Meditations on His Word, 2011, Jan.-Dec.

Revelation 18:11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:

Revelation 18:24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

Verse 11 of Revelation chapter 18 is taught by many to literally mean merchants of goods and services of this world. They teach that the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn because no one is buying their products. If we take this teaching literally then we are missing the beauty of the symbolism of what Babylon and its merchants truly mean.

We first must understand what Babylon symbolizes. Babylon is confusion in the organized religious world that has been created by those led by falsehoods, ignorance of the Truth of God’s Holy Word and those led by their own lusts for prosperity and notoriety. What they have made merchandise of is the search by God’s called ones for Truth and unity with our Father and our Savior, Jesus our Christ. They are selling what some believe to be Truth and what they hope is obedience to our Heavenly Father. Revelation 18:3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. Those seeking Truth are in danger of being destroyed spiritually (Revelation 18:24) in their growth into mature Christians by continuing to buy what false teachers have to sell. Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.

As knowledge of the Truth grows, II Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen., these merchants will weep and mourn as more and more reject their profiting from selling what was meant to be free. Be prepared for not just their weeping and mourning, but for downright angry tantrums at the loss of financial support and the filling of their pews. As they push their false teachings, and more and more do grow in knowledge and shake the dust of mankind’s false teachings from their feet and leave these places, these false teachers will squeeze the remaining members of their congregations to cover the loss of revenue. They will pressure them to fill their buildings with new people. They will insult the town and community by calling them uneducated, backward and unsophisticated for not supporting their false teachings and their “church”. They will berate those remaining in the congregation that they are not doing and giving enough. Ironically, this will disillusion more and more of their congregations and they also will leave. This is the destruction of Babylon that must take place in the teachings and beliefs of those searching for Truth so that Truth will prevail today, because Truth/Jesus our Christ has already prevailed. Revelation 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book (communicated with us), and to loose the seven seals thereof (share the Truth with us about His fulfillment of our Father's plan of salvation).

These merchants will show their true greedy, arrogant, prideful and disobedient selves as they watch the glamorous, decadent and profitable lifestyles they idolize be destroyed by the Truth of God’s Word carried by His called and elected children. These merchants’ lies, misconceptions and misunderstandings of the Truth will be destroyed by the brightness (enlightenment of understanding and knowledge) of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in His servants’ minds and hearts, II Thessalonians 2:8. As His servants are unified in knowledge with Him, the Kingdom of God will grow and grow within those same servants. Servants of God are not interested in selling what they have freely received from their Teacher/Jesus Christ.

Matthew 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

Those who have made merchandise of the teaching and sharing of the Word of God are confused by their own carnal lusts for prosperity and notoriety. We must not keep supporting these carnal lusts and confusion so that Babylon will be destroyed and the Kingdom of God shall dwell in all His children! Just as our Father commands.

I Timothy 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

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Meditations on His Word, November 2011

Galatians 5:21……murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

The excerpt above is from the listing of the works of the flesh in the book of Galatians 5:19-21. As students of our Father’s Holy Word and as children of our God, we find the listing of who shall not inherit/enter the Kingdom of God very instructional and enlightening for our personal self examination. This list is not meant to be used to condemn others, but to come to the understanding that each of us are now or have been guilty of at least one of these hindrances to entering into the Kingdom of God here on earth. We know that the Kingdom of God is within us, Luke 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you, so we know that we should look within ourselves to find out exactly where we are failing to represent the Kingdom of God and what each item on the list really means to us personally.

We want to talk about revellings listed above. The words revellings/revelry mean: carousal, merriment, pleasure, glee, jocularity, clownery, flippancy, cheer and playfulness. Looking at these synonyms, how can this be something that keeps us from entering the Kingdom of God? Are we not told in Ecclesiastes that man should enjoy the fruits of his labor? Are we not told in Proverbs 17:22 that a merry heart is a wonderful thing? Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Some teach that revelry is dancing and that dancing is a sin; therefore, that is what is keeping someone from entering the Kingdom of God. Didn’t David dance in his praise before the Lord for the Ark of the Covenant coming into the City of David? II Samuel 6:14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. Didn’t our Lord Jesus teach us with the parable of the prodigal son that music and dancing were an acceptable way to express joy and gratitude to our Father for his blessings? Luke 15:23 & 24 and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. Of course, we are to use Godly wisdom to discern the way in which we dance for joy and praise. Two people rubbing all over each other in a sexually suggestive manner is not what is being described in our Father’s Word and we all know that.

