are likened to a clown whose spiritual food makes sure they never do.)  I went up to the second floor (the soul, which is the mind, will and emotions, is identified as the second floor in many dreams) and entered into a room where I saw Zoé and I noticed that there were certain elements of the play place which had been left behind. (Their fantasy is that they will be raptured while the rest are “Left Behind”.)  I would describe the elements as cables where they used to have soft-play hanging foam cylinders for kids to play with. I saw the balcony that I had been looking up at from the first floor and decided to walk onto it and when I did, it began to move (It is an unstable foundation for the soul because it never grows up into the mind, will and emotions of Christ.). I went towards the very front of it to test it further and it fell down and crashed while I was still on it. (Representing a falling away or losing their position in the heavenlies as a son of God.) Thankfully I had no injury and found my way out of it. I tried to lift it back up, and as I was lifting it, there were others there helping me lift it and we were able to raise it back up again.  ( Jer 51:6-10 ASV  Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and save every man his life; be not cut off in her iniquity: for it is the time of Jehovah's vengeance; he will render unto her a recompense. …8  Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: wail for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed.  9  We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country; for her judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies.  10  Jehovah hath brought forth our righteousness: come, and let us declare in Zion the work of Jehovah our God.     We attempted to secure it in order to prevent it from falling again, however it was no longer suitable for mounting, as the wood was dry rotted and crumbled. (Dry rot is caused by a fungus (leaven) that digests parts of the wood which give the wood strength and stiffness. This could be the apostate church religious works of “wood, hay and stubble” now decayed and cannot support the test of “weight” of trials.) We were still trying to make it work, although I knew in my mind it did not look good.  (9  We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed; forsake her..) I left the place and saw a gas station and went over to it. (A place where you should find fuel to propel your vessel forward.) When I went in, I noticed a completely bare section on the right and there was a mother and her children crouched down picking up some items from the gas station that I suppose they were going to purchase. I went towards where people were in line to purchase their items to look for something, and I noticed that the area where they normally have the Styrofoam plates, only had scraps of food left in there, but no plates, so I left. (Meaning no food and nothing to feed the soul or even serve the food with.)  When I went outside, I saw a man driving his boat mounted on a trailer in the street. He somehow rigged the boat and trailer and made it into one unit to be able to be driven in the street. I then heard the man say, "Who said I can't drive my boat on the road?" (Boats are designed to move on water. The apostate church is traveling without the Water of the Word and creating another way.)  Winnie asked the Lord for a couple of verses by faith at random and received:   Jer 52: 17 And the pillars of brass that were in the house of Jehovah, and the bases and the brazen sea that were in the house of Jehovah, did the Chaldeans break in pieces, and carried all the brass of them to Babylon. (Their vessel was conquered by Babylon and was deemed more valuable than the water it held and was no longer capable of holding the water of the Word.) … 20 The two pillars, the one sea, and the twelve brazen bulls that were under the bases, which king Solomon (The Prince of Peace, Jesus) had made for the house of Jehovah the brass of all these vessels was without weight… Luk 22:26 (24-27 in context) And there arose also a contention among them, which of them was accounted to be greatest. 25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles have Lordship over them; and they that have authority over them are called Benefactors. (When Jesus is the benefactor and all we are brethren) 26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is the greater among you, let him become as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. 27 For which is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am in the midst of you as he that serveth. (In Babylon the leaders are not servants but Lords.) I also asked the Lord for a couple of texts by faith at random and received:  (The Babylonian siege and desolation of Jerusalem, the apostate leadership of God's people, which in a parable is coming in our day.) Eze 5:3 (1-6 in context) And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp sword; as a barber's razor shalt thou take it unto thee, and shalt cause it to pass upon thy head and upon thy beard: then take thee balances to weigh, and divide the hair. 2 A third part shalt thou burn in the fire in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled; and thou shalt take a third part, and smite with the sword round about it; and a third part thou shalt scatter to the wind, and I will draw out a sword after them.   3 And thou shalt take thereof a few in number, and bind them in thy skirts. 4 And of these again shalt thou take, and cast them into the midst of the fire, and burn them in the fire; therefrom shall a fire come forth into all the house of Israel. 5 Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: This is Jerusalem; I have set her in the midst of the nations, and countries are round about her.   6 And she hath rebelled against mine ordinances in doing wickedness more than the nations, and against my statutes more than the countries that are round about her; for they have rejected mine ordinances, and as for my statutes, they have not walked in them.  (The apostate leadership in Jesus' day foreshadows our day.) Mat 3:7-8 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said unto them, Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of repentance:      Come Out Of Her  Ben Slojewski 11/20/22 (David's notes in red)  Rev 18:4  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come forth, my people, out of her, that ye have no fellowship with her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues:  Many of us came out of Grandma's old church house and considered it pretty dead due to not being very scriptural. Ben and Grandma are acting the part here for this play. I was back in Baba's (Grandma's) old house and she was getting evicted meaning we all had to gather our stuff and leave. I was sitting in the top floor room thinking about old memories of the house when all of a sudden, the police abruptly opened the door and said, "You're getting evicted you have 5 minutes to gather your things or it all stays here".   Nothing in the house really belonged to me but I could only think of two things to pick up. There was a really nice wardrobe that was really well taken care of that was tall and had a nice heritage look to it. She also had a small tube T.V that was full of dust that I didn't think was very valuable but thought maybe I could get a few bucks for it. I decided to leave them where they were and think about it because I didn't have anything to lift the wardrobe with. (The thing I wanted).   I decided to go pick up my sister Megan so that she could be there on the final day. As I was driving back to the house, I told her I was thinking about picking up the wardrobe and she very rudely said, "It's garbage don't bother!!!” When we arrived back, I had to dismantle this cheap aluminum coat rack in the hallway in order to get it out of the house. The rack fell into pieces the moment I touched it.   I looked in the next room over and there was a Hindu lady sitting on a dining chair. She was going to be the new owner of the house when my Baba left. The Hindu lady noticed that the rack had broken and was very argumentative and angry about all of us still being here. I decided to ignore her because she was being very mean to all of my family packing. She wanted us out faster.   As I was ignoring her, I noticed that my Baba was being escorted out by 2 police officers and all I was thinking was "Baba is an old lady; why do they feel the need to escort her out like a criminal." She was using a walker getting out of the house and wouldn't look at me straight in the eye as we were leaving.   We went outside and the whole family was there. Uncles, Aunts, and all my cousins. They were all on some sort of huge flatbed truck and were sitting on a bench that was in the middle of it. They were very excited to see Baba but I was very sad and worried about what would happen to my Baba. As she was struggling to come down the stairs my dad threw the walker aside and said, "I'll take care of this" and he guided her to the passenger seat and I felt a lot better. She waved goodbye to all the neighbors' kids.  The dream ends with the truck starting and all of the neighborhood kids running into a forest that was beside the house. (I believe grandma's house represents the old apostate Churches. Their worthless furnishings represent that there was little of Kingdom value there and it was pretty much a social club. The Law wanting everyone out of it so quickly represents that the Law of God is about to judge all who do not come out from among them and return to scripture. The Beast is going to treat those who do not come out very roughly. The kids represent the immature members of the apostate body. Their flee into the wilderness represents them fleeing from the judgment of God's Law.)    Come out of Her (2)  Ben Slojewski 12/4/22 (David's notes in red)  My dream starts in the living room of my grandmother's old house (another grandmother). We had to build her a new T.V stand to replace the old one. I was thinking how ridiculously big this new T.V stand was and wondered why she would need one so big. (An addiction to the worldly view.) There was a bit of a rush to get it done so we were all helping her build it for a big reason because she needed the space. My stepfather told me that she needs somewhere to put all of the cookies she has. To my surprise she had mountains of boxes of cookies in the hallway. It was quite disgusting how many there were and I said to myself, “There is no way she needs or is going to eat all these cookies.” As I was looking at all the cookies, I noticed that they were all maple cookies that were in the shape of a maple leaf. (The symbol of Canada where Ben lives. The Canadian flag is called the Maple Leaf Flag.)  Then the dream ended.  What caught my attention was the maple leaf. I think something might happen in Canada regarding quantities of food not being accounted for and hidden from the public. (Spiritually the old Church has hidden the true food of God's Word from the people. I believe grandma's house again represents the old apostate Churches. The large TV stand represents a desire to only see and hear the worldly rather than the spiritual. The mountain of cookies represents an appetite for the sweet doctrines which please the flesh rather than those which crucify the flesh and are spiritually healthy.)     According To His Will  Samuel Fire 3/15/23 (David's notes in red)  I saw how the lost only know evil, they have yet to be given the measure of grace from our Father. As God ordained and set before the foundation of the world those who are to be vessels of honor and dishonor, and so they do not know what they do. NENT Luk 23:34 And Jesus said, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And parting his garments among them, they cast a lot.  (Rom 8:29-30 For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren: 30 and whom he foreordained, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.   Rom 9:13-15 Even as it is written, Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated. 14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.)  I saw a half-eaten apple. Just as only part of the fruit was eaten, and not finishing it, the core was discarded. The part which they ate was only that of evil and not the good. The inner part (the core) was not palatable and didn't please the flesh, and it was thrown out, not knowing that the inner part of the fruit and the seed are extremely healthy. (The seed is the Word.)  (Eating the “inner part” reminds me of eating the “inward parts” (the heart) of the Passover Lamb in Exodus 12. Exo 12:8-11 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; with bitter herbs they shall eat it. (The word is bitter to the belly of flesh) 9 Eat not of it raw, nor boiled at all with water, but roast with fire; its head with its legs and with the inwards thereof. 10 And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; but that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire. 11 And thus shall ye eat it: with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is Jehovah's Passover.)  Surprisingly, only with the blessing from the Father can anyone have knowledge and wisdom of eating anything, especially the spiritual. In the garden of Eden, Adam and Eve ate the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. As only part of the measure from Father God has been poured out on the vessels of dishonor, they can only have that part until further receiving understanding and perception of His Word and Truth. (The Knowledge of good and evil brings condemnation to the natural man as Adam and Eve were. Before that they were naked but innocent for they had no knowledge to condemn them. Jas 4:17 ASV  To him therefore that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. Rom 5:13  for until the law sin was in the world; but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Rom 4:15  for the law worketh wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there transgression. The spiritual man is commanded to receive the knowledge of good and evil because he has the capacity to be obedient and grow with this knowledge into the image of Christ. Therefore he must lead our life and not the flesh. The New Testament is the knowledge of good and evil and it was given to the born again man and woman of God.) NENT Mat 13:14-17 And to them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and in no wise understand; And seeing ye shall see, and in no wise perceive: 15 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, And their ears are dull of hearing, And their eyes they have closed; Lest haply they should perceive with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, and should turn again, And I shall heal them. 16 But blessed YOUR eyes, for they see; and YOUR ears, for they hear. 17 For Amen I say unto you, that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what things ye see, and saw not; and to hear what things ye hear, and heard not.  The same is for hearing the voice of the Lord Jesus and the Way of the Master to follow Him. NENT Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 

