Galatians 2:21

I do not frustrate the Grace of God: for if righteousness came by the law; then Christ is dead in vain. (KJV)

This post goes out to those who struggle with Self-Condemnation and Religion. Life is a Journey, and We All fall down sometimes. The spirit is at war with the flesh. We All have our own life struggles and personal demons to fight. The One Element of Survival is Faith. It is what gives us the Strength to Get Up, Dust ourselves off, and move forward.

It is Ironic that Paul wrote not only the book of Galatians, but three-fourths of the New Testament, since he was a Hebrew of Hebrews (Pharisee) (Phil. 3:4-6), and a persecutor of Christians (Gal. 1:9). He counted all of that dung that he would win Christ, and be found in Him, not having his own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is the righteousness of God by Faith. He was a chosen vessel of God for a Greater picture of Grace (Acts 9:15).

In the Old Testament (Covenant) men lived under the Levitical Law. That law could not change the hearts of men (Heb. 8:10) or disannul the PROMISE that God gave to Abraham four-hundred-thirty years earlier. That PROMISE was JESUS CHRIST. When we are Baptized into Christ we become the Seeds of Abraham, and heirs according to the PROMISE (Galatians 3).

Therefore, let us Stand fast in the Liberty in which Christ has made us free, knowing that God is looking on the Inner Man. Let us come Boldly to the Throne of Grace with An Open and Honest Heart. No matter what personal demons we are fighting (Drugs, Pornography, Alcoholism, Hatred, etc…). God Is Bigger! The Blood of bulls and goats could not cleanse a man, but the Blood of Christ and the Indwelling of His Spirit can (Heb. 9:12). We are no longer under the law of sin and death. We are under a Greater Law, which is Love Unfeigned.

This Love not only gives us the Grace that we need on our Journey, but it empowers us to walk in this Higher Calling along the way. God is So Faithful! He knows that we will fall down, so He teaches us Line Upon Line, Precept upon Precept (Isaiah 28:9-10).

The Book of Galatians was my inspiration for this post. I have read it many times before, but this time God has given me a Life Changing Revelation. It is so Evident in these scriptures how Personal God is, and how He really does look on the Heart (1 Sam. 16:7). No matter how many times that I attend church, or tithe, or how I present my bodily appearance, my connection (openness) with God Must be Strong enough to Change My Inner Man, To Create the Kind of Faith in me that Makes me get up when I fall.

I can’t worry about how someone else is walking. God wants me to look at how I am walking. He has filled me with His Spirit, and Tabernacles within My Heart. I am now Empowered to overcome the works of the flesh, such as living in Wantonness, Jealousy, Competition, and Debate. These may appear to be small things, but in God’s eyes they are big things that can cost me Heaven (Gal. 5:17-21), but when I submit myself wholly unto the Lord, it produces the Fruit of the Spirit in which I cannot attain on my own. These Fruits are not only necessary in my effectiveness for Christ, but they are also necessary for my own Peacefulness of Life as well. I must also say that these are areas in which I have failed miserably in times past, but I have been learning how fulfilling Meekness, Humbleness, and Giving of myself can be. It is truly Amazing!

Let us be like Paul, putting our yesterdays behind us, and reaching forward for the prize of the High Calling of God (Phil.3:13-14), which is our reasonable service (Romans 12:1) (Lifestyle).

May We All Grow in Grace and Knowledge (2 Peter 3:18), In Jesus Name I Pray, Amen

References

Photo Tabernacle in the Wilderness https://www.amazon.com

Photo https://www.salvationandsurvival.com

Bel bows down and Nebo stoops (Isaiah 46:1).

They are set in their place having No Power to Move or to Save (Isaiah 46:7). Who hath formed a god, or molten an image that is profitable for nothing (Isaiah 44;10)? The Lord Hates Idolatry (Deuteronomy 16:22) (KJV).

This is not a suggestion. It is a commandment. “Thou shall have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God…. (Exodus 20:3-5)”

Thus saith the Lord and King of Israel, and his redeemer (Holy Spirit) the Lord of hosts, I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. (Isaiah 44:6)

In this day and time, the effects of globalism are being felt around the world. While we walk in love toward our fellow man, we must Hold On to our Unwavering Faith. We no longer have to travel the world to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19), but God has placed the reaping field in our own back yard.

We are surely living in the end times. While some are in desperation they are being drawn away from the truth. Some having itchy ears (2Timothy 4:3), and some being Puffed Up in Their Own Knowledge, “Ever learning and never able to come to the Knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7). They practice Occultism (Wicca) and idolatry. Their earthly wisdom and knowledge has perverted them. Their enchantments and sorceries will not prevail. Their astrologers, stargazers, and prognosticators (fortune tellers) will not be able to save them from the things to come (Isaiah 47).

Death is hard, and a certainty of life. While we all would like to believe that that every one goes to heaven, that is Surely Not the case. There is only one door ( John 10:7), and His Name Is Jesus (Philippians 2:9-10). You Must be born again (John 3:17). “But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God (Romans 2:29).

