Serve

Let me ask you a question. When you love someone are you to serve them? Seriously, are you to serve those you love? Maybe you're saying it depends on what you mean by serving them. What I mean is let's suppose the Savior was walking upon earth again (not going to happen - we were told He would return in the same manner He left - all eyes could see as He ascended.) But, let's just suppose Jesus were to knock on your door, enter your house and sit down on your couch. Would you serve Him? Would you desire to know if He needed anything and if you could help Him in any way? Would you want to see to any needs He had? Feed him, get Him fresh clothes, allow Him to use your shower to wash if needed? Would you offer Him a place to sleep if He wanted to nap? I think if you're a Christ follower you'd want to do anything He asked of You, that you would serve Him. Do you think you'd complain under your breath, muttering even if it's just inside your head, that doesn't Jesus know you're busy right now with something and your needs should be taken into consideration before being asked to serve in any fashion?

I'm going to ask again, when you love someone are you to serve them? Seeing to their needs before your own? Not buying into the take care of yourself first before you take care of others or you won't be able to take care of them. Wait, what? Yes, if we neglect our vital needs of living (whatever they may be for your particular existence), we are going to stop being able to serve others. Anyone who starves themselves to the point of sickness and death, just because they can't stop serving others even long enough to put a crumb in their mouths, well that person has taken things a bit too far. It takes seconds to put crumbs in your mouth, seconds to drink some water. Anyone who has ever taken hours to prepare a huge meal for family and then watches as it is consumed in mere minutes, knows how quickly people can eat.  We need to put others first while taking the opportunities when they arise to tend to ourselves. We value ourselves way too much, and way too often. We don't like stepping out of the comfort zones we've surrounded ourselves with all in the name of self-preservation. 

1Ti 6:1  Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. 

1Ti 6:2  And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.

Servants need to honor their masters-  this is the will of God. Servants need to honor their masters even if they are unbelievers- this is the will of God. Servants should not despise their believing masters because their masters are not choosing to serve them, but serve them because- this is the will of God.

I don't know of any servant/master relationships today. I do know employee/employer though and it's along the same lines as servant/master. I do know that wives and husbands,    children and parents,  younger and elder - all these are relationships and it's the same bottom line for all of them. Serving.

Sometimes the master will serve the servant, but this isn't something we are ever to strive for- being the one served. IF we are the one who needs to be served, we need to be very gracious to those serving us.  We need to serve those serving us with prayer, kindness, gratitude, thankfulness.

Remember this-

Mat_20:27  And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant

Mat_23:11  But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

Mat_24:46  Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

Joh 13:3  Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; 

Joh 13:4  He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. 

Joh 13:5  After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. 

Joh 13:6  Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? 

Joh 13:7  Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. 

Joh 13:8  Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. 

Joh 13:9  Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. 

Joh 13:12  So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? 

Joh 13:13  Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. 

Joh 13:14  If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. 

Joh 13:15  For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. 

Joh 13:16  Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. 

Joh 13:17  If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. 

We are to serve, ever serve, ever seek to serve.

Php 2:14  Do all things without murmurings and disputings

And we are to serve in love, not begrudgingly. We need to ask for forgiveness, over and over if needed, if we find ourselves murmuring and disputing (even in our thoughts) when we are called to serve another. By the grace of God, by the power of the Holy Spirit we are to stamped down the rising self-server in us, and instead give praise when we are called to serve. God's will be done, always!

Through Jesus Christ our LORD, our SAVIOR, now and forever!

Amen.

Fact Over Fiction

Do you enjoy fiction? What kind of fiction am I talking about? Any kind of fiction. Do you enjoy something that isn't based in reality?  The dictionary tells me that fiction can be- stories about imaginary people and events, an untrue statement made up to deceive, the act of pretending or inventing something, also something assumed to be true whether it is or not.

Every single story that has an imaginary person in it, or an imaginary event is fiction.

The fiction market is huge! Some people live for fiction- they work in the fiction industry, they seek fiction in their leisure time, they find happiness in fiction. There are a lot of people who prefer fiction over reality and is it any wonder? Reality isn't all it's cracked up to be, is it? Reality falls short of producing happiness in a lot of ways because it is so flawed.