Apostate Church Witchcraft (3)  (audio) David Eells – 12/10/23  The Harlot and the Beast    Babylon in the largest sense is the whole world. In the beginning "the waters were gathered together in one place"; the earth was one also (Gen 1:9,10). Man and his language was one upon the earth (Gen 11:1). God saw that their unity was causing them to be a god unto themselves (Gen 11:4-6). This was the first Babel (V-9). God humbled them by confounding their language and spreading them out on the earth which was then one land mass (Gen 11:7,8). In Ps 104:8, God caused the mountains to rise and the valleys to sink.   Before this time the flood only had to cover short mountains (verse 6), and separating into continents and islands the land mass and even further separating mankind (Gen 10:5,25). All nations are thus from Babel and have the sins of Babel in their blood. Now a spiritual Babel is being built, a United Nations of the world. The results will be the same (Rev 16:18,19). Babylon was and is both secular and religious. There are larger and smaller types of each. For instance, the larger type of secular Babylon is the whole world; and a smaller type is the U.S. as ruled by the DS. Let me prove this to you by looking for a moment at religious Babylon. In Rev 17:5 she is called "Mystery Babylon the Great, the Mother of the Harlots and of the Abominations of the Earth".   We are told by many Protestant churches that the Mother is the Catholic Church because the other churches came out of her. This is very uncomplimentary of the Protestant churches because in this title the daughters are being called the "harlots". The mother is the great harlot in Verse 1. The Catholic Church is only a smaller type of a much larger type. This mother is much larger and older than the Catholic Church. Let me prove this.   In Rev 18:24, she is guilty of the blood of the prophets and of the saints (To be guilty of blood, you must either physically kill or spiritually kill because you do not warn them of sin and instead teach them to sin (Eze 3:18,19)  (24)and of all that have been slain upon the earth. You cannot blame the Catholic Church for the death of the prophets; that was Israel's apostasy, and it was before Catholicism existed. The all mentioned here is beyond their scope too. Jesus said that Israel was guilty of "all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of Abel the righteous unto the blood of Zechariah" (Mt 23:35). According to that verse, members of the mother harlot existed from Israel all the way back and beyond to Cain.   The mother is the corporate body of apostate religion, and the daughters are the members of that body; just as the church is a corporate body, and the individual churches are members of it. The harlot rode the beast with the seven heads identified in Rev 13:1,2 and Dan 7:4-7 by the beasts which were symbols of world ruling kingdoms (Examples: The Lion with eagles wings was the symbol of Babylon, also the leopard of Greece, and the bear of Medo-Persia).   In Rev 17:9-11 the seven heads are seven mountains [not the hills of Rome but seven kingdoms] on which the woman sitteth: and they are seven kings; the five are fallen [Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece], the one is [Rome, the head that was smitten unto death but revived in Rev.13:3], the other is not yet come [corporate worldwide Revived Roman Empire the Dragon of Rev12]; when he cometh, he must continue a little while [3 1/2 years]. And the beast that was and is not is himself also an eighth [beast of Rev 13] and is of the seven".   The eighth kingdom is made up of all of the seven world empires because the woman sitteth (present tense) on all seven. These kingdoms have lost their individual dominion, but their lives were prolonged according to Dan 7:12, and they are still with us exercising dominion corporately in the end time one world beast. The coming of Christ will destroy all these kingdoms together (Dan 2:35,44).  Note: The aftermath of WWI brought the world together in fear of a worse holocaust. They decided they needed a "man of peace" and the League of Nations was born. They gave no teeth to that beast and the aftermath of WWII brought renewed fear and unity which brought a revision to that beast, then called the U.N. Now the world is coming together again crying for “peace and safety”. The approaching war could be the one that brings forth the next revision in the beast, which will be called the Dragon. It will be Satan's body.  In Daniel's revelation, he deals with the beasts from his time and forward and not with Egypt and Assyria which were before him. Daniel 7:23 says, "The fourth beast [counting Egypt and Assyria, this is the sixth beast] shall be a fourth [sixth] kingdom upon earth [meaning all four (six) are still on earth] which shall be different from all the kingdoms [corporate in nature, because it is the first to become a United States of the world] and shall devour the whole earth".   Inside the fourth beast are all the other beasts which are also the whole earth. The whole earth is made up of the seed of these kingdoms. There is only one Corporate kingdom that has the seven heads and the ten horns (all nations), and it is the U.N., which is now being preempted by an Alliance of Nations. The end time beast of Rev 13 will has within it every tribe, people, tongue, and nation whose name is not written in the Lamb's book of life (Rev 13:7). The sixth verse of the sixth chapter of the sixth book of the New Testament identifies the beast, the corporate old man (Rom 6:6).   The Mother Harlot has exercised religious authority over the beasts throughout history. The Catholic church is only a smaller type of a larger, Babylonish religious system as the U.S. is a smaller type of secular worldwide Babylon. As a small type it will incur the same judgment as the larger type as an example to the world. Many say that they do not see the U.S. in scriptures. Does it sound reasonable that what is arguably the greatest nation on earth would not be mentioned in scriptures? I do not think so.   The U.S. is now at the pinnacle of influence over the world through the U.N., NATO, foreign aid, military strength, trade, and many other avenues. And now they are leading the world into NESARA/GESARA. Every other world-ruling power is mentioned along with their destruction, so the U.S. is not left out. In Tremble Ye Women I explained how the Lord identified the U.S. as Babylon to me. Many proven prophets and teachers have identified the U.S. as Babylon. After being told by the angel of the Lord that America would be destroyed, Dumitru Duduman asked for biblical proof to show the Americans. The angel said, "Tell them to read Jeremiah 51:8-15... also Rev 18", clearly identifying America as Babylon.    Leaven, Truth and the Bride   In the Church of my youth, I always felt the Spirit and joy in worship and fellowship, which was good and God did not condemn us for that. All denominations have a piece of the Lord; they just reject one another's piece. That is what makes them a denomination or sect or division; all of which Galatians calls a work of the flesh. But the doctrine of my Church was leavened just as in all Churches that don't teach and act on the pure Word. As it was with me then, you will need to outgrow all that to be birthed to the next level. This is the way to the Bride. She sits on the highest level of heavenly Jerusalem and includes the Man-child leadership in her body. Those who don't outgrow sects to be "one" with the holy elect, as the Shulamite (Hebrew: perfect) Bride was called in Song of Solomon, will never be in the Bride and instead will be relegated to the queens, concubines and virgins.  {SoS.6:8} There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, And virgins without number. {9} My dove, my undefiled, is [but] one; She is the only one of her mother; She is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and called her blessed; [Yea], the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.  The Bride will be taken into the house of the King on spiritual Mt. Zion. The queens, concubines and virgins will cry to look again at that which was pleasing to the Lord, which before they had not fully desired to be. {13} Return, return, O Shulammite; Return, return, that we may look upon thee. Why will ye look upon the Shulammite, As upon the dance of Mahanaim?  The thing that causes us to outgrow the immature churches is a respect for the Word above all else, including the idolatry that Christians have with these false institutions. The Word has to be respected above all of these.  Our protection from this deception is always a love for truth and hatred for the leaven of lies.  {2Th.2:9} [even he], whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, {10} and with all deceit of unrighteousness for them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. {11} And for this cause God sendeth them a working of error, that they should believe a lie: {12} that they all might be judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.  The constant feeding on lies and false spirits must be departed from before the seven years or one will miss the Bride who is chosen before the seven day/year marriage feast.  {Exo.12:15} Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.  When there is idolatry with the institutions of men, which holds fellowship and submission to them higher than fellowship and submission to the Word and the more righteous, we open ourselves up to deception that comes from the Lord Himself. The denominations of Israel were deceived in this way and didn't recognize the Lord and the Church has followed the pattern.  {Eze.14:1} Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me. {2} And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying, {3} Son of man, these men have taken their idols into their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be inquired of at all by them? {4} Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Every man of the house of Israel that taketh his idols into his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I Jehovah will answer him therein according to the multitude of his idols;   {5} that I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols. {6} Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Return ye, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations. {7} For every one of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that separateth himself from me, and taketh his idols into his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet to inquire for himself of me; I Jehovah will answer him by myself:   {8} and I will set my face against that man, and will make him an astonishment, for a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am Jehovah. {9} And if the prophet be deceived and speak a word, I, Jehovah, have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.  With the scriptures above I only scratch the surface of the problem but I have great hopes for you to outgrow religion and "follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth".  God bless you dear friend. I will leave you to your decision and pray for you. I hope you will be in the Bride.    False Prophet and Religious Harlot  Experience and the Word have taught me concerning prophecy that if the majority of God's people believe something, it must be wrong. God hides his truths in dreams or visions that are parables so that the false prophets and carnal Christians cannot see them (Mat.13:10-13) but privately He explains them to His disciples. He hides truths from the wise and understanding of this apostate religious system and reveals them to babes (Lk.10:21). He reveals His hidden truths to those who are faithful. (Rev.2:17)…To him that overcometh, to him will I give of the hidden manna….   John's Revelation was given to him as a parable from Jesus. If it were literal the false prophets would know what is going to happen and that is contrary to Jesus' own words. When the disciples were young and under the Law they did not recognize the false prophets. As a matter of fact, they respected them! And so it is today! I want to show those of you who have eyes and ears who the false prophet is and what is his work.   Let me show you that the false prophet in Revelation is a corporate body of religious leaders that to the trained eye resemble those of Jesus' day. Since Jesus' day is a type of the coming Man-child's day, we know there are going to be false prophets, plural. In all of the New Testament writings, outside of the book of Revelation, we are warned that false prophets, plural, would come. In Revelation, false prophet, singular, is used, but in an allegory or parable.    Since Jesus, Peter and John said that in the end time many false prophets shall arise, then the false prophet in Revelation is a symbol of a corporate body, like the rest of the characters there are corporate bodies. It's the only way that all verses concerning false prophets can be right. (Mat.7:15) Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. (Mat.24:11) And many false prophets shall arise, and shall lead many astray. (24) For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets… so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.   False prophets fit the type and shadow of history, according to Jesus. (Lk.6:26) Woe [unto you], when all men shall speak well of you! for in the same manner did their fathers to the false prophets. Peter also said there would be false prophets among us. (2Pet.2:1) But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers …. John also said that many false prophets would speak for antichrist. (1Jn.4:1) Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world. (3) And every spirit that confesseth not Jesus is not of God: and this is the [spirit] of the antichrist ….  Notice that every false spirit is the spirit of antichrist. That's a corporate body. Part of the “strong delusion” (KJV) taught by the false prophets is that we are to be looking for the coming of a man called the false prophet, while the Biblical corporate false prophet is here and in the pulpits already. (2Cor.11:14) And no marvel; for even Satan fashioneth himself into an angel of light. (15) It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works. You might say “David, aren't you sharing God's secrets with the false prophets?” Have no fear, they are too proud and blind to admit they have passed on the traditions of men.  The traditional church government today breeds false prophets by disobeying God's written order of Church government. Jesus raised up the apostolic fathers to found the Church on a five-fold ministry of men who are spiritual specialists in their field. (Pr.11:14) Where no wise guidance is, the people falleth; But in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. Jesus Christ is the Spirit (1Cor.15:45) and head of His body, the Church (Eph.5:23). His headship is manifested physically through the five-fold ministry. (Eph.4:11) And he gave some [to be] apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.   Note that pastors and teachers are grouped together in this verse leading some to believe that there is only a four-fold ministry. However, in 1 Corinthians 12:28 only “teachers” is used for teachers, pastors and evangelists, making only a three-fold ministry. I would like to point out that pastors are teachers who give guidance and evangelists are teachers of the lost to bring them to Christ. So, grouping two together, or three together, does not mean they are the same ministry but that they are all teachers in some form. The different name identifies what they teach making them different ministries.   The members of the head represent these different five-fold ministers. Apostle is Greek for “one sent forth,” and they are sent to raise up churches and set them in order. The apostles are a jack-of-all-trades with a little of the gift of the rest of the five-fold ministry so they can discern the elders that they only are called to ordain. (Act.14:14) But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul… (23) And when they had appointed for them elders in every church….   Paul's brethren were called apostles. (2Cor.8:23) Whether [any inquire] about Titus, [he is] my partner and [my] fellow-worker to you-ward, or our brethren, [they are] the messengers (Greek: apostolos) of the churches…. Titus appointed elders in every city of Crete. (Tit.1:5) For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that were wanting, and appoint elders in every city…. Elders are ordained five-fold ministers, not assistants to the pastor. In Acts 20:17, when Paul called together the elders at Ephesus, he named them the bishops or overseers who fed the church there.   (Act.20:28) Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops, to feed the church of the Lord which he purchased with his own blood. Even apostles are elders (1Pet.5:1; 2Jn.1:1; 3Jn.1:1). When the legalists were trying to bring the Gentiles under the Law, the apostles and the other elders were gathered to consider this problem (Act.15:6). Together the elders made a decision (22) and sent their findings to the rest of the Church (15:23; 16:4).   