My God is Not an idol! He has hands that move, eyes that see, ears that hear, and a heart that can be touched with feelings of my infirmities ( Hebrews 4:15). He is the Creator of ALL things (Acts 17:22-28) (Genesis 1:1-3). He will Carry Me from the Cradle to the Grave. He has made me. He will deliver me (Isaiah 46:4). There is None like Him. He has declared the end from the beginning. He Is God All By Himself! He will do His pleasure, and His Counsel Will Stand (Isaiah 46:10).

Isaiah 44-48 is such an Awesome read! Babylon was the center of Intellectual life in Western Asia (Merril Unger). It was home to magicians, sorcerers, diviners, and other Occults. Chaldean astrologers were proficient in the practice of astrology, ( Daniel 2 “conjurers”). Israel was under their captivity for seventy years for punishment for the practice of Idolatry. As you will find, My God is a God of Covenant. Although He may feed us with the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, He Always Redeems us ( Isaiah 30:20-21). He will never break Covenant or alter what His lips have uttered (Psalm 89:34).

As I noted earlier, God knows the end from the beginning. He knew that we would be transgressors from the womb (Isaiah 48:8), but He says “;from the time that it was, there am I: (Isaiah 48:16)”. King Josiah (of Judah) was mentioned 300 years before his birth (1Kings 13:2) . He put down the idolatrous priests whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the city of Judah, and in the places round about Jerusalem; them also that burned incense to Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of heaven (2Kings 23:5).

Jeremiah preached for 40 years, appealing to Judah to repent from idolatry and to turn back to God. He prophesied that God was going to give Judah over to the king of Babylon, and it would be burned with fire (Jeremiah 34:2), also in the first year of King Zedekiah’s reign (son of Josiah), Jeremiah prophesied again that Judah would go into Babylonian captivity (Jeremiah 27). Nine years later Babylon besieged it (Jeremiah 39). My God confirms the words of his servants, and performs the counsel of His messengers ( Isaiah 44:26).

Because He is a God of Covenant and Redemption, we are sometimes chosen in the furnace of affliction, and refined in the fire (Isaiah 48:10). Although He gives us the Rod of Correction, like our earthly parents, He doesn’t take it kindly when we are mistreated. Therefore, He would not meet Babylon as a man (Isaiah 47:3). He anointed King Cyrus (Gentile), called him by his name, and surnamed him, even though Cyrus did not know him (Isaiah 45:1-4). Babylon fell in 39BC to this Persian King. God says, “I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the Lord, and there is none else (Isaiah 45:5-6).

Isaiah 44:12-17

The smith with the tongs both works in the coals and fashions it with hammers, and works with the strength of his arms: yea he is hungry, and his strength fails, and he drinks no water and is faint. The carpenter stretches out his rule; he marks it out with a line; he fits it with plains, and marks it out with a compass, and makes it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house. He cuts down the cedars and the cypress and the oak which he replenished in the forest: he plants an ash and the rain nourishes it. Then he burns it to warm himself with, and to bake bread; then he makes a god, and worships it; he makes a graven image, and falls down to it. He burns part of it; and roasts flesh to eat; and is satisfied. With the residue he makes a god, even his graven image; he falls down to it, and worships it, and prays for it to deliver him.

Isaiah 44:19-20

And none considers in his heart, neither is there knowledge or understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yes, also I have baked bread on the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh and eaten it: and I shall make the residue thereof an ABOMINATION? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree? He feeds on ashes: a deceived heart has turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his own soul, nor say, is there not a lie in my right hand?

God did not speak in secret, in a dark place of the earth: He did not say to the seed of Jacob (Israel, a Jew Inwardly) to seek Him in vain ( Isaiah 45:19). He said ” They have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save (Isaiah 45:20). In His mercy and grace He is still calling, “Look unto Me, and be ye saved, All the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else “(Isaiah 45:22).

References

Merrill F. Unger, D.H. (1988). The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary. Chicago: The Moody Bible Institute Of Chicago.

Photo – https://www.worldhistory.org/Nabu/

Photo – https://freethinkerjon.blogspot.com/2019/07/ancient-god-bel-baal-main-character-in.html

Hebrews 12:12-14

Wherefore lift up the hands that hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight the paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord (KJV). (Holiness – State of Purity) ( Strong’s, 1992)

From the beginning God called us to be a separate people unto Himself. This is clearly seen in the first Abrahamic Covenant, the Covenant of Circumcision (Genesis 17:13). This Covenant of the flesh was a betokening of the Consecration of the Heart to God (Barnes’ Notes). God called it an Everlasting Covenant.

This site is called “my heart”, so that is what I must share. Not only has the state of our world been weighing heavy upon me, but the state of our churches is burdensome to me as well.

We are All just people! We all fall down sometimes, but there is a difference between falling down and falling away. I believe that we are living in the last days, and there is a shaking going on that those things that cannot be shaken may remain (Hebrews 12:26-27), (Haggai 2). It is also in my mind that in these trying times many will turn to God. He is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any would perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

I started out to write a post on Hebrews 12 because it spoke so much to my heart in the clarity of a relationship, not a religion. It speaks about how we should not despise the chastening of the Lord. Whom He Loves He Does Chastise. We are dealt with as sons, not bastards. Much more than we have reverenced our earthly fathers, we should be under subjection to the Father of spirits, and live (12:9).