The revelry that keeps us from entering the Kingdom of God is when we only care about and are involved in merriment, carousing, clownery, flippancy, etc. and do not want to take seriously the commandments, instructions and the coming into union with our Father and His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. This is when we cannot be used in His Kingdom here on earth. We all know those (and ourselves at various times in our lives) that care nothing about seeking our God. Everything is a joke and all their lives are spent on satisfying the lusts of the flesh. Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. This is immaturity in the Spirit and must be purified and chastened out of us so that we may become the perfected (matured) Christians that our Father can use to further His Kingdom here on earth. Philippians 2:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Ephesians 4:13-15 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

So how do we mature in this area of our lives concerning revelry/revellings……Temperance (moderation/balance/discipline/self-control) in all things! We must crucify the works of the flesh with the Fruit of the Spirit!

Galatians 5:22 & 23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

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Meditations on His Word, October, 2011

Idolatry

Exodus 32:4 And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

The story of the Israelites worshipping a golden calf may seem as if it is just an interesting occurrence that happened among those ungrateful, untrusting and disobedient children of God’s, BUT, as we know from

I Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come., we are to examine ourselves to see where we, too, are guilty of idolatry before our God. Now we may immediately avow to the fact that “we have never or would ever worship a molten calf” and therefore; we are not like those people in the desert who greatly offended our Lord and His servant, Moses. Ofcourse, since the molten calf is an ensample (example) of putting anything before our Father we know that we are also guilty of this disobedience somewhere in our own lives. Maybe our molten calf is the world, a denomination, a church, a teacher/pastor, a certain false teaching, our own prideful knowledge or notoriety, greedy desires or anything else we hold in higher regard before our Father and His Truth. If we are succumbing to unrighteous carnal passions, desires and lusts, they are idols we have put before our God and we need to repent.

Let’s examine the example of Aaron’s actions and see if we can relate it to our own lives. Aaron gave in to the pressures, anger, dislike and unrest of some of the people to please men instead of God.

Ephesians 6:6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

As with Aaron, are we going along with an unrighteous act or teaching because we do not want to upset anyone in our church or Bible study group? Do we desire the companionship and socializing of others to the point that we will not take a stand for the Truth of our Father’s Word? Do we not want to be labeled as a religious fanatic, a homophobe, intolerant, unloving, non-inclusive, etc. so badly that we will not stand on the Truth of God’s Word? Then we are guilty of idolatry as much as the Israelites were and we need to repent.

We are told clearly in our Father’s Word that idolaters will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

I Corinthians 6:9 & 10 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

Please remember, the Kingdom of God is within the followers of Jesus Christ and what Paul is saying is that as long as we are committing idolatry by putting anything or anyone before our Father and His Truth, we are not in the Kingdom of God in our hearts/ minds. We must repent and be cleansed of the sin of idolatry before we, too, can inherit the Kingdom of God.

I Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

We must truly examine our hearts and minds and listen to the Holy Spirit’s conviction on where we may be ignorantly or stubbornly committing the unrighteous act of idolatry against our Lord because above all else, we pray “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10.

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Meditations on His Word, September ‘11

I Corinthians 4:6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

In this day and age of religious writings on the internet and thousands of religious books filling the book shelves of religious bookstores, we must remember the teaching in our Father’s Holy Word about not thinking more highly of a man or woman or their teachings than what agrees with the Word of God.