Let's consider the other elders who are members of the head. The prophets are the spiritual eyes of the head and see what others do not. (Isa.29:10) For the Lord… hath closed your eyes, the prophets…. (11) And all vision is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed…. The pastors or shepherds are the nose of the head because they lead the local body of sheep to pastures with a discernment that is neither from eyes nor ears.   There is no such thing as an assistant pastor in the Scripture. You either are a pastor or you are not. Teachers are the ears of the head. Solomon asked for “an understanding heart” in 1 Kings 3:9 and in verse 12 God granted him “an understanding heart.” The Hebrew word for “understanding” in both verses is “hearing.” I was first ordained through an apostle to be a teacher. Later, a prophet, who knew nothing of this, saw a vision of me with ears as big as an elephant's.   Later, the Lord appeared to me twice and re-ordained me to another office, which was confirmed by other ministers. God does re-ordain some to other offices sometimes. Paul was an example of this. He was a “teacher” who was then “sent forth” meaning, apostle (Act.13:1-4). From here on Paul was called, and called himself, apostle. Some ambitious folks today just claim both offices, using Paul's words in 2Tim.1:11, “whereunto I was appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher” but “preacher” is not an office and teaching is what he did, not his office.   The evangelist is the mouth of the head because he speaks to those outside the body. It takes all of these ministers to perfect the saints and to raise up others into the head. (Eph.4:11) And he gave some [to be] apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (12) for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ… (15) but speaking truth in love, may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, [even] Christ.   Through this method, individuals in the body have a portion of these gifts so that they may be guided and used personally by their head, Who is then their Lord. This is why Satan wanted to replace the five-fold ministry with a man-made one-fold ministry called the nicolaitan error and destroyed the Scriptural government of the church. False government is easy to corrupt and the saints are not perfected by it.   God never wanted a king over Israel, men did. They said, “make us a king to judge us like all the nations” (1Sam.8:5). Does pastor, assistant pastor, and elders sound like, president, vice-president, and cabinet? The Church has copied “all the nations” as Israel did. God gave Israel the king they wanted, saying, “they have rejected me, that I should not be king over them” (7). God has given the Church her kings, too. God also warned Israel that their king would take their children to serve him and would charge them a tithe of everything for his service (1Sam.8:10-18).   Sound familiar? Pastors, without any Scriptural foundation, tell us that the Lord did away with the five-fold ministry after the apostles died. Actually it was false prophets who did away with the five-fold ministry. In our worldly system the pastor usurps the authority of the rest of the five-fold ministry. I have heard pastors, who are not even filled with the Spirit, claim that today they are the prophets when they expound the Word under the anointing.   As far as the five-fold ministry is concerned, where in the Scripture does the pastor take authority over an apostle, prophet or teacher, or vice versa? In the world, do doctors take authority in a lawyer's field, or vice versa? Does it make sense to be given authority over another's gift that you have no expertise in? If a prophet, speaking in the Spirit, is told to shut up by a pastor, then God is told to shut up. (Many can exercise the gift to prophesy but the office of a prophet is that of an overseer who has authority in the body.)   Remember that the five-fold ministers are overseers (bishops) who are specialists in their field with authority only in their gift. Each is a portion of the head of the body of Christ and necessary for the guidance of the body. However, when one of the five-fold ministers falls into sin or gets deceived, the rest have authority to correct, discipline, or throw them out (1Cor.5:9-13). This insures the safety of the sheep.   The false system of shepherd-ship is the Nicolaitan error, which Jesus said He hates (Rev.2:6,15). Nicolaitan comes from two words, nikao, meaning “to conquer,” and laity, meaning “the people.” This was and is a privileged order who consider themselves above the common people as mediators between them and God. Ministers are to make disciples of Jesus and His Word, not themselves and their traditions. The Protestants falsely copied the Nicolaitan error from the Catholic Church, which partially took it from the Old Testament priesthood. Jesus constantly denounced this worldly relationship between the ministry and the people.   (Mat.20:25) But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. (26) Not so shall it be among you: but whosoever would become great among you shall be your minister (Greek: “servant”); (27) and whosoever would be first among you shall be your servant (Greek: “bondservant”): (28) even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto (Greek: “served”), but to minister (Greek: “serve”), and to give his life a ransom for many. (23:10) Neither be ye called masters: for one is your master, [even] the Christ. (11) But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. (12) And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled; and whosoever shall humble himself shall be exalted.   Just as the Spirit of Christ is manifest through men (the true prophet) to lead his female body, the Church, the spirit of antichrist (1Jn.4:1-3) is manifest through men (the false prophet) to lead his female body, the harlot. Both bodies are female because they receive a seed, one from Christ, which is the Word, and the other from antichrist, which is the apostate word.   Let me show you that the false prophet beast in revelation is a member of the harlot. Most agree that the second beast in Revelation 13 is the false prophet. He is given authority by the first beast for the second stage of the last 3½ years of the Tribulation (Rev.13:5). He is identified as a beast because he is a corporate body as is every other prophetic beast in the Scripture.(Rev.13:11) And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like unto a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. (12) And he exerciseth all the authority of the first beast in his sight. And he maketh the earth and them that dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose death-stroke was healed. Here we see that the false prophet masquerades as the lamb: “two horns like unto a lamb” but he speaks as the world and Satan: “and he spake as a dragon” (beast).   This second beast in chapter 13 is also identified after the world beast in Revelation 16:13 as the false prophet. This impostor leadership for the harlot has “a form of godliness” (2Tim.3:5) but is carnal and can only teach a worldly corruption of the Word. They are actually a mouthpiece for the world beast in the apostate church. It was said of the world beast, (Rev.13:5) and there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies…. These apostates speak against (Greek: blasphemeo) God with their hypnotizing, ear-tickling doctrines of all-fly-away, unconditional eternal security, worldly prosperity, greasy grace, and anything but the self-crucifying truth.   The false prophet is a corporate body within the corporate body of the harlot, which is female because they receive the seed of antichrist. In verse 15 we see the female body of the false prophet. “And it was given to her (Greek) to give spirit (Greek) to the image of the beast.” Bible numerics show a perfect pattern for “her” and “spirit” in the original Greek and in the most accurate New Testament, the Numeric English New Testament by Ivan Panin. There is no pattern in “he” or “it.” In Greek, breath and spirit are the same. Numerics show beyond a shadow of a doubt which words are correct here.   In the rest of the text this false prophet is identified as male by the same numeric pattern. A translator would have had to respect the Word enough to ignore his own reasoning to simply translate what was there. Most are not willing to go out on a limb and look foolish when they do not see the reason. A male, who is also seen as female, is clear proof that God is not speaking of an individual here but a corporate body of people. In parallel, we are the male body of Christ, made in His image (2Cor.3:18), but we are female in another type (Eph.5:22-25), being married and submitted to Him to receive His seed, His Word.   Let's see this corporate false prophet and his relationship to the harlot in another parable. We know Ahab represents the ten-horned beast who was being ridden by Jezebel (1Ki.18), exactly as the harlot rode the beast in Revelation 17:1-3. They ruled over the apostate ten tribes or horns who were also those who worshiped the image of the beast, the golden calf. As the corporate mother of the harlot sects of Christianity, she leads them into the Great Tribulation and death unless they repent.  (Rev.2:20)…Jezebel…teacheth and seduceth my servants to commit fornication (with the world beast)… (21) And I gave her time that she should repent; and she willeth not to repent of her fornication. (22) Behold, I cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of her works. (23) And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he that searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto each one of you according to your works.   Like the harlot, Jezebel was guilty of the blood of the prophets and of the saints (1Ki.18:4; 2Ki.9:7; Rev.18:24). In Revelation 17:16 when the beast is through using the harlot he devours her, and so it was with Jezebel who was devoured by the dogs (1Ki.21:23), symbolizing the unbelievers (Mk.7:27) or the beast. The true ministers of God are fed at the Church's table (1Cor.9:13-14) and the false prophets are fed from the harlot's table. (1Ki.18:19)…The prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the Asherah four hundred, that eat at Jezebel's table. The two categories of false prophets represent the two horns of the false prophet in Revelation 13:11.   Find out who Baal and Asherah represent in modern times and you will know who the corporate false prophet is. These two have their roots at the tower of Babel and were originally Nimrod and his wife Semiramis (Gen.10:8-10). They created the original harlot religion that spawned all the rest. They are a type of the great corporate mother of harlots of all of history. (Rev.17:5) And upon her forehead a name written, MYSTERY, Babylon The Great, The Mother Of The Harlots And Of The Abominations Of The Earth.   When Nimrod died and Semiramis (later called Asherah) became pregnant, she claimed that Nimrod had become the Sun God (later called Baal) who then by virgin birth was reborn as her son, Tammuz (Son of God). These original Babylonians worshiped the false father, son, and virgin about 2,300 years before the true virgin birth. Semiramis probably knew of the prophecy in Genesis 3:15 concerning the virgin birth seed of the woman and if she didn't, the devil did.   With the confusion of languages and dispersion at Babel, this legend went throughout the world and these three were given different names in different cultures, many of which are in the Bible. The golden calf in Egypt was a symbol of the Father (Baal) in the Son. Remember Pharaoh's title meant “Great Temple of the Sun God.” Sun images all over the world and in Catholic and Eastern churches symbolize the false Son. As we saw in the previous chapter, the Israelites with their golden calf thought they were worshiping “YHWH” or “Elohim,” the true God, but it was Baal, “another Jesus.”  One horn, the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, represent those who teach “another Jesus.” This is the apostate Protestant ministers. The other horn, the four hundred prophets of the Asherah, represent those who worship the virgin. These are the Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox, and many others that are into “Maryolotry.” Mary is my sister and I love her but she is not the mother of God.   (Rom.1:3) Concerning his Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, (Jesus' “flesh” was the “seed of David” through Mary, which was the promised seed of the woman in Genesis 3:15. Mary is the mother of Jesus' flesh which is “Son of Man.”) (4) who was declared [to be] the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead; [even] Jesus Christ our Lord. Jesus' “spirit” man was the “Son of God.” Jesus agreed with this saying, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (Joh.3:6).   Some would say that the two horns are the apostate leaders of the Christian religion and the leaders of false religions. To this I agree. The same verses usually address both greater and lesser types. The greater type is the most complete fulfillment and all the Babylonish religions will be gathered together in the end time harlot.    Overcoming Babylonish Distractions  Missy Pollock 11/12/23 (David's notes in red) There are 2 types of Christians in the World. Those who put their own worldly pleasures first which are Babylonians. And those who are truly born of God and put Him first in everything.  Below is the warning of Babylonian Distractions. I dreamt that there was what looked like a stereo system playing a radio with a man speaking and the volume was turned up too loud. It was black and was about 18" x 18" in size. (18 is the number for bondage and black is darkness) I couldn't understand what the man was saying; his words sounded all jumbled up. It didn't seem to be a foreign language though. (Babylon means confusion. Whether it be Babylonian apostate Christianity or secular Babylon I don't want to receive their leaven or propaganda news. There are many distracting voices of spirits that I need to cast down.) I asked David to turn it down and he did but it was still loud. (I have done this by teaching against Babylonish distractions. But this means more needs to be done.) It seems that the loud speech represents the distractions of Babylon that everyone individually has to overcome to concentrate on God like the women trying to read the word below.. These distractions were pointed out by Jesus in His parables; Luk 14:15-24 ASV  And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. (The bread we eat is the scriptures. Jesus was the Word and the bread that came down out of heaven that gives life to the world.) 16  But he said unto him, A certain man made a great supper; and he bade many:  17  and he sent forth his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.  18  And they all with one consent began to make excuse. (To not partake of the Words of life that Jesus served) The first said unto him, I have bought a field, and I must needs go out and see it; I pray thee have me excused.  19  And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them; I pray thee have me excused.  20  And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.  21  And the servant came, and told his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor and maimed and blind and lame.  22  And the servant said, Lord, what thou didst command is done, and yet there is room.  23  And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and constrain them to come in, that my house may be filled.  