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I John 4:8-9 He that loves not knows not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. (KJV)
In closing this week, a lot of people on this planet claim that they know God, and the religions and denominations that keep cropping up are astronomical in number despite the fact that the Lord said there is only one way, one truth, and one life that would get us home. In order to find out who you are in Christ, you will need to get to know the Son, someone who is mentioned often in the scriptures. I John 3:1-3 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knows us not, because it knew him not. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure. (KJV) Did you realize you are considered a part of the family of God? The only reason you lived so miserably in the past is because you didn’t know who you really were until you knew His Son. God would like to send you out to deliver His message of hope to a dying world. However, just like with the mail service, he wants you to deliver in rain, snow, or sleet and He is looking for more than just fair weather people. John 5:23-25 That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honors not the Son honors not the Father which hath sent him. 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. (KJV) We bring dishonor upon ourselves when we don’t bestow the honor that is due to the Father and the Son. For those who claim that Jesus was God, they are not presenting a true and complete account of salvation. Those that honor the Son bring honor to His Father and are passed from a death sentence to eternal life which is why the Son was sent our way in the first place. John 7:16-17 Jesus answered them, and said, my doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. 17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it is of God, or whether I speak of myself. (KJV) Given the fact that we serve a God who cannot lie it is safe to say that He sent us a Son who would not lie either. When reading the Word one cannot just overlook and throw away the scriptures that deal with the Son and why He was sent. Revelation 22:18-19 For I testify unto every man that hears the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that 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 out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (KJV) In the end, it is vital that you find out for yourself who God is and how to get through to Him. If you are not getting it firsthand from the Son then you will find yourself left out because you chose to settle for second hand doctrine. God bless dearly loved, and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 1:20-23 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping things. (KJV)
From the beginning the enemy has tried to divert attention from God back to the carnal realm. The fall of the devil himself, who at one time occupied a place in the kingdom of God, happened when he decided to exalt himself to a place where he was never intended to be, above the throne. Mankind has come up with many things that they try to replace God with based on their carnal minds. Many today swear up and down that Jesus himself was God, but when looking at verse 23, it just doesn’t jive with truth. Numbers 23:19-20 God is not a man that he should lie; neither the son of man that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? 20 Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it. (KJV) No matter how man tries to twist and turn the scriptures to make them fit into his way of thinking, and no matter how hard you pound on a square peg, it is not going to go into that round hole. You will continue to dig yourself deeper until you see beyond the realm of the flesh and into the Spirit. Jesus of Nazareth was no different than anyone else. This man also had a lower nature that could only be overcome by the Spirit of Christ, the Son of the living God that was abiding within Him. John 17:1-3 These words spoke Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (KJV) Only the truth will set you free so that you can rise up; and as we see Jesus Christ was sent to point us above to His Father so that we to could have this power of knowing who we are in Christ. The Son came that we would have life, an abundant life, which is only found in the realm of the Spirit. I John 2:21-23 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is a liar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist that denied the Father and the Son. 23 Whosoever denies the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledges the Son hath the Father also. (KJV) The simple truth is that you cannot know the Father unless you know who His Son is, and what name He goes by. God bless dearly loved, and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. 1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. (KJV)
There really is no controversy with the Word of God; in fact it is the simplicity of it that man has the problem with. Man keeps trying to pull God back to our level of understanding rather than rising up and seeing things from His unlimited way of thinking. In this realm you only see things partially; however, when you rise up and take a seat in the heavenly realm you get the whole picture. John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. (KJV) From the beginning God has never acted alone, in fact He is specific in pointing out that His Word is what brought all things into existence. Have you ever given your word that you would do something and then followed through with it? Well that was your word that you sent, just like with God, the difference being He always does what He says he will do. In verse 3 the Word is described as Him, an actual person, and as you will see this Word has a name. John 3:33-36 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. 34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God gives not the Spirit by measure unto him. 35 The Father loves the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. 36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him. (KJV) You’ve got mail; a message sent from above wrapped in a fleshly envelope encasing the Spirit of Christ. The message that God is sending to mankind is Spirit and truth, and God is using His Son to deliver it. For mankind to deny any part of the Godhead is a lie and will result in the wrath of God. I John 5:6-8 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. (KJV) Do you know why you have peace today? It’s because you have come into agreement with God’s plan of salvation which is being delivered through His Son. There are three that work in unison in heaven which includes the Word. In order for us to bear witness to the truth we need to keep the spirit of our minds renewed daily so that we don’t fall for a watered down inferior doctrine that did not come from above. John 8:14-18 Jesus answered and said unto them, though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go. 15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man. 16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. 17 It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. 18 I am one that bears witness of myself, and the Father that sent me bears witness of me. (KJV) Take a timeout before jumping on this popular bandwagon where man claims that this Jesus of Nazareth was God. As we see the Son pointing out clearly, God and His works were manifest through His Son so that you to could know who your Father is, and how to get through to Him. God bless dearly loved, and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:1-3 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: (KJV)