If I were to take fiction out of my life that would mean very little television- almost none really because so much of television, even in the so called reality shows are staged for entertainment value. It'd be very boring if there were no conflict to deal with, no element of survival, no rivalry. Most, but not all books would be unreadable- again, a lot of the so called reality based books are even filled with situations more intense than they really were- for entertainment value, for sell ability. I couldn't play any video game because even the realistically based games included exaggerated events. It's almost safe to assume that a lot of our supposed news today is also pumped full of fiction for shock and awe reactions.

Fiction surrounds us and tries to consume us. It warps perception of reality as well. I remember recently stating something about how beautiful and perfect actresses are in movies, and a reply was given that there is a lot of make up involved in things, a lot of air brushing, touch ups and so on. Even supposed beauties will have body doubles for reasons- imperfections abound in a lot of people. I'm not saying by a long shot that there aren't a lot of beautiful people out there, but it warps the perception of reality when the majority of people are not flawless and perfectly shaped. The ideal of what is desired is held up in front of us over and over- for men, women and children alike and when we fall out of that desirable category we know it because it is in our face constantly. So, we make the best of what we have, holding a lot of fiction up for our ideas of reality.

I know there are many who want to believe the Word of God is fiction- a book full of tall tales and good versus evil, made up stories. Once someone said to me that every plague in the time of Moses was based on a real, logical reason not the fiction of supposed miracles brought on by God through Moses. Another said that it's a lie made up, the whole Bible is a huge lie masterminded by people to control other people.  Beliefs of that vein are numerous. It's easy for someone to say a Bible believer is duped, they do it all the time.

The Bible is not fiction.  You can doubt me, it's your right to do so. Bible is fact. The Bible is miraculous in its very existence. There is no other book like the Bible in existence, not one.

What captivated me back in 1982-83 more than anything else, was when I was shown prophecies that had come to pass. One after another of the prophecies- situations predicted hundreds of years, thousands of years before they occurred, actually happened.  What cinched things for when Satan would try to throw in my face that I shouldn't believe- was the fact if so many Biblical prophecies have come to pass without fail…. the REST of the prophecies would come to pass.  We are talking HISTORICAL proof of the validity of Biblical prophecy and still so many choose NOT to believe in FACT, they want fiction.

Jesus said-

Joh_13:19  Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.

Jesus told them BEFORE what would happen, Jesus made a prophecy and then the prophecy came to pass. Why did Jesus do that? So the people would believe Him.

God help us believe, to seek truth, to seek fact over fiction, and not let Satan deceive us by twisting fact into fiction.

All through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, now and forever!!!!!!!

Broken World.

The fictional novel reads as follows- a planet overrun by an evil ruler is found to have a small group of non-evil people who rebel against the evil ruler and after many battles, some won, some lost- the rebel forces subdue the evil world domineering dictator and the good people overcome the bad. The reader cheers as tears of happiness flow down their cheeks- they've been through such a whirlwind of emotional ups and downs as this small group persevered and saved the day. Good overcame, all the evils of the dictator were over and there were many, many evils. The new ruler, one of the small group of fighters, would set up a fair and just society where evil would be frowned upon, not encouraged, evil would be subdued, not allowed to flourish.

Yes, this is the basic premise to a lot of fictional novels and movies. Some of the movies have gone on to be great successes with this as their back bone. When you do away with all the trappings, it boils down to the above description. The details change over and over again, and when a person or persons get the details just right they have a hit on their hands and people fall in love with their story telling.

Good vs. evil.   Even when good wins out over evil in these books and movies, the sequels will reenact the scenario in another way. Evil will have not quite been completely destroyed so it is allowed to come back so the good has another fight on their hands. Always, the evil isn't allowed to vanish, there must be some left even if it is a tiny tube of dna it lives on. Time and again you may think the evil is gone for good, and yes, some books and movies do allow for this, but in the back of the minds of the creators of these stories they know if they want they can resurrect a foe to fight once more.