24  For I say unto you, that none of those men that were bidden shall taste of my supper. (So the Babylonish distractions, with no eternal value, kept these people from partaking of the Words of Eternal Life. When I was young in the Lord I was captured by the Word and the grace of God and His anointing and began to read it day and night. I soon realized all of the hobbies I had loved so much were just laying around gathering dust. I didn't have time for them any longer and started to sell off or give away what was once a very loved distraction. Like my TV, gun collection, race car, my brand new Z-1 street bike I converted to a chopper, my buss camper, dirt bikes, ski boat, Cadillac, trailer, torch, welder, expensive reel to reel stereo, flushed my marijuana, alcohol, tools of all sorts, some I took back to Exxon where I got them. etc. etc. That was close to 54 years ago and I have never regretted it. I settled into many years of study of the Word, which was not my nature before believing the Bible was the Word of God. So getting rid of distractions came to me because God worked it in my heart to will and to do for His good pleasure.. Mat 22:1-14 ASV  And Jesus answered and spake again in parables unto them, saying,  2  The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a certain king, who made a marriage feast for his son, (The marriage feast for the Son, Jesus was what He was feeding spiritually in His words that the people were feeding on. He is the Word Himself. Joh 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He said, except you eat my body (He was the Word made flesh) and drink my blood (i.e. partake of His nature and DNA through the Word) you will have no life in you.) 3  and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the marriage feast: and they would not come. (They wouldn't partake of the Word; be born of the Word.) 4  Again he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them that are bidden, Behold, I have made ready my dinner; my oxen and my fatlings are killed, (He said, My meat is to do the will of my Father, which will was revealed in His Words.) and all things are ready: come to the marriage feast.  5  But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his merchandise;  6  and the rest laid hold on his servants, and treated them shamefully, and killed them.  7 But the king was wroth; and he sent his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. (In 70AD and today)  8  Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they that were bidden were not worthy.  9  Go ye therefore unto the partings of the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage feast.  10 And those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was filled with guests.  11  But when the king came in to behold the guests, he saw there a man who had not on a wedding-garment: (Putting on the wedding garment represents putting on the works of Jesus as in Rom 13:13-14 ASV  Let us walk becomingly, as in the day; not in revelling and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and jealousy. 14  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.  And  Rev 19:7-8 ASV  Let us rejoice and be exceeding glad, and let us give the glory unto him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.  8  And it was given unto her that she should array herself in fine linen, bright and pure: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. ) 12  and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding-garment? And he was speechless.  13  Then the king said to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and cast him out into the outer darkness; there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.  14  For many are called, but few chosen. Luk 10:41-42 ASV  But the Lord answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art anxious and troubled about many things:  42  but one thing is needful: for Mary hath chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her. (Mary was sitting at the Masters feet listening to His eternal Word.) I asked him to turn it down again. David seemed a little annoyed that I asked him again. (Possibly because it is the individual's responsibility to tune out Babylon and its pleasures to follow after God and feed on His Word that we may grow in 30, 60,100 fold fruit of himself.) I told him I couldn't concentrate with it being so loud.  Then he turned it down again but it was still too loud. (Maybe taking the warning in these parables of the Lord will help us tune out the world.) So hesitating, not wanting to take authority, I turned it down. (I shouldn't hesitate to take authority because I've been given authority by the Lord over all the power of the enemy and authority to lay my life down.) But it only got louder. I tried again to turn it down but it didn't lower the volume. I told David I wanted to read the word but but I can't concentrate. I asked him if we could turn it off? (Of course you can turn it off. Get alone with the Lord and speak to Him and listen to Him and His Word, which recreates Him in you. Self-works cannot save us. God will help us to do it through our faith. Mar 11:23-24 ASV  Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that what he saith cometh to pass; he shall have it.  24  Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye received them, and ye shall have them. There is your Quantum Mechanics Faith. ) There were other sisters sitting at a table with their bibles. I said to them that I can't concentrate when I read my Bible if there is something playing. One sister spoke up and said she couldn't either and others seemed to agree. (I don't recall if anyone turned it off. (But what comes to me about this is that I have to take authority and put to death the deeds of my body. Not listen, watch or read anything that would diminish my faith. I need to walk by faith and not by sight. I can't do that if I'm feeding my flesh with things that get me to look at the things that are instead of seeing or imagining things according to God's promises in his word.)  I asked the Lord for a verse by faith at random for this part of the dream.  Isa. 50:1, in context 1-3. Isa 50:1-3 Thus saith Jehovah, Where is the bill of your mother's divorcement, wherewith I have put her away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities were ye sold, and for your transgressions was your mother put away. [2] Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? Behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stink, because there is no water (Word), and die for thirst. [3] I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering. Then the scene changed and David was walking outside as several people and I were following him. (disciples, learners and followers of Jesus in the Man-child) There were some men that came up to David and he stopped to talk to them. The men joined the rest of us and I knew we were all going to do Kingdom work together. We all continued to follow David. As I looked at David I noticed his hair and thought, His hair is still gray; it hasn't turned darker yet." (Once when thinking about my choice of a new body I didn't believe people would recognize me without this gray hair so I have left that up to Father.) I was thinking about DNA restoration the Man-child will receive at his anointing; youth renewed as the eagle. However Gray hair represents wisdom too; Jesus in David is the wisdom of God.) The End.  I asked the Lord for a verse by faith at random for this part of the dream. 1 Chr. 17:19, in context 1Ch 17:19-27 [19] O Jehovah, for thy servant's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou wrought all this greatness, to make known all these great things. [20] O Jehovah, there is none like thee, neither is there any God besides thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears. [21] And what one nation in the earth is like thy people Israel (As a type of the Church), whom God went to redeem unto himself for a people, to make thee a name by great and terrible things, in driving out nations from before thy people, whom thou redeemedst out of Egypt? [22] For thy people Israel didst thou make thine own people for ever; and thou, Jehovah, becamest their God. [23] And now, O Jehovah, let the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, be established forever, and do as thou hast spoken. [24] And let thy name be established and magnified forever, saying, Jehovah of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel: and the house of David thy servant is established before thee. [25] For thou, O my God, hast revealed to thy servant that thou wilt build him a house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray before thee. [26] And now, O Jehovah, thou art God, and hast promised this good thing unto thy servant: [27] and now it hath pleased thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue forever before thee: for thou, O Jehovah, hast blessed, and it is blessed forever.   President Trump's Seduction Attempt  Missy Pollock 10/5/23 (David's notes in red)    I dreamt that I was standing in front of President Trump as he was sitting at a desk.   He was telling me something but I don't remember what it was. I do know though that I had a sense that I didn't disagree with him, nor did I have any negative feelings about what he said.  Then I was in the house I grew up in and I was in my bed in my bedroom. (The house represents the harlot church denomination she grew up in the Lord in and the bed/bedroom represents being asleep.) President Trump was there and he gave me a hug. I was ok with the hug at first but then he started trying to seduce me and he even somehow managed to kiss me right on the lips 

1Pet 2:6-10 (NASB) 6For this is contained in Scripture: “BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.”7This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, “THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone,”8and, “A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE”; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed.9But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;10for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/maranatha-ministries/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/maranatha-ministries/support

Northwest Bible Church – Nov. 12, 2023 – 2 Thess. – Alan Conner 2 Thess. 1:4-5 Worthy Sufferers Intro A. PERSEVERING IN PERSECUTION (v. 4). 1. Paul's boasting in their perseverance and faith. 2. Their persevering faith in the midst of persecutions and afflictions. B. PROOF OF GOD'S RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT (v. 5). 1. Our perseverance is evidence of God's verdict of justification. 2. Our perseverance in persecution is evidence of God's sanctifying judgment. a. 1Pet. 4:17 b. The purpose of this practical judgment. 3. God's righteous judgment in ordering SUFFERING before GLORY. C. COUNTED WORTHY OF THE KINGDOM (v. 5b). 1. What does “worthy of the kingdom” mean? 2. We are not worthy based on our merit. 3. This worthiness comes from God's grace. a. Based on Christ's atoning death for us. b. Based on the Spirit's work in us. Conclusion Things to ponder: How are we persecuted today in America? Is there benefit to being persecuted for Christ? How are we made worthy of the kingdom of God? How can we encourage and support others going through persecution? See Mt. 25:31-46.

As Christians, God's providence is at work in our lives to save us and preserve us. Far from scaring us, divine providence is meant to comfort us. Join us as we work through Romans 8:28-39 and learn how God's providence gives us a strong sense of security in the unbreakable love of God in Christ. Along the way, you'll also learn how to receive compliments, wait on God, and begin imitating his love for his Church. Scriptures Referenced:Rom 8:28-39; Rev 12:1; 1Joh 3:20; Rom 4:25; Heb 7:2; 1Pet 4:19 Visit PracticologyPodcast.com for more episodes.Follow the Practicology Podcast on Twitter and Facebook

Protection And Provision For Man-Child And Bride  (audio) David Eells - 10/8/23  Word To The David Man-Childs  Deborah Fenske – 9/21/23  “My son, you have fought the good fight. You have run well. And you are about to win the race. Keep fighting. Keep running. For you, and for mine who have learned well, and are running well, the prize is just a head. It won't be long now for what you have been waiting for while exhorting, and encouraging everyone in faith to believe, and by faith to receive. It won't be long. Only take courage. You have fought well, learned well, lived well, and taught well the sum of My words, the truth. All that you have endured coming against you, and against UBM, and all lives I have touched through you, have come against Me. We have been in this together. I will not leave you or forsake you now. What I raise up, and who I lift up, no one can take down. Stay strong. Remember well My faithfulness.”    Provision For The Man-Child And Bride  Tianna Fire - 4/28/23 (David's notes in red)  I dreamt we were driving around Australia, but instead of hot desert it was like Canada with snow and very cold.  (Winter represents Tribulation) At one point while traveling Samuel and I were flying a mini plane about 40/50 meters above the road. (Being moved and powered from heaven.)  We followed the road, and the plane was pulling our car. It started getting too windy so we couldn't fly the plane anymore, so we landed the plane and we drove to the nearest town to stay the night, we had no accommodation booked and no money to pay for a motel, but I heard the Lord say to me to walk into this specific hotel lobby.   So, we went into the lobby and noticed many people waiting. A man who worked there to quicken things, was reading out the names of people who had already prepaid in full for their accommodations; when their name was called, they would go to him and get their room key in an envelope. Samuel and I stood close to the man, and he read out a few names and then he said the name, “Samuel Fire” and we were shocked as we had never been here before and we had not made a reservation or anything, we hadn't even planned to be here. (The Lord has all our days planned for us if we trust and follow Him. Isa 65:24 And it shall come to pass that, before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.)   Samuel went up to the man and he was handed an envelope with a room key, and we went to the elevator to go up to our fully paid hotel room. I opened the envelope and there was also a receipt and it said that there were 3 nights fully paid for. (The receipt is our redemption paid for by blood of Christ Jesus and the 3 nights represents how long He was dead in the tomb before His resurrection. Rom 3:24-25 being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 whom God set forth to be a propitiation, through faith, in his blood…) It included all meals, and there were all these free vouchers and free tickets to see places around the town. (The blood of Jesus has paid in full for every need we may have, and our Father's grace and desire is to bless us in everything. Php 4:19 And my God shall supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ:)  One of the free things included was doing a tour on a houseboat and there was an abundance of free food and other items there.   Samuel prayed for the meaning of this dream, and he heard, “In the belly of the earth for 3 nights and to be freed and paid for. Your journey will go beyond the earthly areas and reach past the spiritual. You will have complete access to Me and the Kingdom. There will be blessings, and your duty will have Heavenly results for eternity.”     Bride Gets Rich Before The Storm  Eve Brast - 2018 (David's notes in red)    (I Believe Eve is representing the Bride in the dream below because Eve was the Bride of the first Adam and the corporate Bride, represented by Eve will be the Bride of the last Adam, Jesus.)  I dreamed that I was in a large, covered ocean bay for cruise liners and mega yachts. There was a special party room for the wealthy elites where the offices were located that managed the port docks in this bay enclosure.  I walked inside the party room and there were many very wealthy people standing around and socializing. The men all wore tuxes, and the women were dressed in evening gowns and formal wear. They were all decked out in very expensive fine jewelry.  