It is so easy to begin to worship the one delivering the gospel or what we think to be the gospel. It is also very easy for those worshipping a teacher to cause that teacher to become puffed up and proud of his/her knowledge. We love this verse, I Corinthians 3:21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are your's;, because we are told that no one person is special to receive the Truth from our Father and His Son and, therefore, they deserve our adoration and flattery. “All things” (Truth, Mercy, Love, Peace, Wisdom, etc.)” are for anyone who asks them of our Heavenly Father. We must get past worshiping men/women who deliver the Word and only worship the One who is the Word. John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. This need to worship someone we can see is a carnal reaction and as we know our carnal bodies are constantly at war with our spiritual bodies. Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Once a teacher begins to believe that he/she is above learning and maturing in the Truth, then he/she has become puffed up and believes that they are spiritually greater than another. If a teacher believes he has received the greatest education from a renowned seminary and is not open to hearing from THE TEACHER, JESUS CHRIST, then he/she is just like the religious leaders/teachers that would not hear Christ and crucified Him. When we do not learn and teach the Word of Truth then we are crucifying our Teacher again, because He is the Word of Truth. We must always be open to learning from anyone. If we dismiss them because of lack of religious education, age or their association with other religious organizations, then we do not trust our Teacher, Jesus Christ, to remind us to go to His Word and listen to His instructions on every teaching we may encounter in this earthly life.

Adoration and flattery from others are very seductive means to bring about this puffed up attitude in a servant of God, but one must remember that any true knowledge is from our Father and not of ourselves, therefore; there is nothing for us to be puffed up or prideful about, Galatians 5:26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

There are teachings out there that come from highly educated and credentialed people that others are impressed with and swayed by their seemingly Godly wisdom from above. Because of their awe of these teachers they forget to check or test every teaching and spirit against what is written in the scriptures. I John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets (teachers) are gone out into the world.

If a teacher is presently still blind to teaching a Truth, do not follow him into the ditch of false teachings. Matthew 15:14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. We must never want our Teacher, Jesus Christ, to say to us, Matthew 15:9 “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”

A few years ago we were put to the test by God about whether we would follow and worship His Truth or a pastor whom we believed was teaching the truth. When our Teacher, Jesus Christ, began to reveal to us that some of what this pastor was teaching was in error, we had to “choose that day whom we will serve”. Standing up for the Truth in a Bible study group we were hosting meant anger, accusations and the dissolution of the group. Although this was emotionally painful, there was no other recourse, but to stand for the Truth. We can clearly and happily see now that this was a teaching, purifying and trying time for us from our Father and our Teacher, Jesus! “Would we choose the friendship, socializing and “puffing up” of the group or would we choose Him/Truth?”

Our Father is a jealous God for His children’s love, worship and obedience and He will test them to see whom they serve!

Exodus 34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:

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Meditations on His Word, August ‘11

Joel 2:8 Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.

The book of Joel is a book of prophecy; it prophesizes of our heavenly Father’s plan for all mankind’s salvation. This plan was to be completed by His only begotten Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ. This completion, Jesus’ immaculate birth, crucifixion/death and resurrection, brought in the “Day of the Lord” that is referred to in our Father’s Holy Word. In the “Day of the Lord” Christ’s sacrifice would raise up an army of His followers that will never be destroyed. This army described in Joel chapter 2 is also the army described in Revelation chapter 9.

Joel and Revelation teach us so many wonderful instructional descriptions of the army of Christians that we all should desire to become as we seek to serve our Father in His Kingdom here on earth. The above verse is one of these instructions that we wish to address in this teaching.

We came across a minister on TV really coming down on someone who had criticized the bullying, ranting and exaggerating (lying) fundraising tactics of another preacher they bring in for their ministry. He was chastising this person for attacking a “brother” and that this person had better be careful because if both of these people were teaching Christ, then they were “brothers”. Of course, we can understand this minister’s outrage because by criticizing the preacher they bring in for fundraising, this person was also criticizing the minister and his ministry.

