Promises About Our Children

How To Tell If You Are Being Told The Truth

Ken

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32 KJV). Everyone claims to have the truth, and even Artificial Intelligence can manufacture or “hallucinate” the truth quite convincingly. Don’t believe anything you hear or even what I say unless you can verify it for yourself. “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11). 

Jesus told Pontius Pilate, “Every one that is of the truth heareth My voice” (John 18:37). To which Pilate replied, “What is truth?” (18:38), then he had Jesus scourged (19:1) and crucified (19:16). 

Jesus revealed the formula for determining how to arrive at the truth. 

“If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of Myself” (John 7:17 KJV). Or, “If anyone wants to do God’s will, he will know about My teaching, whether it is from God or whether I speak from My own authority” (7:17 NET). 

If you are willing to do whatever you understand to be “God’s will” (7:17 NET), then you “will know” (7:17 NET) the truth. 

Your willingness to do the will of God is both your opportunity to understand the truth and your safeguard from receiving lies. God has established the opportunity and safeguard to guarantee Truth Will Not Perish from the Earth. 

Your willingness is the key to understanding truth, so the Almighty has made His Spirit available. 

First, God’s Spirit has been promised to inspire us to obedience under His New Covenant. “And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:27).

Second, the Holy Spirit has been promised to those who “repent, and [are] baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). 

Third, the Spirit of God “which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).

God has done all that is necessary to ensure you know the truth, so you can be accountable to obey it. 

What do you plan to do?

Forgiveness Is A Gift

Ken

If we view forgiveness of our sins as a right and not a gift, then we reduce salvation to justice owed to us by God. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV). Gratitude to God for forgiveness of our sins comes from understanding the burden of debt to God we incur, when we sin. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Since sin is giving in to our dying flesh and promoting our own glory, then we have no one to blame but ourselves for transgressing God’s law of love (1John 3:4). And, If we feel our sins are all but necessitated by our circumstances in this world, then we become desensitized to the greatness of God’s forgiveness, as if we are doing Him a favor by repenting, citing 1John 1:9 as our insurance of forgiveness. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1John 1:9). In truth, it is “according to His [unearned] mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5). We need the Holy Spirit to reset our understanding and renew our credentials about the true greatness of His gift of forgiveness. “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). Father, all glory belongs to You for the greatness of Your gift of forgiveness granted us through Your Son. Truly create within us a new heart that Your Spirit may empower our lives to live boldly for You that Your Kingdom would come and Your will would be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Lord Jesus, come quickly. In Your name, we pray. Amen.

Logical Service to God

Ken

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable [Greek, logikos, logical] service” (Romans 12:1 KJV). That is interesting. Serving God is logical, because of who He is and what He has done for us. Jesus “put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Hebrews 9:26), literally cancelling, setting aside, or disannulling our sin “once for all” (10:10) on the Cross. That is the short explanation. 

Now, here is the long explanation. 

Q: Why did humans originally sacrifice to God? 

A: Because God set the example by the shedding of animal blood to make amends for the sin of Adam and Eve. “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them” (Genesis 3:21). 

Q: Did the law of Moses require sacrifice for sin?  

A: God did require the blood of a bull or “bullock for a sin offering, so shall he do with this: and the priest shall make an atonement [Hebrew, kâphar, cover over] for them, and it shall be forgiven them” (Leviticus 4:20). Though the LORD did forgive Israel their sin, when they obeyed in making the sin offering, He only covered over sin, but did not remove or take away their sin. This was Israel’s chief blind spot in the days of the earthly ministry of Jesus. To this day, Isaiah 53 is a mystery and thorn for Judaism. “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4). 

Only Messiah Jesus could forever and totally remove sin by the sacrifice of Himself. “10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:10-12). 

Q: Was the law done away because of the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross? 

A: The necessity of making Mosaic sin offerings was made unnecessary because of Christ’s death on the Cross. “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect” (Hebrews 10:1). 

Q: Then, what was the point of all the sacrifices of Moses? 

A: “Receiving sacrifices and offerings are not your primary concern. You make that quite clear to me! You do not ask for burnt sacrifices and sin offerings” (Psalm 40:6 NET). In other words, the sacrifice was not itself the issue. 

Q: If the sacrifice was not the issue, then what is the issue? 

A: “Then I said, Here I am, I have come – it is written about me in the scroll. I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart” (Psalm 40:7-8 NIV). We now comprehend this statement to come from the Messiah. Jesus was saying, “I desire to do Your will, My God; Your law is within My heart” (40:8). In other words, the sacrifice is not the issue. Willingness to do the will of God is the issue, as far as the heart of Jesus is concerned. 

Q: Is willingness to do the will of God also the purpose of the New Covenant? 

A: Yes. “And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:27). This very verse coincides with Messiah’s stated purpose for what was the true motivation underlying all the sacrifices of Moses. Not to make us more compliant to all the animal sacrifice sin offerings; but, to finally comprehend that Yahweh wants our heart, not our traditions or the commandments of men. Messiah inspires us to obey the LORD from our heart. Sadly, the chief blind spot of the Church today is our inability to see the sacrifice of Jesus and gift of the Holy Spirit is not simply to make us happy now and give us a Home in Heaven forever, but to inspire us to obey God consistently and forevermore. “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11). 

Q: Did Peter and Paul understand the New Covenant to mean our logical service to God provides us with the Indwelling Holy Spirit, who inspires us to obey the LORD from our heart? 

A: Yes. Peter’s Pentecostal message was the first sermon of the New Covenant. “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). Along with the forgiveness of sins, the reception of the Holy Spirit is promised those who obey the Gospel, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ” (2:38). Though the gifts of the Spirit serve the Body of Christ, the true gift of the Holy Spirit is simple, heart obedience to God. 

Paul comprehended completely the necessity of the Spirit. “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25 NIV). In fact, Paul gave us the impression, possessing the Holy Spirit and walking “after the Spirit” (Romans 8:1, 4, 5) are one in the same. “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His” (Romans 8:9 KJV).  

Father, thank You for allowing us to serve You, for it is logical and reasonable. But, more important, we desire to obey from our heart, for we love You. Thank You for the gift of Your Spirit working in us to will and to do of Your good pleasure. May all the praise and honor for all the good always be to You. Lord Jesus, return quickly. In Your Name, we pray. Amen and amen. 

Secret to Changing the World

Ken

“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). I don’t like the way you dress and behave. What does that have to do with your eternal destiny? Certainly a prostitute will change their dress after coming to Christ, and a whoremonger will change their behavior after repenting. But, the inside must change before anything changes on the outside. Character is reproducing the life of Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit on the inside. You are fruitlessly wasting time to achieve a new outward look, when your character is not first transformed by the Holy Spirit on the inside. We need to be looking to the Holy Spirit for that change. The Holy Spirit inspires us to obey. “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). That means you expect Him to “put [His] Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in [His] statutes, and ye shall keep [His] judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:27). This is the promise of the New Covenant. If there is no change in us, then we are not cooperating with the Holy Spirit. “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). We need to embrace it and allow God to change the world. Amen.

Secret to Obedience

Ken

Inspired to Obey 

Ezekiel 36:27

“And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:27 KJV). 

Gift of the Holy Spirit 

Acts 2:38 

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38 KJV).  

Will and Do 

Philippians 2:13 

“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13 KJV). 

If we simply assume we obey because we choose to obey, then we are likely to assume our obedience is due to our good intentions. Yet, we have been plainly told our obedience is due to God inspiring us to obey.

Generational Blessings and Curses

Ken

Are children blessed or cursed because of the conduct of their parents? Every godly parent certainly hopes for blessing upon their children, just as we do not like to think we can inherit curses from previous generations. But, isn’t inheriting a constitutionally sinful nature consistent with the sins of the parents being visited upon the children? No, not actually, because if we can argue before God we are sinners because of our parents, then we could also plead we are righteous because of our parents. And, since neither is true, then we need another basis to evaluate Generational Blessings and Curses. “The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him” (Ezekiel 18:20 KJV). 

What is a blessing but good will being pronounced upon another, which is considerable, if you are being blessed by God? “And God blessed [male and female humanity], and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth” (Genesis 1:28). Happiness is the blessing of producing successive generations of promised godly children. “Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate” (Psalm 127:5). Likewise, what is a curse but ill will being pronounced upon another, of which Satan’s ill will pales in comparison to God’s wrath? “But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear Him, which after He hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear Him” (Luke 12:5). Sadness and hopelessness are only byproducts for anyone, whom God has cursed. “24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence” (16:24-26). 

The Original Blessing for Obedience to God’s command was, “And God blessed them, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion” (Genesis 1:28), which was contrasted to the Original Curse for Disobedience to the LORD’s command, “Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (2:16-17). Both blessing and cursing would be passed on to successive generations of obedient and disobedient ones. Remember, this is a Spiritual Passing Down, not necessarily tied to physical proximity associated with interaction between parents and children. Why? Because this is God’s promised blessing or cursing, which of interest, can be countered by a change in obedience to disobedience or the reverse. 

Viewing the genealogies of Genesis, the godly offspring of one parent became increasingly more consequential and less random, when successive generations duplicated the obedience of previous generations and strengthened the probability of godliness in future generations. Is this only chance randomness forced into a Generational Blessing in retrospect? But, the genealogy of Adam to Christ indicates a Generational Blessing, which illustrates the truth of a Spiritual Passing Down from one generation to the next. “So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations” (Matthew 1:17). Unbroken sinlessness for 42 generations? No, but the Eyes of God followed a pattern of good for 42 generations, where only His opinion really matters, that this proves the truth of Generational Blessings. “4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My commandments” (Exodus 20:4-6). And so, Generational Curses are as real as Generational Blessings.

Q: If under the New Covenant, the legal curse was removed by Christ — “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree” (Galatians 3:13) — then, how can a Generational Curse still exist? 

A: Because humanity’s sin occasioned the Curse, God will not remove it until He has accomplished all the good it must accomplish for humanity’s benefit, i.e., “Cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life” (Genesis 3:17). A Generational Curse still affects the Body of Christ, while we are in the flesh and until the Curse has been lifted at the New Heavens and New Earth as we proceed into Eternity. “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:4). “And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him” (22:3). 

Explaining the Curse

First, a curse is passed on through personal disobedience, i.e, Moral Depravity, which is the act of sinning. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). 

Second, a curse is precipitated through the transmission of our decaying physical constitution, i.e., Physical Depravity, which is not sin itself, but the occasion for sinning. “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12). 

Third, Christ’s death on the Cross redeemed us from our Personal Curse of not having kept the Law of Love, cp., Galatians 3:13. “Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them” (Galatians 3:10). 

Fourth, redemption from our Personal Curse came through repenting and believing Christ. “In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:14). 

Fifth, deliverance from our Generational Curse comes from repenting of the Corporate Sins of our fathers (Daniel 9:5-6), which has nothing to do with our personal acceptance by God, but everything to do with clearing our Adversary’s accusations against us (Job 1:9-11; 2:4-5), which hinders our Paraklete’s ability to deliver us (Daniel 10:12-14) in the Divine Council (Psalm 82:1 ESV). “20 And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner. 21 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him. 22 And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And He said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so” (1Kings 22:20-22 KJV). 

Sixth, why does the Almighty allow this Supernatural “Wickedness in High Places” (Ephesians 6:12), sometimes even addressing it in conjunction with His Divine Council (Psalm 82:1 ESV), or sometimes addressing it in scenes of the Courts of Heaven (Daniel 7:9-10)? It becomes apparent the Almighty’s vast scale of time, resources, and His own Son, though they are given for His Beloved Israel and His Son’s Bride the Church, His Glory and Faithfulness to Himself must take precedence over everything (Romans 11:36; 1Peter 5:11; 2Peter 3:18; Revelation 1:6). “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created” (Revelation 4:11).

Seventh, so long as there is a curse, then we will have our adversary the devil prowling about to devour us (1Peter 5:8), except during the Millennium where he is imprisoned in the Abyss (Revelation 20:3) after which he is released, deceives the nations, defeated, then eternally damned to the Lake of Fire (20:10) — excising the last bit of poison of rebellion against the Most High God. Then, it will be said, “And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Revelation 21:27). Thus, the High and Lofty One That Inhabiteth Eternity will secure the holiness and happiness of His Dwelling Place and those that dwell with Him, forever and ever. 

Name of Jesus

Ken

Why do Christians feel the need to quote Scripture, if the underlying truth can be brought out without citing chapter and verse? So those who are not familiar with the source and context of the truth can determine its veracity. “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11 KJV). In this way, we enable our hearers not simply to be one of our followers, but a follower of Jesus. “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1Corinthians 11:1). And, sometimes the context of the truth is so obvious, chapter and verse are unnecessary. “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11). 

What is so special about the Name of Jesus? We who are so crude we realize not our earthiness in all of its limitations need God’s Spirit to teach us our lowness and His highness. “1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple. 2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory. 4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. 6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: 7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. 8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me” (Isaiah 6:1-8).

The Name of Jesus is not a talisman or good luck charm. It represents the beginning of our understanding of the True God. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” (John 14:6). We take great delight in all of Scripture’s representations of Christ being different from but the same as the Father, since this is the Divine Mystery of the Godhead or the Trinity. Stumbling at such enigmas keeps the Kingdom of God from being filled with those who “having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away” (2Timothy 3:5). Cults famously misunderstand these things to their own detriment and often to their own damnation. “As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction” (2Peter 3:16). 

What is the significance of the Name of Jesus? 

First, it is the beginning of our relationship to God, because Jesus is the face of God. “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). 

Second, wealth and health are of less importance than the Name of Jesus. “Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6).

Third, God focuses our need of salvation from sin and sinning by lifting up the Name of Jesus (Greek, Iēsous, Jehovah is salvation) through supernatural means, such as healing. “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole” (Acts 4:10). 

A- From sins: “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). 

B- From sinning: “Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee” (John 5:14). 

Third, the Name of Jesus must represent the highest possible challenge to Organized Religion for it to be opposed by the Jews, who were the keepers of the Oracles of God (Scripture). “And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus” (Acts 4:18). 

Fourth, the Name of Jesus represents the leadership of those who have been accounted worthy to suffer with Jesus, for “if we suffer, we shall also reign with Him” (2Timothy 2:12). “And when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go” (Acts 5:40). 

Fifth, the Name of Jesus represents the greatest threat to the sorceries of the world, and baptism in the Name of Jesus represents the greatest call to loyalty away from the enemy and to the Living God. “But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women” (Acts 8:12). 

Sixth, the Name of Jesus is the authority to cast demons out of those possessed by the devil, when used by those filled by the Spirit of Christ. “And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour” (Acts 16:18). 

Seventh, the Name of Jesus identifies God’s called out assembly the Church, who have been set apart in Christ and called to walk holy as saints. “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours” (1Corinthians 1:2). 

In conclusion, all that we seek to know about God can be found in the Name of Jesus because Jesus is not simply made in the image of God but “is the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15), for “in Him should all fulness dwell” (1:19). Our most potent weapon against the enemy of our souls is Jesus, who has given His Spirit (Acts 2:38) not just for forgiveness of our sins but to inspire us to walk in complete obedience. “And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:27). 

“For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart [Pharaoh’s heart], and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like Me in all the earth” (Exodus 9:14). 

“And the angel of the LORD [Pre-Incarnate Christ] said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret [literally, wonderful, incomprehensible]” (Judges 13:18). 

“For unto us a child [Messiah Jesus] is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). 

“Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon Him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? They answered Him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am He. And Judas also, which betrayed Him, stood with them. As soon then as He had said unto them, I am He, they went backward [in other words, knocked to the ground by the Name of Jesus], and fell to the ground” (John 18:4-6).

Father, may the Name of Jesus be lifted up to glorify You. May Your power be witnessed and felt, when the Name of Jesus is used. May lives be transformed and demons flee, when all the power of the Almighty is displayed in the Name of Jesus. Cause us to be taught of Your Spirit that the opposition of the Wicked One may be brought to nothing. Magnify Yourself in an obedient, overcoming people. Grant us the inspiration to obey. Most of all, may there be the revelation of the face of God in the Name of Jesus. Lord Jesus, return quickly. In Your Name, we pray. Amen and amen. 

Suffer the Little Children

Ken

“Lo, children are an heritage [literally, inheritance] of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is His reward” (Psalm 127:3 KJV). God’s original command to “be friutful, and multiply” (Genesis 1:28), contained not only the authorization for marriage and the family, but the supply and funding for the children, who are our inheritance from Him. When children are not viewed as an inheritance from the LORD, then society’s ills are multiplied. Throughout history children have been sacrificed to pagan deities, and God absolutely abhors it. “Say to the Israelites: Any Israelite or any foreigner residing in Israel who sacrifices any of his children to Molek is to be put to death. The members of the community are to stone him” (Leviticus 20:2 NIV). 

Jesus represents God’s highest exposition of Himself to us, since He is the Son of God. His declaration is, “Suffer [literally, let] little children [Greek, paidion, young children], and forbid them not, to come unto Me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:14). Jesus represents Himself as an attractive force for little children, who must not be forbidden from coming to Him. The problem is not if children should come to Jesus but how not to prevent them from coming. Our bringing “them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4) is like cooperating with gravity to keep us from becoming disattached from the planet. God’s Kingdom refers to Heaven, because it is His undisputed domain since Lucifer was cast out. Yahweh knew Lucifer would betray Him like Jesus knew Judas Iscariot would also. Jesus is the magnet for our children, and we must study how not to interfere with His attractive force with our children. 

We no more give ferrous metal the right to choose or reject its attraction to a magnet than we should give our children the opportunity to reject their attraction to Jesus. “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me” (John 12:32). Those who value the choice of rejecting Jesus, misuse and misunderstand their understanding and temptation. Timothy’s mother Eunice and grandmother Lois were responsible for feeding the understanding of God’s Word to Timothy. “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2Timothy 3:15). The Serpent introduced temptation to Eve, when he twisted and misrepresented God’s Word. “Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” (Genesis 3:1). 

How young is too young to bring children to Jesus? 

First, if they are old enough to follow the Lord, then they are not too young to be brought to Jesus. “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children” (Ephesians 5:1). 

Second, if they are old enough to obey the voice of God (the Word of God), then they are not too young to be brought to Jesus. “Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be My people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you” (Jeremiah 7:23). 

Third, mind you, I am not necessarily talking about old enough to take the loyalty oath of baptism or being written down in the church membership rolls, but old enough to have as much relationship to the Lord as can be had without declaring themselves Children of God by virtue of their Physical Birth. “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again” (John 3:7). 

Fourth, fear not so much too young of a profession, since all who confess Christ as Lord, must still persevere to the end. “And ye shall be hated of all men for My name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved” (Mark 13:13).

Fifth, if they are too young to know they must love Jesus more than anything and anyone, including their own life, then they can be taught to follow Jesus, but the Holy Spirit needs to work this into their understanding before they can be confirmed in their faith. “If any man come to Me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:26). 

Sixth, if they are too young or unaware of their need to bear the Cross of Responsibility toward the Lord, His Church, and the world, then they need to be taught to follow Jesus until the Spirit can impress their need of responsibility and suffering for the Lord. “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after Me, cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:27). 

Seventh, if they are too young or unaware of their necessity to forsake everything for Christ, then they still should be taught to follow Jesus, until the Holy Spirit can impress upon them their need of forsaking all for Christ. “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:33). 

In conclusion, if this seems too much for anyone, much less Young Children, and if it seems too much human responsibility and not enough of God’s grace, then we may begin to comprehend our need of the Holy Spirit to accomplish anything of Saving, Sanctifying, and Glorifying Grace in our lives. “And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?” (1Peter 4:18). 

Did we really think we were getting into Heaven because we willed ourselves to be and do all that God requires? Perish the thought! “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). It has always been God working, convincing, and inspiring us to obey Him; but, especially in this New Covenant Age, we have been given the “Gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). We were promised long ago an especial Advocate to Inspire, Assist, and Comfort us, the Blessed Paraklete, the Holy Spirit. Young Children need to be taught their Birth Right, as soon as they can receive it, after their parents comprehend it. “And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:27). 

And, this is only the beginning of our warfare until the Lord Returns for us (Rapture). 

Father, teach us to teach our children to come unto Jesus, as soon as we can comprehend our opportunity and responsibility. Grant us a vision of what You will accomplish in these Last Days before it is time for Your Son to return. Overcome the Wicked One, who would keep us in darkness about the Great Harvest You are about to secure. Open our eyes to what You are doing in the Name of Jesus by the moving of Your Spirit. Lord Jesus, return quickly. In Your Name, we pray. Amen and amen.

Troubleshooting Christianity

Ken

“That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth” (Philippians 2:10 KJV). Evangelical Christianity still believes Jesus is the essence of all True Religion, and “no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” (John 14:6). Sinners are still repenting. Disciples are being baptized. But, converts are leaving through the back door, when the motions of social church life become a disciplined but slow grind of attempting to live life in the face of all the pressures any person has, coupled with the special demands of disciples trying to propagate their faith. 

Just as insects develop a resistance to pesticides, Professed Christianity seems to have developed a resistance to Jesus. Is that really possible? Actually, no, but our understanding and presentation of Jesus as the answer to everything necessitates a Spirit taught awareness of… 

Who is Jesus? 

First, the Spirit of God has the unique place of revealing Jesus to everyone, especially to His disciples. “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me” (John 15:26). “Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come” (16:13). 

Second, the centrality of Christ to both our physical and spiritual existence, gives us absolute dependence upon Him. Our physical existence: “And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist” (Colossians 1:17). Our physical sustenance: “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). Our spiritual sustenance: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13). 

Third, our necessity of Spirit inspired action is not well known, understood, or appropriated. Disciples have been commanded to make disciples of all nations “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 28:19). And, we have been commanded to teach others to obey Christ. “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:20). However, if we simply assume, we will obey because we choose to obey, then we are likely to assume our obedience is due to our good intentions resulting in our obedience. Yet, we have been plainly made aware, our obedience is due to God inspiring us to obey, i.e., “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). 

A- The whole purpose of the New Covenant was to give us God’s Spirit to indwell us to inspire us to obey Him. “And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:27).

B-  The first sermon of the New Covenant was Peter explaining what we must do to receive God’s Spirit. “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). 

C- We were then reminded, The Holy Spirit is given to them that obey Him, i.e., obedience to the command to repent and be baptized (2:38). “And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey Him” (Acts 5:32).

Fourth, we should obey God and require others to obey God; but, our complete expectation of anyone’s obedience — self included — is God’s faithfulness through His Spirit. “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain” (Psalm 127:1). Again, our expectation is of God. “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him” (Psalm 62:5). 

Fifth, Christ is our Preeminent Paradoxical Example as Almighty God, yet truly the Son of Man. “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps” (1Peter 2:21). Christ’s perfection is to be imitated, though we are too often prone to sinning. “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1Thessalonians 5:23). Faith is required (John 3:18; 1John 3:23), yet faith is a gift (Ephesians 2:8). Repentance is required (Acts 26:20 NIV), yet repentance is a gift (2Timothy 2:25). “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work” (John 5:17). 

Sixth, Jesus is our All-In-All Salvation. “God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ” (1Thessalonians 5:9). He is our Justification (Romans 3:24). He is our Sanctification (Acts 26:18). He is our Glorification (1John 3:2). Significantly, all the different relations of Christ to the Believer are also proofs of His Divinity and essential unity with the Almighty.  

A- Good Shepherd. Yahweh is not simply a shepherd for His people, but He is the Shepherd of Israel. “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1). Christ’s claim to be the keeper of His sheep made Him the keeper of my soul. Anyone claiming this priority makes Himself God and becomes responsible for my spiritual preservation. “11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth His life for the sheep. 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. 29 My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand. 30 I and My Father are one” (John 10:11, 28-30). Guidance and shepherding are ours, if we are His sheep. 

B- Door. The point of entry into the Kingdom of God is Jesus. Whatever is the entry controls who is allowed entrance. God is the Gatekeeper. “I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture” (John 10:9). We forget that entry is a privilege and can be denied — for our own good. “All that ever came before Me are thieves [by night] and robbers [by day]: but the sheep did not hear them” (10:8). Entry and protection are ours, if we are numbered among those who trust Him. 

C- Way of Salvation. Christians were early known as followers of the Way (Acts 19:28), since Jesus declared Himself “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). The definite article “the” identifies Jesus as the unique way to God. Giving Jesus the saving attributes belonging only to Yahweh makes Jesus God — and, necessitates our understanding of the Trinity. Understanding Jesus’ uniqueness makes our clinging to Him in faith a single mindedness toward our salvation. 

D- The Truth. The tendency for everything to point to Jesus as the equal of the Almighty was understood by the Son of Man. “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me” (John 5:39). And, of course then, Jesus is “the truth” (14:6), to the aggravation of the skeptic. Either, everything points to Jesus as God, who is our Truth, or nothing does. 

E- The True Light. God is the essence of True Light. “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light” (Genesis 1:3). Even physical light has a connection to God, who is a spiritual, non-material being. “This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all” (1John 1:5). Everything we identify with physical light corresponds to the True Spiritual Light, e.g., illumination, clarity, discernment. The Creator is the only being capable of manifesting all the essential characteristics of light. Humanity’s capacity to sense God’s spiritual presence results from God’s illumination of all mankind, so that we “are without excuse” (Romans 1:20) for rejecting Him. “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world” (John 1:9). When we come into the New Birth, we are in the presence of the True Light. “Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in Him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth” (1John 2:8). 

Seventh, being led by the Spirit is not optional, but Is a characteristic of the Children of God. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Romans 8:14). Tenderness or sensitivity to the leading of God’s Spirit is an unavoidable consequence of True Godliness, which separates Mainstream Christianity from New Testament Christianity. 

What happens when we are instructed, “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live” (Romans 8:13)? 

A- We make up our mind to “mortify the deeds of the body” (8:13), which is understandable.  

B- We pray that God’s Spirit would indeed “mortify the deeds of the body” (8:13), which is appropriate. 

C- We expect that the Holy Spirit will “mortify the deeds of the body” (8:13), which He must. 

D- We, too often, do not wait upon the LORD to fulfill His Word to “mortify the deeds of the body” (8:13), which is impatient, shortsighted, and tragic. 

E- We, run the risk of becoming shipwrecked in our walk, if the Spirit of God does not “mortify the deeds of the body” (8:13). 

F- We, however, have the potential of achieving the satisfying consistency of living the life of Christ because the Holy Spirit does “mortify the deeds of the body” (8:13). 

G- We may actually achieve the Spiritual Ecstasy of a Normal Christian Life, when the Holy Spirit does “mortify the deeds of the body” (8:13). “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out” (Romans 11:33). 

Heavenly Father, everything we do is under Your watch care. We can see how You have been developing our understanding of how we are to live the life of Christ here below, while we wait for His soon appearing. Grant to us the understanding, faith, patience, and overcoming that gives You the glory for everything achieved in our lives. Teach us to wait on You. Grant Jerusalem Your peace. Lord Jesus, return quickly. In Your name, we pray. Amen and amen.

God Is Not Done With Israel

Ken

God is not done with Israel. “I say then, Hath God cast away His people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin” (Romans 11:1 KJV). When the LORD established His covenant with Abraham, He unconditionally promised, “I will make of thee a great nation [Israel]” (Genesis 12:2), but He further promised, “in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed [the Church]” (Genesis 12:3). Both Israel and the Church were foreseen. And, no, the OT Mosaic law and feasts are not necessary for the salvation and sanctification of the Church. “In that He saith, A new covenant, He hath made the first old [literally, obsolete]” (Hebrews 8:13). Remember, humanity is equal in the sight of God — “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16) — but, He still has a special place in His heart for Israel — “Ye are My witnesses, saith the LORD, and My servant whom I have chosen” (Isaiah 43:10) — and in His prophetic program — “to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). 

It was no accident that the Gospel message started first “in Jerusalem, and [then spread] in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). All the first converts to Jesus were Jews, who crucified their Messiah. “Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children” (Matthew 27:25). Peter’s instructions to the Jews at the beginning of the Church, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call” (Acts 2:38-39), which includes the rest of us Gentiles, who have come to Messiah Jesus. 

The essence of Bible prophecy is God’s before-it-happens-certain-declarations of future events. If the OT Jews misread prophecy and missed the Messiah the first time, then shouldn’t the Church pay closer attention to prophecies to prepare for the return of Messiah Jesus the second time? “So Christ [Greek, Christos, anointed one, the Messiah] was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation” (Hebrews 9:28). Isaiah reveals God’s special relationship to Israel. “1 O Jacob, and He that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine. 4 Since thou wast precious in My sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. 5 Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; 11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside Me there is no saviour. 12 I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are My witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God. 18 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:1, 4-5, 11-12, 18-19). 

That “new thing” (Isaiah 43:19) prophesied by Isaiah was spoken of by Jeremiah, as well. “For the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man” (Jeremiah 31:22). “Created” (31:22) implies divine intervention. “Woman” (31:22) indicates an individual, not a collective noun. “Man” (31:22) compares to Isaiah 9:6, where it refers to God. Jeremiah 31:22 was believed by many in the Early Church as a reference to the Virgin Birth (Isaiah 7:14) of the Messiah: a virgin womb encircling a man without the necessity of a man’s participation, yielding the miraculous result of a Savior. As difficult to believe as this narrative, it would eventually result in Israel becoming a nation spiritually at Messiah’s Second Coming. “Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children” (Isaiah 66:8). 

Paul asked the Romans, “What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision” (Romans 3:1). What strategic advantage had the Jews over the rest of the world? The Jews superiority was their possession of the Word of God. “Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God” (3:2). But, you say, Nearly everyone today has access to the Word of God, so where is the advantage? Scripture has no practical benefit to us unless understood and obeyed. “For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified” (2:13). Intelligence is valuable in society, science, government, military, and business, as well. It is not what you know, but what you do with the Word of God. “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him” (2Chronicles 16:9). 

We must remember, the Jews have long been the subject of prophecies: (1) that they would be subjected to the Babylonian captivity of Judah, i.e., “shall be carried to Babylon” (Isaiah 39:6), and (2) that they would be held in the Babylonian desolations for seventy years, i.e., “And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years” (Jeremiah 25:11). 

But, the Jews were also told: (1) when “Messiah the Prince” (Daniel 9:25) would appear, He would be “be cut off, but not for Himself” (9:26), answering to Christ’s atonement [First Coming of the Messiah], and (2) they were also told the Son of Man would have an “everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away” (7:14), answering to the Millennial Reign of Christ and beyond (Revelation 20:4) at the end of the Seventieth Week of Daniel (Daniel 9:26-27) [Second Coming of the Messiah]. 

In summary, the Jews were responsible for the custodial care of the Divine Scriptures (Romans 3:2), furnishing the bloodline of the House of David for the Messiah (Matthew 1:1-17), for the political rebirth of the modern nation of Israel (1948), and providing us a prophetic clock for the reappearance of the Messiah. “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in” (Romans 11:25). 

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee” (Psalm 122:6). 

Father, You have not cast away Israel, the “apple of [Your] eye” (Deuteronomy 32:10). We pray for Your success in winning back the hearts of Your Chosen People Israel. Cause us the Gentiles to provoke Israel (32:21) to faith in the Messiah (Romans 11:11). We ask that our eyes would be enlightened, and we would not follow Israel’s former example of unbelief. May we see our victories in the immediate inspiration of Your Spirit inciting us to obedience (Ezekiel 36:27). May Jerusalem see Your peace. Messiah Jesus, return quickly. In Jesus’ name, we pray, amen.