They all behaved towards me as if I were one of them even though I wasn't dressed like them. At one point an old woman with silver grey hair came up to me. She reminded me of my great grandmother who had been a very wealthy woman in real life. She had a necklace of large pearls around her neck. She handed me a check for 8 billion dollars. (8 is the number of Jesus, and new beginnings and billion represents all needs supplied. Psa 45:9-12 Kings' daughters are among thy honorable women: At thy right hand doth stand the queen in gold of Ophir.  10  Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; Forget also thine own people, and thy father's house:  11  So will the king desire thy beauty; For he is thy lord; and reverence thou him.  12  And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; The rich among the people shall entreat thy favor.) After this I went out of the party room and down to the docks where there was a large white boat like a yacht. I and several others went down into the belly of the boat where there were many rows of wooden benches with an isle down the center like an old one room church from the 1800's.  There was a row of circular window ports on each side of the boat corresponding to each row of benches. After we were seated, the boat embarked on its journey. The waters were fairly calm at first but then the storm came, and the waves were tossing the boat around violently. There were times when I thought the boat would sink because the ocean waters were covering the port windows almost constantly. This is all I can remember. (The Storm is almost here and the Bride shall endure in faith.)   Obedience In Provision  Anonymous 3/30/23 (David's Notes in Red)  I had a vision of an average man. He was suddenly blessed with a very large abundance of money and a driven calling from God. (There are many prophecies of the Man-child being abundantly blessed to build the Kingdom of God.)  The man was then led to buy all these businesses and houses that were for sale, and he owned almost a whole city. (Many people represented by the houses will be coming into the Kingdom in Spirit and Truth.)  In so doing and led by God, to change a country and giving hope and faith by his example in servitude. Every one of the businesses and houses were for those in need. Housing the poor and the faithful in Christ; businesses were used for His Glory according to the Word and Christ and gave spiritual truth and provision for all their needs to be met.   In return, all those he helped then participated with their gifting or their profession and many helped in genuine love as one community for God, and it grew. The changes even convinced many non-believers not to change it back to what it had been.  (I felt this is our deepest desire to have His Kingdom be established here and now in the physical, not for our own selves but to fulfil the needs of others.)    The Bride's Supernatural Provision And Work  Eve Brast - 09/13/2008 (David's notes in red)  I had a dream. It was midnight and my grandmother had died and I had received a large inheritance from her estate. All of a sudden, a golden car appeared in front of me. (Eve here represents the Bride, the true child of the ancient Church, who gave us a large and valuable inheritance: the way of Christ.) I had been walking along a city street heading north. Hurricane Ike was tearing up the south portion of Texas. (Ike is short for Isaac, the promised Man-child, who will bring judgment on the world as Moses did and the white horse rider will in hopes of repentance from the people of God. The Man-child is also the head of the Bride like Mordecai [meaning little boy] brought Esther into the provision and protection of the King's house.)   It was starting to mist in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area but I wasn't getting wet. (Wet here would represent the curse of the "water of the Word", which, according to our inheritance, the Bride is not under – Gal 3:13) The car did not have legal tags on the license plate. It was brand new. I got into the golden car and started driving it. A small white sticker appeared in my hand and I placed it on the rear license plate. (God will make the Bride legal in many supernatural ways so that they will not have to worry about any provision.). This is not the way of those under the natural laws of the world but the way of the sons of God who will begin to walk in the Spirit.)  I felt desperation and an urgency to go and check on all the brethren! I supernaturally drove all over South and East Texas, checking on my brethren and ministering comfort to them. (As in Esther, the Bride ministered from the ability and safety of the King's house; she will care for the people of God who are in the world.) The golden car never got wet and neither did I. (As the water from the storm, Ike, destroyed many as the curse, but not any who have appropriated the inheritance.)  As I drove around, I was being watched everywhere I went and there were very few people in stores or on the streets. It was very dark. (As the Bride moves about freely, she will see no electricity and the stores empty, with Martial Law, which are a sign of things to come.)  I had started in the south and headed north. Then, as I had finished ministering in east Texas, and was headed west to my new home that used to be my grandmother's, (The house of holiness and power that the early Church Fathers had -- the house of the King) four men had spotted my illegally placed tags on the license plate and had alerted Michael Chertoff (Secretary of Homeland Security), who then ordered a massive search for me. ("Michael" means "who is like God" in Hebrew. "Chertoff" means "of the devil" in Russian. "Homeland" reminds everyone of the Nazi era. Anyway, the beast in whom the devil lives will be looking for the Bride, just like Haman did in Esther.)   I passed a police officer with a radar gun standing outside his squad car. I drove past him, unconcerned, and he acted like he didn't even notice me. (The Bride will travel in the Spirit, breaking the laws of nature, even during Martial Law, and will escape detection when it serves God's purpose.)  I pulled into the driveway of my grandmother's home that she had left to me. It was still raining outside but I and the car were still dry. I felt like I was walking in another dimension (in the Spirit of the Kingdom there is no curse.) because I could feel great desperation and devastation all over Texas but my world was calm and dry and peaceful. I saw darkness and misty rain and law enforcement everywhere, but I knew that most others were experiencing heavy rains and winds and floods and great loss! (The curse from Ike is a sign of things to come that will be even more terrible but it will bring revival.)   I was not married in this dream, nor did I have any children at this point. (Eve is the Bride-to-be of the last Adam, Jesus.) I went inside the house; it was elegantly furnished and immaculate. (The Bride at the beginning of the seven day Marriage Feast has all the benefits of a Queen.) There was a double stainless steel refrigerator packed with food and full pantries stocked with all kinds of provisions.   I had never owned any of these types or qualities or car or home or food before in my whole life. Nor had I ever experienced such peace and comfort. (There will be perfect peace and provision for God's Bride. PTL!) I had lived "hand-to-mouth", on the edge of destitution, up until this point in my dream, always just trusting God. I had owned nothing. (The great trials of faith are coming to an end for the Bride. God's provision in times of the curse is complete, as we believe. Phl.4:19 And my God shall supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. The Bride will distribute the benefits of the King's house to the queens, concubines and virgins, as in Song of Solomon.)   I had pulled the tag sticker off the rear license plate and wadded it up and stuck it in my right front pocket when I had gotten out in the driveway. (She no more has to appease the world; she is now fully walking in the Spirit.) After I had checked out the kitchen, I went out into the garage. There was a large, full moon-shaped grave dug on the right-hand side. I thought, "That was a strange shape for a grave!" (The full moon represents death to self since it is dead.) In the grave was a Texas State Highway 60 MPH speed limit sign. (The full moon-shaped grave with the 60-mph sign means 60 fold moon glory that the Bride begins the tribulation as.)   As I looked at it, I was a little sad but relieved at the same time and, at the same time, disgusted! I reached into my pocket and threw the wadded tag sticker into the grave. Then the car license plates appeared in my hand and I threw them in the grave, also. (The law of the sticker, plate and speed limit were on the old man who has now died. She will be dead to the law of the harlot church which the beast will persecute her for, as in Jesus' day. The heavenly spirit man who can move at the speed of thought is exempt. I once was translated halfway around the world, breaking all the natural laws of man. I broke every speed limit, didn't even buy a plane ticket and bypassed customs. I have prayed for gas and didn't have to pay for it; prayed for money and didn't have to borrow it. I was, according to the law, medically neglect because only God healed me.) I walked back into the house and changed my clothes. (Put on the new life and walk of Christ – Rom 13:14.)  Suddenly, my son Elijah appeared in front of me, holding a bowl of ice cream and he thanked me for it. I just looked at him and smiled. I didn't say anything to him because I knew I couldn't take any credit for the provision! (Elijah was the spiritual man who was translated, breaking the speed limit, and couldn't be killed or arrested by the 50 soldiers who sought for him – 2Ki 1:8-10. He had every supply by the ravens, brook and angels. And it was all grace from God. As Jesus raised up two corporate witnesses among the Bride who followed Him, so Moses and Elijah will be raised up with the Bride's provision.)   I walked into the living room and looked at the front page of the newspaper on the coffee table. There was a picture of the four men who witnessed me driving with illegal tags. Two of the men looked like Brad Pitt and the other two looked like John Travolta. The picture on the newspaper started moving and I could hear their false accusations of me to the reporter and to the FEMA people. (Just as actors were found by the Pharisees to falsely accuse Jesus, so there are the factious who falsely accuse the Bride. Haman falsely accused the body and the Bride was one of them but she escaped the beast and went to the King.)  At that point my cell phone rang and my friend Cindy said, "Eve! Do you realize that you are being sought by 70,000 people right now?!" I said, "No, I had no idea". This didn't bother me. I was happy because I knew they would find me and learn what the Truth was. (The Bride's gift to be preserved and above the laws of nature will cause many to seek her out. In 2Sa 24:15, 70,000 Israelites died of the plague but Jerusalem, the Bride, was not affected.)   After this, I looked out the front door and there was a police truck parked on the street facing left in front of the house. It was dark inside the truck and I couldn't see the officers, but I knew they were watching the house, but I also knew they were forbidden to harass me or arrest me. Then I woke up. (Jesus delivered us from the curse of the Law, having already become our curse – Gal 3:13. God is sovereign. "When a man's ways please the Lord, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him".)    The Light Attracts  Anonymous 5/14/23 (David's notes in red)  I dreamed that the UBM brethren and I lived in a community on a mountain, and it was surrounded by forests and could only be accessed by walking. (Psa 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. This was only accessible by walking with the Lord. The mountain represents Mount Zion, who is the Bride, where only those that partake of the unleavened bread of the Word dwell together in unity as a Body. The promises of the Word can only be accessed by walking in His Word. Jas 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only. Those who are only hearers are soon gone.)  A few of us had to travel to a faraway city, I forgot why, but we didn't have any money or any means to get to the city. We went on foot and it would take too long to get there on foot alone. (Luk 10:4 Carry no purse, no wallet, no shoes; and salute no one on the way.)  The Lord told us to go check inside a Bible. (The Bible has the promise to all provision.) Inside it had many $100 notes, and we knew that the Lord had put money there for us. We heard from God that it was to be used to travel to the city, and the Lord will provide the rest of the money we need along the way. (Php 4:19 And my God shall supply your every need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Our Father's promises are in the Word. Everything we need is provided for in Christ.)  So, we ventured out on foot until we got down the mountain, and out of the forest, to a road where we caught a bus and then a train into the city. The city was next to the ocean, and it was gigantic. The city felt like it was a different world and it was so unfamiliar to us. (We are not of this world and it is foreign to us. Joh 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.)  We got off the train and were led to a specific motel where we stayed. It was a shared room with four beds, a kitchen, bathroom and open plan lounge room. It was bigger and better than we needed, and we paid for three nights to stay there. (Our Lord Jesus stayed in a ‘tomb' that couldn't hold him for three nights.)   Our first night there, I had a dream that we walked past this specific building, and it had a red brick lodge that was surrounded by a spikey black fence, and next to it was a black shut-up building that was entirely black, and all the windows were blacked out and it was very dark. But there was a small light attached to the building that was on, and the light shined onto the street next to the building. And on the road was this giant white occultic symbol on the road. (2Co 11:14 And no marvel; for even Satan fashioneth himself into an angel of light.) (As we have seen, Satanists seek to entrap God's people with their witchcraft and Voo-doo but they cannot keep the elect.)   I woke up and told the brethren about the dream I just had. Later that day we walked throughout the city praying in tongues, and we went past areas that had buildings with occultic symbolism and dark strongholds; and we did spiritual warfare against it all. (Eph 6:12 For our wrestling is not against blood and flesh, but against the principalities, against the authorities, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spirituals of the wickedness in the heavenlies. 18 with all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.)  We got to the other side of the city and went into a shop, where we bought the things we needed to take back to the brethren. Everyone was watching us as if we clearly stood out and were from somewhere else. (We are the light and representation of Christ. Mat 5:14-16 Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a lamp, and put it under the bushel, but upon the lampstand and it shineth unto all those in the house. 16 Thus let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in the heavens.)  Together in unity, we all decided on the things we needed and the things we didn't. There was no argument or disagreement, but complete unity as if we were one of mind, and everyone there witnessed it. (God is removing those who are disobedient to the Word which makes us one. thorns in the side. The true Body is in one accord. Rom 15:5-6 Now the God of patience and of comfort grant you to be of the same mind one with another according to Christ Jesus: 6 that with one accord ye may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Php 2:2-4 make full my joy, that ye be of the same mind, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind; 3 doing nothing through faction or through vainglory, but in lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself; 4 not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.)  