Now the above verse does tell us not to thrust one another as we each walk on our own Jesus-led path, but does this mean that we are to never rebuke, reprove or instruct a “brother” or “sister”? Are we to keep our mouths shut when we see such brazen and (hopefully) ignorant abuse of God’s Word used to manipulate His children? This is one of the times when we must calmly and spiritually rightly divide the Word of God for our maturity and to help others mature. II Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Of course, we are not to thrust (try to hurt, destroy or knock them off the path of righteousness) another Christian on his path, but rebuking, reproving and chastening is instructional disciplining into maturity, if it is done with LOVE! Apollos was instructed for his maturity by Priscilla and Aquila in LOVE. Acts 18:26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly (maturely). We are told in II Timothy 4:2 to reprove, entreat, rebuke a brother/sister, “Preach the word: be instant in season, out of season: reprove, entreat, rebuke in all patience and doctrine”. The two (unified in Truth) witnesses in Revelation 11:5 use the fire (our Father’s Glorious Truth) proceeding out of their mouths to kill (destroy) those who are not teaching the Truth. Hopefully, those having false teachings destroyed by Truth/Fire will become brothers/sisters unified as witnesses for the Kingdom of God here on earth.

We are to help each other as much as possible with the Truth, but if it is rejected then perhaps their paths will get them there later or through someone else’s reproving, entreating and rebuking. We must do as we are led by our Teacher, and then be still. We must sow and water the seeds of Truth, but only our Father can multiply those seeds in someone else.

We can take great comfort and peace in the last part of Joel 2:8, “when they fall (are brought down or humbled) upon the sword (by the Word of God, Ephesians 6:17… and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God) they shall not be wounded (because they will be matured in Truth and wisdom from above). And isn’t that what we all should desire to become in our servitude to our Heavenly Father?

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Meditations on His Word, July '11

Proverbs 2:14 Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;

Romans 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

II Thessalonians 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

These verses prove, once again, that our Father covers everything in His Word for us to live by in the flesh.

We have yet another denomination in the middle of a schism because of their unbiblical stand on ordaining homosexuals into ministerial positions in their churches. Of course, the first thing that comes to mind is exactly what is their definition of a church? THE CHURCH is the body of Christ, following His instructions for us coming into union with Him and our Father. Following His instructions of obeying His words of Truth-The Holy Bible by not condemning someone, but that they “must repent” and “go, and sin no more!” John 8:11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

A church is supposed to be an assembly place of worship, praise and exhortation in Truth for those who are believers and those seeking to become believers. If the Truth is not being taught in these assemblies then it is a social meeting place and not a House of God. The second thing that comes to mind is if these ordained homosexual ministers are going to preach the Truth as it is written in God’s Word, and that is that we must REPENT for ALL abominable sins; then fine. However; if they are going to dismiss God’s instruction on this issue or teach that it is insignificant to God what we do sexually, then they are false teachers and we are told clearly in Mark 6:11 & 12 to shake the dust of their disobedient and false teachings from our feet and leave their presence.

Some cry that they don’t want people to leave the church/denomination over this one mistaken teaching, but it is not complicated; our Lord gave us His instructions on what to do in this situation. We must in every situation we encounter in this flesh life decide this day whom we will serve! (Joshua 24:15) This is the “coming out of her/them” that is instructed in Revelation 18:4 and in II Corinthians 6:17.

Mark 6:11&12 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust (mankind’s false teachings) under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. And they went out, and preached that men should repent.

Some teach that the Bible can be read in many different ways and therefore they want us to believe that Leviticus 18:22 and Romans 1:27 does not clearly say that God finds homosexuality abominable. Even a first-grader can read these verses and tell you exactly what they are saying, so there is only one way to read these instructions. However; once we believe the Truth of His words on this subject we must also understand what He is teaching us in Proverbs 2:14, Romans 1:32 and II Thessalonians 2:12. Some think that if they are not actually doing abominable sins, then it is OK to just “take pleasure in others doing them”. Our instruction is clear on this, we are not to delight in others’ wickedness nor take pleasure in others’ sinful actions.

What first comes to mind are parades, celebratory occasions and union blessings (from mislead and disobedient “ministers”) for homosexuals. But let’s truly listen to the Holy Spirit convict us all of where we also are guilty of the sin of taking pleasure in others’ sins. Do we gather around at work or at lunch with friends to hear the latest escapades of others’ fornications, adultery, cheating, lying or stealing? Do we desire to hear every titillating detail for our own salacious appetites and so that we may live vicariously through them? If we do, then we are guilty of sin and need to repent (be convicted, confess, regret and change our ways) just as much as the ones actually committing the sins.

