Is Your Father the Father of Lies?

Does Satan Lie? We know he does! More on that chapter we've been studying…

The Jews are telling Jesus that they are sons of Abraham, sons of God, Jesus is trying to reveal the real truth to them.

Joh 8:42  Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

Jesus told them outright- If God was really their Father they would LOVE Jesus! They would love Him because He came from God! God sent Him! On His own He could not have come, the Father needed to SEND Him.

Joh 8:43  Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.

Why can't they comprehend Jesus? Because they can't hear His words!  Physically we know they could hear Him, spiritually they were deaf!

Joh 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Jesus tells them very plainly- They are of their father...THE DEVIL.

Imagine being told this. Here they are believing the belong to God, that Abraham is physically their father as a descendent, and God their Father through Abraham.  They fully believe they are of God but God's Son tells them they have a different father- the DEVIL!

Jesus goes on to tell them that they DO the lusts of their father, the devil.  That their father was a murderer from the beginning and did not live in the truth, because there is NO truth in the devil! When the devil lies he speaks of his own because he is a liar and the FATHER of lying!  And the Jews were lying to themselves and the devil so proud.

Joh 8:45  And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.

Jesus tells the truth but they refuse to believe the truth.

Joh 8:46  Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?

None of the Jews could convince Jesus of sin, none!  He speaks the truth and the do NOT believe Him!

Joh 8:47  He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

If they were of God they would HEAR God's words.  They couldn't hear because they are NOT of GOD!

Joh 8:48  Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?

The Jews turn around and say they are speaking well, that Jesus is a Samaritan with a devil.  Unable to see their own evil course they have to manufacture more lies.

Joh 8:49  Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.

Jesus hears them and answers them plainly saying 'I have NOT a devil'.  Jesus HONORS His FATHER, and THEY dishonor Him.

Joh 8:50  And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.

Jesus does NOT seek His own glory.

There is ONE that seeks and judges- the FATHER.

Joh 8:51  Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.

Jesus tells the unhearing, spiritually deaf Jews plainly, that if they would keep His saying, if they keep His words that would never see death and we know this promise is for the second death, the eternal death.

Joh 8:52  Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.

Joh 8:53  Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?

The Jews were convinced Jesus was filled with a devil.  They tell Him Abraham and the prophets are dead and He promises them they'll never see death? They're hearing Him say that He is greater than Abraham who is dead and the prophets. They want to know just who He thinks He is. They obviously HAVE NOT been listening, not really.

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Are we guilty of NOT listening spiritually? We hear but how do we hear? Is it through the ears of the Devil?  Who are we listening too? A liar? Are we listening to a liar? Many listen to a liar, and they are convinced they are of truth!

THINK about that, think about it seriously, they are CONVINCED they are of truth!

Are YOU convinced you are of truth? The Jews were convinced they were of truth.

I don't know about You, but I do not want to be convinced I'm of truth if that truth is really filled with the lies of the devil.

Not only is the Devil a LIAR, lying all the time, all but the very elect of God will be liars along with them. They might not tell a single lie to another human being to be a liar, but they might lie to themselves and to God. 

We must live in SPIRITUAL truth, with SPIRITUAL sight, through the Holy Spirit! Please, Lord, we would be YOURS, open our eyes and keep eye salve upon our eyes always so we may see Your truth and live in YOUR truth! Please, Father, please, in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ!  Amen!

Does Satan Lie? Yes, He Is the Father of Lies.

The question is...does Satan lie? The answer--

Joh_8:44  Ye are of your father the devil... When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Not only does he lie, he's the father of all lying.  Two days ago we read the verse in context we're going to do that again verse by verse, section by section, studying, praying for truth.

Joh 8:30  As he spake these words, many believed on him.

Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

Joh 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Jesus spoke and MANY believed what He was speaking.

Jesus spoke to the JEWS that believe in Him and told them- IF they CONTINUE in HIS WORDS then they would be His Disciples. And if they were His Disciples they would KNOW the TRUTH.  If they KNOW the truth, the TRUTH would make them FREE.

Were the Jews that believed Him happy with those words? Did they understand them? 

(The Jews answered)

Joh 8:33  They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

They did not understand at all. They were of Abraham's seed - always God's chosen never subservient to any other God. They answered to God first and foremost. They sensed no bondage in themselves at all whatsoever. Jesus however knew what sort of bondage they were in.

Joh 8:34  Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

Joh 8:35  And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.

Joh 8:36  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Joh 8:37  I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.

Joh 8:38  I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.

Jesus told them outright- it doesn't matter whose seed you are, if you sin you are the servant of sin. A servant of sin can't be a part of God's house forever. The Son of God lives forever, sinless with God.  And if the Son of God MAKES someone FREE of sin they WILL be FREE of sin!

Jesus knew and told them that He knew the they are of Abraham's descent, but even though they were of the chosen of God, the wanted to KILL Him, because they were DARK inside, they were filled with sin and didn't want any light inside themselves, they did NOT want the Word of Jesus in their lives. Jesus was ONLY ever speaking of the things of the Father. And the evil that the children of Abraham were doing they were doing because THEIR father was Satan!

Joh 8:39  They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father.

Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.

Joh 8:40  But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.

Joh 8:41  Ye do the deeds of your father.

Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.

They did NOT comprehend that their father could not be Abraham, not really.  Their very actions proved they were NOT of God. And HOW many today are just as deceived as they are? How many believe they serve GOD that GOD is their Father but in truth they are serving Satan?

How many are deceived.  I'll tell you how many…

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.

IF IT WERE POSSIBLE- they would deceive the very elect, only by the GRACE of GOD it is NOT possible for God's elect to be deceived. 