It is impossible to read Hebrews 12 without first reading Hebrews 11, which is referred to as ,”the faith chapter”. There the great cloud of witnesses mentioned in Hebrews 12:1 can be found. In remembering the miracles, hardships, sacrifices, and martyrdoms, we are Called to lay aside Every weight and sin that so easily besets us, and to Run with patience the race that is set before us (12:1). We are reminded to consider the sufferings of Christ as not to become weary and faint in our minds.

It is also Vital to understand that by Grace we are saved Through Faith (Ephesians2:8-9). We are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise (Galatians 4:23). It is sad that many people think that grace gives us a cloak to sin. If that were so, then there would have been no need for Jesus to call us to repentance (Mathew 4:17). The Ark pictured above carried the Ten Commandments, Not the ten suggestions. In keeping His Commandments we are honoring our Covenant with God, and they are not grievous to us(1John 2:3).

I so.. Love this Word! This 12th chapter of Hebrews calls us to persevere in our Faith. It appears to me that it’s no about the falling down, but it is about the getting up again. It is a matter of the heart, as David was a man after God’s own heart. We are not called to Mount Sanai that burned with fire as in the Old Testament, but we are come to Mount Sion, and unto the city of the LIVING GOD (12:22), and to Jesus the mediator of the New Covenant (12:24). Wherefore we receiving a Kingdom that cannot be moved, Let Us Have Grace, Wherefore We May Serve God ACCEPTABLY With Reverence and Godly Fear: For our God Is a Consuming Fire.

Wherefore lift up the hands that hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight the paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord (KJV). (Holiness – State of Purity) (Strong’s, 1992)

My prayer is that we would lay these words to heart. That we would straighten our paths and be healed, and not forever turned side-ways. That we would lift up our hands in praise, not because of who we are, and no matter what we have done, but because we know that there is NO life outside of Christ, and that He Loves us. His heart can be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, and His Mercies are new everyday. That we would bend our feeble knees, and learn to follow peace, without bitterness in our hearts, and that we would come apart and be separate from this present world, without such No man shall see God, Amen.

There are no changes in the attributes of God, or the principles of His government. He is not a friend of sin. We should fear the displeasure of God as much as they did under the old Covenant. We should serve God with profound reverence and unwavering Fidelity (Barnes’ Notes).

References

James Strong, S. L. (1992). Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible. World Bible Publishers, Inc.

Barnes, A. (1834). Internet Sacred texts Archive. Retrieved from Bible Hub: biblehub.com

Photo –Webbe Holy Ark of the Covenant Bloomsbury Market retrieved from www.wayfair.com March 3, 2021

OVERCOMER

It seems that the cares of this present life have overtaken my Love for writing. My 2021 resolution is to post a blog At Least once a month. As I stated in my very first post (April, 2017), this site is not meant for religious disputes, but for my joy, and hopefully, the encouragement of others. Although we will never know the depth and fullness of God’s Word, (on this side), I do give you my heart!

I find it of no coincidence that the scripture that I quoted in my first post is so relevant to what is in my heart today, that is John 6:63, “It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: The Words that I speak unto you, they Are Spirit, and they Are Life.”(KJV)

In the past year I have been through many changes. Personally, I have found my life to be very challenging, and very rewarding at the same time. Considering the state of our government, Covid, and our economy, I am sure that I am not the only one who has been feeling the strain. It is my heartfelt hope that as we Overcome, our roots will be planted deeper in Christ, and that each coming day brings the excitement that Only comes from Knowing the Lord.

I am only flesh, and sometimes I feel weary. I was going through one of those times when God encouraged me with the word that I am sharing today. I knew in my heart that the mountain was too high, but I felt God in my spirit encouraging me with his word, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts (heavenly armies)”. This prompted me to look up the scripture, which is Zechariah 4:6. Oh My Goodness! It was on! Now I had to read the book. It only has fourteen chapters, but when I started reading I was concerned that it was in over-my-head. The book of Zechariah is one of the most apocalyptical and Messianic books of the Old Testament. Although God was calling Zechariah to preach  repentance to Israel, and to rebuild the temple, prophesy about Christ (The Branch) and His return to rule as King Sovereign are given more than 500 years BC. Even the thirty pieces of silver, and the potters house are foretold. They took Nothing from Jesus, but He laid his own life down. Judas sold him out for the price of a slave (Exodus 21:32). As I stated earlier, I am sure that I don’t understand All the fullness of God’s word, but I do understand what God was speaking into me as I read this book. Satin had a plot, BUT GOD, had a plan. I believe these Myrtle trees could be symbolic of God’s healing. Oh how He Loves us!

Many people do not understand the Whole Point of Christianity. To be Sold-Out to Christ is often considered to be Fanatical. In this post I find it necessary to touch on that matter. God has called us out to be separate from the world (2 Cor. 6:17), to be Biblically correct, not politically correct. That will never change. There is not even a shadow of turning in Him (James 1:17). He is and will Always be The God of Covenant, The Only God. The great I AM (Exodus 3:14)!