Isn’t it obvious that if one’s sins are being applauded, condoned and praised, then they are being encouraged to remain in sin and not being led by love and Truth to repent? Isn’t it also obvious that those committing and taking pleasure in these sins are looking for a religious stamp of approval? It doesn’t matter how many denominations or pastors give their approval, it will never replace the Truth of God’s Word. Sadly those committing these sins know this in their souls and cannot find peace about it, because they mistakenly look for peace in the false teachings of mankind.

So many today seem to think by applauding others’ sins that they are showing them the love of God by being inclusive, accepting and tolerant of their sins. How can this be when God hates sin? Do they honestly think they are more loving than our Father for His own children? Love for children involves discipline with the Truth, II Timothy 3:16&17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Our Father IS love and if we want to represent Him, we must show our love for our brothers and sisters by telling them the Truth. It is our great commission to lovingly share the Truth!

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Meditations on His Word, June '11
Matthew 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Mark 9:29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

These verses can bring to mind many questions. When Jesus specifically states that “this kind” of evil, debilitating, and possessive spirit exists, then how many “kinds” of evil spirits are there? The Lord called it a “deaf and dumb” spirit when He cast it out. In our Father’s Holy Word we are told of lying spirits, spirits of divination, perverse spirits, spirit of adultery, spirit of fear, spirit of jealousy, spirit of antichrist, spirit of error, etc. We must take comfort in the fact that although there may be many kinds of evil spirits, there is only ONE who makes it possible to cast them out and to not enter again, Jesus our Lord and Savior. I John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Another question about these verses is what exactly is the fasting that we are supposed to do today? We know that prayer is communing with God, exhorting Him, praising Him, imploring of Him, but what about the fasting that should go hand-in-hand with the casting out of this kind of spirit by a disciple of God.

Fasting seems to be about subduing our carnal flesh, taking captive every unrighteous thought, trying to grow and mature spiritually in spite of the battle between our flesh and our spirit. The word fast means to “close or cover the mouth” and although this can mean to not put food or water in that closed mouth in our Biblical examples, what else do we do with our mouths? We speak of the thoughts and character of our hearts/minds. If what we speak is not of Truth/Jesus then we should “close our mouths or fast” until we have the faith, knowledge and wisdom from above to move mountains (people and the spirits that may dwell within them) that our Lord chastened His disciples about before He then cast out the evil spirit Himself. We can do nothing in ourselves. It is He that is within us that is greater than any evil spirit.

To fast or go without something is most beautifully exemplified in Christ’s instruction when he was asked by disciples of John the Baptist why His disciples did not fast. He taught them that the fast they would soon be in was of Him being gone from their physical presence. He said they would mourn for the loss of their “living bread and living water”. Mark 2:20 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.

Literal fasting of physical bread and water will not spiritually make one obtain the favor of our God, because that would be “works” and we know that man can never achieve union with our Father by his “works”. We know we are saved by the afflictions and sufferings of our Savior in our Father’s plan of salvation, not by afflicting ourselves.   His afflictions and sufferings were for us, so that our prayers are answered and we are brought closer to God.

Fasting was an example for us to spiritually grow and mature, just as performing miracles were to symbolically exemplify what we are to spiritually achieve as servants for our Lord. Christ and the disciples healing the blind and deaf represented us healing those who are spiritually blind and deaf with the Truth of God’s Word. The Lord feeding the 4000 with 7 loaves and a few small fish represents our instruction to feed those hungering and thirsting for Truth today. Peter walking on water was representative of all believers standing on the living Water/Jesus and not sinking into hell (absence of Godliness and righteousness) because of lack of the Truth. Wisdom is in understanding that we are not to literally attempt to do these things, but we are to spiritually learn from their examples, just as the disciples realized that the examples of Adam and Eve’s sin, Noah’s ark, the battle between David and Goliath, Moses’ leadership and servitude to God, Christ’s death and resurrection, etc. were examples for them to spiritually mature and represent the Kingdom of God here on earth.

