As It Is Fitting (2 Thessalonians 1:1-12)

"Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, AS IT IS FITTING, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgement (discernment) of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who DO NOT OBEY THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because OUR testimony among you was believed.

Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would COUNT YOU WORTHY of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ."

We are passing through a season through which some of our clothes fit differently. :) But let me ask you, brethren, how these words from Paul to the church of the Thessalonians are fitting you?

John writes, "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask (contextually, according to His will), we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him." (1 John 5:14,15)

This devoted church has been recognized by Paul and is held up as an example to the other churches. Clearly, they are "in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ", although the garment of His salvation may become loose or tight according to our approach in devotion. If we will ask according to His will, He hears and tailors!

Fulfilling the Word of God

Colossians 1:19-29, 2:1-3

"For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of the cross."

"And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight---if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister."

"I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, TO FULFILL THE WORD OF GOD, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily."

"For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." 

BY the gospel of Jesus Christ, the will of God, Paul became a minister. BY understanding and "fill (ing) up in his flesh the afflictions of Christ, Paul became a minister according to the stewardship from God to fulfill His word.

"And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)

Paul mentions preaching Christ so that we may present every man "perfect in Christ Jesus". The Lord says His strength is "made perfect in weakness". Attain to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God. The Lord knows how to reconcile all things to Himself: He MADE peace through the blood of the cross!

Sinners Resist and Reject Him

"So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, 'Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner.' He answered and said, 'Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.' Then they said to Him again, 'What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?' He answered them, 'I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?' "

"Then they reviled him and said, 'You are His disciple, but we are Moses' disciples. We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from.' The man answered and said to them, 'Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.' They answered and said to him, 'You were completely born in sins, and you are teaching us?' And they cast him out." (Excommunicated him)

"Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, 'Do you believe in the Son of God?' He answered and said, 'Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?' And Jesus said to him, 'You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.' Then he said, 'Lord, I believe!' And he worshiped Him. And Jesus said, 'For judgement I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.' Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, 'Are we blind also?' Jesus said to them, 'If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, 'We see.' Therefore your sin remains.' "(John 9:24-41)

"For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to those who call upon Him. For 'whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.' "(Romans 10:12,13)

Recognize the difference in approach between he who was blind, and those who "see". At His commands, he who was blind was willing to obey. Those who thought they could see resisted and rejected Him. At every turn toward His words, sinners are being made righteous as they practice righteousness!

"Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him." (1 John 5:14,15)

Above All Things

"The Elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in truth. Beloved, I wish ABOVE ALL THINGS that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in the truth." (3 John v.1-4, KJV)

"...and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far ABOVE all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put ALL THINGS UNDER His feet, and gave Him to be head OVER ALL THINGS to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." (Ephesians 1:19-23, NKJV)

"And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up IN ALL THINGS into Him who is the head--Christ--from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love."(Ephesians 4:11-16, NKJV)

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: 'For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.' Yet in ALL THESE THINGS we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, not things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of Christ Jesus our Lord."(Romans 8:35-39, NKJV)

Conquerors, in this context, receive the understanding of these things, grow up in these things, prosper in these things, and ultimately are found above these things, in Christ Jesus, glorifying God. They will not be separated from His love.

A Sign from Heaven

"Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He show them a sign from heaven. He answered and said to them, 'When it is evening you say, "It will be fair weather, for the sky is red"; and in the morning, "It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening." Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.' And He left them and departed."
(Matthew 16:1-4)

"This is He who came by water and blood---Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. AND THERE ARE THREE THAT BEAR WITNESS ON EARTH: THE SPIRIT, THE WATER, AND THE BLOOD; AND THESE THREE AGREE AS ONE. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son."

(1 John 5:6-11)

"From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief 
priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, 'Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!' But He turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.' 

Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.' " (Matthew 16:21-25)

Peter might as well have said, 'Far be it from me, Lord; I don't want this to happen to me.'  Of course, Peter did not retain that sentiment. Neither will anyone who has the witness of God's Son in himself!