God called Abraham, our founding father, out of Idolatry (Genesis 12). It is important to state that this is the Book of Beginnings, and that from the beginning, “He Is The God of Covenant”, the circumcision of the flesh being symbolic of this. He is a Jealous God (Zech. 8:2), therefore they went into bondage in Egypt because they went Whoring after other god’s while they sojourned there (Judges 2:17). It is not a suggestion, but the First Commandment is,” Thou shalt have No other god’s before thee”, and the Second is like unto it,”Thou shalt Not make unto thee Any graven image”. It is clearly not about a religion, but a relationship. It is a breach of Covenant to whore around when you are In a relationship. God is Real. His hands move, His eyes see, and He can be touched by the feeling of our infirmity (HEB.4:15).

That being said, Idolatry is the reason that God’s people were taken into bondage under the Babylonian Empire as well. The temple that Solomon had built was destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar at that time.

I gained much insight to the relevancy of this book in our lives today. We suffer the consequences of our sin, but God is Always waiting for us to repent, with healing in his wings. The punishment that we suffer is for our learning. Just as we teach our children, God teaches us. We don’t want them messing with things that will kill them. There are spiritual things that we can’t see. We don’t wrestle against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness (Eph. 6:12). Sometimes we have to be refined in the fire.

My heart melts as God refers to His children as the apple of His eye (Zech. 2:8). It’s not always easy to turn the other cheek, but Vengeance belongs to God (Romans 12:19). He see’s every tear that falls, and says to Babylon, “I will not meet thee as a man” (Isaiah 47). I have seen this with my own eyes many times throughout my life. Thanks be to God who has circumcised my heart that I found no joy in It. It has Always been about the heart with God (1 Sam 16:7).

Many times in our frail lives have we looked at our situation, the past, present, or even our future, and feel that it is laid waste, past restoration, and we comprehend it as A Mountain Too Big to climb. The true reality is that, not by our might or by our power, but by the Spirit of God those mountains can be removed, leaving us only a rock big enough to carve a headstone. Jesus said that with only mustard seed faith we can talk to the mountain, and it Will be removed. (Matt. 17:20).

The photo above is a visual that I have chosen to keep in my mind. It says to me, “Fear Not, but let your hands be strong (Zech. 8:13), this mountains in front of me will be made small, and I will shout Grace unto it. It is also a memorial to my past, because It Is Dead! Grace Is On It! I am a Jew inwardly, grafted in by the circumcision of my heart (Romans 2:29). I Am The Apple of God’s Eye, An Overcomer. (Rev.3:21).

References

King James Bible

Photo – West Memorials Headstones Designs & Cemetery Monuments Nationwide http://www.westmemorials.com

Ecclesiastes 1:9

The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing  under the sun. (KJV)

After reading the book of Ezra, the above scripture in the book of Ecclesiastes was so relevant in my mind! Just as God’s people have forsaken him in times past, here we are again, living in a world where everything that exalts it’s self against God is excepted in our society, and Christians are living under persecution. The good news is that God always comes to our rescue, and at this present time we are awaiting our final redemption               (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

Ezra 1:1-2

(1) Now the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah the prophet might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, (2) Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, the Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is at Judah.

I spent some time cross referencing and I was excited to learn that the prophet Jeremiah had prophesied about King Cyrus more than one hundred thirty years before his time (Merrill F. Unger, 1988). Gods people had gone into Babylonian captivity for the sin of Idolatry. Jeremiah 25:12-14 is a prophecy pertaining to the fall of the Babylonian empire upon the completion of the seventy years of Jewish captivity,  which is followed by a prophecy of God’s goodness towards his people.

Jeremiah 29:10-11

(10) For thus saith the Lord, that after seventy years be accomplished in Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. (11) For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts  peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

I was also excited to learn that the Prophet Isaiah had prophesied about King Cyrus approximately one hundred and sixty years before his reign (Merrill F. Unger, 1988). Isaiah 44:24-28 and 45:1-4, speak of how God confirms the word of His servant and performs the counsel of His messengers. He calls Cyrus His shepherd and proclaims that Jerusalem will be built, even to the temple, and it’s foundation shall be laid. I love it how God speaks to Cyrus before he is even born, “And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches in secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel. For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me (45:3-4).

My heart was touched in so many ways in the reading of this book! Here we see that God does indeed confirm the word of his servant and perform the word of their counsel. The total number of people returning from exile was 42,360 Jews and 7,337 servants and maids. They had 736 horses, 245 mules, 435 camels, and 6,720 asses (Ezra 2:64-67).

It was in the second year of their coming into the house of the Lord that the foundations of the temple were laid. When I read Ezra 3:10-13 my heart melted. Oh how I long to see this kind of praise in the churches today! The people shouted a great shout, and the ancient men who had seen the first house were either weeping or shouting aloud. It was so loud that people heard it far afar off, and they could not discern between the shouting or the weeping.

Just when things were going good the adversary tried to put a stop to them. I can relate to that! In chapter four their enemies try to hinder their work. The people weakened their hands, and troubled them in the building. They hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose, and a letter is even sent to the king. The work was ceased for nearly two years. Oh, but how I love what happens in chapter five! The prophets Haggai and Zechariah prophesied unto them in the name of the God of Israel. Then they rose up to build, and the prophets with them. They could not be stopped because the eye of God was upon them, moreover in chapter six King Darius makes a decree that whosoever shall alter his word concerning the matter would be hung on a timber that was pulled from his own house (6:11).