There was a man in there that kept following us around the store. He stood watching us from afar, but always kept us in his sight. He seemed intrigued and curious about who we are and what we are doing.  When we got to the checkout the cashier totaled the cost to $300, and then a random man stepped up and said he would pay for it, and we praised God for His provision. We kept walking around the city praying aloud and in spirit, breaking strongholds. The man from the shop kept following us all day but from afar. It didn't bother us because we knew God was in control and we felt to only talk with him if he spoke to us first. At one point I turned around and smiled at him and he was shocked because he was trying to appear as if he wasn't following us. (Mat 26:58 But Peter followed him afar off, unto the court of the high priest, and entered in, and sat with the officers, to see the end)  It was nighttime now, so we started walking back to the motel, still praying. I looked to my left and saw the exact same building from my dream. I told the brethren that it was the building from the dream, all the details were the exact same. So, we stopped and prayed specifically for this place for a while, and I felt there were a few people inside the building that were Satanists and they could feel something changing in the spiritual. (Dreams are often given as warnings and prompt us to pray down enemies and fight in the spirit.)  As we were heading back to the motel, it was made known to us that the man from the shop was still following us and there were two other Satanists that were in that red brick building that were also following us.   We got back to the motel and stayed the night. The three men that followed us stayed outside of our room watching and waiting for us, but we felt no fear, only peace and rest in God, knowing that He is in control and will not let us be harmed. (Isa 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee.)  The next day we felt God wanted us to go back home so we called a taxi to come pick us up to take us to a bus station. The taxi arrived and we went out of the motel room straight into the taxi which took us to the bus station. It was made known to us that the three men had arranged to follow us in a black car, they followed us the whole way in the taxi and on the bus until we got off the bus at the edge of the forest.  (The satanists love to stalk us this way looking for any way they can accuse us.) We walked through the forest, back to the community where we lived, the exact same way we had left. It was a long time of walking, and the three satanist men were still following us on foot from a distance. As we got closer and closer to the UBM brethren, the presence of the Lord grew stronger and stronger and more intense; with an abundance of pure love, peace, joy, beyond words.   We arrived at the village and there was a giant playground with swings and climbing structures and slides, where all the children were playing while several adults were there watching. Some were praying, and others were reading. There were about 50-100 people in the community. The elders were in a separate area together in deep prayer seeking the Lord. Joe Britts who was an elder in the dream, came out and said that he heard from God that, “The enemy keeps trying to distract us all from seeking God and we all need to spend more alone time in God's presence.” Everyone there listened and their spirits bore witness to this Word from the Lord and in complete agreement.  As the three men got closer and closer to the village, it was as if evil and darkness was shedding off from them and they were becoming cleaner and cleaner as they came to the village. They all fell face down in complete fear and reverence to God as they could feel His presence, and they could see His Love and Jesus in all of us. (The elect among the satanists will eventually be converted. We are near this point now. Php 2:10-11 that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to God the Father's glory.)   They could see there was no error in following Jesus' ways, and that it was the Truth and their eyes were opened. They were given a new heart so quickly, that from just being in God's presence which was manifesting through us, they had complete repentance without even yet understanding the Gospel, but it was because of Jesus' presence. They so quickly let go of everything evil and cried out to God in front of everyone, and they were changed and became completely new spiritually and it felt as if they were babies that had just been born. (Joh 3:5-8 Jesus answered, Amen, Amen, I say unto thee, Except one be born of water and Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 What is born of the flesh is flesh; and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said to thee, Ye must be born from above. 8 The Spirit breatheth where he willeth, and thou hearest his voice, but knowest not whence he cometh, and whither he goeth: so is every one born of the Spirit.)   Everyone prayed for them and shared the Gospel and Truth of the Word and had Holy Love and forgiveness towards them. They came into complete unity with us, and the Word and they grew very quickly in Jesus and had much zeal and passion for the Lord. They eagerly wanted to go share Jesus with everyone back in the city but were waiting for the right time to go back. It was as if when in the city they could see Jesus and the light without knowing it was Jesus, and their conscious bore witness that Jesus' way is truth and they wanted Jesus, that's why they followed us. (Joh 14:6-7 Jesus saith to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but through me. 7 If ye had known me, ye would have known my Father also: henceforth ye know and have seen him.)      MAN-CHILD AND BRIDE TYPES  David Eells  The first thing we discover from the types of the Man-child is that he has a history before being anointed. Many are claiming this office without any such history. For instance Moses, Abraham, David, Joseph, etc., faithfully kept the flocks that represent God's people before coming to rule with the greater anointing of their first throne experience. With this knowledge of the following types of this experience will be in right perspective.  Jesus was born of the Woman, Israel, and was first to receive the former rain anointing of the Holy Spirit as His first throne experience. He was tried in His own wilderness experience for forty days and anointed to lead Israel (Luk.4:18). Kings received this anointing in the Old Testament as a type for the Man-child ministry (1Sam.2:10; 10:1,10;16:13). In 1 Samuel 16:13 David was anointed with the Holy Spirit to sit in the throne as King over Israel as a type for Jesus and the Man-child. (Luk.1:32) He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David.   Jesus' work was to rule true Israel, bringing the disciples through the wilderness that He had been tried in. The word “wilderness” is translated “desert” in the Gospels. This is where Jesus taught, fed, and delivered the people from the curse. In type, He was then crucified to Self, glorified, and caught up to the second throne experience. He then returned to minister to the disciples for forty days, representing the forty years between His resurrection and when the harlot, Israel, was destroyed in 70 A.D. At this time the disciples, who were alive and remained, fled to the mountains, representing the Promised Land or heaven. In type, this is when Jesus, Who promised to be with them to the end of the age, was caught up to the third throne experience, which we will explain more carefully later.  Joseph was born of the Woman, Israel, and was tried in his own wilderness experience. As a type of the First-fruits he was favored more than all of his brethren by his father, Jacob, whose regenerate name was Israel. Israel represented God to Joseph because, according to Strong's Concordance, his name means, “He will rule as God” and he was also the father of all corporate Israel, just as Christ is the head of all corporate true Christianity.  At this time, Joseph received two revelations that all of Israel bowed down to him as ruler in a type of the first throne experience (Gen.37:1-10). Joseph also brought the bad report of his brethren's evil doings before his father, like Elijah did at his throne experience on the mountain. Joseph was rejected by his own people (Gen.37:2-4,11,18,23,28) and the Egyptians. Like Jesus, he was falsely accused by the harlot, Potiphar's wife, and cast into prison where he “preached unto the spirits in prison” (1Pet.3:19) as a type of the dead. In type, by Joseph's word, the butler was resurrected and the baker condemned. Also, like Jesus, he was then caught up to the throne of Egypt, as a type of the world, in a second throne experience (Gen.41:40-44).   Joseph preserved the people of God through the seven years of famine, which was their own wilderness tribulation experience (54-57). In type, he then went to the Promised Land with Israel in the totally dead-to-self state, for they carried his remains with them after four hundred years of bondage as a type of the Tribulation (Gen.15:13; 50:24-25). This was a type of going to the heavenly Promised Land in a third throne experience.  Abraham was born from Babylon and, having left Lot in the sin cities of the plain, went through his wilderness to the heavenly Promised Land, which the Lord gave him as an inheritance and type of the first throne experience (Gen.13:11-15). He then returned from the Promised Land to deliver Lot, a citizen of Sodom who had been taken captive by the kings, which is a type of the Man-child delivering the saints in the world, who will have been taken captive by the ten-king beast of Revelation (Gen.14).   After delivering Lot, he went to the heavenly Promised Land and saw Melchizedek in the King's Vale (Gen.14:17-18). (Heb.7:1) For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, (2) to whom also Abraham divided a tenth part of all (being first, by interpretation, King of righteousness, and then also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; (3) without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like unto the Son of God), abideth a priest continually. This clearly makes Melchizedek a type of Jesus, Who after receiving His new body, is totally born from above and has no earthy genealogy. In type, Abraham as the Man-child went to see the Lord in this third throne experience.  Elijah went through the wilderness and was caught up to the mount of God as his first throne experience (1Ki.19:4,8). He then returned to the wilderness to teach Elisha, who represents the Woman in Revelation 12:6 (16-17). Also in 2 Kings 2:6-14 Elijah makes a special trip to the wilderness to pass on his mantle to Elisha. Then Elijah was caught up in a whirlwind second throne experience. Elisha, as the Woman Church, then faces forty-two lads or youths from “Beth-el,” meaning “the house of God,” who persecute him in verses 23-24. This is a type of the persecution of the witnesses by immature apostates from the Church in the last forty-two months or 3½ years of the Tribulation (Rev.13:5-7). These forty-two lads, representing the harlot, were torn by the bears or beast exactly as in Revelation 17:16-17.  John, on the Isle of Patmos, was a type of the Man-child. He told the Church that he was a “partaker with you in the tribulation” (Rev.1:9). As we saw in the last chapter, he was caught up to the throne of God and given a revelation of the Tribulation wilderness (4:1-2). He was also given a revelation of the apostasy in the Church and told to share his revelation with seven angels, who were to give it to the seven churches (Rev.1:11, 2:1,8,12,18, 3:1,7,14). “Angel” in these cases is the Greek word angelos meaning “messenger” and is also used of ministers in the New Testament (Luk.7:24,27, 9:52). The equivalent Hebrew word in the Old Testament is translated “messenger” when speaking of ministers (Mal.2:7), John the Baptist and Jesus (3:1). Since it doesn't make sense that John sent the revelation to the churches by angels, he must have sent it by seven minister messengers who in turn shared it with the seven churches (Rev.1:11). This is exactly what Jesus the Man-child did. He shared His revelation with minister messengers, who shared it with the seven churches in Acts and in the Word.  Ezekiel was consistently called “son of man” as a type of Jesus the Man-child. He was also caught up to the throne (Eze.1:26) and anointed with the Spirit of God for ministry (2:2). Like John, the Man-child in Revelation, Ezekiel was given a vision of the four living creatures (1:10), and revelations of the seven-year tribulation and captivity (3:15), image of the beast, abomination of desolation, mark of God (5-9), the corporate false prophet (13), the beast kingdom's attack on the people of God and their destruction (38-39), the wars between the nations, the restoration of God's people to the kingdom (36-37), the measurements of the restored spiritual temple of God (40-43), the coming of the Lord as the Prince and His inheritance given to the saints (46), etc. What are the chances of John and Ezekiel receiving the same revelation to bring to the Church?   Moses was born of the Woman, Israel, and was tried in his own wilderness experience for forty years just as Jesus was for forty days. Then he ascended the mountain of God where he was given authority and anointing to bring Israel through the wilderness to the same mountain, again like Jesus. This was a type of his first throne experience (Exo.3:2-5,12). Moses then brought Israel half-way through their wilderness, by distance, which is a type of 3½ years of the Tribulation, and again ascended the mountain in a second throne experience, again like Jesus. Here he was glorified in soul because his “face shone” (Exo.34:29-35). (Both Moses and Jesus were in this second throne experience for forty days, the number of tribulation.) Moses then continued to bring Israel through the wilderness for forty years to the Promised Land, which, as we have seen, Jesus also did in type. Here Moses ascended the mountain where spiritually his old man died as he was caught up to the heavenly Promised Land, as Israel also entered the Promised Land (Deu.34:5-6; Jos.1:2). This was a type of his third throne experience.   As we have seen, even though there are different stages and levels of walking in the presence of God, all fully enter the kingdom in their new body at the same time. (1Cor.15:51)…We all shall not sleep, but we shall all be changed, (52) in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. Moses and Aaron, when seen together, are a clear type of the first and second Man-child, on opposite ends of the New Testament.   As we have seen, Moses typified the first Man-child, Jesus. Moses, like Jesus on the cross, put to death the Egyptian, typifying the old man, and left Egypt as a type of the world, to marry a Gentile bride who was one of seven daughters, like the favored Philadelphia Church (Exo.2:12,21). Jesus, as the first New Testament Man-child, will be met, many years later, in the kingdom by the second Man-child of the end time. In the same way Moses, as the first Man-child, was met many years later on the mountain of God by Aaron (Exo.4:27), which represents the first throne experience of the second Man-child in the end time.   Clearly, Moses typified God who spoke through Aaron, just as Jesus is God and will speak through the second end time Man-child. (Exo.4:16) And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people; and it shall come to pass, that he shall be to thee a mouth, and thou shalt be to him as God. (7:1) And the Lord said unto Moses, See, I have made thee as God to Pharaoh; and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet. Aaron, as the second Man-child, received his authority and instructions from Moses on that mountain and returned to save the Woman in Egypt (Exo.4:28). In the same way the second end time Man-child will receive his authority and instructions from Jesus and return to save the Woman in the world. (Rev.14:1) And I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on the mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty and four thousand, having his name, and the name of his Father, written on their foreheads.   