How Balaam Taught Balak

"And to the angel of the church in Pergamos (named the compromising church in NKJV) write, 'These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold THE DOCTRINE OF BALAAM, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. Thus you also have those who have the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.' " (Revelation 2:12-16)

There were reasons that Balak sent for Balaam. Balaam heard what God said; he spoke it, and it came to pass. Balak sent the elders of Midian and of Moab with a diviner's fee. When those princes could not entice Balaam, Balak sent those who were more numerous and more honorable than the first group. They said for Balak, 'please let nothing hinder you from coming to me; for I will certainly honor you greatly, and will do whatever you say to me'. (Numbers 22-24)

I would say that Balaam, blessed to hear from God, taught Balak by listening to him in the first place. Balak was a pagan king, not motivated by God. Balak saw that a prophet of God, who spoke what he heard God say, was willing to listen to a pagan king when "honored" by his approach. What chance did the children of Israel stand against Balak's temptation? You see, Balaam never did curse Israel, but He was tempted enough to listen. My prayer is that each of us in the body of Christ recognize, and transgress not God's way of righteousness in Christ Jesus when the perverse way of Satan/Balak approaches.

Persecuted and Faithful

"And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, 'These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: "I know your works, tribulation, poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.' "(Revelation 2:8-11)

"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, 'These things says He who is holy, He who is true, "He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens". I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Indeed, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie---indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell upon the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." 
(Revelation 3:7-13)

These two churches, Smyrna and Philadelphia, described as persecuted and faithful, respectively, were spoken to in a hopeful, even congratulatory manner by the Lord. The others He regarded as "dead", "lukewarm", or He "had something against".

"The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants---things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, WHO BORE WITNESS to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. Blessed is he who READS and those who HEAR the words of this prophecy, AND KEEP those things which are written in it; for the time is near."
(Revelation 1:1-3)

“Increase Our Faith”

Luke 17:1-10

"Then He said to the disciples, 'It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him.' "

"And the apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith'."

"So the Lord said, 'If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you. And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and sit down to eat'? But will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink'? Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. So likewise you, WHEN YOU HAVE DONE ALL THOSE THINGS WHICH YOU ARE COMMANDED, say, 'We are unprofitable servants. WE HAVE DONE WHAT WAS OUR DUTY TO DO."

The apostles must have heard something stirring. They asked Jesus to increase their faith. It seems they wanted to understand how to do what Jesus had spoken (v.1-4). Jesus directed them to address the mulberry tree and, seemingly, to continue to do so. The result would be this understanding to them: what we have has been given to us.

Do You Have The Spirit Of Christ?

"When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.' Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil." (Matthew 3:16,17;4:1)

"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me (Paul) free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on he things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit." (Romans 8:1-5)

"But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His." (v.9)

"Therefore, brethren, we are debtors---not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live." (v.12,13)

"The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs---heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may be glorified together."(v.16,17)

Do you have the Spirit of Christ? If so, you recognize that the He is leading you out into the wilderness. The devil will tempt you to make your own way there. The Holy Spirit will empower you there, revealing His words to you. James writes, 'My brethren, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job, and seen the end intended by the Lord--that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.'(5:10,11)

Jesus condemned sin in the flesh, while in the flesh. His body is now instructed and empowered to do the same.

His Words: What Jesus Is Known For

"And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life BECAUSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS." (Romans 8:10)

"My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the RIGHTEOUS. He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, 'I know Him,' and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps HIS WORD, truly the love of God is perfected (has been completed) in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk JUST AS HE WALKED." (1 John 2:1-6)

"Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine (His words), and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock." (Matthew 7:24,25)

"For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of RIGHTEOUSNESS, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them."(2 Peter 2:21)

"For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you. Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? -- unless indeed you are disqualified. But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified."  (2 Corinthians 13:4-6) These were qualified by what Jesus is known for- the word of the cross of Christ had become theirs! They had been made the righteousness of God by His word.

We Count Them Blessed Who Endure

"My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord- that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful." (James 5:10,11)

"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with ENDURANCE the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him ENDURED the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who ENDURED such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. And you have forgotten the exhortation that speaks to you as to sons:

'My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.'

If you ENDURE chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons." (Hebrews 12:1-8)

If Job had continued to justify himself, he would have delayed (or cancelled) what the Lord intended. After Job's deliverance from "uttering what he did not understand" in the midst of the fiery trial, he said, "I have heard about You with the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.' (Job 42:3-6) Your eye clearly seeing Him - the end intended by the Lord!