The next turn of events are that the temple was completed, the Passover was celebrated, and a ready (quick, skillful,and diligent) scribe by the name of Ezra enters the scene (James Strong, 1992). He had the favor of the king because the good hand of the Lord his God was upon him. He had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgements (7:10).

I loved the picture of humanity in chapter eight. Ezra is bringing over 2,000 more Jews back to Jerusalem with him, but says that he was Ashamed to ask the king for a band of horseman to help them against their enemies along the way, because he told the king that the hand of God was upon All them for good who seek him. He calls for a fast instead, and they are entreated of God (8:21-23).

Now as this book nears the end Ezra mourns because the Jews had mingled themselves with the people of the lands.

Ezra 9:5-6

(5) And at the evening sacrifice I rose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the Lord my God, (6) And said, Oh my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.

Ezra 9:11-12 are clear in stating the separation that God requires of his people. We are not to marry into Idolatry, nor to seek the Peace or the Wealth of this world for ever. We are reminded of this in the New Testament as well, (2 Corinthians 6: 17-18) Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, (18) And I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

I have named this entry “Free Indeed”. I found it fitting because the Son has made us free, therefore we are free indeed (John 8:36). Because Jesus conquered death, hell, and the grave, we are now the temple of God, and have received the Spirit of adoption. Whether we see the rapture or the grave, nothing shall separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:35-39). Therefore I shall flee this present Babylon with singing (Isaiah 48:20). There may not be anything new under the sun, but there will be new heaven and a new earth under the Son. Surely our redemption draweth nigh (Luke 21:28). We shall be Free Indeed!

References

Merrill F. Unger, D.H. (1988). The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary. Chicago: The Moody Bible Institute Of Chicago.

James Strong, S. L. (1992). Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible. World Bible Publishers, Inc.

Photo by Pixaby on Pexels.com

As I was driving to work one morning last week, I just wanted to give God a Big, Radical Praise! Then I started thinking about how the world sees such a thing. As I watch many shout for their favorite ball teams and such, I am puzzled that they think some of us are crazy for giving the One in whom we Live, and Move, and Have Our Being; a Radical Praise!, (Acts 17:28).

As I pondered on these things it came into my mind to do a word study, so I googled it. As I read the meaning of the word “Radical”, my heart melted because I understood that My God Is, and Was Radical For Me.

Radical

adjective

1. (especially of change or action) relating to or effecting the fundamental nature of something; far reaching or thorough.

“a radical overhaul of the existing regulatory framework”

synonyms: thoroughgoing, thorough, complete, total, entire, absolute, utter, comprehensive, root and branch, sweeping, far reaching, wide-ranging,extensive, profound drastic, severe,serious, major,desperate, stringent, violent, forceful, rigorous, draconian

“radical reform is long overdue”

I LOVE THIS!!!

Relative to this meaning, I think that the photo (pictured above) is perfect for the theme of this post. This is a perfect picture of that “root to branch” connection that’s keeping us alive. He knew that the blood of bulls and goats could not perfect our hearts, pertaining to our conscious, so He sent Jesus to shine in our hearts (Hebrews 10:1-23). Because He conquered death, hell and the grave, we have received the Spirit of adoption, which is the Power by which we stand in this present dark world (Rev. 1:18, Rom. 8:15).

(Holy Bible, King James Version)

In the words of Christ:
“But the Comforter which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you (John 14:26). “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you” (John 16:7).

Because He is so Absolute in His love for me, in His far reaching, wide-ranging mercy, He reached Way…. down for me. He knew that I was going to need a change in my fundamental nature, a “radical overhaul of my existing regulatory framework“. I was eighteen years old when I received the baptism in the Holy Ghost. A gift (the Power) that He knew that I was going to need for the radical reform that was much needed, and long overdue in my life. He knew me before any of my members were formed (psalm 139), and like Jacob, I was a transgressor from my mothers womb (Isaiah 48:8), also like Jacob, I am chosen in the furnace of affliction, and refined in the fire (48:10).

Some may say that those scriptures were for a different time, and a different people, but the two-fold application can’t be understood in the flesh. It is opened unto us through the Spirit (2 Cor. 3:4-6). We should never compromise the power and healing that flows from the word of God. “It is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and a discern-er of the thoughts and intents of the heart” ( Heb. 14-2).

As I read the 48th chapter of Isaiah I can understand that He is the first and the last. My heart leaps with joy to know that from the beginning; from the time that it was, He said, “there am I”;

Taking that down to a personal level, my heart is overwhelmed with a Crazy, Radical Praise! Oh if only I would have hearkened to His commandments! then my peace would have been as a river! Therefore I will flee “this Babylon” with the voice of singing, and I will declare that He hath redeemed me. I will tell of the great and mighty acts that He has done in my life.

I am now a fellow-citizen with the saints, and of the household of God, through the Spirit of God; I am built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; (Ephesians. 2:20)

I am God’s building (1 Cor. 3:9).

“1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3 If so that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. 5 Now he that hath wrought us for the self-same thing is God, who also has given us the earnest of the Spirit. 6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight) 8 We are confident I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ; that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Cor. 1-10).