We also have quite a bit of evil-good out there too- where the bad guy does bad things for good reasons. The gangster is a more conscientious gangster than the one he fights.  I'm not saying there aren't some evil- truly evil wins over good entertainment out there with evil being glorified because there are. I'm saying this though, and I believe it, the MAJORITY of parents will never raise their children with watching glorified evil. Note I said majority, there are always exceptions to the rule.

When fiction meets reality- when the mass murderer takes your family member for a victim- you no longer root for the killer no matter how charismatic they may be. When the collateral damage of a gang fighting another gang is your son or daughter, your mother or father, your sister or brother, you don't find either gang appealing- not even the one with a higher moral code. Strip away the fiction from the narrative and insert reality's evils that are in existence, destroying the lives of person after person, infant, toddler, child and teenager- animals large and small- defenseless against the horrors, and evil is no longer glorified- NOT when it hits home. And YET… the perpetuators of the evils do so because there are followers of evil. They've found a market for the evil, they can benefit from the evil. In fact there is a huge market for evil and there are evils so evil they will never be allowed to be called good, not ever- and yet they continue to exist and flourish because people desire that evil. Every now and again when the news of those evils surface we are appalled, sickened, mortified, and part of us can't even believe such things exist- yet they do.

Reality over fiction is horrific, yet, it exists.

To the person who says evil doesn't exist that it is a creation of society, I say they are ludicrous, they and their belief. I know evil exists, I know it does. I also know that evil will NOT always exist, there will be an end to it.

Reality tells me life was NOT supposed to have evil in it. Reality tells me that we were not meant to suffer.  I think reality tells this to a lot of people because so many are constantly trying to make the world a better place in large and small ways. The push for betterment has never stopped. Even when the push is someone's warped idea of a better society. The pretense is given for making things better, and people want that so they give into the pretense supporting it because of what they think it means. Very few politicians will set up a platform on anything other than making things better- their plan for doing so compels people to follow them. If in the end the plan turns out not to be better, they ultimately try to get a new leader, or they suffer under the weight of dictating regimes we know are alive and well in our world today.

From the internet-

'As of today, there are 50 dictatorships in the world (19 in Sub-Saharan Africa, 12 in the Middle East and North Africa, 8 in Asia-Pacific, 7 in Eurasia, 3 in Americas and 1 in Europe). We define a dictator as the ruler of a land rated “Not Free” by the Freedom House in their annual survey of freedom.

Free-  86 countries

Partly Free- 59 countries

Not Free- 50 countries

Free - 1 territories

Partly Free - 5 territories

Not Free - 8 territories

Total 196 countries 14 territories

From <https://planetrulers.com/current-dictators/>

There are MORE countries NOT completely considered free today than there are Free countries. This means, there are more people ruled by freedom restricting governments, and the free obviously to not approve of them.

Even in our free countries laws of the land exist, laws of government exist that a lot of people would claim restrict true freedom.

We live in a very BROKEN world, everybody in their heart of hearts, deep down in their souls they know it is broken and if something is broken it is NOT as it should be.

I agree with anyone who says that this world will never be good, that it truly isn't fixable. I believe there is ANOTHER world to live for, to hope for, to strive for- and I'm not alone in this, a lot of people also believe this to be true.

I personally HAVE to believe there is another world, another way, another plan simply because I refuse to believe that all there is evil fighting good endlessly. With the reality of suffering of so many innocents with no recompence for them at all through no fault of their own, I can't live with that as a reality. I have to believe good triumphs ultimately, I have to. All the innocents will be rewarded for their innocence stolen, every single one. Not one abused child will have suffered in vain.

I believe in an ancient truth. I believe in ancient prophecies that have come to pass over and over again- and in those ancient prophecies there are unfilled predictions that will come to pass, they have no choice based on all the prophecies that have been fulfilled.  I believe in this truth, I have faith in the unseen, I hope for what these prophecies say will come to pass. My faith isn't baseless by any means. There is a firm foundation, a rock solid immoveable base for my beliefs. The naysayers are blind to the truth of it all, because they choose blindness, and that is their choice- no one can be forced to believe.

Heb_11:1  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Joh_13:19  Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.

Heb_11:13  These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

1Ti_1:1  Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope

Come soon, Lord Jesus, come soon and put an end to all evil forever! Please! Thank you! All glory, praise and honor unto You now and forever!