In the beginning God created man after His image and likeness. The first man Adam had fallen because of sin, believing more in a lie than truth, and history keeps repeating itself over and over again when any man leans back to their own understanding rather than trusting what God is speaking through His word. When man fell he kept the likeness or outward appearance, but it was the image or inward that now needed to be mended which is why the Son was sent. 2 Corinthians 4:4-7 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. (KJV) God sent His only begotten Son so that He could shed some light into the heart of man and show them the path of life leading to eternity with Him. This treasure was sent to us in an earthen vessel, the likeness of sinful flesh. God delivered a message to mankind through His Son. This Son who came to us is the envelope which if not opened and looked into will not be able to get the message through to you. Hebrews 1:1-3 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (KJV) For those of you who have read through your Bible you see in the Old Testament that God used many ways to communicate to mankind. A burning bush got the attention of Moses; a talking donkey had to be a wakeup call to Balaam. Now in these last days, which began with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, we see God is speaking to us through His Son, using express mail to get His message delivered. 1 Corinthians 15:49-50 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. (KJV) When seeking entrance into the kingdom of God on the Day of Judgment you will need to bring more than just a flesh and blood resume. You will need to bring a doctrine that is complete, one that not only involves the Father, but His Son as well. Do you desire a complete reward? Then you need to believe what God says will get you home. God bless dearly loved, and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. James 1:17-18 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. (KJV)
This week we will shed some light on who was sent from above so that we as a fallen creature could be reborn into the realm of the Spirit; the only place that we can truly worship the Father. God used His word of truth to jump start mankind and get them running in the right direction so that they could run the race of salvation and see it through to the winners circle. God sent His Son our way to show how this could be accomplished, and then took a seat on the right hand of the Father so that He could personally guide us home. John 3:14-16 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (KJV) When looking at the scriptures above the word ‘should’ is used because we have the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us into all truth which is found in the Bible. So when many swear up and down that a man named Jesus is God and anyone who would dare to differ is just mixed up, the question then dares to be asked, what about the Son that was sent? John 3:17-19 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (KJV) Many believe in God, even the demons believe and tremble. However, God’s word is specific in the fact that He did not act alone, rather His plan of salvation involves a close family member of His, that being His Son. You will find in the Word that this is a package deal; you can’t have the Father without the Son, or the Son without the Father. In fact, without this knowledge, you are incomplete; still in the dark, blinded by a veil over the heart. Psalm 107:19-21 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saves them out of their distresses. 20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. 21 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! (KJV) It is vital to have a perfect or mature understanding of God and how His kingdom works. To know who, and what He sent our way so that we can be healed and delivered from our own destructions that we have brought upon ourselves. As we go along, keep an open heart and mind to what the Word says. God bless dearly loved, and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:52-54 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. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. (KJV)
When following sporting events on paper many teams look like they should go all the way, but end up falling short. Many people appear righteous outwardly; however, the Lord is only going to let those into His kingdom who are walking by faith. Our death sentence is expunged once we exchange this corruptible body for an incorrupt one. The Lord paid the total price for our salvation, now it is time to walk in it and see it through to the end. Romans 7:9-11 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. (KJV) Paul found out that he was taking on friendly fire from those he thought were legit. I have encountered the same thing in my walk with the Lord in congregations that claim to be saved by grace, but still try and incorporate the works of the law. 2 Corinthians 3:3-6 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. 4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; 6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the New Testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter kills, but the spirit gives life. (KJV) Those that hold to the letter of the law just end up killing the message and what it was intended to mean. These are the religious, and all you hear about is everything they think they are doing for the Lord. These are the same ones that crucified the Lord and are doing it all over again by their false religious teachings. John 16:1-3 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. 2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever kills you will think that he doeth God service. 3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. (KJV) You should expect some opposition when teaching the truth, especially from those who are being exposed for who they really are. The time will come when they think that if they can kill the message you are delivering, then they are doing God a service. Isn’t that the same premise that played out some two thousand years ago in a place called Calvary? Galatians 2:20-21 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness comes by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. (KJV) In conclusion this week, whatsoever is outside the realm of faith is a death sentence and not a place that you want to be come the Day of Judgment. Dearly loved, you are justified by faith apart from the law so let’s continue to walk in grace through faith today; God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:15-17 What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. (KJV)
Bottom line is that you really have to want this plan of salvation, and only those that make it a way of life, doing it from the heart, are going to make it home. Many people do make a commitment to the Lord and walk with Him for a season; however, it’s sad to say many walk away back into sin unto death. I John 5:16-18 If any man sees his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. 17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death. 18 We know that whosoever is born of God sins not; but he that is begotten of God keeps himself, and that wicked one touches him not. (KJV) The one thing we are not required to pray for is a sin unto death, do you ever wonder why that is? We all sin and fall short of the glory of God in areas that we are not yet aware of or in things we are currently working on overcoming. What you will find is that once you have been made aware of something the Lord says will no longer work, and you choose not to listen, there is nothing anyone else can do on your behalf anymore until you decide personally to get back on the path of life. Titus 3:10-11 A man that is a heretic after the first and second admonition reject; 11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sins, being condemned of himself. (KJV) The same door that you walked into is the same one you can exit through. Once a person knows better and has been made aware of something then they have condemned themselves if they choose to ignore the Lord’s counsel. James 4:16-17 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. 17 Therefore to him that knows to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. (KJV) Have you ever boasted about something knowing it was about 10% truth and the rest a fabrication? Once you have been made aware of something that you know is not going to work anymore as far as the Lord is concerned it is up to you to either put an end to it, or let it lead to sin which when finished results in spiritual death. You may try to hide sin from man, but what makes you think the Lord isn’t watching? Hebrews 6:4-6 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. (KJV) That word impossible comes up again later in the book of Hebrews when it says that without faith it is impossible to please the Lord. When one knows the truth and then decides to walk away then there is no one to blame, but themselves. If they have fallen away it is because they are no longer interested in hearing where the Lord is leading and have decided to chase their own desires. God bless dearly loved, and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
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