Reviving The Aim (1 Peter 1: 13-25)

1 Peter 1:13-25

"Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy.' And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver and gold, from your AIMLESS conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you WHO THROUGH HIM BELIEVE IN GOD, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, LOVE ONE ANOTHER FERVENTLY with a pure heart, HAVING BEEN BORN AGAIN, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, THROUGH THE WORD OF GOD which lives and abides forever, because...


'All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever.'”(Psalm 103:15)


"Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you."


At the beginning of Chapter 1, Peter describes these pilgrims as 'elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ'. These are not novice in their understanding; yet Peter does remind them to love one another fervently, through the word of God, which by the gospel was preached to them. By the gospel of Jesus Christ, not the aimlessness of their father's tradition. Peter was reminding them as Jesus was reminded by the Holy Spirit in the garden of Gethsemane. The Lord said, 'O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.' We must remember that 'the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God’ (Romans 8:19). That is the aim.

The Prayer Of Faith That Saves

“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And THE PRAYER OF FAITH WILL SAVE the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." (James 5:13-16)

"Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine (faith in Jesus Christ, believing in Him). Continue in them, for in doing this YOU WILL SAVE BOTH YOURSELF AND THOSE WHO HEAR YOU."(1Timothy 4:15,16) Paul writes this to Timothy, "a true son in the faith", and a pastor and overseer of churches!

"Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principal and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." (Ephesians 1:15-23)

Whether one is suffering (according to the will of God committing their souls to Him in doing good as to a faithful Creator; 1 Peter 4:19), or cheerful, or sick, the prayer of faith in Christ Jesus is the awakening, reminder and quickening for salvation. Paul's prayer for the Ephesian church explains that as we decide to "trust in Him" and are "sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise", we must be enlightened by God to understand "what is the hope of His calling". The initial chapter of Ephesians reminds and blesses when we are in the midst of, overcoming in, unaware of, or have taken steps away from His will for us in Christ.

Your Performance Of His Commandments

"Every commandment which I command you today you must be careful to observe, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the Lord swore to your fathers. And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man does not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the Lord your God chastens you. Therefore you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him." (Deuteronomy 8:1-3,5,6)

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."(John 13:34,35)

"I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave me commandment, SO I DO. Arise, let us go from here." (John 14:30,31)

"As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in Me love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. You are My friends if 

you DO whatever I command you." (John 15:9-14)

"Little children, let no one deceive you. He who PRACTICES righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous."(1 John 3:7)

"In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not PRACTICE righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.(1 John 3:10)

Lately I am hearing ministers proclaim that this new covenant, by the blood of Jesus Christ, is not based on our performance. For sure, God's plan for the salvation of man came without His inquiring of man for an opinion. Salvation is the gift of God to man. He knows how to accomplish it in us. But, we have to submit to it. In the book of Revelation (chapters 2,3) Jesus commands His the messengers to the seven churches to write: "I know your works". So, your performance, according to His words, displays who He is to mankind. What kind of offering are your works in Him displaying?

Are You Gathering For Assembly, Or Just Gathering?

"Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, LET US DRAW NEAR with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the ASSEMBLING of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:19-25)

Assembling ourselves together, according to His will for His body, results in His testimony being clearly understood/seen. The manner of some is to gather around principles that bring very little fruit to maturity. They gather, unknowingly or unwillingly, apart from His narrow way.

"And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and to the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head- Christ- from whom the whole body joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love." (Ephesians 4:11-16)

All the works of the ministry discussed in Ephesians should be in attendance, at various times, in every fellowship for appropriate assembly according to the measure of Christ's gift!

In The Way Of Cain

"But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who DID NOT BELIEVE. And the angels who did not keep THEIR PROPER DOMAIN, but LEFT THEIR OWN ABODE, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgement of the great day; as Sodom and Gomorrah, and cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, 'The Lord rebuke you!' But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves. Woe to them! For they have gone IN THE WAY OF CAIN, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah. (Jude v.5-11)

We understand that Cain's offering to the Lord was not respected. The Lord brought correction, saying, 'If you do well, will not you be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.' (Genesis 4:1-7) Cain decided what to bring as an offering and would not be corrected.