Are Your Battles Spiritual or Temporal?

'Because this is a sinful world and it is full of sinners and if you did not know, this let me break it down to you - sinners have a tendency to sin. That is what they do. Should I be shocked when a dog barks, a cock crows or a sinner sins? Brothers, these things are about as shocking to me as turning another page on the calendar at sunrise. It's expected.'

'This is where our power comes from. It comes from the spiritual world and the spiritual battle going on behind the scenes of which we are only vaguely aware. This is where so many Christians miss the point. This is a spiritual battle that will only be won with spiritual weapons. The devil is real good at getting us to misdirect our energies into temporal battles. He does this for a reason. He is genuinely afraid (terrified may be a better word) of the effectual prayer of a righteous man (Jam 5:16). He knows that when old man Jones or grandma Smith gets on their knee's and starts praying, the Kingdom of hell starts to shake and shudder under the weight of their supplications.'

Mark Watson

I read the above today from an article written by Mark Watson of Watson's Web https://markswatson.com/ .   I don't agree with everything that Mark Watson writes on his own belief system, etc, but from time to time he writes articles that just hit home.  This time when I read his article - Soiled, Defiled And Rejected (Published on his site Oct. 16th) a few things hit home for me and I'm going to tell you why.

Recently I've been engaged in a very long spiritual battle that began back in May of this year, so five months ago, yes that's a long time to be caught up in a spiritual battle on a very specific thing. Usually I can pray about something troubling me and by the grace of God it is resolved to the point it's not overly bothering me to the obsessive point, I've given it to God and trust that it will be resolved.  This battle has been different though and while I know you may be expecting details, they won't be forthcoming. Some of our spiritual battles are ones that aren't meant for full disclosure in details (at least that's my opinion this moment).  

Back on point here, this troublesome battle has had me in all out spiritual combat. I'm talking weapons drawn, shields up and the fight is on! Time after time when a particularly gruesome, very spiritually bloody skirmish takes place I believe I'm victorious through Christ, but then comes the next bloody fight. This enemy does not give up! No sooner have a few days gone by with the peace that comes from believing things are understood, and acceptance of the situation has been found- then a striking blow blindsides me all over again and the battle is on, another skirmish unfolds. You'd think I wouldn't be blindsided, seriously, you'd think I'd expect the attack, yet don't we get to a point where we trust that things have been resolved, and the issue won't be an issue any longer? SURPRISE! Satan has so many tricks up his sleeve that he will NOT relent, NOT ever! As long as He is able to, Satan will find ways to grind us to the ground, attacking us and trying to wear us down.

When I read Mark's article a few points jumped out at me, not the entire article, but a few points made in that article. I copied those points and pasted them above.

The first bit was about sinners being sinners and we can't expect them not to be.  It's true, so incredibly true. We… there I go including everyone in my issue, let me rephrase that… I get lulled into not expecting sin from people. So when sin occurs on a semi-grand scale it knocks me for a loop. I'm STUPID, seriously, I'm stupid. We can NEVER ever expect anyone not to sin, why? We are all sinners.  Some of us are sinners who seek not to sin, and feel the weight of accountability for our sins, while others don't even recognize their sins as sins because they don't believe they are accountable to God for their sins. A thief steals and knows it is a crime to do so in the society they live in. They comprehend it's criminal but they may feel no guilt for that crime, they may even justify their stealing to themselves. The fact a crime was committed for which they feel no guilt, no sense of wrong doing fills them, leaves them caught up in the criminal act- guilty, whether or not they comprehend their guilt. If you don't feel you're accountable to God then in your mind you are not a sinner, because sin is a transgression of God's law. You may believe you are a bit morally reprehensible, but justify it by believing it is simply your particular human nature. The world is FILLED with unrepentant sinners who quite happily ignore the fact. As long as they believe they aren't sinners, to them they are not. But to those who do believe in God, to those who do believe we are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God, it's a different story. To those who confess their sins and repent of them, to those who strive not to sin, seeking constant help from God, and seeking forgiveness as each known and unknown sin is committed- they know sin is real for EVERYONE.

