If the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD was the consummation of biblical prophecies, and we are evolving towards the New Heavens and New Earth with a gospel to address societal ills, how are we doing? On the other hand, if we are waiting for the Rapture, and the world’s “going-to-hell-in-a-hand-cart,” again, how are we doing? Either way, not so good. What’s the battle plan? “And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:15-16 KJV). The Gospel is a supernatural offering of the suffering, death, and resurrection of the Son of God for the world, as an atonement for the sins of all those who believe and are baptized (a loyalty oath). Societal ills will be affected by the holy living of disciples; otherwise, disciples have not experienced a supernatural gospel transformation. “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2 KJV). Finally, Christ will not return to rapture His Church until the Father has decided that the Gospel has been fully preached in all the world. “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matthew 24:14 KJV). Come quickly, Lord Jesus! Amen and amen.
Author: Ken
Life’s Reset Button
“Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:29 KJV). Too much clutter. Junk that needs to be sorted through and thrown away. Organize and simplify. Then, manmade and natural disasters strike. Who has the resources to deal with it all? The more impossible things become, the more obvious it is that only the God of All Possible Universes is able to offer relief. I think it’s part of His plan to draw everyone to Himself.
Why Doesn’t Everyone Finish?
Why doesn’t everyone finish their Pilgrim’s Progress journey to the Celestial City? “For many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14 KJV). A common saying in the world, ‘If it were easy, everyone would do it,’ makes a lot of practical sense. How does anyone know they are His chosen few? Peter answers that question. “2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity [Greek, agapē, love]. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall” (2Peter 1:2-10 KJV). Maranatha!
An Invisible Hand
There is an Invisible Hand at work in our existence. It is the hand of the Invisible God “with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:13 KJV). God has made Himself invisible to us because faith or confidence is the foundation of our relationship to Him. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him” (11:6). Faith is “seeing Him who is invisible” (11:27). It is a good thing the Lord can read our thoughts, when we converse with Him. We would look mighty strange to others speaking out loud to someone, who wasn’t there. But, then again, how often have you nearly run into someone speaking on their smartphone with earbuds?
Only Those Who Abide in Obedience Have a Right to Claim They Know Him
Only those who abide in obedience have a right to claim they know Him. “And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1John 2:3-4). If human nature was naturally sinful, then how could anyone rightly claim to walk in obedience? A naturally sinful nature is only an excuse for sinning, not a good explanation. “Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth [Greek, hamartanei, sins or is sinning, present tense] hath not seen Him, neither known Him” (1John 3:6 KJV). Whoever is abiding in Christ is not sinning. Whoever is not abiding in Christ is sinning. Whoever is sinning is supernaturally assured in the most forceful language, that person “hath not seen Him, neither known Him” (3:6). God supernaturally chooses not to be known by us, when we are presently sinning. That withholds assurance of salvation from us, while we are in rebellion against Him. The language of the First Epistle of John requires the Holy Spirit to supernaturally teach, interpret, and understand. “But the anointing [Holy Spirit] which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him” (1John 2:27 KJV). May Christ bless all the disciples of His supernatural religion! “If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love” (John 15:10 KJV).
God Never Requires Us to Do the Impossible
God never requires us to do the impossible. He measures our love by our obedience. “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous [burdensome]” (1John 5:3 KJV). God is not an uncaring taskmaster. “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15 KJV). The very idea of the Son of God coming in human flesh was to provide us an example of walking without sinning that we should “follow His steps” (1Peter 2:21 KJV). Jesus is beckoning us to get out of the boat and follow Him. Walking on water is supernatural. Walking without sinning requires the supernatural help of the Holy Spirit. “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13 KJV). If God commands it, we can accomplish it. It’s time to rethink what God can do in us!
Our Hearts Are Always Parked Or Dwelling Somewhere
Our hearts are always parked or dwelling somewhere. That is our abiding place, where we remain or continue with Christ. Until we move away from that place, we are complete or perfect in Christ. “Make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (Hebrews 13:21 KJV). The simplicity of our walk with Christ is straightforward and not to be complicated like modern attempts to analyze humanity. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2Corinthians 5:17 KJV). Our transformation is supernatural because it is the product of God and not man. “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed [Greek, metamorphoō, transfigured, changed] by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2 KJV). Allow God’s Spirit to reorganize your thinking. As much as we know how, allow Scripture to interpret Scripture, so we can arrive at the supernatural conclusions the Holy Spirit has prepared for us. I like using the suggested cross references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (available with most Bible software and online).
Not Our Problem to Figure Out How God Keeps His Promises
It’s not our problem to figure out how God keeps His promises. “Be not afraid, only believe” (Mark 5:36 KJV). Believing God is more important than trusting ourself. Do we know enough? Have enough faith? Repented enough? Prayed and fasted enough? That’s important and good, but it comes down to Jesus’ question. “Believe ye that I am able to do this?” (Matthew 9:28 KJV). The blind men replied, “Yea, Lord” (9:28). Without any more discussion, “then touched He their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. And their eyes were opened” (9:29-30). Do whatever possible thing God requires of you; but essentially, God is responsible for the impossible, because it glorifies Him the way He deserves. “Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth” (Mark 9:23 KJV). Let God be God, who is responsible for the results. Let us not try to be God’s Public Relations, if things don’t work out. We are only responsible for the possible, which our limited thinking can understand. Only believe God! May the God of the Impossible be glorified by our confidence in Him!
Why We Do Something Is More Important Than What We Do
Why we do something is even more important than what we do. The Ten Commandments tell us what to do or not do, but love tells us why. First Corinthians 13 — the Love Chapter — explains it. “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but I do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal” (1 Corinthians 13:1 NET). Of course, we have responsibility for all our actions; and, even our courts of law in western jurisprudence establish the difference between manslaughter and murder. But, the preeminent motivation of love defines who God is — “God is love” (1John 4:8) — and, why we should do everything we should do. “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matthew 22:37-39 KJV). LORD, help us not to lose our purpose.
Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men
“The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry,” wrote poet Robert Burns. Things don’t always work out as we planned. “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man” (Psalm 118:8 KJV). Life is our opportunity to cast our vote for the LORD by trusting Him. Even after checking our heart, things may work out like God is angry with us; still, we should say like Job, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him” (Job 13:15 KJV). We want the world to have that same confidence in the LORD. “And the LORD passed by before him [Moses], and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation” (Exodus 34:6-7 KJV). O LORD, in the same manner You treat the guilty, may Your treatment of us, who have confidence in You, be manifested in goodness upon us, our children, and our children’s children, to the third and fourth generation. In Jesus’ name, we ask it. Amen and amen.
We Need A Miracle 
You must be logged in to post a comment.