"For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the power of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again FOR THEMSELVES the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame." (Hebrews 6:4-6) They, like Cain, decide what type of offering to bring. It always results in a shameful representation relative to the purity of the Way of His cross.

Turning To Righteousness

 "Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die; because you did not give him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand. Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man that the righteous should not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning; also you will have delivered your soul." (Ezekiel 3:20,21)

"And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may not be ashamed before Him at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him. Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called the children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. AND EVERYONE WHO HAS THIS HOPE IN HIM PURIFIES HIMSELF JUST AS HE IS PURE. Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. “ (1 John 2:28,29; 3:1-8)

"Then He said to them all, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whosoever desires to save his life will lose it, BUT whoever loses his life for My sake will save it."    (Luke 9:23,24)

In order to "practice righteousness" we must understand that we are called to our own cross through faith in Jesus Christ. Many have desired to have a "saved life" but unknowingly (in some cases defiantly) retain lordship over it and are losing the fight. Those who lose their life FOR HIS SAKE, who have the testimony of Jesus, will save it. Don't remove yourself from your cross in Christ. I believe this the sin of which John speaks. Our place in this purification is to understand and endure, counting it all joy throughout the process!

Concerning The Righteousness Which Is Of Faith, Blameless

"Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the 
same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If 
anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; CONCERNING THE RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH IS IN THE LAW, BLAMELESS."

"But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, BUT THAT WHICH IS THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST, THE RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH IS FROM GOD BY FAITH; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, BEING CONFORMED TO HIS DEATH, if, by any means I may attain to the resurrection from the dead."  (Philippians 3:1-11)

Why would I say that Paul was blameless concerning the righteousness of faith?

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave His life for me".  (Galatians 2:20)

With the same zeal that he strove to fulfill the law, Paul strove to become the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ. He walked by what he had attained through faith in Christ and became blameless in it.

Let No One Deceive You With Empty Words

"Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and gave Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. LET NO ONE DECEIVE YOU WITH EMPTY WORDS, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them."(Ephesians 5:1-7)

Jesus, speaking to His disciples, said "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you." (John 15:3)

It is evident to most that we should not give ourselves to foolishness, hurtful or raw joking, or filthy language. But Jesus instructs His disciples here to "let no one deceive you with empty words".  Fornication could be defined as unholy intimacy. Uncleanness could be defined as departing from that which makes, or keeps you clean.  Covetousness could be defined as desire for something, possibly a good thing, in an unrighteous way. Jesus informs His disciples that they "are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you".

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have SWORN and CONFIRMED that I will KEEP your righteous judgements." (Psalm 119:105,106)

"My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh." (Proverbs 4:20-22)

His words show us the way to become a living sacrifice. Deceivers come, "therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation (scattered in various directions, dispersed), but be filled with the Spirit." (Ephesians 5:17,18)

It seems that Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, uses words like fornication and uncleanness to warn the church that an impure approach to the doctrine of Christ will receive the reward of disobedient sons.

Becoming The Righteousness of God in Him; Exercising The Keys

"Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:20,21)

Paul, the apostle, implores those in the Corinthian church to be reconciled to God so that they might become the righteousness of God in Him.  Later in the second letter to them, he writes, "and this also we pray, that you may be made complete".  (2 Corinthians 13:9)

I am impressed that the process of "becoming" and being "made" must include devotion to Jesus' words to His disciples.

"Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter, remembering, said to Him, 'Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.' (See v.12-14) So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever (any disciple of His) says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says." Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses."

(Mark 11:20-26)

"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you shall ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you shall be My disciples.    (John 15:5-8)

Begin by reading these passages each day and doing what Jesus taught His disciples in them. As you devote yourselves in this way, the Lord will continue to reveal Himself to you. This living bread never gets old and will make you complete in Him: reconciling you to God that you might become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.

The Works Of An Evangelist (Acts 9:1-19)

"Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if they found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' And he said, 'Who are you, Lord?' Then the Lord said, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' So he, trembling and astonished, said, 'Lord, what do you want me to do?' Then the Lord said to him, 'Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.' And the men journeying with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by hand and brought him to Damascus. And he three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank."

"Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, 'Ananias.' And he said, 'Here I am, Lord'. So the Lord said to him, 'Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hands on him, so that he might receive his sight.' Then Ananias answered, 'Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.' But the Lord said to him, 'Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake.' "

"And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, 'Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.' Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus."