When our Lord fasted for 40 days in the wilderness He represented for us the wilderness journey we would all have on our way to our promised inheritance. May we all pray and fast “the fast” that Isaiah is referring to for knowledge, wisdom and freedom from the captivity of ignorance of His Truth. In this fast we are to share with others that are in need of Truth our Lord’s love and compassion so that yokes and burdens of bondages are destroyed.

Isaiah 58:5-7 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

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Meditations on His Word, May ‘11

Numbers 12:8 With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?

Exodus 33:11 And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.

Many think that these verses are contradictory of the verses that state that no man can look upon the face of God and live.   Exodus 33:20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. Exodus 33:20 Cross-References: Genesis 32:30, Exodus 24:10, Deuteronomy 5:24, Judges 6:22, Judges 13:22, Isaiah 6:5, John 1:18, 1 Timothy 6:16, Hebrews 1:13, Revelation 1:16-17 They want to use their misunderstanding of these verses as proof that the Bible is fallible and not the true Word of God. However; when we understand the euphemisms of the time we can see that there is no contradiction in God’s Holy Word. No man in the weak, vulnerable, carnal flesh can look upon the Spiritual Face of Almighty God because that man would have to be in spirit also. Just look how Paul was blinded by the Glory of God in Christ Jesus on the road to Damascus. Acts 9:3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: Acts 9:9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
Moses’ face shone so brightly after being in the presence of the Glory of God that he put a veil upon his face. Exodus 34:29 And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him. Exodus 34:33 And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his face. Exodus 34:35 And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone: and Moses put the vail upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him. Likewise, Stephen’s face shone as he shared the Glory of God’s teachings,

Acts 6:15 And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel (a messenger of God’s Holy Truth).

To become “as one” with our Savior as “we are changed into the same image from glory to glory”; we become that Glorious Light of Truth that shines forth in the world of confusion, lies, misunderstandings and falsehoods. II Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. John 17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

“Face to face” and “mouth to mouth” means to speak plainly, directly, trustingly and confidently. Oh, that we all may aspire to be like Moses was known by our Father; a friend, earnest in his desire to serve, someone that God could trust to teach and stand for the Truth.

Let us remember the One/Jesus Christ who wants to talk with us “face to face” and “mouth to mouth” is our Father’s only begotten Son who gives us His glory so that we may be one in Truth. And let us rejoice in the promise of our Father’s Word that we will see His face (countenance, presence, grace, favor) in our foreheads (minds, knowledge, and understanding)!   Thank You, Lord!

Revelation 22:4 And they shall see his face; and his name (character, nature, His Truth) shall be in their foreheads (minds, knowledge).

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Meditations on His Word, April ‘11

James 3:1 My brethren, be not many masters, (Teachers), knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

At first glance this verse could seem to be a complete contradiction to us being instructed to become teachers of God’s Word in Hebrews 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. We know that our Father is not the author of confusion, therefore; we must calm our spirits and let the Holy Spirit of our Teacher, Jesus Christ, give us peaceful understanding of the admonition in this verse.

We must understand that what James was warning us about was in WHAT we are teaching. Are we teaching The Truth of our Father’s Word? Or are we teaching through misunderstanding and ignorance caused by lack of knowledgeable instruction? Are we teaching deliberate falsehoods for our own personal gain or satisfaction? This is also what Paul meant when he says in I Timothy 2:12 “I suffer not a woman to teach”. It was WHAT the women of Corinth and Ephesus were falsely teaching about women being superior to men (the worship of Diana). It’s interesting that so many pastors teach that James meant not many people should be preachers or pastors (less competition for their jobs, of course), but sadly and ironically they may not be teaching the Truth of God’s Word themselves. These pastors, and all of us, must understand that as we mature (are perfected in Truth) we will receive condemnation from our Teacher as He chastises and corrects us on what we are teaching falsely. Without condemnation of the false teachings how will we repent and become teachers of the Truth/Sons of God? Hebrews 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

The word condemnation means to call into question or judgment one’s motives and understanding of what they are teaching. Since our Father and His Son are righteous in their judgment of each of us, they know our hearts/minds and they know exactly how to chastise and lead us into Truth.