Notice that Aaron, as the second Man-child, actually does the speaking and the signs in Egypt but behind him is Moses, as Jesus, giving authority. (Exo.4:30) And Aaron spake all the words which the Lord had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people. The chain of authority, to bring the Woman out of the world and through the wilderness, is from the Father to Jesus to the end time Man-child of Revelation 12.  We need to lay a little foundation before sharing the types of the Bride being caught up to the throne. The Bride, although a different parable than the Man-child, includes the Man-child. David represented the Man-child as he sat on the throne. David's throne was called “the throne of the kingdom” (1Ki.1:46-47). The son of David was told that his throne was God's throne on earth. (2Chr.9:8) Blessed be the Lord thy God, who delighted in thee, to set thee on his throne, to be king for the Lord thy God…. Since the Man-child is the First-fruits of “Christ in you, the hope of glory,” then the Bridegroom lives in the Man-child. This is the spiritual throne to which the Man-child is caught up. This makes him the earthly head of the body of the Bride, for he will rule in the capital city of spiritual Jerusalem, which represents the Bride. (Rev.21:9) …Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the wife of the Lamb. (10) And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem…. (I will point out later how this whole spiritual kingdom is growing in the earth at this time.)   Notice that the Man-child, as head, is always typed as a man in the Scripture, and the commands of the New Testament agree. (1Cor.11:3) But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man…. (1Tim.2:12) But I permit not a woman to teach, nor to have dominion over a man, but to be in quietness. This was obeyed in that neither Jesus nor His disciples ordained women as elders. The Greek in “a son, a man-child” in Revelation 12:5 is literally, “a son, a male.” The word “Man” rarely comes from the actual word for male in Scripture, but here it does. It is true that there is only one body. (Gal.3:28) There … can be no male and female; for ye all are one [man] in Christ Jesus. It is also true that different members of that one body; whether men, women, servants, children, etc. have distinct rules in the New Testament, which must be obeyed to be in the Bride or Man-child. Anyone who would like to look further into this can read extensive Biblical proof in our article, “The Word, Women and Authority” on our site https://www.ubm1.org/  Jezebel spirits generally hate us for holding to the truth. On the other hand, Jerusalem, which we see is the Bride, was made up of both men and women. David, who ruled IN Jerusalem, was also a member of the larger Bride body. This capital city and its people, which represented the greater bridal throne, will enter into the nature, character, and authority of Jesus to a greater degree than the rest of the Church, represented by the twelve tribes outside of Jerusalem. (Jer.3:17) At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord; and all the nations (Hebrew: “Gentiles”) shall be gathered unto it, to the name (meaning nature, character, and authority) of the Lord, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the stubbornness of their evil heart. Notice that this end time throne is for the Bride, who is being gathered out of all nations through her submission to the throne of David. This gives greater meaning to the statement of Jesus, “He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit down with me in my throne” (Rev.3:21).   Jesus, as the Bridegroom, came in a body of the son of David (Rom.1:3) and was anointed to rule on the spiritual throne of David. Those separating from the apostate people of God, and learning to submit to His headship, were typed as the Bride by John. (Joh.3:29) He that hath the bride is the bridegroom…. The Man-child Jesus quickly taught the Bride to come into her kingdom authority under Him. The end time Man-child is also a spiritual body of the son of David, in whom Jesus the Bridegroom lives, and will raise up the Bride into the kingdom authority of her throne. This also shows us how the Groom will celebrate the marriage feast of seven days, with the Bride on earth for the last seven years. What is considered by many a strange verse points this out. Speaking of Jerusalem (the Bride) the Lord said, “For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee; and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee” (Isa.62:5).   Notice that the sons of God are not only born of the Church but of the more faithful Bride body within her, and they, as the earthly body of the Bridegroom from heaven, are used by the Lord to fellowship with His Bride during the marriage feast on earth. The Man-child is comprised of the first-born sons of God, in whom Jesus lives, who are the head of the Bride's body. Just as Jesus is the spiritual head of the Bride, so the Man-child is His earthly body head in whom He dwells. The Hebrew custom of the marriage feast is a spiritual picture that shows the Bride in royal apparel sitting on her throne for seven day/years, next to the King on his throne, before going to the King's house in heaven. Once again I reference The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, Page 97 under “Marriage.” My notes are in parentheses.   The bridegroom was the king for a week (seven-year wedding feast). During the whole week their majesties wore their festal clothes (as they sat on their thrones), did not work, and merely looked on at the games – except that now and then the queen joined in a dance.  Accompanied by his friends (John the Baptist was a friend of the bridegroom – Joh.3:29) with tambourines and a band they went to the bride's house (which is obviously on earth) where the wedding ceremonies were to start. The bride richly dressed, adorned with jewels, usually wore a veil (symbolizing submission – 1Cor.11:5-13), which she took off only in the bridal chamber. Escorted by her companions (the virgins), the bride was led to the home of the bridegroom (in heaven).   This shows that the Bride is already chosen before she sits on the throne at the beginning of the seven days, through which time she is being perfected. Notice that, after sitting on the throne with her Lord for the seven days/years of the feast, representing the Tribulation, on the eighth day, the day of circumcision when the flesh is cut off, they all go to the Bridegroom's home in heaven. Also notice that neither the virgins nor the friends of the Bridegroom are on the throne during these last seven days/years, only the Bride. Even though we all have been given that position through the promises of God, not all will walk by faith and obedience to manifest it. The whole Church is fond of calling itself the Bride but far fewer will overcome to sit on the throne. As we have already seen, the one who sits on the throne is betrothed to the King and has all the rights and inheritance as though she were married.   Let us look again at the relationship of the Man-child head and the body of the Bride. The story of Esther is a prophecy of the end time Bride being caught up to the authority of the throne under the authority and training of the Man-child. Throughout this story Mordecai represents the head and Man-child. The Talmud lists him as a prophet (Megilla 15). Mordecai means “little man” in Hebrew and “little boy” in Persian, both of which mean “man-child.” Mordecai was in the place of the throne before Esther was. (Est.2:5) There was a certain Jew in Shushan the palace, whose name was Mordecai…. Not only was his place in the palace but he is mentioned nine times in various ways as “sitting at the king's gate” or said to be one of “the king's servants, that were in the king's gate.” The King, of course, represents Jesus and the king's gate was the place of the government, the place of judges and counselors. It is likely that all of the subjugate nations under Ahasuerus or Xerxes had representatives to the king there, just as the “seven princes of Persia and Media” (1:14) were there. Mordecai was probably the head of God's people since the Jews were twice called “the people of Mordecai” (3:6).                This governmental head over God's people represents the Man-child. It is he that nourishes the Bride with the beauty and wisdom that comes from the Word until she comes to the throne, as Esther did. (2:7) And he brought up (Hebrew: “nourished”) Hadassah, that is, Esther…. Even when Esther came to the throne she was under the headship of Mordecai. (2:20) Esther had not yet made known her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him. It was Mordecai who sent “to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him, for her people” (4:8). This intercession of the Bride was to save the people, who represent the larger Church body, from Haman, who represents the beast. For some, this battle represents the saving of the inner spiritual man from the beastly carnal man who will seek to kill him. For others, whose carnal man is already dead, this will represent their deliverance from the world beast.   The time came when the king took from the beast his symbol of authority to persecute God's wayward people and gave it, instead, to Mordecai to save them. (8:2) And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And even though Esther had been given the house of Haman, she willingly gave Mordecai the authority over it. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman. At this time the king said, (8) Write ye also to the Jews, as it pleaseth you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring; for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse. Mordecai, the Man-child, passed on the authority of the king to God's people to stand on the Word and save their lives just as Jesus did to His disciples.   (9)…And it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews…. (11) Wherein the king granted the Jews that were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them…. God's people will learn that they are not under the curse of sin or death and that the Word is their sword to defend them. The Man-child and the Church under him will walk in greater and greater authority of King Jesus to destroy the kingdom of the beast with the power of the Word. (9:4) For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame went forth throughout all the provinces; for the man Mordecai waxed greater and greater.   (5) And the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and with slaughter and destruction, and did what they would unto them that hated them. (10:2) And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the full account of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia? (3) For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the good of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.   Now that we see the relationship of the Man-child to the Bride, let's look at an outline of bride types that coordinates with the man-child types above. Remember that we will explain the spiritual nature of the throne experiences later. Esther, along with all the fair virgins of the kingdom, were gathered into the house of the women to see whom Ahasuerus, the King, would choose as his bride (2:2-3). For taking advantage of everything the King's chamberlain, as a type of the Holy Spirit, provided, she was loved above all the virgins and made Queen in her first throne experience (13-17). After this time the King promoted Haman, as a type of the dragon/beast (3:1), over the people of God, as another type of the beginning of the Tribulation.   The beast then decided to crucify all of the people of God (3:6) and with the permission of the King, set a date to begin this. In one parable, This date represents the middle of the Tribulation. It is here that Esther appeared before the King in a second throne experience to intercede for her people (5:1-3). She received authority with Mordecai to speak for the King and gave authority to the people to stand for their lives and slay the beast kingdom (8:8,11). This will happen from the middle of the Tribulation until the Day of the Lord, when the Bride has fully entered the kingdom in a third throne experience. Then the destruction of the beast will continue as it destroys itself in civil war.   The Shulamite bride was born of the Woman, Israel (Sol.3:4; 8:5), tried in her own wilderness experience of being rejected by her own people and was caught up in a first throne experience (6:12). From there she returned (13) to care for God's vineyard: the virgins, concubines, and queens (7:10-13), who represent the rest of the Church or the Woman. These are also typed as her little sister who come to maturity through her ministry (8:8-12). Within the Bride is the new leadership for God's people, which will be used by God to bring them to maturity (Mat.21:41). She then was caught up to the third throne experience when she married Solomon. We also see the bride in Psalm 45, who fulfills this same type.   As we have seen, the Church goes through seven years of tribulation called the wilderness (Rev.12:6; 17:3). Joseph, as the Man-child type, fed Israel through seven years of famine, foreshadowing the Tribulation. Moses, as the Man-child, fed Israel half-way through the wilderness by distance, representing the first 3½ years. Here he faced God on His mountain in a second throne experience and was glorified when his “face shone” with the glory (Exo.34:29- 35). He then took them the rest of the way to the Promised Land, representing the second 3½ years. Only then did the manna from heaven cease, for then, in type, they entered fully into the kingdom of heaven and no longer needed it (Josh.5:12). Jesus, as the Manchild, took born again Israel 3½ years into their wilderness before also being glorified. This also represents half-way through the Tribulation.   In order to fulfill the same type as Joseph and Moses, who went all the way through the Tribulation, Jesus would have had to continue His ministry after His glorification, which He did. He was caught up to the throne of God in a type of the second throne experience and stayed there only a few hours before returning (Joh.20:17,19-20,26). He then passed on His Spirit and authority to the disciples (21-23) for a space of forty days (Act.1:3), which is the number of tribulation. This forty-days' ministry represented the forty years between Jesus' glorification and the destruction of the harlot of apostate Israel in 70 A.D., when the disciples escaped to the mountains, representing heaven. In perfect parallel, after Moses' face shone, he also took Israel forty years through the wilderness to the Promised Land. With Jesus' forty-day type, that was “for every day a year,” as God said. (Num.14:34) After the number of the days in which ye spied out the land, even forty days, for every day a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years. That forty years represented the last 3½ years of the Tribulation.   Now we see that, in type, Jesus also took them all the way through their tribulation to the Promised Land. He also appeared to the disciples to guide them in the book of Acts, which represented the second 3½ years to show this type. (Act.16:7) And when they were come over against Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia; and the Spirit of Jesus suffered them not. As further proof of this, after His glorification He told them, I am with you always (Greek: “all the days”), even unto the end of the world (Greek: “consummation of the age”) (Mat.28:20). He said He would be with them all the days until the consummation of their age, which was 70 A.D. when the harlot of apostate Israel was destroyed as the saints fled to the mountains at the end of their tribulation. In parallel, we can see the end of the seven-year tribulation is “all the days” “unto the consummation of the age” of the Church, when the modern day harlot will also be destroyed as the saints flee to the kingdom.   