By a word of faith from Jesus, Ananias provided a word of knowledge to Saul, confirming that Saul had indeed received a visitation from Jesus. Ananias then laid his hands on Saul to receive his sight (healing) and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Then Saul was baptized. Ananias had been made ready to discern the voice of the Master. Then he obediently completed His commandments.

The Message: Citizenship, Deniers & Enemies

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved IT IS THE POWER of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18)

"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, HAVING A FORM OF GODLINESS BUT DENYING ITS POWER. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households (of faith?) and make captives of gullible women (an easily deceived bride) loaded down with sins (the weight of having not counted the cost; or having counted it, they decide not to pay it), led away with various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs (those who resisted Moses) also was.(2 Timothy 3:1-9)

"Brethren, join in following my (Paul's) example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame---who set their mind on earthly things. FOR OUR CITIZENSHIP IS IN HEAVEN, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, ACCORDING TO THE WORKING by which He is able to subdue all things unto Himself." (Philippians 3:17-21)

His WORKING, the message of the cross, is sure and steadfast. "The forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever ACCORDING TO THE ORDER of Melchizedek." (Hebrews 6:20) 

Yet So As Through Fire

"For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he will be saved, YET SO AS THROUGH FIRE."

(1 Corinthians 3:9-15)

"Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, 'He catches the wise in their own craftiness', and again, 'The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.' "

(1 Corinthians 3:16-20)

"For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.' "

(1 Corinthians 1:17-19)

The individual whose work is burned, rather than rewarded, misunderstood the refiner's fire as it came, and continued to build errantly. We thank God for His mercy and grace, that He would burn our errant endeavors. As long as we are in this earthly body, we have the opportunity to build that which endures: the salvation of God AS THROUGH FIRE upon the foundation which is Jesus Christ! We become a fool for Christ in the estimation of those who are wise in this age. Eventually, the wisdom of this world becomes foolishness to those who follow hard after Him.

According To Knowledge

Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not ACCORDING TO KNOWLEDGE. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." (Romans 10:1-4)

"For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss FOR THE EXCELLENCE OF THE KNOWLEDGE of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; THAT I MAY KNOW HIM and the power of His resurrection, AND the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection of the dead." (Philippians 3:3-11)

Knowledge of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, His Son (which is our calling, sonship) strengthened by the Holy Spirit, thinks and acts this way. It is our reasonable service. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1). We present day believers must also accord, or agree with this knowledge of Christ Jesus, circumcised to the heart, believing in Him unto righteousness.

The Intent Of Prophecy: "You Follow Me" (John 21:15-22)

"So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?' He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.' He said to him, 'Feed My lambs.' "

"He said to him again a second time, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?' He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.' He said to Him, 'Tend My sheep.' "

"He said to him the third time, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?' Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, 'Do you love Me?' And he said to Him, 'Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.' Jesus said to Him, 'Feed My sheep. Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.' This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to Him, 'Follow Me.' Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple that Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, 'Lord, who is the one who betrays You?' Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, 'But Lord, what about this man?' Jesus said to him, 'If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.' "

"Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights. Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the fish's belly. And he said: 'I cried out to the Lord because of my affliction, and He answered me. Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and You heard my voice. For You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the floods surrounded me; all Your billows and your waves passed over me.' Then I said, 'I have been cast out of Your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.' The waters surrounded me, even to my soul; the deep closed around me; Weeds were wrapped around my head. I went down to the moorings of the mountains; the earth with its bars closed behind me forever; yet you have brought up my life from the pit, O Lord, my God. When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord; and my prayer went up to You, into Your holy temple. Those who regard worthless idols forsake their own Mercy. But I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord. So the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land." (Jonah 1:17, 2:1-10)

Jesus was prophesying to Peter. Three times He called him 'son of Jonah'. Although Peter's and Jonah's circumstances differ, the instrument is similar- affliction in disobedience, properly received, renders an understanding of repentance toward holiness. Peter's works of love for Jesus were not perfect, yet to be completed. Those prophetic words to Peter would minister to him during the days ahead, strengthening him as he followed His words.

Scattered, Each One To His Own (John 16:23-33)

"And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God. I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father."