In conclusion, I think that it is fair to say that God is Radical for me! He has covered me from the cradle to the grave. I am so thankful for the “radical overhaul of my existing regulatory framework”! Again, Therefore I will flee “this Babylon” with the voice of singing, and I will declare that He hath redeemed me. I will tell of the great and mighty acts that He has done in my life, Amen!

I had a dream once. It looked like this, except the word “problem” was the numerator, and the word ” answer” was the denominator. I was the little spec, and I knew that All of the white was God.

I supposed at that time, that God was telling me that in the equation of life, for every problem, there is an answer. Looking at my journey since that time, I realize that God Himself is the determining factor in the equation. For every problem, He Is the answer.

I have known many people who were born with much more potential than myself, yet they are gone, and I still remain. I know in my heart that it is because of the God Factor. I am ashamed that sometimes I question why. I am just a little spec of flesh. My journey has been hard, and the road seems so long. From day to day His Word is my strength to go on.

John 6:63

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life, (King James Version).

This year has been one of my hardest. The enemy tries to trouble me with doubt. He keeps reminding me that I am getting older now, telling me that my circumstances may never change. He was a liar from the beginning, and I choose to believe God! I know that He is a moving on God! He doesn’t just sit in one place like and idol! He has hands that move, ears that hear, and a heart that is touched with the feelings of My infirmities! He breathed on me, and I received His Spirit (John 20:22)! If God so chooses I will say along with Caleb,” I am now eighty-five years old, and I am still strong enough to take that mountain.”

The world sees this kind of faith as foolish, and that is sad. In all of it’s knowledge, the eyes of the world cannot see, nor can a worldly heart understand . The technological explosion has blown apart cultural living around the world, and idolatry has become common place. We are reminded that He is the ONLY God, and that Is our witness, (Is. 44). He Utterly voids out the signs of liars, and makes fortune tellers mad; He makes the knowledge of wise men foolish. He confirms the word of His servant, and performs the counsel of His messengers (Is.44). He is Not as Bel and Nebo, stooping and bowing as they are carried away. Our God doesn’t need for us to carry Him, for He is the one who carries us (Is.46:1-4). Idolatry is a Big Deal! COMMANDMENTS ARE NOT SUGGESTIONS, 1st AND 2cd: You shall have No other gods before you; you shall not worship false gods. God destroyed many for this reason, and that is why His people were in bondage in Babylon.

I pondered on why God called Babylon the Virgin daughter of the Chaldeans . I am sure it was because the city was beautifully adorned, like a virgin in her coat of many colors, yet it was polluted just like its mother, referring to the Chaldean’s skillful practice in astrology (Unger, 2005). This text is a great example of the love that God has for us, and the aspect of Relationship is clearly seen. Although His children were being punished, as a father would punish his child, the Chaldeans had shown them no mercy. For this reason, when God took His vengeance, He did Not meet them as a man (Is. 47). I LOVE THAT!

He has already redeemed us, yet we put ourselves into bad situations. Sometimes we are fed with the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, but it is for our own good. When we finally get it, we toss sin aside like a dirty menstrual garment. We learn to hear his voice behind us saying, ” This is the way, Walk ye in it,” (Is.30).

Personally, my life has been a mess from the floor up, but God Loves me! He has been working on me for a long… time. He is so personal! I had been praying for provision when I ran across these words,

” From the time that it was, there I AM

I am the Lord that teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth by the way that thou shouldest go.

O that thou hadst harkened to my commandments! then had thy Peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:, (Is 48:16-22)”

As I feed on His word, I understand that this world has Nothing to offer. Looking out, I see a world that is groping in darkness, as I use to be. Most are in and out of superficial relationships because they are looking for a savior. I have learned that there is only one; that is our Lord Jesus Christ.

Acts 17:28

For In Him we live and move and have our being;

It is the God factor that determines the equation in all of our lives.

Factor- any of the circumstances, conditions, ect. that bring about a result; element or constituent that makes a thing what it is (Websters New World dictionary, 1988).

References

Unger, M.F. (2005). Unger Bible Dictionary. Oxford: Lion Hudson

Simon and Schuster. (1988). In Websters New World Dictionary (3rd ed.).

New York, New York

This Easter I am excited, because God has given me a deeper insight into the significance of the Garden of Gethsemane, and a deeper understanding of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. It is not only for the remission of sins, and life eternal, but it is about God empowering us to live a Godly life, in an increasingly ungodly world.

The events that took place in the garden of Gethsemane are noteworthy, because our frailty as human beings, and the mercy and power of God are so beautifully displayed. Peter, James, and John were apostles of a high calling, yet they slept for sorrow (Luke 22:45), and a whole band of soldiers fell backwards when Jesus said, “I am he”. John 18:3-6 says that when they came with their torches and weapons to take Jesus, when he said, “I am he”, they went backward and fell on the ground. Mathew 26:47 speaks of this same occurrence. Those young men were actually a great multitude of men, with swords and staves (wooden clubs) (King James Version; James Strong,1992).

Of the four gospels, Mark is the only one who records the appearing of the naked boy. I can only speculate that as the apostles fled the garden of Gethsemane, Mark witnessed this event, (Mark 14:51-52).

“And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth, (fine, bleached linen) cast about his naked body: and the young men laid hold on him: (James Strong, 1992)

And he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked.”

I have read many commentaries on this “certain young man”, and there are many speculations as to who he could have been. Some think that he may have been one of the apostles, or someone who lived nearby. Some think that he could have been the proprietor of the garden who was awakened by the noise and threw on a night shirt. Some people even think that he could have been Mark himself. One point that is commonly shared is that, this “linen sheet” or sindon, was especially used for the burial of the dead. According to Matthew Poole’s Commentary, “It was a kind of light cloak frequently worn in hot weather, and in every other place in the new testament where it was used, it refers to the garment or shroud used to cover the bodies of the dead (Poole, 2018).

Since John 18:18 tells us that it was cold, and they made a fire to warm themselves, I seriously doubt that this sindon was a light cloak. I believe that when Jesus said, “I am he”, not only was it so forceful that it knocked his opposition off their feet, but his resurrection power called this young man out of a nearby tomb.

Not only were the events that took place in the garden noteworthy, but the garden itself holds it’s own significance. The word gethsemane comes from two Hebrew words: gat, which means, “a place for pressing oil (or wine)” and shemanim, which means “oils”. In those times an olive press was used to squeeze the juice out of the olive pulp by placing the olive baskets under a very heavy slab of concrete. It drained off into a pit below, where the water and oil were then separated, and the oil was placed into jars of clay (Lann, 2018). He is the potter, we are the clay (Isaiah 45:9; Job 33:6).

I can see the parallel to Jesus and the olive, as the weight of the sins of the world pressed upon him, as he was ultimately crushed, the oil (the Holy Ghost) could now be poured into us. I am also reminded of the words that Jesus spoke in Matthew 9:17, “Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the new wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.” We must become as new, born again. We now live under a new covenant, not under the old law. The prophet Jeremiah foretold of this new covenant, which is displayed in the book of Hebrews 8:6-10. Verse ten is a depiction of the infilling of the Spirit, “ For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days; saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people.”

The 8th chapter of Romans gives a very explicit picture of God’s amazing love for us, and this redemption plan.

Romans 8:1

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Grace is not a cloak to sin, but through the Spirit we are empowered to live godly.

By this reasoning, he (Paul), has shown that the gospel has accomplished what the law could not do, which is to sanctify (purify) the soul, the destruction of the corrupt passions of our nature, and the recovery of man to God (Henry, 2018; Strong, 1992).

Romans 8:13

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify (put to death) the deeds of the body, ye shall live (Strong, 1992).

If you do not kill sin, it will kill you (Jamieson, 2018).

In the book of Exodus 3:14-15 God said,

I AM THAT I AM:

And God said moreover Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob hath sent me to you: this is my name forever, and this is my memorial (remembrance) unto all generations (James Strong, 1992).

John 5:43

I am come in my Father’s name,

John 6:35

I am the bread of life:

John 8:12

I am the light of the world:

John 10:7

Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

As I pondered on these things, my mind went to the Tabernacle of the old covenant, and the second veil. It was torn from the top to the bottom at the death of our Lord and Savior. According to Edersheime, (1912, p.906) it was sixty feet long, thirty feet high, and as thick as a man’s hand. It excites me to think that as they pierced through his hands, he was piercing through the vail. It did not stay closed like an ending, but it was opened to signify the beginning of a new and a better covenant (Hebrews 8:6).

Hebrews 10:19-23

Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.

By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

And having an high priest over the house of God;

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled (rendered) from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed (the whole person) with pure water (James Strong, 1992).

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

References

Henry, M. (2018, March 28). biblehub.com>commentaries>8-10-17. Retrieved from Bible Hub: biblehub.com

James Strong, S. L. (1992). Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible. World Bible Publishers, Inc.

Jamieson, F. (2018, March 28). biblehub.com>commentaries>8-10-17. Retrieved from Bible Hub: biblehub.com

Lann, R. V. (2018). Gesthemane and The Olive Press. Retrieved from That the World May Know: http://www.thattheworldmayknow.com

Poole, M. (2018, March 28). biblehub.com>commontaries>8-10-17. Retrieved from Bible Hub: biblehub.com

Rev. Alfred Edersheim, M. A., & PH.D. (1912). The LIfe and Times of Jesus the Messiah, Volume 2. New York: Longmanns, Green, and Co. Retrieved from https://books.google.com/books?id=VJUHAAAAQAAJ&dq=edersheim+life+and+times&printsec=frontcover&source=bn&hl=en&ei=RFC7S_yqI4TcM4eauM0H&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CBUQ6AEwBA#v=snippet&q=of%20the%20thickness%20of%20the%20palm%20of%20the%20h

It has been a month since my last post. I have been going through a lot lately, so much as to feel that I don’t have the strength to go on. Ephesians 6:12 says, “We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” I guess that the enemy would like to take me out. ” Therefore I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy:when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me” (Micah7:7-8) .

Sometimes we all sit in darkness, not understanding why we experience some of the things that we go through in this life. It is such a comfort to know that when I cry out, He hears me, so I will wait. Jonah said (Jonah 2:2), “I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and He heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heard-est my voice. This kind of faith does not come easy. It is born through many trials. It is true, “you can’t have a testimony without a test”.

It seems like the mind-set of a hard childhood set me out on a road that lead to destruction. It was like a snow-ball effect. I made one mistake after another. This disastrous path combined with the depression that I carried, even from childhood were a bad mix. The enemy has tried to take me out several times. I know that this is true, because God said it through tongues and interpretation. ” the enemy has tried to take you out several times, but I intervened on your behalf, and I will do it again.” Some of the most powerful words that God spoke over me were, ” The enemy has spoken death over you, but I Speak life.” I know that He loves me. He loves me to the extent that if I am being hurt, not only will He intervene on my behalf, but He will get so angry, that He will thunder loud enough to shake the whole earth! You could rightly call me a Daddy’s girl.

In my flesh I feel as though I am a vase that has been broken and glued back together so many times that my purpose is limited. I can sit on a shelf and hold artificial flowers, but I can’t hold water. In my spirit, I soar when I read the 18th Psalm. Verse 19 says, ” He brought me forth also into a large place; He delivered me because He delighted in me,” (I am free from the past now). For by thee I have run through a troop (plowed through a troop); and by my God have I leaped over a wall. It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect (32). He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet, and setteth me upon my high places (33) ( He equips me to climb the mountains and reach the high places). Though hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip (36). He even widened the path under my feet, so I would no fall!

Many years ago I was living a quiet, and peaceful lifestyle. Life was not perfect, but God had provided a peaceful environment for me to live in. In the process of trying to help someone that I love, who was battling an alcohol addiction, my peaceful atmosphere turned into a place of abuse. Before I knew it, I was living in retreat, in the back bedroom.

I will never forget the day that I had gone into retreat, when all at once, and out of nowhere, it thundered so loud that it felt like the whole earth was shaking! I looked upward and said out-loud, “God, are you angry“. I can’t explain it, it just felt like that. John 10:16 says, “My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me“.

I also remember how excited I was when I testified at church about how that God had confirmed this to me in His word. 2 Samuel 22:8, ” Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because He was wroth.” Verse 14 goes on to say, “ The Lord thundered from heaven, and the most high uttered his voice.”

Those are words of praise from King David, (“a man after God’s own heart”). They can also be found in the 18th Psalm. they were written after God had given David the victory, not only over Goliath, but all of his enemies, including the Philistines and Saul.

As time passed, I began to notice that there are many places in the Bible that refer to God speaking with the sound of thunder. In Exodus 9:22, the Lord sent hail and thunder upon the land of Egypt. Exodus 19:16-18 speaks of God coming down to mount Sinai. There were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the sound of the trumpet was so loud that all of the people in the camp trembled. The whole mountain shook and quaked. Revelation 14:1-2 also speaks of a voice of great thunder. These are just a few of the scriptures where thunder is mentioned, but in summary of these, I think it is more than right to say that, “Our God is a God of Thunder!”

There are many things that I look forward to writing about, but my pen is lead by prayer. I would never want to appear as a puffed up person. I just don’t want to be that wicked servant who buried her one talent in the sand, (Matt. 25:14-30).

As I was in the process of reading the book of Luke, I came to the last verse in chapter 14, and I could not continue on. For days I would pick up my Bible, but I could not read forward. As I meditated on these scriptures, It felt like Jesus was encouraging me to live a sold out life, no matter who thinks that I am a fanatic. The last words in these scriptures are, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear”.

In these last days, I hear a lot of teachings on prosperity, (seed faith, plant a seed expect a harvest), but I fear that this takes away from the simplicity that is in Christ, (2Cor. 11:3). This is a dangerous teaching. What if things in this life never change? This is not what knowing Christ is about. We should be rich toward God (Luke 12:15-23). What about the many things that the apostle Paul and many others suffered? When they became weak, God became strong inside of them. As I was reading in  Luke 14, verses 26-35, I see the call to carry my cross, no matter what the cost. Have we considered the possible cost, and still chose Christ? Do we love Him most of all?

In the last two verses of this chapter in Luke, I found it interesting that salt that has lost it’s flavor is not even fit to throw on a pile of poop. Yes, that is what it says. Do you have ears to hear?

I did a word study on salt, and found that not only was it used in food for humans and animals, it was also used to throw on the dunghill to speed up the decomposition of dung (poop). More interesting than that, Lev. 2:13 states that, “every grain offering of yours moreover, ye shall season with salt”, which is called “the salt of your covenant with your God “. Salt was the symbol of a covenant, and the salt of the sacrifice was symbolic of self surrender to the Lord, and a repellent of hypocrisy and sin.

I think that this was an encouraging word from the Lord. No matter if the world see’s us sold out Christians as fanatics, God see’s us as salt that has not lost it’s flavor. We are in covenant with a God that is more real than a rainbow! He is our God, and we are His people! We have counted the cost, and still chose Christ. We understand that the disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord (Matt. 10:24). In this world we will suffer persecution.

Help us Lord that we would not become lukewarm (Rev. 3:16). Please widen the path under our feet, lest we fall (Psalm 18:36). It is by your strength that we stand. Amen