Acts 1:24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, and Acts 15:8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
When we have the loving desire for the Truth, our Master/Teacher, Jesus Christ, will, through His Holy Spirit, impress upon our hearts/minds where we are teaching that is false. It is then up to each of us to hear and obey His instruction in serving our Father in His Kingdom here on earth. That Kingdom is within us when we have faith in Him, love Him and teach His Truth.

Of course we all are to be teachers of the Truth! We are to sow and water the seeds of Truth. We are to let the light of Truth shine through us. We are to desire “strong meat” and not just “milk” as we are matured/perfected by our Teacher, Jesus Christ. We are to be the salt that cures and preserves the mature Truth for the establishing of the Kingdom of God within His children. BUT, As Teachers, we must always be open to examining ourselves and listening to THE Teacher when he is leading, guiding, rebuking, chastising and exposing to us where we are lacking knowledge and understanding of His Truth. It is when we are self-righteously “puffed up” with knowledge of traditional teachings of mankind that we close our spiritual eyes and ears and cannot or will not hear our Teacher, Jesus Christ. Then we become of no use in serving Him in His Kingdom here on earth.

Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

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Meditations on His Word, March ‘11

Matthew 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

This verse sounds like it is giving some pretty awesome power to the followers of Jesus Christ. Power that could make one become “puffed up”, prideful and cause one to lack love and mercy for others, if we do not hear the true spiritual meaning from our Teacher, Jesus Christ. We have heard it taught that this verse means that God will stand behind the decisions of the followers of Christ in the judgments they make on earth. Wow, that’s scary! Christ taught us in Matthew 18:26-35 how some can “judge” so unmercifully and how He feels about that. He teaches us to forgive “seventy times seven” in Matthew 18:22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. We must be careful lest we think we are spiritually mature enough to pass judgments on others and we are not using Christ-like discernments. We must realize that we are all in the refining, purifying and maturing phase here on earth. We must remember that unless we are unified with our Father in His love, discernment and judgment then we are sentencing ourselves to being judged with the same judgment we dole out on others. Matthew 7:1&2 Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

The symbolic meanings of the words earth, heaven, bound and loose in this verse is what we need to gain wisdom and knowledge of, if we are to mature in our Father’s Holy Word.

Earth: Mankind in the flesh, mankind’s knowledge and wisdom.
Heaven: Holy Spiritual knowledge and wisdom from above.
Bound: knitted together with Truth.
Loose: Sharing, encouraging, exhorting with Truth. What we are being told in this verse is that whenever we hear Truth we are to let go of earthly (mankind’s) teachings and become knitted together (bound) as one with our Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, in heavenly wisdom and knowledge.

We must accept the keys of the kingdom of heaven that our Savior wants to give us to build His Church. These keys are the Truth, wisdom, knowledge, love, mercy, compassion and discernment that we receive from our Teacher, Jesus Christ. These keys are also our confession of faith that He is the only begotten Son of God, The Christ. We must not allow mankind’s false teachings, based on its laws (doctrines) to hinder ourselves and others from entering into the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth, Luke 11:52 Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.

The Kingdom of Heaven (wisdom and knowledge from above) is the unity that our Lord prayed for us to have in John 17:22723 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect (mature) in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

To be loosed from mankind’s false teachings (earth) and bound (knitted together) with our Father and His Son in Truth (heaven) should be our greatest desire.

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Meditations on His Word, February ‘11

Tithing

The Old Testament practice of tithing to the Levitical priests is being taught today as if it still applies to the followers of Jesus Christ. Since the birth, death and resurrection of our HIGH PRIEST, JESUS CHRIST, did away with this practice, just as with blood sacrifices, stonings and burnt offerings (we don’t hear of too many Christians preaching to continue these practices, do we?), then why is this practice still being taught? There are no Levitical priests any more, only priests after the order of Melchizedek/Jesus our Christ.