From these types we can see that the Man-child will be with the Woman Church, in various stages of Sonship, through the seven years of tribulation. In the last 3½ years the Man-child will be in the form that Jesus was during His forty-day ministry after the first 3½ years of His ministry. In this form Jesus walked through walls. (Joh.20:26) …Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst. However, Mary thought He was the gardener (20:15). The two disciples on the road to Emmaus walked with Him, carried on a lengthy conversation, ate with Him and yet thought Him merely human (Luk.24:13-35). He was the manifested Son of God in spirit and soul but not yet body. In type, at this end of the first 3½ years He still had flesh and bones. (Luk.24:39) See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye behold me having.   This is the same state symbolized by Moses' glowing face as he carried Israel through the last half of their wilderness, by distance symbolizing the last 3½ years of our tribulation. That glowing face represented a glorified spirit and soul under a veil, which the Lord said was the flesh in Hebrews 10:20. The body glorification comes at the end of the seven years when we shall all be changed to enter the Promised Land together. (1Cor.15:51) Behold, I tell you a mystery: We all shall not sleep, but we shall all be changed, (52) in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump.   Briefly, there are three throne experiences in order to manifest Jesus or complete Sonship in the Man-child First-fruits, who will then lead the Bride in these experiences. The first one is after the Man-child's personal wilderness experience at the beginning of the Tribulation and involves the full manifestation of Jesus in the spirit. The second one is after bringing the people half-way through the Tribulation and involves the full manifestation of Jesus in the soul. The third one is after the Tribulation and involves the full manifestation of Jesus in the body, meaning the sons will have a born again, heavenly body. The bride had a seven day/year wedding feast before going to the groom's home. The Bride has the position of sitting with the Bridegroom/Man-child in betrothal for the seven days of the two throne experiences, but the marriage is not fulfilled until after the seven days, when she sits with her husband in the third throne experience.   After the seven years of tribulation, we are told in Revelation 19:7 “the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.” This is the time when the whole bridal procession goes to the Bridegroom's home joined by the resurrected saints of old. It is here that some of those saints may have entered bridal glory to join in that company while others may be virgins or friends of the Bridegroom. In that case, the saying of John the Baptist would not be just a type. (Joh.3:29) He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, that standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is made full. On the other hand, these are the days when the greatest revelation of the testimony of the Word will manifest the Lord in the greatest body of believers the world has ever seen. (2Th.1:10) When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be marvelled at in all them that believed (because our testimony unto you was believed) in that day.      Printer-friendly version  

SUN PM SERMONWatch/Listen here using the Embedded Subsplash Playerdiv.sap-embed-player{position:relative;width:100%;height:0;padding-top:56.25%;}div.sap-embed-player>iframe{position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;}Central Baptist Church of Ponca City, OKDATE: Sunday PM, September 10, 2023SERMON BY: Dr. John WaterlooSERMON TITLE:Don't Judge a Book ONLY by its CoverSERMON THEME: A Right INSIDE Regulates our OUTSIDESERMON SERIES: 2CorinthiansSERMON VERSES: 2Cor 10:7; 1Sam 16:1-7; 1Pet 3:1-4Be careful…* Putting TOO much priority on outward appearances* Putting NO emphasis on outward appearance* To understand a man's heart * To have a godly heart (the inside is most important)2Cor. 10:7   Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.1Sam. 16:1   And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons. 2 And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD. 3 And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee. 4 And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably? 5 And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.1Sam. 16:6   And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD'S anointed is before him. 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.1Pet. 3:1   Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.— — —Watch/Listen here using our Subsplash WebShare Playerhttps://cbcponca.subspla.sh/73pvrhjListen on Archive.orghttps://archive.org/download/091023-pm-facebook-stream/091023PM-FacebookStream.mp3

"There are no safe paths in this part of the world," said Gandalf to Bilbo... and he was right. Life is often hard. So how is God's will operating in my life when I am in a hard place, a place of affliction and distress like David? And what if that hard place I find myself in is partly my own making? Find out in this final instalment of Mike & Matthew taking us through Psalm 25. Scriptures Referenced:Psa 25; Rom 8:28-29; Col 1:9-28; 1Pet 3:17 Visit PracticologyPodcast.com for more episodes.Follow the Practicology Podcast on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MandMsPodcast

In this third episode on Psalm 25, Mike opens up a can of worms, contrasting what he calls the blindfold view of the will of God with the guidebook view. Which view do you think is more biblical? Scriptures Referenced: Psa 25; Rom 3:7, 6:1; Isa 26:7-8; 1Th 4:3, 5:18; 1Pet 2:15Visit PracticologyPodcast.com for more episodes.Follow the Practicology Podcast on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MandMsPodcast

Phil 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things" During my self-help days, I often heard "You are what you think about all day long" or as it says in proverbs 23:7 "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he" What should we think about, or focus on, in this life? Our highest priority should be the unseen holy, set apart things, namely God and the things of God. The word for holy spirit or set apart in Hebrew is Kadosh Col 3:2 says "Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth." Joshua 1:8 says "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night" Psalm 119:97 "Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day" I used to think that when the Bible talked about meditating, or thinking, about His Word all day long, it didn't literally mean all day, but now I'm not so sure. I'm finding the more I focus on God the more I'm truly living. In the Torah it encourages us to think about His word throughout our day In Deut 6:6-9 says "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." Number 15:39-41says "And you shall have the tassel, that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of the Lord and do them, and that you may not follow the harlotry to which your own heart and your own eyes are inclined, 40 and that you may remember and do all My commandments, and be holy for your God. 41 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the Lord your God.” Lesser in value than the set apart kadosh things that are unseen but still having great value are those things that are seen but also set apart. What we experience with our 5 senses. You could say our natural reality. Traditions in Judaism include saying prayers the moment you wake, when you walk to the bathroom, etc By doing so we are making our natural world set apart or kadosh, not totally of course, since we are in a fallen world. Gnosticism was a set of beliefs focused on knowledge and considered things natural to be avoided. I believe by coming to earth and taking on flesh, in addition to the important work of providing the necessary sinless sacrifice, Jesus also demonstrated the importance of us living in our natural reality. Also God wanted the tabernacle and then the temple to be made by human hands, and for us to it holy, even though they were types of the temple in the unseen realm. There a number of Songs with the theme “this is not my home” or "this world is not my home" which capture this idea. I've also heard of the hotel analogy.  Our life here is like staying in a hotel room but our true home will come after our death. That hotel room still has a purpose for us and is to be used and appreciated. If you want to go deeper on the concept of the unseen realm check out the book "The unseen realm" by Michael Heiser who died last last year. Also the Naked Truth podcast. So what are lesser thoughts or things we should avoid focusing on? Things of this world that do not honor God, that Satan has twisted and perverted. This can include things we might consider wholesome and good and G rated, but if focus on them too much, relying on them or making an idol of them, they become unholy and forbidden. There is another category of things to avoid, in my opinion even worse than the things of this world. Those are the unseen things that are not holy, set apart, that do not glorify God. This of course includes overtly evil practices like witchcraft, divination, going to a palm reader, playing with a ouige board, but it also includes things that most believers dont' think are a big deal but are also wicked and to avoided strongly. I'm talking about using your imagination to take you to a place that does not glorify God. This can include pornography as well as imagining images and activities that do not glorify God. Jesus raised the bar when it came to what is considered sin when he said that looking with lust and hating someone was the same as committing adultery and murdering someone. God cares about what we do but He seems to really care about what we think about or more specifically what is in our heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 says "For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” If you have taken solace with your hands being clean but your mind being dirty, you are at risk of being hypocrites like the scribes and Pharisees who in Matt 23:27 Jesus said were "like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness." The line can blur between the seen and unseen both with things that are holy and things that are unholy. Just take this one verse as an example So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 1Pet.2.1ESV In that one sentence is a mixture of unholy things that are tangible actions as well as our thoughts. I used to freak out over this idea of controlling my thoughts, thinking I could not control them. I now know enough about God to know He would not ask me to do something I could not do, and in His love gives me the Holy Spirit to help me. 2 Cor 10:5 says "casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ," 1 Cor 10:13 says "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it" John 14:16 Jesus says "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever" Martin Luther said, “You cannot keep birds from flying over your head but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair.” I think of my thoughts as I do all of the commandments, they are ways for me to show my love for my heavenly Father, not a bunch of don't's I have to avoid out of fear. On the other side of obedience is a closer relationship with my Crestor and a life of joy and shalom. So to summarize, two things to focus on are both holy, one is unseen and perfectly holy, the other is seen and a type or foreshadow of holiness, or you could say a little slice of heaven. This is similar to the two commandments which is a summary of the law and prophets, to love God (unseen) and to love our neighbor as ourselves (seen). Note the second one has two parts to love our neighbor and ourselves. The two things to avoid, or to put more strongly to rebuke, hate and reject, are the unholy things, both seen and unseen. Another verse which captures this is Rom 12:2 "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." This is part of our human existence and Gods plan for us, at least as I'm beginning to understand and appreciate though will never fully comprehend since His ways are greater than my ways if you're looking for an application for your work, remember that you spend so much of your waking hours at your job, if you're going to focus on holy things all the day, you have to do so at work.  Your work is a great example of where the unseen and seen come together in a beautiful way.

Brian Brodersen believes that preaching is not an end in and of itself, rather, it is a means to the greater end of knowing, loving, worshipping and serving God. Biblical Preaching (preaching the way it is defined and modeled in the Bible) is God's word, spoken by God's servants, through God's Spirit, in God's power.How to Assure We are Preaching in the Power of the SpiritA disposition, a bent, a leaning. An attitude of dependence on the Holy Spirit. A constant awareness of our own weakness: “I was with you in weakness, in fear and in much trembling.” “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God.” Preach the Word! There will be many temptations along the way to move from preaching the Word to preaching something else: politics, nationalism, social justice, prosperity, personal success and happiness, and the list goes on. People will often find a biblical text from which to springboard into their pet doctrine. This is not preaching the Word and the Holy Spirit will not honor such preaching with His power. There might very well be the power of persuasion, personality, passion, articulation, perspiration etc. but it won't be the power of the Spirit. The Spirit honors the preaching of the Word—taking the biblical text and bringing out its meaning for all to see, understand and apply. The Process of Preparing to Preach-a. Consciousness of the supernatural element.b. Pray for the Lord's leading on what to preach.c. Seek the Lord's assistance even in the preparation of your message. III. Preaching-Take that same dependency you've had through the whole process into the pulpit with you.Remember that you are the mouthpiece of God to bring His word to His people. “If anyone speaks, let them speak as the oracle of God.” 1Pet 4:11Be open to going off script, don't be afraid to go to places you hadn't prepared to go. The Spirit will often send us off on diversions but will also get us back on the main road. Be cautiously spontaneous. You'll find over time those spontaneous diversions are more often than not prophetic words that go straight to the heart of the hearers who then receive the Word, not as a human word, but as it is in truth the Word of God that works effectively in those who believe. “You can have knowledge, and you can be meticulous in your preparation; but without the unction of the Holy Spirit you will have no power, and your preaching will not be effective.” - Martyn Lloyd-Jones “The gospel's force lies beyond the power of the preacher. Paul preaches without shame in his delivery skills because he trusts that the Spirit of God will use the Word the apostle proclaims to shatter the hardness of the human heart in ways no stage technique or philosophical construct can rival.” - Brian ChapellFor information about our upcoming training events in Indiana Califronia visit ExpositorsCollective.com The Expositors Collective podcast is part of the CGNMedia, Working together to proclaim the Gospel, make disciples, and plant churches. For more content like this, visit https://cgnmedia.org/Join our private Facebook group to continue the conversation: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ExpositorsCollective