Deceived by miracles

Rev 13:14  And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
Rev 13:15  And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

Deception through MIRACLES.
Power to give LIFE.

Does this sound like a harmless entity?

We'd love to be able to trust in miracles, wouldn't we? We want to witness miracles, we want to partake of miracles, we love the idea of real miracles occurring, miracles that are irrefutable. We want miracles that even the most skeptic among us cannot help but believe. We do, don't we? Maybe you consider yourself a skeptic and that's not altogether a bad thing, is it? Being skeptical keeps us from being hoodwinked, right? The Catholic church believes in miracles and goes to great lengths to prove the validity of any miracle, right? True miracles are things we see everyday, right? The miracle of life, the miracle of our existence. Yet we mean something different than these common miracles when we discuss miracles.  Jesus went about performing miracles, didn't He?

Joh 2:11  This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

Joh 2:23  Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.

Joh 6:2  And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.

Act 2:22  Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
Act 2:23  Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain

Jesus did MANY miracles, so many we haven't even been told about them all.

Joh 21:25  And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

Real miracles. Blind men, blind from birth, were given their sight back! Just imagine you knew that man, perhaps you grew up right near him and saw him as a child blind, saw him as a teenager blind, you interacted with him, talked with him, walked with him, helped him, felt sorry for him as he became a man unable to see and therefore so incredibly limited in his life. Then Jesus comes along and the next thing you know is that man is no longer blind!  Can you let yourself imagine it!? Try!  He can see you! For the first time He looks upon you and when you speak he recognizes your voice and calls you by name, his joy boundless. "Look! I can see! I can see! I see YOU! It's a miracle!"  What would you think in that moment? Would you believe it was a real miracle? What other choice would you have? Seriously, what other choice, especially when that man tells you how he was healed. You couldn't doubt him, he was seeing!

Real miracles beyond the miracle of life and all that entails. Do you believe in them? Could you believe in them? You'd have no choice not if your life was touched by a miracle such as described in the previous paragraph.  You'd immediately believe that miracle was God sent, wouldn't you? Of course you would. And yet we read this-

Rev 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do…

Deceived by miracles.

So you tell me, can we trust miracles? We want to because we do NOT want to believe that Satan can work miracles. We want to believe that ONLY God can do miracles, especially miracles of healing, surely He alone would do something that wonderful.  People do NOT want to believe that Satan, using His deceptive power honed to perfection, will work miracles we deem good- such as healing. The truth is, most people who believe in God do not want to believe that Satan is just as real as God. The Evil One has done a remarkable job at marketing himself so that the blinders he has crafted for people- yes, even God fearing people- fit perfectly about our eyes so that there isn't a glimmer of light that can enter in around them. Not a single bit of saving truth can penetrate those blinders. In fact the show going on behind the blinders suit us just fine, soothing us, lulling us into a false sense of security so that we WILL be deceived and ultimately the realization will come that it was a deception we chose, not one that was forced upon us. We choice deception when we turn from truth, whatever that truth is that is being presented. When we make the choice to accept some truth, but not all, we are NOT going to be SAVED! Jesus is the TRUTH! And if we reject any of HIS truth, then we are rejecting HIM.

No, people do NOT want to believe that they could be rejecting Jesus, especially those who claim to know Him and be known by Him. They want to hold fast to their blinders and keep them on tight to their eyes lest their delusions become apparent and they are forced to realize that there is truth out there they have rejected. They love their blinders because Satan has tailor made them to meet every desire they have- keeping them very comfortable in his masterful deception.

Deceived by miracles.

If we aren't willing to hold fast to all God's truth now, what makes us think that we'll be able to tell Satan's miracles from God's?

How many of Satan's miracles have been labeled God's already?  Not something you want to think about, well keep those blinders on,  the price you are paying for them is your eternal life, forsaking our loving Savior, Christ Jesus.

Deceived by miracles.

Mat 24:24  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

GREAT SIGNS, GREAT WONDERS all meant for DECEPTION! And ONLY the VERY ELECT will NOT be deceived!

Only those whose eyes are NOT blinded by deception will see.
Only those who live in the TRUTH of our SAVIOR, all HIS TRUTH will not be deceived.

Remember this…

Luk 10:25  And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
Luk 10:26  He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
Luk 10:27  And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
Luk 10:28  And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.


What shall I do to inherit eternal life?
Jesus ANSWERED- What is written in the law? How readest thou?
And the man summed up the entire MORAL law written on the two tablets of stone by saying--
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all they heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind, and thy neighbor as thyself.

Did Jesus rebuke the man? Did Jesus tell him that it would no longer be necessary to keep the moral law? It was a PERFECT opportunity to do so.  Did Jesus say that He'd come to replace the law, just believe in Him and forget about the law? Did Jesus tell Him that the moral law would not save him? Why not? Why didn't He? That's what people love to say isn't it? That the moral law is the law of the old testament and no longer valid. But that's not what Jesus said at all.

Jesus replied by saying THOU HAST ANSWERED RIGHT, THIS DO AND THOU SHALT LIVE.

Why would Jesus say that if it weren’t TRUE?  Was it only a valid answer until Jesus died?  If that's the case wouldn't Jesus have said so? Perhaps adding, that's right, do that and live, BUT also remember things are going to change after I'm gone. 

We have to LIVE IN THE TRUTH of our SAVIOR, not the lies people make up so that it's easier for us to pretend we belong to God, all the while we go about living selfishly only serving self even as we help others to serve our own egos.

By the GRACE of our LORD, more tomorrow!  We cannot let ourselves be DECEIVED! We cannot wear the blinders Satan has tailored made for us! We have to RESIST the DEVIL!

Jas 4:7  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

RESIST the DEVIL.   Yes, the Devil is very, very real and eager to please -- himself by lying and deceiving all who do not truly love Christ Jesus more than they love themselves.

Please LORD HELP US! SAVE US! TEACH US! LOVE US ALWAYS!

By YOUR GRACE.

Happily blinded by Satan?

Do you need proof that Satan rules this world?  Just read or watch the news. We have NO difficulty reporting the atrocities that people commit, announcing them all too eagerly  to the world. I still remember hearing this little tale- not sure when or where. A long retired police officer took a much younger officer aside to talk with him. They were discussing the horrors that are common in our world today and the much older officer sighed heavily and spoke sadly telling the younger that a lot of the horrors today were common back in his day too, the only difference being the police officers were not allowed to talk about them, not to reporters, not to anyone. They made not talking about the horror a part of their duty to protect the decent public from the morally corrupt around them. They felt it would do much more harm than good to discuss the awful things people could do to each other and to other living things. 

Are things worse today? Yes, I think they are and that's because there stopped being a need to protect people from horror. And when we stop protecting others a lot of time they fall victim to the fear that comes into their hearts, fear of living in such an awful world. Some will argue that we don't need to be protected we need to be informed and that information will protect us against the horrors, but really, seriously does knowing about the evils that occur day in and day out protect you? Can you know about evil without constantly being barraged by it? Why do we have to broadcast the evil more and more? What good does knowing every sick thing that takes place in the world? Is it enough to say there was a murder without getting the gruesome details of that murder? Is there enough to say there was a kidnapping without discussing every bit of torture that occurred to the victim of the kidnapping? Do you know what I’m saying? But that isn't what's happening and it's not going to start happening now, the floodgates of all things gruesome and horrifying has been open and it will not close, it cannot close the evil flowing through those gates is only growing more and more forceful.

Satan will blind us to his devices if he can. As long as we're blind to his handiwork we are his. If we CHOOSE blindness, God will allow us to be blind. God will not force us to see, God does NOT use force.

How many people are right now walking the earth happily blind to Satan? Spiritually blind? Living in the darkness yet they believe they are in the light? 

How many of those same people actually believe in God?  I think it's fair to say, a lot of them. No, not as many as in days past, but there is a strong belief in God in our world. Yet the God they are believing in ISN'T truly the God of the Bible, the God of old, the God from everlasting to everlasting, God the Father. A lot of them believe it is God, but they are caught in yet another great lie of Satan's- they don't believe that Satan is really, really, real. They regulate Satan to fablehood. They reduce him to a minor nuisance. They've taken him and resigned him to the corner, they've swept him under a rug, they've put in a closet, locked him in the attic, they've cartooned him, made a comedian of him, they've let him become scary movie fiction, horror book characterized. And they've labeled those that believe Satan to be a real enemy - as being crazy, being off their noggin's, looney toons.   With Satan taking on such a role they've unknowingly removed God from His role and replaced Him with a false god. Don't be fooled, if you think that can't happen!

Remember this--

Rev 13:11  And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
Rev 13:12  And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
Rev 13:13  And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
Rev 13:14  And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
Rev 13:15  And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
Rev 13:16  And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
Rev 13:17  And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Rev 13:18  Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

Mat 24:24  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

More on this tomorrow… ALL BY THE GRACE OF GOD!

Please LORD bless us, help us to comprehend our need to worship YOU and ONLY YOU and none other! Please LORD don't let us be deceived! We want to be among Your elect, please LORD! Satan will deceive ALL but the very elect, don't let us be deceive all by YOUR grace, YOUR righteousness, YOUR LOVE!

We are under attack...

1Ch 21:1  And Satan (G4566) stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.

Satan
G4566
- Definition:
1. adversary (one who opposes another in purpose or act), the name given to
a. the prince of evil spirits, the inveterate adversary of God and christ
1. he incites apostasy from God and to sin
2. circumventing men by his wiles
3. the worshippers of idols are said to be under his control
4. by his demons he is able to take possession of men and inflict them with diseases
5. by God's assistance he is overcome
6. on christ's return from heaven he will be bound with chains for a thousand years, but when the thousand years are finished he will walk the earth in yet greater power, but shortly after will be given over to eternal punishment

 Satan

The prince of evil spirits.
The adversary of God and Christ.
Incites apostasy from God.
Incites us to sin.
Uses wiles.
Idol worshippers - under his control.
He has evil spirits he uses to harm people.

He's every horrifically bad thing you can ever imagine.

If you witness any evil it stems from HIM.

People will tell you that you can commit evil without Satan, but that's not true. He is the FATHER of lies, He is EVIL, He is all that is EVIL! The origin of all evil is Satan. You can trace every evil to Him. Eve said she was beguiled and that began the reign of Satan on earth. Do you think Cain was not influenced by Satan? He was!

Gen 4:6  And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
Gen 4:7  If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

If thou doest well.
If thou doest not well.

Good and evil.  We are confronted with that choice every day of our lives! You may not think so, but we are. 

It's a HEART goodness, and a HEART evil, NOT the superficial good which is evil only prettied up.

Cain had the choice to make, none could make it for him, just as NONE can make it for us. God SPOKE to Cain. God told Cain that he needn't be upset so much so that it was easily worn upon his features.  Don't be upset just because I did NOT accept your sin offering, you can STILL rectify this, there is still room to do what is RIGHT.  However, if you are CHOOSING to not rectify this, if you are CHOOSING to not make a proper offering then sin is right there ready to take over you. 

God didn't condemn Cain outright when Cain did not offer a proper offering. God is a sympathetic God, a compassionate God. God didn't want Cain to sin. God was telling Cain that he would always be the firstborn and Abel under him.  Did Cain listen?  No. We know he didn't. That sin lying at his door was encouraged by Satan. 

We have to realize that Satan instigated all evil and his on going legacy is evil. Do you think He isn't thrilled when we follow in his ways? How do you think he felt about Cain's sin?

We know Satan has 'devices', that he has 'wiles', these are FACTS.

Satan used the serpent and BEGUILED Eve and once he'd done that there was NO stopping Him from corrupting every single human begin he could and can.

This is how bad it became on earth--

Gen 6:5  And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Gen 6:6  And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

Satan was ruling earth then and he's ruling earth now.

EVERY imagination of the thoughts of mankind's heart was ONLY EVIL CONTINUALLY.

EVIL.

We are so intent upon believing that man is evil in and of himself without any influence, but that simply is NOT true! Man consents to evil, man chooses evil over good.  We are ALL subject to the influence of Satan- our ONLY protection is found in CHRIST.

 People tell us blaming Satan is a cop out so that we don't have to take the blame for our own actions.  We still have to take the blame for the choices we make.  We are still accountable for every thing we do whether we ask for forgiveness or whether we don't, whether we sin or sin not, whether we let lust be conceived in us or not.  We choose!

We aren't using the fact that the origin of ALL our sin is Satan to escape our own guilt, that's impossible.  We can't escape, we are guilty and in need of forgiveness  every single time we sin! Yet knowing that Satan is influencing us to sin lets us prepare, let's us don our armor against Him! We don't wear armor if we don't think we are being attacked, right?

By the GRACE of GOD may we recognize our need of protection from our SAVIOR through the HOLY SPIRIT! May we recognize we are UNDER ATTACK constantly!!!!!!!

Please God, help us! Save us! ALL BY YOUR GRACE, YOUR LOVE!

Satan has DECEIVED the WORLD!

2Co 2:11  Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Satan was very REAL to the disciples.

They did NOT imagine Satan to be some imagined fable.  He wasn't just a story book character to them.  He was a real force, a real entity, a real being that influenced their lives. They didn't stuff him into some corner and pull him out for story time. Satan was and IS the enemy of Jesus Christ and therefore he is OUR enemy as well just as he was the enemy of the disciples.

Satan's devices.

This force for evil has his evil devices and we cannot allow ourselves to be ignorant of them.

Do you believe in the Word of God?
Do you believe in the LORD Jesus Christ?

If you believe… then you HAVE to believe in Satan, the REALITY of this EVIL being who is intent on destroying any one who would be Christ's.

2Co 11:3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

2Co 11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

1Ch 21:1  And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.
1Ch 21:2  And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it.

Job 2:3  And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.
Job 2:4  And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.
Job 2:5  But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.
Job 2:6  And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.
Job 2:7  So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.

Zec 3:1  And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.
Zec 3:2  And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?
Zec 3:3  Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.
Zec 3:4  And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.

Luk 22:31  And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat

Joh 13:2  And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him

1Co 7:5  Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

Eph 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

1Pe 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour

Rev 2:24  But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.

Rev 12:9  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Rev 12:10  And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
Rev 12:11  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Rev 13:6  And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
Rev 13:7  And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
Rev 13:8  And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Read that last verse again-

And ALL that dwell upon the earth shall worship him (SATAN), whose names are NOT written in the book of the  LIFE of the LAMB slain from the foundation of the world.

He's real all right and he's dedicated to stealing from God all the people he can. If you think you are immune to him, think again and think hard because your eternal life is at stake.

Satan has LULLED the majority of the world into believing one of his greatest lies- that we don't REALLY die.

How many people do you know believe that our loved ones who die are in a 'better place'? Do you believe it? It's a LIE. It's a lie that goes all the way back to Eve in the garden with the serpent.

Gen 3:1  Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
Gen 3:2  And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
Gen 3:3  But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
Gen 3:4  And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
Gen 3:5  For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

The serpent said unto the woman--  YE SHALL NOT SURELY DIE.

Did Eve die?

Yes. She might not have died right there on the spot, but God did NOT say that would happen. God did not tell Eve and Adam that if they ate the fruit of the forbidden tree they would die instantaneously.  He said they would die.

Gen 2:17  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.

Gen 2:17  but of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil you may not eat, for in the day that you eat of it, dying you shall die.  (LITV- Literal translation of the Holy Bible)

DYING you shall DIE.

Before they ate of that fruit they weren't subjected to death, they ate from the tree of life and death would not come to them. They were covered in the Righteousness of God, and because they were covered by GOD they could eat from that tree of life.

Satan LIED to Eve!

YE SHALL NOT SURELY DIE.

This is a lie the majority of people believe.  They believe that when a person dies they keep living in a different form. They believe they shift from flesh to spirit and that spirit knows EVERYTHING. The spirit LIVES in heaven and yet, like God, that spirit person knows EVERYTHING that goes on. That spirit can be happy … because there are no tears in heaven, right?  Heaven is a good thing where only good can happen. So, they believe this and then they believe that the spirit person can look down on them and see all their pain, all their heartache, all their grief, and all that they see does NOT make them cry or feel bad, or grieve themselves because that is NOT allowed in heaven, right?

Satan has DECEIVED the WORLD! 

Remember this-

Rev 13:8 And ALL that dwell upon the earth shall worship him (SATAN), whose names are NOT written in the book of the  LIFE of the LAMB slain from the foundation of the world.

Mat 24:24  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

And remember this-

1Pe 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour

Satan isn't sleeping, he's devouring, he's ravenous, he's craving YOU and ME! We are being HUNTED and this is NOT a stupid horror show, this is REAL life!
Satan has weaved a HUGE web of deceit and he's caught almost the entire world in that web and you know the really, really tragic thing… most don't even realize they've been caught!

Please LORD, please help us to NOT be ignorant of Satan's devices! Help us NOT let Satan get an advantage over us! We are living in perilous times! We are living in a nightmare and we pray that we will wake up to YOUR SOON COMING! PLEASE LORD, SAVE US, KEEP US, PROTECT US, LOVE US!

All in YOU and YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS!

Amen!

His Existence at Stake

Our Savior,  the ONLY Mediator between God the Father and Mankind, the One who paid our ransom through the Sacrifice of His life, and of His possible existence--

Yes, through the Sacrifice of His possible existence.

Do you comprehend that?

God with God from everlasting to everlasting, God who took on human flesh was BOUND by that flesh! Jesus did not become a God with power among us. His power came SOLELY from God the Father.

Joh 12:49  For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

Joh 14:10  Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

Joh 14:24  He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

Joh 10:30  I and my Father are one.

Joh 17:25  O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.
Joh 17:26  And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

HE did NOT speak of Himself- but the FATHER told Him what to say.
The FATHER dwelled IN HIM,  and the FATHER IN HIM did the works!

Just as we are to have the FATHER'S love in us, and have JESUS in US,  Jesus and His Father agree in ONE. 

When we accept our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and He is IN us, it's a very REAL SPIRITUAL existence, yet that did NOT make us ONE being and no longer two separate entities. I am still ME, and Jesus is still JESUS.  The Spiritual power that exists beyond our flesh has us agreeing as ONE. The power we get from our God through the Holy Spirit is given to us to do HIS works, the works the FATHER would have us do.

The FATHER had the power and gave that power to HIS flesh bearing Son.  Jesus did NOTHING of Himself.

Joh 5:19  Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

The FATHER lived in HIM and Jesus revealed the FATHER to us through HIS LIFE!

Our Savior was willing to risk becoming human and being subjected to temptation, fierce temptations beyond anything we can honestly imagine. He risked His existence.  If He'd died in sin He would never have been raised by His Father from the grave. He would have lost all humanity. Humanity would have ceased to exist at that point.

Did Satan ever accuse God of Jesus NOT being an acceptable atonement for mankind? No. Why? Because it wouldn't have been true and Satan knew it.

Satan did ALL in his power to get our Savior to sin, would he have even tried if it were impossible for Jesus to sin? NO!  Jesus was not a stone statue. Jesus was not God with God, but God in human flesh with God. That human flesh made it possible for our Savior to sin should He have chosen to do so. Satan knows this, we have to realize this. It was a REAL SACRIFICE. It wasn't God playing around making up tricks to appease Satan. This was a REAL SACRIFICE, and a REAL possibility that our Savior could have lost His OWN existence. There would have been NO excusing the sin, no reset button pushed, no do-overs, no try again and let's get it right this time. If our Savior had succumbed to temptation the power of sin would have been such that our Savior's existence along with our own would have been gone forever. THIS was the REAL SACRIFICE MADE!  He risked His entire existence and His existence was so far beyond anything we can possibly imagine that just trying to understand seems all but impossible. We are allowed enough to comprehend the depths, the heights, of the mercy given to us so that we can throw sinfilled selves at the feet of our Savior and beg Him for forgiveness, for HE ALONE is truly WORTHY of being able to forgive us our grave sins, He who gave so much and was under NO obligation to even give us a second glance.  Oh THE LOVE! The INCREDIBLE LOVE of our GOD and SAVIOR!

May we know this LOVE and be one with the Father, with the  Son, and with the Holy Spirit, in the LOVE that they alone can give to us- may we as individuals become four that agree as one, and as a collective as many as possible agreeing as one with our God the FATHER who is in heaven, from everlasting to everlasting.

Our Savior gave it all, He gave up His possible existence when He died on the cross and totally depended upon the Father to raise Him from the dead.

We can never forget this, never!



Amen.

A Ransom for all

1Ti 2:5  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
1Ti 2:6  Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
1Ti 2:7  Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.

Christ Jesus gave himself a ransom for all.

Ransom definition-

Redemption, the price paid, means of deliverance, rescued from punishment, redeemed from captivity, to release-to restore upon receipt of payment.

PAYMENT- Christ Jesus' life was the price paid for US, for us, for ALL, for
bEVERYONE.

To take on His role as our MEDIATOR our Savior had to pay a price for us. 

1Co 6:20  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

1Co 7:22  For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.
1Co 7:23  Ye are bought with a price…

Bought with a price.

We tend to think that it was so easy for God to sacrifice His Son, that it was so easy for the Son to agree to be sacrificed. Christianity, being a follower of Christ is not something that should be taken for granted at all.  What our God did for us is so far beyond our true comprehension that the little glimpse we are allowed into the understanding boggles our minds. 

God CHOSE to create us. He did NOT have to create us. And yet we live as if we are greater than He is! We live thinking we are here by mere chance. We philosophize away the truth so that WE become our OWN creators. We take it ALL out of anyone else's hands and believe that we just happen to be what we are and to think anything else is foolishness. We believe our science can duplicate everything. We clone now and we believe that makes us creators, yet the material we are cloning from was not created by us. Rather than believe in a CREATOR we choose to believe we exist and there is little more to it.

God chose to create us, I believe this with ALL my heart! I have a GOD, I have a REDEEMER. My God before creating me agreed with my other God, who is God the Father and they agreed together that we should be created. They agreed on all the particulars of our Creation. They agreed on our being given the power to choose whether or not we would give honor, glory, and praise to them as our Creators. They agreed that they would reveal their love in all they created to us and they also agreed that to be given a choice we had to have something to choose between. 

Satan rebelled, a created angel being, made the choice to not return the pure love given to him by God even though there was NO physical, NO tangible choice for him to choose between. There was NO forbidden tree place before the angels. The angels were spirit beings just as God was and is a spirit being. Satan's own thoughts betrayed Him. He wanted to be like God, He wasn’t satisfied with His position. He had so much, He had everything except the power that makes God, God, and able to create as only He can.

We as created human being also made the choice when we were confronted with that forbidden tree and egged on by an outside force to disobey God.

I believe it's because we were enticed and did NOT solely act of our own accord that God deemed us worthy for the plan of redemption that had been drawn up before our creation.

People say, 'The devil made me do it.' And you know what? The devil tries to make us do it- but we CHOOSE whether or not to ultimately do it.  The devil does not force us to sin but he'll do everything he possibly can to make us desire to do so ourselves.

That plan of redemption wasn't just a silly little thing, it wasn't a minor plan, it was a plan of tremendous forethought and SACRIFICE. The enormity of the plan of redemption cannot truly hit home, at least I don't think it can not until we understand what was sacrificed. It wasn't one human sacrificing themselves for another, though we call that honorable and good.  It was so much more than the sacrifice of our temporary life.

Agreeing to take on human flesh, that is not even like us agreeing to become an insect, it is so incredibly much more.

Would you agree to become an insect- permanently? Would you agree to that? Of course not, an insect is more often than not considered a pest and pests are meant to be killed quite often.

Our Savior agreed to put aside His GODHOOD. One who had no way to die, to be killed, to be destroyed. One who was from everlasting to everlasting- CHOSE to put on flesh and solely rely on God the Father as we must do and NOT any power He might possess- this amazing God did it so that He could SAVE us vile creatures.

He PAID the price! We are BOUGHT with a price! The ransom for us was INCREDIBLY, mindblowingly HIGH!

The ransom has been paid.

However usually when a ransom is paid the person held against their will is set free, and we are still here, still living with sin only growing more and more powerful all around us.

Again we have to look to the SANCTUARY that we were given an example of. Remember the earthly sanctuary was patterned after the heavenly. We MUST look there because our REDEEMER became the ULTIMATE LAMB of GOD that was SACRIFICED.

When we look at the Sanctuary we know that on the Day of Atonement after the animals were sacrificed their blood was still in play. They didn't simply die and that was it, their blood had a purpose.

Our Savior's blood has a purpose and He went to the FATHER to prepare a place for us, He went to the Father to plead on our behalf revealing that He had indeed met the necessary conditions in order to redeem us. He is our HIGH PRIEST in the HEAVENLY SANCTUARY.  The work is ongoing, the application of the shed blood in play.

Our Savior isn't slack concerning His promise to us, but is LONGSUFFERING.

2Pe 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Our Savior doesn't want to lose a single person that chooses to be saved by Him, not one.

By the grace of God may we comprehend as much as we possibly can of the love of God towards us in the sacrifice made to redeem us, in the RANSOM paid, the PRICE we are bought with.

All through the LOVE of our God forever!

We are Blessed by this Gift- The Sabbath!

1Pe 2:5  Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Spiritual Sacrifices.

Yesterday we were talking about the special GIFT of the seventh day Sabbath to mankind.

We discuss how that Sabbath was a special day of communing between God and Mankind. How even after the fall - even after Adam and Eve sinned and were banished from the garden of Eden- God still met with them.  When He met with them an OFFERING was necessary,  a SACRIFICAL OFFERING, the OFFERING of SACRIFICE. Why was an offering of sacrifice made? Because man had sinned- separating Himself from God.

By all accounts God could have -and some would argue- should have just annihilated mankind at that moment. But God, whose compassion and love we can scarcely begin to comprehend had already decided if He were going to go ahead with the creation of mankind that there had to be some plan in place if mankind chose the path of sin rather than the path of love. He knew when He made the plans that the possibility was there because He was creating mankind with the power to CHOOSE. He didn't want creatures to be like animals, like puppets, but rather like Him, in HIS image. He wanted them to be able to choose right over wrong, love over evil, to willingly do this.  Remember this--

2Ti 1:9  Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Joh 17:5  And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

The plan of salvation was in place before the world ever existed.  God did not create mankind willy nilly and then go 'OOPS!'  when they sinned. He didn't say a great big, 'UHOH!'  He had plans in place because of the LOVE He possesses that we can only comprehend the tiniest bit of.

So while some might argue that God would have been better off just making mankind disappear they'd be wrong. 

God did NOT do away with mankind, so why would He stop communicating with mankind? Why would He cut them off completely? Would that show them the plan of Salvation? Would that reveal the way to reunite with Him and be sinless? Would that destroy the evil of sin? It's ludicrous to believe that God would banish Adam and Eve and then never communicate with them again.  The facts are- God did communicate with them and taught them how they could repair the huge breech that sin had created between them.

An understanding of their WRONG must come first. Without the comprehension of their wrong, of their sin, what good would saving them be?

Did they know they did wrong?

Gen 3:7  And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
Gen 3:8  And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
Gen 3:9  And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
Gen 3:10  And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
Gen 3:11  And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
Gen 3:12  And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
Gen 3:13  And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

Fear.
No longer covered in the light of God's righteousness but naked.
Hiding.
Beguiled.
Admission of wrong doing.

They knew, their eyes were opened to the realization they'd disobeyed their beloved Creator. They felt the incredible guilt instantly. The light of righteousness was GONE from around them. Do you honestly believe they were blind before sinning? NO. They were NOT blind, they were under LOVE'S protection, they were shielded by God's righteousness.  Is a child blind because a parent doesn't allow them to watch bloody horror shows on tv? No. But once that child disobeys and watches a bloody horror show on tv then they can no longer Un-watch it, it cannot be as if they hadn't seen it, the damage is done. They might even view a lot of things around them in a different light depending on what horror show they witnessed and the psychological aspect to it.  Adam and Eve were not blinded, they saw all the beauty of the garden, of the creatures that inhabited the garden, they met with God Himself and saw Him. They were not blind, but eating the fruit from the forbidden tree was an act that could not be undone.  They saw instantaneously that their disobedience had consequences. While God had clothed them in His righteousness they never felt naked. It wasn't that they loved traipsing around in the innocence of nudity, they were clothed in God's light, God's righteousness! When His righteousness was suddenly gone they could see that they HAD no righteousness of their own! Why do you suppose their nudity shocked them after sinning? It was because they hadn't been naked spiritually! If you open your eyes and discover you're naked, you had to have been clothed before, right? You had to know you'd been clothed before. They HAD been clothed, truly they had.

2Co 5:1  For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2Co 5:2  For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
2Co 5:3  If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
2Co 5:4  For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

Isa 61:10  I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

Clothed with Christ's righteousness- no longer naked.
The garments of salvation- the robe of righteousness.

Before they sinned they were in a saved state, yes? They were in a PURE, SINLESS state. They had the ROBE of RIGHTEOUSNESS upon them! 

Their FLESH eyes were opened to the selfish things of the flesh, they could no longer view things in the light of God's pure righteousness, they'd given that up and they felt the weight of it instantly.

The very first thing they did was make something to cover themselves but it couldn't compare to the glory of God's righteousness.   How incredibly vulnerable they must have felt.  Have you ever been lost in your life- not figuratively but literally lost and vulnerable? It's a very, very frightening experience. To suddenly be separated from God's righteousness had to be incredibly frightening for Adam and Eve. They wanted their clothing back! They wanted that covering back on them. They weren't rejoicing in their sudden nudity, they were fearful of it, they did not like it! They wanted to be clothed once more. 

Fear.
No longer covered in the light of God's righteousness but naked.
Hiding.
Beguiled.
Admission of wrong doing.

They HID from God! You don't hide from someone out of fear unless you know you've done something wrong. How many children do this? They do something wrong and think if they hide from their parents it'll be better some how, or at least it will forestall immediate punishment.  It's not strange for a child to hide when they've done something wrong, in fact a lot of adults probably wish they could hide too when they do something wrong and have to face the person they've harmed.

Eve said she was beguiled, that's NOT a good thing. Eve didn't defend herself by saying she ate the fruit of her own accord, she KNEW this wrong act had been encouraged by the serpent. She was beguiled, she put herself in the situation to be beguiled. She believed the beguiler when he told her something contrary to what God had already said.  She listened to the voice of one speaking out against God, bad mouthing Him. She had NO reason to even minutely believe that her beloved Creator was keeping good from her, NONE, not a single reason! Yet she listened to the beguiler.

They KNEW they'd done wrong and that was and is the first step to comprehending our need to atone for that wrong.  God quickly made them realize that there would need to be a MEDIATOR, that they couldn't in and of themselves atone for what they'd done. 

The offering of a sacrifice, a DEATH was necessary, and not only was a death necessary it was the death of an INNOCENT.  Animals are innocent, they never consciously commit any evil. They might be trained to do evil, but even then they are victims of their trainers.  They might kill out of instinct but there is NO malicious intent, for that to happen there has to be reasoning and animals just do not have the higher thought of mankind. It wasn't generally wild animals brought to sacrifice but tame ones, very, very innocent of any wrong doing. Lambs led to the slaughter. Innocent lives that had never been meant to be killed. Man was to eat --

Gen 1:29  And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

The animals hadn't been created to be killed and eaten, or killed as a sacrifice.

If you've ever loved an animal you know the mere idea of having to sacrifice that animal is completely heartbreaking.

God instituted the sacrificial offerings all pointing to Christ, and those sacrificial offerings ended when Christ Jesus became our ultimate sacrificial Lamb- the Lamb of God.

Joh 1:36  And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

No longer did earthly sacrifices which were only examples of the Lamb of GOD sacrificing Himself, have to be given, they'd served their purpose. The ceremonial laws were nailed to the cross. In the earthly temple the veil was torn in two.

Mat 27:50  Once again Jesus shouted, and then he died.
Mat 27:51  At once the curtain in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, and rocks split apart.
(CEV)

So how were those left to live? Those who had been raised to offer sacrifices? They'd still offer sacrifices but NOT imitating the LAMB of GOD sacrificed. He'd BEEN sacrificed! There was no longer a reason to look towards the Messiah, He'd come!

Now people had to look towards a RISEN CHRIST! They had to believe upon HIM and the SACRIFICE He'd made for them!  They had to be BORN again into a new SPIRITUAL birth! From then on their sacrifices would be SPIRITUAL sacrifices!

1Pe 2:5  Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Psa 51:17  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise

Mar 12:32  And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
Mar 12:33  And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
Mar 12:34  And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God.

Rom 12:1  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 service.

We still and forever have the all important gift of God's to mankind at the beginning- the Sabbath day and we can STILL commune with God on this day! We can still bring our spiritual sacrifices to Him.  We can present our broken and contrite hearts-  hearts that realize the state of sinfulness they possess and their only hope is in Christ Jesus' righteousness, His forgiveness, His love.  We can LOVE God with all our heart- not just a sliver of it. We can love our neighbors, our fellow man as we would be loved. We can present our living bodies, our LIVES to HIM and through HIS mercies , by HIS grace He will make us holy as we can never make ourselves.

None of us can take a coal off the alter and touch it to our own lips.
None of us can take our filthy unrighteous off ourselves and replace it with righteousness.

We must present ourselves TO GOD, a will, living sacrifice ready for Him to do all He needs to do in us.

On the blessed, holy day of the Sabbath we have this unique period of time set aside to live solely for our God. 

Do away or change this wondrous GIFT given to us from Creation?! GOD FORBID!

Many might wish to ignore it and pretend it doesn't matter, but it does, it really, really does.

Every Sabbath we are called to remember our beginning, our fall, our redemption, our future in Christ!

Every Sabbath we are called to remember that there was a time when God and Man were in full communion with one another.

Every Sabbath we are called to remember the day is HOLY only because our God deemed it so!

Every Sabbath we are called to remember that even before the world was created a plan was made to save us should we fall.

Every Sabbath we must remember the greatest Sacrifice ever made all in order to save us!

Every Sabbath we must praise our God for HIS mercy, HIS love!

Every Sabbath we must seek God knowing He will speak to us through His HOLY Word!

We are BLESSED by this GIFT God made for US, and to reject this very special gift is to reject His love, His truth, it is to reject HIM.

ALL GLORY, HONOR, and PRAISE, ALL THANKFULNESS, ALL LOVE UNTO OUR GODS, the FATHER and the SON WHO AGREE IN ONE.  ALL THROUGH HIM, THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT!

A Special Day, A Special Gift Just for Us!

Remember the Sabbath day.

Exo 20:8  Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Exo 20:9  Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
Exo 20:10  But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
Exo 20:11  For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Six days BELONG to us.
One day ESPECIALLY BELONGS to us.

Mar 2:27  And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath

Do you see? Do you comprehend?

The Sabbath was MADE for US.

The Sabbath was a GIFT to us. A GIFT, MADE for us.

Without the Sabbath every day would be the same.

How do you think we came about a Week and a Weekend?

'The present-day concept of the weekend first arose from the Dies Solis (Day of the Sun) decreed by Constantine and from Biblical Sabbath.'-- Pasted from

Sunday- Day of the Sun.
Saturday- Biblical Sabbath.

Pagan.
Biblical.

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Day of the Sun (Sunday) -

'Constantine decreed (March 7, 321) dies Solis—day of the sun, "Sunday"—as the Roman day of rest [CJ3.12.2]:
        On the venerable day of the Sun let the magistrates and people residing in cities rest, and let all workshops be closed. In the country however persons engaged in agriculture may freely and lawfully continue their pursuits because it often happens that another day is not suitable for grain-sowing or vine planting; lest by neglecting the proper moment for such operations the bounty of heaven should be lost.[33]
       
Constantine's triumphal arch was carefully positioned to align with the colossal statue of Sol by the Colosseum, so that Sol formed the dominant backdrop when seen from the direction of the main approach towards the arch.[34]'

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Sabbath-

'The Biblical Sabbath is a weekly day of rest or time of worship. It is observed differently in Judaism and Christianity and informs a similar occasion in several other faiths. Though many viewpoints and definitions have arisen over the millennia, most originate in the same textual tradition.

Sabbath is first mentioned in the Genesis creation narrative, where the seventh day is set aside as a day of rest and made holy by God. Observation and remembrance of Sabbath is one of the Ten Commandments (the fourth in the original Jewish, the Eastern Orthodox, and most Protestant traditions, the third in Roman Catholic and Lutheran traditions). Most people who observe Biblical Sabbath regard it as having been instituted as a "perpetual covenant [for] the people of Israel" and proselytes (Exodus 31:13-17, Exodus 23:12, Deuteronomy 5:13-14), a sign in respect for the day during which God rested after having completed Creation in six days (Genesis 2:2-3, Exodus 20:8-11).'

Pasted from

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These two days of worship came from two sources-  Man and God.

Who do you worship? Man or God?

Contrary to the belief of most of Christianity, the BIBLE does NOT authorize a change of the Sabbath day. Jesus did NOT authorize a change of the Sabbath, He KEPT the Sabbath- even in the GRAVE.

God ceased from all HIS work on the seventh day.  Have you ever ask yourself why?

Did God need to rest? Had He worn Himself out? Is that even possible? No, no, and no.

God included the REST day along with the WORK days as an EXAMPLE TO US, as a GIFT TO US.

Told to REMEMBER that day He set aside so long ago, the people of God were given GUIDELINES to follow so they'd be able to understand what the day really meant. 

Exo 20:9  Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
Exo 20:10  But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
Exo 20:11  For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Following these guidelines would mean we recognize the GIFT day from GOD. The DAY GOD RESTED! GOD RESTED! The  blessing of that REST is something we tend to overlook.  GOD RESTED! I know I keep saying that, but the importance of it is astounding.

Let's say hypothetically that a revered leader, a wonderfully kind, fair, loving man worked alongside the people who followed him day in and day out. This man never missed a day and expected his followers to live after his example.  Day after day they all worked together in harmony, no ire, no bickering, no upset, no overtiring, just pleasant days of working.   Then one day the leader decided to rest and not work and he told his followers that they too were to rest on that day WITH HIM. Of course there was no objection, why would there be? The followers were only too happy to obey and spend a day of rest with their leader and it became a day they looked forward to because on that day of rest they had a more intimate encounter with their leader without any work activities to interfere. 

What a nice situation to imagine, right?

God created man and He created Him in His image- man would work even as God worked.

Gen 2:15  And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. 

Man was to dress and keep the garden- work.

Man wasn't made to be idle, to seek selfish flesh pleasure. There was JOY, true, selfless joy in that GARDEN, in LIFE, in LIVING.

Work for the most part has come to mean doing some menial task over and over and getting paid for it, whether it's enjoyable or not. 

The Israelis weren't doing that at all when they were being led out of Egypt to the promised land. There was no monetary system set up. Yet God set up a covenant with them and gave Him His MORAL LAWS. In those MORAL LAWS was the reminder of CREATION! A reminder of God's WORK and REST. 

God, even before man sinned, wanted mankind to follow His example of work and rest. And that didn't mean taking a day off work to go selfishly indulge yourself! The REST God took was TIME HE took to SPEND WITH MAN!  The TIME the CREATOR of ALL, the GREAT I AM, the EVERLASTING TO EVERLASTING, took to BOND with MANKIND, to allow HIMSELF and man to ENJOY BEING WITH EACH OTHER without any distractions. 

Man and God TIME!

After creating the earth and all therein and taking that day to rest, God would continue to work, He didn't stop working. To think He simply stopped everything and made earth His total focus would be very vain of us, wouldn't? Thinking we were made to be worshipped by God! NEVER! God would continue being God, creating from everlasting to everlasting and yet HE RESTED for US and created a special rest period of time for us based on His creation plan.  

Imagine Adam in the garden tending it and every seventh day God met with Him so they could be together - Creator and Creature.  Just imagine the perfection of it all.

After man sinned He separated Himself from God. He was banished from the Garden, everything changed.  And yet God did NOT give up on mankind. A way had been made for God and Man to be restored to that special communion with each other, a MEDIATOR had been ordained and the salvation plan instantly underway.  God wanted His communion with mankind to be restored, the perfect ideal Creation He designed, He wanted that back.  Man wanted that too.

Remember this:

Gen 4:3  And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
Gen 4:4  And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering

Offerings to the LORD.  They were still acknowledging GOD as their  CREATOR. Just imagine it…

After the fall Adam and Eve were living outside of the garden in a much harsher place but they were still living on the planet God created. They weren't allowed access to the Tree of Life, and that is why they were banished from the lush Garden they'd been tending. They had changed everything by their actions  and their environment was changed, but not so that they were in a totally alien atmosphere. There was still greenery, animals, still the earth the LORD had created.  They could probably see where the garden they'd been banished from was at, surely as they were leaving it they noted the changes from lush to less so.  They weren't flown off the planet, they weren't put to sleep and woken up somewhere else. They knew they'd done wrong and they knew they were being punished, but the knowledge of their previous  life hadn't disappeared, their memories most assuredly were NOT erased!

They KNEW what they'd done! They felt keenly that separation from their CREATOR! Do you HONESTLY think they forgot about the rest they took with their God, their Creator every seventh day? NO! Every seventh day as it came along had to bring with it a renewed sense of that loss and yet they were still giving OFFERINGS to God and HE was STILL communing with them through those OFFERINGS.

The LORD had RESPECT unto Abel and his offering.

This is a form of communing, isn't it?  Abel knew God was pleased, just as Cain knew God was not pleased with his offering.

Gen 4:5  But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

And the LORD SPOKE WITH HIM!

Gen 4:6  And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
Gen 4:7  If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door…

The LORD SAID unto Cain.

The Lord spoke to them! They'd been separated from God and the close communion they had with Him in the garden had ended, but they were still talking with HIM!

Imagine it… come on, try and imagine it.  Every seventh day man rested and God would commune with man in the garden- Creator and Creature. Then the Creature turned on His Creator and the Creator was betrayed. This betrayal could not go unpunished and life became exceedingly harder for mankind, death was even introduced- death in the beloved animals, and a slow decay to death even of the Creatures themselves. Yet, not abandoning the Creatures, the Creator would still commune with them. That communing would begin with the Creature making an offering to the Creator. The Creature sacrificed something which would make the offering a token of their desire to have the breech they'd created repaired. By the Creature giving up a part of their own selfishness in that sacrifice, by the Creature realizing the gravity of the sin they'd committed towards their Creator they were acknowledging their sinfulness and their Creator's sinlessness all through their Creator's love.

The Creatures didn't want the special communing with their Creator to end! They were blessed by His continued desire to have them be HIS beloved Creatures! He allowed them to begin the process of understanding what it would take to ultimately heal the breech between Creator and Creature.  In a lesser form, in example  form they were being taught that a GREATER sacrifice would be required for them to once more become  AT ONE with GOD. They were being taught that they, in and of themselves, were UNABLE to save themselves- an INTERCESSOR, a MEDIATOR was going to be needed. Every single sacrifice offered by them to God recognized this ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. 

God continued to meet with His creatures every seventh day! That day had been BLESSED. That day had been SANCTIFIED. That day was HOLY from the moment it was created during Creation Week. It didn't lose the blessing, the sanctification, the holiness when mankind sinned.  The day still existed as assuredly as our seven day week has been perpetually carried on down through all time even when mankind has tried to alter it time and time again. 

Reaffirmed by God through the Moral Law of Ten Commandments- God's people were told that they were to not work but to rest as GOD rested, and in that rest of God and Man, of Creator and Creature they could commune with one another renewing their bond. And the sacrifice WE bring since our Savior came and fulfilled the place as our Ultimate Sacrifice is…

Psa 51:17  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise

Mar 12:32  And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
Mar 12:33  And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
Mar 12:34  And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God.

Rom 12:1  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 service.

Heb 13:16  But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

1Pe 2:5  Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Spiritual Sacrifices.

All by the GRACE of GOD - more tomorrow!

 In HIS LOVE!

ONLY One Mediator

1Ti 2:5  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus

ONE MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MEN.

So why do we try to put others besides the ONE and ONLY MEDIATOR, between us and God? Seriously, why? Why do we put teachers, preachers, and charismatic others as a go between? We do it and WE cannot deny it!

Why do we pray to any other than GOD? We shouldn't! Jesus didn't teach us to pray to any other, He taught us to pray to OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN!

We is it people have actually chosen to call men FATHER who are NOT their father's but religious teachers, religious guides, NOT anything like our FATHER IN HEAVEN. No MAN is a substitute for OUR FATHER in HEAVEN! No MAN could EVER be a substitute for our FATHER IN HEAVEN. There is NOT a single human being on earth- dead or alive that cab ever take our HEAVENLY FATHER'S place in ANYTHING!

We are to worship NO OTHER!

We have a MEDIATOR between us and God and that is ONLY ONE being the God-Man Christ Jesus,

We cannot put into the place of our ONE MEDIATOR anyone else so STOP TRYING RIGHT NOW! You might think saint so and so will mediate for you, but they won't! Every saint so and so is DEAD and buried, in the ground right now, sleeping the sleep of death. They are NOT in heaven, they are NOT talking to God on your behalf!

I read this earlier today and it only served to remind me of the TRUTH-

1Co 15:22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1Co 15:23  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

All die and all shall be made alive.

Every man in his OWN order.

Christ, the firstfruits- FIRST.

AFTERWARD-

They that ARE CHRIST'S at HIS COMING!

You read it, you read the TRUTH! We are MADE ALIVE at CHRIST'S COMING and NOT BEFORE!

So there isn't a single man alive who is in heaven listening to you here on earth and they are most certainly not in their graves listening to you. They are sleeping death's sleep peacefully- all people- good and evil.  Yes, even the evil dead are given the peace of death's sleep.

Strange? NO.

When you fall asleep at night what is the next thing you know? Seriously?

Waking up. You don't know all those hours of sleeping that you are sleeping. You don't know what's going on around you. People have had their entire houses robbed while they've been sleeping. People sneak out of the house while others are sleeping and they are none the wiser. You are put under a medically induced sleep to have yourself operated on- cut opened, and you wake up with the surgery all done. Sleep, an UNCONSCIOUS state.  So if the evil dead are allowed the peaceful sleep of death it's NOT as if they even KNOW what's going on. They are NOT enjoying the peaceful sleep! They know NOTHING.

There is ONLY ONE MEDIATOR between GOD and MAN! CHRIST JESUS is our MEDIATOR and HE alone can SAVE US! NO OTHER!

Please, please stop asking others to intervene for you and ask OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN yourself, all in the name of the LORD, our SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST!  He taught us to pray and it was to HIS FATHER, no other!


All by the grace and mercy of our one and only mediator, Christ JESUS!

Amen!

One God AND One Mediator

1Ti 2:5  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus

One God AND One Mediator BETWEEN God and Men.

God the Father- there is ONLY ONE God the Father. Jesus recognized God the Father-

Mat 5:16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Mat 5:45  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Mat 6:9  After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Father which is in heaven.
Children of your Father which is in heaven.
Our Father which art in heaven.

Jesus' words.

Joh 10:30  I and my Father are one.

I can say- I and my mother are one and it'd be true if we were one in agreement, right? But saying-  I and my mother are one doesn't make me her or her me.  It is the same with God the Father and God the Son, yet so many people want to make them ONE in a sense other than in agreement as one.

There is ONE God the Father and ONE Mediator between God and mankind.  Christ Jesus is the man/God  who stands between God the Father and us.

There is a separation, a very REAL separation between God and Jesus and there always has been.  This here…

Zec 6:13  Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.

Between them both.

People love to shout about monotheism- ONE God belief, and yet, all Christians believe in God the Father and God the Son, to say otherwise is a lie and NOT the truth! They believe in two Gods and yet they'll deny it over and over just to stand by their belief in monotheism.

More tomorrow   by the grace of God!

All prayers... for all men.

1Ti 2:1  I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
1Ti 2:2  For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
1Ti 2:3  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
1Ti 2:4  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.


All supplications...
All prayers...
All intercessions...
All giving of thanks…

…for ALL men.

Kings.
All in authority… PRAY for them.

God would have ALL men to be saved.
God would have ALL men come to the knowledge of the truth.

We are to pray for others that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. Isn't this what we are to desire? Seriously.  To lead a QUIET and PEACEABLE life- in all GODLINESS and HONESTY.

Some might abhor the thought of leading a quiet life preferring to lead unpredictable and loud lives. We all know how teenagers are viewed, how young people are looked upon as those who generally have wild oats to sow, a recklessness to get out of their systems.  Yet more and more people want this wildness in their lives, they've become addicted to things that excite the senses. Do they want peace? Often times they make it a habit to create a bit of havoc just to feel that strange excitement they have come to crave- knowingly, unknowingly, peace and quiet is something they have come to shun.

Yet, we need quiet and peace as much as we need godliness and honesty.  The closer we come to God the more peace we feel. The closer we come to God, honesty becomes more of a reality in all parts of our lives.

All supplications...
All prayers...
All intercessions...
All giving of thanks…

…for ALL men.

Kings.
All in authority… PRAY for them.


We  need to pray for ALL men, not be prejudice in our prayers.  We cannot pick and choose who we think we should pray for and who we shouldn't. If GOD would have all SAVED, how can we think differently?

By His grace may we pray as HE would have us pray, may we find HIS peace, HIS quiet, HIS honesty.

Please LORD, be our all in all. IN YOUR LOVE!

War a Good Warfare

1Ti 1:18  This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;
1Ti 1:19  Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck

War a good warfare.

Holding faith.
A good conscience.

Remember this--

Eph 6:16  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

To war a good warfare means being prepared, fully armored, ready for battle.
This SPIRITUAL battle we are all in is REAL.
Shake your head, scoff if you like, but it is real. You can spend your whole life ignorant to the Spiritual war going on, but you live it none the less.
Young children growing up in the middle of warfare do not know what's taking place around them. The blind cannot see what is taking place during a war. The feeble are unable to participate in a war but that doesn't mean they are all excluded. When a city comes under siege do you think those warring stop their battling and make an announcement for all those who are prepared to leave? People are victims in battle all the time, a lot of them never even knowing what the war is all about. People who do not become soldiers and yet they are killed are call casualties, civilian casualties, collateral damage. This Spiritual battle is unique because everyone is a part of it and there will be millions and millions of casualties who actually have chosen to be casualties rather than fight the Spiritual battle.  These are people who have access to the armor they need, in fact they have access to all the implements of warfare they need and yet they choose to simply not fight.

This fight has NO physical casualties, you are NEVER called to kill a single person, not ONE. There can be NO objection to this war on the basis of objecting to taking a life. The Spiritual battle is a battle against the flesh DESIRES, against the wickedness that would have us give in to selfishness at every turn. The Spiritual battle is one you wage against the invisible evil that would have you yield to every temptation presented to you.  It is a REAL evil, a REAL force that encourages us to evil all the time! If only it were fiction, if only it were a fable.

We have to war a good warfare and to do this we must have FAITH, a shield of FAITH that quenches ALL the fiery darts of the wicked. When we give up our faith, when our faith is perverted, when we look to ourselves and not to faith in our Redeemer, we will be lost in this warfare.  You might not feel the spiritual bullet that pierces your heart- taking your spiritual life. You might not even feel the first prick from an evil dart, but that is only because you desire to be blind, deaf, and dumb to the truth, you make the choice willingly to numb your spiritual senses to the reality of the war you are in.

1Ti 1:19  Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck
1Ti 1:20  Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

Some have put away their FAITH and their GOOD CONSCIENCE, and when we put those away we have no armor, we are unprotected, we are still in the war but we are subjecting ourselves to being overtaken, we are endangering ourselves, our eternal life, our Salvation.

When we read that Hymenaeus and Alexander are delivered to Satan in order to learn not to shun God, it sounds really strange. Read more...

1Co 11:32  But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

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

Delivered to Satan doesn't mean some Satanic cult takes you and tears you apart, it doesn't even mean you are being given to him for destruction of anything but that which would keep you from God.

How often have we suffered because of our OWN backsliding?  How often are we the victims of our own  lack of faith, of our own selfishness? Truly we are giving OURSELVES to Satan ALL the time when we give in to the evil he tempts us with.  If others leave us to our sinning, by NOT condoning it, by NOT keeping us among them, then we are left to Satan, left to our own devices. We are delivered to Satan aren't we? Yet, others will NOT stop praying for us, Christ does NOT stop loving us, there is HOPE for us.  This part-- 'THAT THEY MAY LEARN' means there is HOPE!

When we reveal by our actions that we desire evil over good, then others can't be expected to desire us to be around them, others who are fighting the Spiritual battle. It's hard enough to fight the Spiritual battle, the invisible battle, let alone fight those who are flesh. If we are not in a situation that demands us to be around those who are not fighting the Spiritual war all around us, that's one thing, but to CHOOSE to have people around us that will only be used to weaken our faith is wrong.

We need to PRAY for all! No one is beyond our PRAYERS, not a single person!

By the grace of God may we keep our faith strong, our conscience good all through HIS LOVE!

Please LORD, please keep us fighting the Spiritual battle fully armored by YOU. Help us Lord, Save us!

In YOUR love!

The King Eternal

1Ti 1:17  Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

King eternal.
King immortal.
King invisible.
The ONLY wise God.
Honor, glory forever and ever!

Deu 33:27  The eternal God is thy refuge…

Rom 1:20  ... his eternal power …

2Co 4:18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Eph 3:11  According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord

Heb 9:14  How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God…

1Pe 5:10  But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus…

Eternal in existence.
Eternal in results.

When we think of eternal life we think of living forever, yet we don't like to think about  the fact eternal death is not existing forever.

Our King eternal is our King who is the beginning and the end - Rev 21:6  And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.

Psa 90:2  Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

He is from everlasting to everlasting.

There was NEVER a time when God was not.

God has always existed, He truly is the great I AM.

1Ti 1:17  Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Our Kind is ETERNAL, IMMORTAL- unable to die! Our Savior became flesh and was subject to death. He was PUT to death and He was truly DEAD. He KNEW nothing in death! He could NOT bring HIMSELF back to life! He was truly, honestly dead and in that death sleep HE KNEW NOTHING! He did NOT become an instant spirit form and slip off to heaven, NO ONE DOES THAT! I do NOT understand why people believe this happens, I just don't. Yes, our minds can do amazing things as we are subjected to near death, but near death is NOT permanent death, it's NOT death's sleep.  Lazarus was in death's sleep when our Savior restored HIM to life. Lazarus did NOT come back telling stories about how he'd seen a white light and walked into it and all his former friends and families that had died before him were there waiting and welcoming.  There were NOT fantastic stories about how wonderful everything in heaven is and don't you think there would have been if people when they die went straight to heaven? Seriously! This is logic. Lazarus was woken up from death's sleep. He was woken from the permanent state of sleep that lasts for all of us until our Savior returns and we wake to life everlasting or death everlasting.  So yes, our Savior was dead, permanently dead without any GUARANTEE He'd rise from the dead. He couldn't raise Himself only GOD the FATHER could raise Him from death's sleep just as He'd raised Lazarus. Only Lazarus was raised to be mortal again, given an extended life, our SAVIOR was given life eternal and transformed (once He ascended to His Father) remember- He didn't want anyone touching Him until He'd ascended. Once He ascended He was given the permanent state of eternal life once more. I say once more because He had eternal life until He chose to give it up in order to become human flesh. 

Our King Jesus is ETERNAL, our King Jesus is IMMORTAL, our King Jesus is invisible - He is SPIRIT as God is a SPIRIT, HE is WISE!  He is to be HONORED and given GLORY FOREVER AND EVER! AMEN!

This is our GOD! This is who we have faith in! This is our LORD who has the power to give to US eternal life, we must be IN HIM ALWAYS! He is our SALVATION!

ALL power, all glory, all honor forever to HIM!

PRAISE GOD!
THANK YOU LORD!

FOR YOUR LOVE!

For a pattern to them which should hereafter believe

1Ti 1:15  This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
1Ti 1:16  Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

A pattern, an example, something to look at and follow, yes? Paul, the chief of sinners, Paul the murderer of Christ's followers. Is it safe to say do you think that Paul was right there when all the accusations against Jesus, Himself, were taking place? He was high ranking among the Pharisees, right?

Act 23:6  But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

He was a Pharisee and the son of a Pharisee.

This is what Jesus had to say about the Pharisee.

Luk 18:10  Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
Luk 18:11  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
Luk 18:12  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
Luk 18:13  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
Luk 18:14  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Pharisee were men who exalted themselves, and unjustified in their prayers. While they prayed thanking God that they weren't like others- they were just as bad in their self-righteousness.

Luk 11:39  And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.
Luk 11:40  Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?
Luk 11:41  But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.
Luk 11:42  But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Luk 11:43  Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets.
Luk 11:44  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them.

Inwardly they were full of ravening and wickedness, they were fools. They tithed all their possessions but passed over judgment and LOVE of God. They loved their self importance, and they were hypocrites for such a departure from the true Love of God.

Jesus had nothing good to say about Pharisees and yet PAUL was a Pharisee and a son of a Pharisee.

Joh 11:46  But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.
Joh 11:47  Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.
Joh 11:48  If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.
Joh 11:49  And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,
Joh 11:50  Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.
Joh 11:51  And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;
Joh 11:52  And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.
Joh 11:53  Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.

The Pharisee counseled together  to put Jesus to death!

Mat 27:62  Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
Mat 27:63  Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
Mat 27:64  Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
Mat 27:65  Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.

They called Jesus a deceiver, they wanted his sepulchre guarded against those that would steal Jesus' body and pretend He'd risen from the dead.

The Pharisee- of whom Paul was one and a zealous one. He was a murderer because he consented unto the death of Stephen, a devout disciple of the Lord.

Act 8:1  And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
Act 8:2  And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
Act 8:3  As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

Act 9:1  And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
Act 9:2  And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
Act 9:3  And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
Act 9:4  And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Act 9:5  And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
Act 9:6  And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

Act 9:10  And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
Act 9:11  And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
Act 9:12  And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
Act 9:13  Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
Act 9:14  And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
Act 9:15  But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
Act 9:16  For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
Act 9:17  And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
Act 9:18  And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

Act 9:19  And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.
Act 9:20  And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
Act 9:21  But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?
Act 9:22  But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.
Act 9:23  And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:
Act 9:24  But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.
Act 9:25  Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.

Act 13:9  Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him.

Amazing! This persecutor of Christ's followers, this despiser of all things to do with Jesus Christ was FORGIVEN, this CHIEF of sinners was forgiven!  And he is an EXAMPLE to us, a pattern to all of us! We too can be forgiven though we are chief among sinners!

1Ti 1:15  This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
1Ti 1:16  Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

We cannot forget this, we can't!

Unfortunately, many will say that sure, if they had the experience Paul had- seeing the vision of Jesus, hearing Him, becoming blind, receiving his sight again, etc, then they too would believe, but we must live by FAITH and trust in the WORD of God given to us through the HOLY SPIRIT. The Word tells us that Paul's life is a pattern for us. We can trust in this pattern and know that our God wants us to repent and be converted, and be baptized unto Him, just as Paul was.

We are a long, long way from the time of the Apostles, yet we miraculously have the Word of God preserved throughout time for us to study, to learn from. The Holy Spirit will guide us into all understanding as we need it and we must belief this, we must have faith in our Savior.

Joh 6:44  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

We can come unto the LORD, He says--

Joh 12:32  And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

Our Savior, Jesus Christ, was lifted up from the earth and HE draws ALL men unto Him!  Our God, our FATHER in heaven would have all of us believe in His Son who revealed His love in the greatest sacrifice of all- giving His innocent life for our sinfilled ones.

Yes, we can all probably agree we feel as if we are - like Paul - the chief of sinners. If Paul, chief of sinners could be drawn unto Christ, we too can be drawn unto Him. We too can be forgiven much all by the GRACE and MERCY of our LORD!