"His disciples said to Him, 'See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech! Now WE ARE SURE that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God.' "

"Jesus answered them, 'Do you now believe? Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each one to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.' "

Thousands followed Him, seeking His signs of healings of sickness, deliverance from demonic oppression, and provision. They were astonished by His teaching. Where were they when He was being led away to die on the cross? The truth is they did not yet believe all things about Jesus Christ, as their scattering revealed, but would return because of the life He ministered to them, and would believe in deed.

"If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
(John 8:31,32)

Marked Out For This Condemnation

"Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were MARKED OUT for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God in to lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgement of the great day; as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immortality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire." (Jude v.3-7)

"He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. AND THIS IS THE CONDEMNATION, that the light has entered into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone who practices evil (rather than righteousness) hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."

(John 3:18-21)

"This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin." (1 John 1:5-7)

"And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, 'These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: '''I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen those things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your WORKS perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed with white garments, and I will NOT BLOT OUT his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels."(Revelation 3:1-5)

"For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his PART from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." (Revelation 22:18,19)

Don't add, and the plagues will not be added. Don't take away, and your part will not be taken. Don't turn the grace of our God into the wicked ignorance of unbelief and you will not be marked out.

It Was Expedient For Them

"Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, 'What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation." And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, 'You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.' Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad. Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death." (John 11:45-53)

It was expedient for them that one man should die, and for the nation of Israel, and for the children of God who were scattered abroad; but not for Caiaphas, the chief priests, or the Pharisees to make happen. This is a good example of "a house divided against itself cannot stand". God revealed to the high priest what would happen for that nation and the children scattered. The high priest, and the other leaders, took that revelation and used it to retain their place. They made it happen because they were not able, by choice, "to listen to My (His) word".

Although in the position of high priest that year, he and the leaders were yet listening to the temptations that Satan tried and failed to tempt Jesus with (Matthew 4:1-11). They used the truth that God had revealed to serve themselves. God help us!

So, let's use the keys of the Kingdom that Jesus revealed to His disciples to remove the mountain so we may see clearly; asking God to prune us so that we produce much fruit of righteousness in Christ Jesus, through faith in Him. Lord, let no one eat fruit from me ever again, but from the true vine, Jesus Christ.

A Disciple In Doing So

"Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, 'If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.' They answered Him, 'We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, 'You will be made free?' Jesus answered them, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."

"I know that you are Abraham's descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father." They answered and said to Him, 'Abraham is our father.' Jesus said to them, 'If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham. But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. You do the deeds of your father.' Then they said to Him, 'We were not born of fornication; we have one Father-God.' Jesus said to them, 'If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.' " (John 8:31-43)

As we look at v.31, John writes that "Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him". Yet in v.43, Jesus said "you are not able to listen to My word'. Clearly, in His kingdom, there is a beginning and a completion. There is little fruit and there is much fruit; the fruit of righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ, believing in Him.

As you turn toward God, in the name of His beloved Son, Jesus Christ, remember to speak to the mountain (Mark 11:23) that would keep you from listening to His word. Ask the Vinedresser to prune you so that you may produce more, even much fruit. "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples." (John 15:1-8) You will be a disciple in doing so.

Rejoicing In The Law Of Faith

"But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God sent forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds (works) of the law." (Romans 3:21-28)

"Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law." (Romans 3:31)

"We" establish the law of God through faith in Jesus Christ. The Lawgiver (James 4:12) justifies those who have faith in Jesus. Not by the law of commandments in ordinances, washings, sacrifices for sin but through faith in Jesus Christ, in His testimony, understanding the hope of His calling, following by the Lawgiver's prescribed works of faith.

The Works Of The Flesh (Romans 4:1-8)

"What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works (of the flesh), he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? 'Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.' Now to him who works (according to the flesh), the wages are not counted as (or according to) grace but as (or according to) debt."

"But to him who does not work (according to the flesh) but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works (of the flesh):

              'Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, 

              and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man to whom

              the Lord does not impute sin.' "

              (Psalm 32:1,2)

Paul calls Abraham "the father of us all" (as it is written, 'I have made you a father of many nations' [Genesis 17:5]). Yet we know that he went into Hagar, by the encouragement of Sarah, from whom the heir was supposed to come. Ishmael was conceived. Abraham repented and finished the course: Isaac was conceived through Sarah as God had spoken.