Hebrews 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

What our GREAT HIGH PRIEST requires of us is the spiritually symbolic meaning of the word “tithing”. Tithe: a tenth, which comes from the number ten. Ten symbolically means: testimony, responsibility and law (as in the law that Jesus fulfilled for us). The Tithe that our Christ requires of His followers is that we become a living testimony for our Father and His plan for mankind’s salvation; the birth, death and resurrection of His only begotten Son, Jesus of Nazareth. It is our responsibility as a stone, pillar, gate and candlestick in our Father’s temple here on earth to become that living testimony.

In Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone., Jesus was chastising them on doing what they thought was the law (and it was, until our Christ fulfilled that law) and not obeying the loving nature of God to have compassion, faith and mercy. Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.

Now, of course, we know that commanding, extorting and begging tithes from their congregations is what most preachers have been taught in seminaries and they believe they are teaching correctly to their flocks. They can see no other way to meet the financial needs of having a place to assemble, Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. How about simply announcing to those, who wish to assemble for exhortation/encouragement and teaching of the Truth, the need for help with rental space costs, utilities and maintenance repairs? Of course, the administrative costs of having an assembling place have gotten out of control with salaries, trips, decorating, expanding, etc. that pastors and church boards are led to tactics that are unbiblical to financially support themselves. Trust in the loving generosity of Christ-led followers and stop misleading them with ignorance about tithing.

As to offerings, alms and giving to others, just look around, there are poor people struggling to have the basic needs, there are people doing hard and thankless jobs to which a generous tip would mean so much, show them the loving, caring and generous followers of Christ of whom we testify. Stop relinquishing your responsibilities of sharing and caring for others to the organized religious churches. Can we just imagine if all followers of Jesus Christ would give of their blessings to others, instead of to wasteful self-gratifying churches? How many more would be drawn to be the caring and giving Christians that we all should desire to be?

The misunderstood teaching about tithing has become yet another Pharisaical bondage practice to enslave followers of Christ to support organized religious churches instead of THE CHURCH/THE BODY OF CHRIST.

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Meditations on His Word, January ‘11

Luke 5:4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

According to the Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance the word deep in this verse means profound, great depth of understanding and deeper in knowledge.

It’s always funny when you hear the comment “He or She has gone off the deep end!” when referring to someone that has awakened to the fact that they have been in Babylon/Confusion in their understanding of the Truth of God’s Word. Although this derogatory and judgmental comment is meant to be dismissive and insulting, it is actually one of the most maturing and purifying accusations one could hope to receive on the path to serving our Father. As our Lord and Teacher, Jesus Christ, instructed, we must “launch out into the deep” if we are going to become mature in wisdom and knowledge from above.   If we are not willing to go into the deep then we are as baby Christians, needing milk instead of mature meat, Hebrews 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. This also makes us always being taught but never coming to the understanding of mature Truth.
II Timothy 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

We know from our Father’s Word that we are to fish in the deep because it is His will that all men be saved and come unto the knowledge of His Truth.
I Timothy 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

I Corinthians 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
Of course, the biggest problem is when we think we already are so deep in our knowledge that we become “puffed up”, stubborn and complacent that we do not have spiritual eyes and ears to hear the Truth, nor do we listen to the pricking of the Holy Spirit of our Teacher, Jesus Christ. Acts 9:5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. Thankfully, our Father has promised to multiply the seeds of Truth in all who have the love of the Truth.

When Jesus used the analogy of making His disciples fishers of men, He wanted them to bring in the biggest haul possible. That meant going out into the deep so that they could catch as many as they could and then those would become fishers of men and the haul would continuously multiply. As mature Truth is multiplied in His servants and false teachings are destroyed by that mature Truth, the Kingdom of God will reign brighter and brighter on earth as our Savior’s coming is fulfilled in His followers.

It is interesting that deep also means abyss or pit. When we are in the depths of the lack of faith, knowledge and wisdom of our Father we are in that deep/abyss/pit. Psalms 143:7 Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. When we seek and find His love, faith, knowledge and wisdom we are released from that pit/deep/abyss. Revelation 9:1 & 2 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall (Jesus humbled as a man on earth) from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key (Revelation 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.) of the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.

That is why we must fish in the deep for His maturing and purifying wisdom and knowledge so that we may be used as His servants to help others.