If I encounter a person who blatantly claims no belief in accountability to God, I have to comprehend that person is a sinner, prone to willful sin, and any sin committed by that person should NOT be a surprise to me, right? And truthfully, even those who claim to be accountable to God and are striving to enter that narrow way, they are ultimately prone to sin as well. I shouldn't be shocked by ANYONE sinning, not a single person. I AM A SINNER TOO!

So the shock factor of ANYONE sinning should not be, it just shouldn't!

Sinners sin.

Some people who do not claim accountability to God, we should expect more sinning from, yes? Is that logical? It probably is logical. When someone we know believes they are accountable to God, sins, we expect them to be filled with remorse and in active repentance- a NOT desiring to continue in sin. From a non-accountable, unbeliever we don't expect that desire for repentance to fill them, they aren't going to have the remorse that someone who recognizes their sin is going to have, or should have. There should be a degree of expectation, so why then are we, or am I, shocked when my degree of expectation should be towards sin occurring, not a keeping from sinning?

Mark's words above about expecting sinners to sin hit home and made me face up to the fact I've been expecting sinners not to sin. The truth is as I mentioned already more than once, we are all sinners, sinning sinners should not shock us and if we expect different we are the ones caught up in a deception that Satan has laid down perfectly just to entrap us at his will.

The second part of what Mark wrote in that article which caught my attention was the reality of the spiritual warfare we are in as Christians. Satan wants our attention on the TEMPORAL stuff because as long as it is there on the temporary to eternity stuff it is NOT on the eternity stuff where it belongs.

Read this again…

'This is where our power comes from. It comes from the spiritual world and the spiritual battle going on behind the scenes of which we are only vaguely aware. This is where so many Christians miss the point. This is a spiritual battle that will only be won with spiritual weapons. The devil is real good at getting us to misdirect our energies into temporal battles. He does this for a reason. He is genuinely afraid (terrified may be a better word) of the effectual prayer of a righteous man (Jam 5:16). He knows that when old man Jones or grandma Smith gets on their knee's and starts praying, the Kingdom of hell starts to shake and shudder under the weight of their supplications.'

'The devil is REAL good at getting us to MISDIRECT our ENERGIES into temporal battles'!

We have to ask ourselves as we fight the good fight, striving to belong to Christ  and be known of Him, whether or not the angst in our lives is being caused by temporal things- things that will NOT matter in eternity. 

My personal spiritual chaos of the last five months or so is first of all- not expecting sinners to sin, secondly focusing on the temporary, focusing on my earthly temporary home, my earthly temporary existence.

Satan would have us all caught up in the here and now in any way he possibly can.

Where is my home supposed to be? Not here.

Where is my home going to be? In heaven.

Jesus said--

Joh_8:23  And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.

Joh_17:16  They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

Joh_18:36  Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

Heb_11:13  These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

1Pe_2:11  Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul

Strangers, pilgrims, temporarily homeless- this is us- as followers of Christ.

In all our relationships with - friendships, family, strangers, and enemies- we must comprehend our true place in the grand scheme of things. God first, others after God, self last.

God first- we do nothing we know to be offensive to God. How do we know what is offensive to God. He has given us His Holy Spirit inspired word AND before people jump on the bandwagon labeled Interpretation Is Subjective, He has given us each individually the HOLY SPIRIT to guide us to all truth. God lets us know what is offensive to Him and should we choose to follow the offensive things we are deliberately choosing NOT to put God first in our lives.

God first.

Others second to God.

If we do NOT have God first, then any attempt to put others second will fail. If we put others first before God, we fail them and us.

God FIRST, the spiritual FIRST, the heavenly FIRST. In EVERY and in ALL situations GOD NEEDS TO BE FIRST. 

When God is first, then others will be second, and we will be last.

God first is eternity all else is temporal.

Is it any wonder at all that Satan would have us focused on the temporal things in life?

I'd love to be able to say my spiritual upset and this particular five month long battle is over,  but I know better. I can say, by the grace of God, the Holy Spirit has reinforced my armor and prayerfully this battle will be solely focused upon the spiritual, not the temporal.

May God bless us all and keep us IN HIM first and foremost!

All through His amazing and perfect LOVE.

Great is the Mystery of God.

Great is the Mystery of God.

We are blessed, truly blessed. We all have been born into an age that has had the mystery of God revealed. I can take the word of God and study its truths along with the vast written history of the world and by the Holy Spirit's enlightenment I can find within the mystery of God unfolded.

People are often heard to wish that they were alive when Christ Jesus walked the earth during His three year ministry. While I won't deny there is a certain longing to have known Jesus in the flesh, I have to admit that there is a blessing in living now when the prophecies have been opened to us and history proves so much that by not knowing Jesus it is truly a bold choice to keep blinded.

Right this moment in my time, it what will become history as time progresses, there are people all over the world being imprisoned, ridiculed, tortured, and killed because they choose to belief the mystery of God revealed to them.

They have had their hearts touched, their minds enlightened to the hope found only in Jesus Christ, a hope of a future without hatred, without evil in any form. The grasp hold of that hope of a life far different from the one they were born into. By believing in Jesus Christ- God with us- dying in the flesh and being raised up- all so we could live in the hope of His salvation, they choose to no longer live for this world. They hear of the hope and know the future offered by Christ is worth dying for, it is worth suffering for.

While so many, the majority of the world in fact, believe to die for a belief in Christ Jesus is a very stupid thing to do, the believers know it is a better life they die for.

Why can't the majority comprehend the mystery? Because they choose blindness, they choose deafness and they do so because the seductions of the -present life- be they few or many- have overtaken them.

1Ti 3:16  And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. 

God manifest in the flesh- Jesus.

Justified in the Spirit- Jesus.

Seen of angels- Jesus.

Preached to the Gentiles- Jesus.

Believed on in the world- Jesus.

Received up into glory- Jesus.

1Ti 3:9  Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 

The mystery of faith- Jesus.

2Jn 1:9  Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 

The doctrine of Christ-

Mat_24:14  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

The gospel of the kingdom is the doctrine of Christ.

Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 

Mat 13:12  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 

Mat 13:13  Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 

Mat 13:14  And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 

Mat 13:15  For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 

Mat 13:16  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 

Mat 13:17  For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. 

We are blessed!

Rom 16:25  Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 

Rom 16:26  But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: 

Rom 16:27  To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.

The preaching of Jesus Christ… let Jesus Christ be REAL to us so much so, we live our lives in the HOPE of Him not in the hope of ourselves.

All through the love of God!

Save Yourselves.

Act 2:40  And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 

Peter- filled with the Holy Spirit as he hadn't been as of yet- preached.

Let's pause for a moment and realize that Peter (as well as all the other Apostles- except the newest member picked after Judas betrayed Christ- Acts 1:26  And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.) had performed miracles when Christ walked the earth before His death.

These men had been given power before.

Mat 10:5  These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 

Mat 10:6  But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 

Mat 10:7  And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 

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

They were sent to go to where the formerly Jewish practicing Jews were residing with the Gentiles and - 

Preach. Heal. Cleanse. Raise the dead. Cast out devils. Freely giving all they'd could.

When they couldn't cast a devil out of one sick son of a man who had brought him to them, they went to Jesus and asked why they couldn't. Jesus told them that some of the miracles wouldn't be instantaneous- but they'd have to fast and pray for the miracle.

The point for this particular study is that the Apostles had been given power from Jesus before- the same power Jesus had to use for every miracle He performed, the power of the Holy Spirit given by God the Father. Jesus did nothing of His own accord but in agreement with the Holy Spirit and God the Father. Jesus divested Himself of His former self and became a slave of flesh.

The Holy Spirit had rested upon the Apostles prior to the miracle worked on the Jewish day of Pentecost. However, when Jesus lived before His death, He was the One in constant contact with the Apostles, guiding them, praying for them. After Jesus died and eventually went to heaven to stay and work the ministry He had to work from the Heavenly Sanctuary, He was no longer there to converse with in person, no longer there to guide on a day to day basis- teaching and praying for the chosen twelve. Jesus had promised to send someone to comfort them and give them what they would need without Him there on earth with them. 

While they'd had power before, they were given power again in a way they hadn't been given it before- in cloven flames touching them, in enlightenment, in knowledge, the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit of Truth filled them and not only those twelve but 120 that were with them. And then not only the 120, but 3000 people were baptized as a result of the giving of the Comforter in such a remarkable and notable way.  

Jesus told His followers He would send the Comforter and they were to wait until He sent Him before going about their ministry. They believed Jesus and waited. Their patience paid off, Jesus' promise came to pass and now they could begin to minister as guided.

Peter, that day was the spokesperson for the Apostles and the word He preached was Christ crucified, Christ dead, Christ risen and the Holy Spirit touched the hearts of the listeners convicting the previously doubting into believers. They'd heard all about Jesus' before, about His miracles and the message He'd come to give. They'd heard about the crazy man who thought He was God on earth, and they'd consented to putting the crazy blasphemer to death. Now, they been touched by the Holy Spirit, the scales on their understanding removed and they believed what they heard. They wanted to be saved.

Act 2:40  And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 

Save yourselves, Peter told them. How could they save themselves? The same way we all save ourselves- by yielding to God, by faith in the unseen, hoping in Jesus Christ and His ability to save us, and do all for us that we cannot do so that we can be at one with God once more.

Act 2:41  Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 

Act 2:42  And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 

Act 2:43  And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 

That day they accepted Christ as their Savior, repenting and being baptized, and they continue determinedly in the truth they'd heard from the apostles. They fellowshipped and broke bread together, and they prayed.  A holy reverence filled the people as they saw the wonders and signs the Apostles could perform.  These were men sent by Jesus Christ to draw all to His truth. Is it any wonder 3000 people heard and believed, and continued in Christ as they watched miracle after miracle? 

Act 2:44  And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 

Act 2:45  And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 

Act 2:46  And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 

Act 2:47  Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. 

They banded together no longer caught us in the material things of life because they knew there was a better life waiting for them when Jesus returned to take them with Him to heaven. No person lacked for the daily necessities because the love of God meant love for others and everyone only wanted those around them to know the love in their hearts given of God. A love that meant giving where there was a need to give if it was in their hands to give. They had a singleness of heart towards God- praising Him.  Their lives were such that daily people joined them, people that wanted the salvation only found in Christ Jesus.

While we are not a group of 3000, with more added daily… we are descendants  of  those believers. We are of the group afar off from them. We are few in comparison to the many. We walk the very narrow path, not the broad road of the world. We fight the spiritual battle waging wildly around us, as the evil one grows more desperate day by day knowing His ultimate destruction in getting closer and closer. We, just like those first believers, must repent, be baptized, and live our lives for Jesus Christ- lives that will be witnesses to others of the love of God, the hope of salvation. We must live with the Holy Spirit guiding us.  We must know that it is no longer ourselves we live for but, Christ.

Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 

The life we now live is lived by FAITH in the SON OF GOD, who loves us and gave Himself for us!

We Are A Part of the ' Afar Off'.

Touched by a twin flame, spiritually mark but not burned. Imagine if you will, you see a tongue of flame, a small, maybe two, three inches high flame floating mid-air. You heard me, floating. This small twin tongued flame is hovering, not attached to any bigger fire. And in case someone says they were just embers from the firepit, let me ask you this, have you ever seen little tongues of flame hovering over a hundred and twenty people at the same time? Then, not only hovering but set down upon each of those people? This was supernatural! This was a miracle! This was almost unbelievable, except it happened. The flames appeared and then touched each of these people- these Christ followers,  but it did not burn them with a painful wound. The flames touched and enlightenment was instantly given to each of them. They were given the ability to speak in a foreign language.  The Holy Spirit gifted them in this way as a special show of miraculous power. This gift was given in such a way that ultimately three thousand people would give their hearts to the Lord Jesus as their Savior! Three thousand people!

The twelve Apostles were each touched by a flame of spiritual empowerment. They tarried with the other waiting for the Comforter to come. They'd been instructed to wait in Jerusalem until that power came to them and there it was, leaving no doubt as to its source. The Comforter was sent of God, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ- and the Comforter would not have ever come to the Christ followers if Jesus hadn't died and days later ascended to heaven to live with His Father as His heavenly ministry dictated. A promise was made, and a promise was kept. From then on Christ followers would have this gift from God- God in the Holy Spirit.

Let's read what more Peter had to say after being touched by the unburning Flame.

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: 

Act 2:24  Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. 

Jesus, precious Jesus of Nazareth, a man of God- a miracle worker, a sign giver, a wonder maker working solely through the power of God the Father. This Jesus who had a three year long ministry was well known. It was Him the people were now listening to Peter speak of, and witnessing the miracle of the Flame, the wondrous speaking of a multitude of languages by the unlearned in languages, He was the reason for it all. Jesus who was murdered by the listeners, they were complicit in the crucifixion and more than likely some, if not most, took part in crying out along with their revered Jewish leaders, for His killing.

Jesus was murdered and then buried in a tomb but God the Father raised Him up from death! He couldn't be held by the death He could never deserve.

Now lest you sit there nodding your head in agreement as if being raised from the dead is a typical thing, it is NOT. Upon death, Jesus did not float away in spirit form with all his current and foreknowledge intact as many supposes happens at death. Jesus didn't leave His body and then return to it a few days later. Just as Lazarus, Jesus' friend that Jesus raised from the dead wasn't stripped of his heavenly reward by being forced back into his body to live upon earth once more enduring all its agonies. If you think about it, that would be a horrific thing to do to someone.  Jesus was raised from the dead - His body given the breath of life that had returned to God- the essence of life we all have. And when His body received that breath of life once more His heart began to beat, blood filled every cell, and His mind filled with the memories of His life before death's sleep.

Jesus died- His thoughts ceased.

Psa_146:4  His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.

Psa 104:29  Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. 

Job 14:10  But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? 

Job 14:11  As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up: 

Job 14:12  So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. 

Job 14:13  O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! 

Job 14:14  If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.

Death- not being awaken from death's sleep until heavens be no more. Hidden in the grave. Man won't live again until the appointed time, and then the change would come.

Jesus tasted death's sleep but His appointed time was three days later. He wasn't to remain in the grave - even as David - beloved of God remained in His grave.

Act 2:25  For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: 

Act 2:26  Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: 

Act 2:27  Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 

Act 2:28  Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. 

Act 2:29  Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. 

Act 2:30  Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; 

Act 2:31  He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. 

Act 2:32  This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. 

Act 2:33  Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. 

Act 2:34  For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, 

Act 2:35  Until I make thy foes thy footstool. 

Act 2:36  Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. 

Peter was making a point! David, a patriarch of the Jewish faith, revered for many things and known to belong to God, was still in his grave, not ascended to heaven, and Jesus, who was God with them- The LORD said to my Lord-  The Father said to His Son,  GOD said to God…  David KNEW that Jesus would come and would die, then be raised. David KNEW that the Lord would live among them and be put in a grave but He wouldn't be left there to decay, Jesus would be raised up. Jesus, Lord and Christ. 

And Jesus, Lord and Christ kept the promise of the Father about the Holy Spirit being received by them- it was that miracle the multitude of people were witnessing.

Act 2:37  Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 

They believed! Their hearts were pricked with belief. The Holy Spirit power filled followers of Christ were proof of the Son of God and His great sacrifice!

They had their answer to the puzzling reason for all of them to be hearing their native language spoken by these common, unlearned folk. It was a true miracle and now they wanted to know what they should do. They had known of Jesus, they knew their part in His death- they'd had a hand in the murder of the Son of God!  What should they do?!

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

Act 2:39  For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 

REPENT.

BE BAPTIZED … all in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of their sins.  Then they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

But get this, the promise of the Holy Spirit was for them, their children and to ALL afar off, as many as the Lord God would call.

That's US! We are a part of the 'afar off'! By the grace and mercy of our Lord we are gifted with the Holy Spirit.

Act 2:40  And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 

Act 2:41  Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 

Act 2:42  And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 

Act 2:43  And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 

Act 2:44  And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 

Act 2:45  And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 

Act 2:46  And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 

Act 2:47  Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. 

How wondrous! Such holy power! Praising God!

We are a part of this… we share in their history and by the grace and will of God more on this tomorrow!

All through the love of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, now and forever!