What do we find according to (agreeing with; corresponding to; adapting to) the works of the flesh? Debt, not grace!

"Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification." (Romans 4:23-25)

Just as Abraham became "fully convinced", so may we in hope believing!

Denying the Power of Godliness

"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, HAVING A FORM OF GODLINESS BUT DENYING ITS POWER. And from such turn away." 

(2 Timothy 3:1-5)

"For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with the wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to US who are being saved IT IS THE POWER OF GOD. For it is written: 

'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.' " (1 Corinthians 1:17-19) 

"Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things. Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." (2 Timothy 2:7-10)

Paul reassures Timothy "according to MY gospel". The message of the cross of Christ is the power of God!  The "wisdom of the wise and the understanding of the prudent" will not accomplish what the cross desired, promises. Only our Lord Jesus Christ, head over all things to the church, which is His body, is able to direct our steps in it.

The Doctrine Which Accords With Godliness

"If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself." (1 Timothy 6:3-5)

The words of our Lord Jesus Christ, the doctrine which accords with godliness, is the way that we learn to agree or correspond to sonship. He shows us how to consent to wholesome words: "perfect and complete, lacking nothing" as James wrote. Godliness draws men, and corruption repels them.

"You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses (Timothy had seen Paul live this), commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others. (2 Timothy 2:1,2)

If you retain your arguments over His words, very little fruit of righteousness will be produced.

Foods Which God Created

"Now the Spirit expressly says that in the latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from FOODS WHICH GOD CREATED to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth." 

(1 Timothy 4:1-3)

"In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, 'Rabbi, eat.' But He said to them, 'I have food to eat of which you do not know.' Therefore the disciples said to one another, 'Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?' Jesus said to them, 'My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.' " 

(John 4:31-34)

Jesus Christ was created in the womb of His mother Mary by the Father. He called Himself the bread of life; the living bread. He is/was meant to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

"As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me." (John 6:57)

Departing from the faith, speaking lies that cause those who listen to fall below that which is critical for eternal life produces hearers, not doers, who are unaware of what it means to make oneself ready for the bridegroom. If they don't hear the truth, how will they do the greater works?

The Purpose Of The Commandment (1Timothy 1:1-7)

"Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, BY THE COMMANDMENT of God our Savior, and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope, to Timothy, a true son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord."

"As I urged you when I went into Macedonia - remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they may teach no other doctrine, nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. Now THE PURPOSE OF THE COMMANDMENT is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere (unhypocritical) faith, from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things that they affirm."

"And we (Paul and those with him) know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His PURPOSE." (Romans 8:28)

"If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love." (John 15:10)

"This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it." (2 John v.6)

It was "by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope" that Paul was made into an apostle of Jesus Christ. Likewise, Timothy was in faith, learning the commandment. We should ask for clarity regarding "the commandment".

"Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked OF HIM."(1 John 5:14,15) His commandment is the will of God.

Groups Of Fifty (Luke 8:10-17)

"And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing."

"When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, 'Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns and country, lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted place here.' But He said to them, 'You give them something to eat.' And they said, 'We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we go and buy food for all these people.' Then He said to His disciples, 'Make them sit down in groups of fifty.' And they did so, and made them all sit down."

"Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude. So they all ate and were filled, and twelve baskets of the leftover fragments were taken up by them."

Jesus directed His disciples to give the multitudes something to eat, in groups of fifty. Supposedly, fifty men and their families. Is this the ideal size for a fellowship of believers? Not sure. But the result was that all in these groups ate and were filled!

Remember His Words

"Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, 'Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! REMEMBER how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, "The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again." ' AND THEY REMEMBERED His words." (Luke 24:1-8)

"But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel." 

(Luke 24:21)

"Then He said to them, 'O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter His glory?' And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself." 

(Luke 24:25-27)

"Then He said to them, 'These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.' And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Then He said to them, 'Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations. And you are witnesses of these things.' " (Luke 24:46-48)

"And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen." (Luke 24:52)

Obviously the crucifixion of Jesus shook His followers. He returned to them so they may remember His words. The word of His testimony perfected, established, strengthened, and settled them. (1 Peter 5:10)

Understanding Fitness

"Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, 'Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.' And Jesus said to him, 'Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.' Then He said to another, 'Follow Me.' But he said, 'Lord, let me first go and bury my father.' Jesus said to him, 'Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.' And another also said, 'Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid farewell who are at my house.' But Jesus said to him, 'No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, IS FIT for the kingdom of God.' "

fit- adapted or suited for a purpose; prepared or ready; in good physical condition; equipped (4 of 20 for fit(1) in Webster's College Dictionary)

When I heard His call to ministry, I immediately began to think in which direction to go with it. I thought I knew and we, our family, prepared to go in that direction. Thrilling at first but after the "thrill" of the move waned, I began to experience a significant decrease in strength: not physically, but within. My spirit and soul were grieved and we did not last, we went back to where we came from. I was sure of His calling yet unsure of where/how to apply it. Embarrassingly, I did that a number of times. Finally, the Lord reminded me that I should "humble myself under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:6,7). I would say that means He knows when you are ready to assume the place in His body that He has gifted and called you to.

After having designed my way into ministry, I would read the scripture reference regarding fitness and wonder if I had been declared unfit by God because I had turned back. I won't speak for everyone (I'm quite sure there are others who have designed their way), but fitness for His kingdom is coming to me as He builds, first understanding that He must show me how to decrease so that He may increase. It is the message of the cross of Jesus Christ: to those of us who are being saved, it is the power of God. With that power of God, ready to persevere unto completion. Fit!

"Therefore WE ALSO, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of OUR faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1,2)

A Certain Poor Widow

"And He looked and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw a CERTAIN POOR WIDOW putting in two mites. So He said, 'Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she OUT OF HER POVERTY put in all the livelihood that she had.' "(Luke 21:1-4)

This particular woman, free from doubt or reservation and in humility, was empowered to put in, more than all the others, the offering God desires. She put in the entirety of her life. (Definitions of certain, poor from Webster's College Dictionary)

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:3)

"....the poor have the gospel preached to them," (Matthew 11:5)

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went out and sold all that he had and bought it." (Matthew 13:44-46)

Widow can be defined as deprivation of anything cherished or needed (WCD). This woman: the church and members in particular, won't be denied any good thing! 

     

Better For Him; Better For The Little Ones

"Then He said to the disciples, 'It is impossible that no offenses (stumbling blocks) should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! It would be BETTER FOR HIM if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend (cause the stumbling of) one of these LITTLE ONES.' "(Luke 17:1,2)

How would it be that a millstone hung around one's neck to be thrown into the sea WOULD BE BETTER FOR HIM? Is Jesus saying it would be better for THAT ONE to be dragged to the bottom of the sea, drowning, than for him to cause offense, a stumbling block, for a young believer? I think Jesus is teaching his disciples, then and now, that it would be better if we, through the keys of the kingdom, would exercise ourselves through those keys, rendering ourselves dead to self and alive through Christ. Then we would be causing THE LITTLE ONES to prosper in all things in Christ. You see then, better for him so it may be better for those little ones watching and listening; those who are devoting themselves to have faith in Jesus Christ, believing. Our enthusiasm must be tempered, for meekness in the truth of the Gospel.

"Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope, to Timothy, a true son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. As I urged you when I went into Macedonia - remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, FROM WHICH SOME HAVING STRAYED, HAVE TURNED ASIDE TO IDLE TALK, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm." (1 Timothy 1:1-7)

Does Your Rock Lack Moisture?

"And when a great multitude had gathered, and they had come to Him from every city, He spoke by a parable: 'A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell...on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because IT LACKED MOISTURE.' " (Luke 8:4-6)

Now let's read the meaning, given by Jesus Christ, regarding these words of the parable.

"Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. But THE ONES ON THE ROCK are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation (testing) fall away." (Luke 8:11,13)

These are those who, having received the word of salvation with joy, believe for a time. Yet without the BAPTISM in the Holy Spirit are powerless to persevere in temptation. Their perception of the rock of salvation disregards the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Many times these who receive the word of God with joy are in gatherings that disregard this second work of grace.

"And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, 'which', He said, 'you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.' "(Acts 1:4,5)

"And He opened their understanding that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Then He said to them, 'Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.' " (Luke 24:45-49)

The Promise of His Father is the baptism and indwelling of the His Father's Spirit. We will/can not walk in the word of His testimony without it!