Who are God's elect?   More on this tomorrow all by the LOVE of our GOD. We do not want to be among the deceived, we want desperately to be among God's elect and through His grace and mercy we will be!

Does Satan Lie?

Does Satan lie?

Joh_8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Let's read this verse in context… Jesus talking...

Joh 8:30  As he spake these words, many believed on him.

Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

Joh 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

(The Jews answered)

Joh 8:33  They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

Joh 8:34  Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

Joh 8:35  And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.

Joh 8:36  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Joh 8:37  I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.

Joh 8:38  I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.

Joh 8:39  They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father.

Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.

Joh 8:40  But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.

Joh 8:41  Ye do the deeds of your father.

Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.

Joh 8:42  Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

Joh 8:43  Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.

Joh 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Joh 8:45  And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.

Joh 8:46  Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?

Joh 8:47  He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

Joh 8:48  Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?

Joh 8:49  Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.

Joh 8:50  And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.

Joh 8:51  Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.

Joh 8:52  Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.

Joh 8:53  Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?

Joh 8:54  Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:

Joh 8:55  Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.

Joh 8:56  Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

Joh 8:57  Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?

Joh 8:58  Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

Joh 8:59  Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

By the grace of God we are going to study these verses in the coming days.

All through our SAVIOR'S love!

Prophetic Perfection Historical Proof

Seventy prophetic weeks were given to the Jewish people as a nation until their time would be up and the gentiles time would begin, IF they did not alter their course. This is history.

Dan 9:24  'Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.'

Yesterday we discussed this and left off at the starting year of the seventy weeks- prophetically 490 years - 7 times 70 is 490 and days is prophetic years- 490 years.

The starting year was 457 BC.

The ending year was 34 AD.

And Daniel said this-

Dan 9:25  Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be SEVEN WEEKS, and THREESCORE and TWO WEEKS: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

Dan 9:26  And AFTER THREESCORE and TWO WEEKS SHALL MESSIAH BE CUT OFF, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

Dan 9:27  And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the MIDST OF THE WEEK he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Threescore and two weeks-  69 weeks  69 times 7 = 483 years.

457 BC and 483 years later equals- 27AD.   What of significance happened in the last week, the 70th week that started after the 69 weeks and began in 27AD?

Jesus was baptized in 27 AD.

So, what does this mean?  ' and in the MIDST OF THE WEEK he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate'

The midst of that last week, that last seven years is what date? 31 1/2 AD.  What happened then? You know what happened,  Jesus was CRUCIFIED!  When our Savior was crucified the veil in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

Mat 27:51  And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent

We as Christians know that our Savior is the ONLY Sacrifice acceptable to God and since His death no animal sacrifice whatsoever will ever have meaning again. The temple sacrificial services were no longer valid.  And yes, the temple is desolate and anything done in the temple from that point on was truly abominable.

Remember this--

Mat 23:37  O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

Mat 23:38  Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.

Your house is left unto you desolate.

We have to realize how perfectly this ties into the prophecy of Daniel.

Now the end to the prophetic week- the 7 years is 34AD.  What of significance happened there to culminate in the end of the Jewish people being God's chosen and the message going to the Gentiles?

Stephen was martyred and Paul was chosen specifically as an apostle of Jesus to carry the message to what people? The Gentiles. Paul who was known as Saul who stood there guarding the clothes of those stoning Stephen to death.

Act 7:56  And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

Act 7:57  Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,

Act 7:58  And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.

Act 7:59  And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

Act 7:60  And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

The perfect prophetic message laid out for all who would see.

That week quoted by the futurists that they say points to a temple and sacrifice therein in the last seven years of time is a LIE!

Make no mistake, it is a lie and a lie that Satan uses well to his advantage to fool the masses. Will there be a third temple, it's quite possible there will be but as Christians we should know that no third temple, no fourth, fifth, sixth temple will mean anything to God, the sacrificial ceremonial aspects to the old covenant law are done away with in Christ!  Satan will do everything he can to keep the lies alive and well, feeding them with every snippet of untruth he can in order to keep people deceived right up until the end days.  People clinging to deception will hear the Savior tell them to get away from Him, that He never knew them.  They think they are known of Him but they are really known very well by Satan, not the Savior.

Bless us in You, Savior, bless us in You. 

More tomorrow by the grace of God.

A Third Temple Not Biblical

Recently someone in our Bible study brought up the idea people have that Temple in Jerusalem needs to be rebuilt before Christ returns and I wanted to study it more in-depth because there are so many people who believe this must come to pass. Why do they believe this, and how is it wrong? How is a belief in this- complete deception perpetuated by Satan? How is a belief in this popular misconception spiritually deadly? Let's find out more-

'In their book, Dr. LaHaye & J. Jenkins cited Daniel 9:27 and Daniel 11:31 presumably as proof that Jesus is somehow predicting the building of a third Jewish temple.

Let us quote both of those passages below:

27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. (Daniel 9:27)

31 And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. (Daniel 11:31)

Pasted from <http://www.cogwriter.com/jewishtemple.htm>

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Did this belief start with modern theologians? No.

It goes back to this man…Francisco Ribera, a 16th century Spanish Jesuit who under the command of the Roman Catholic church had to come up with a way to explain the prophecy that didn't point to the Church as the Little Horn Beast. Putting prophecy in the future like he did became known as Futurism and today many still are caught up in Futurism, deceived, Catholic and Protestant alike.

Let's take the time for a refresher on the 2300 year prophecy and how it dispels the false doctrine of a third temple HAVING to be rebuilt before Christ returns.

Daniel 8:14-

Dan 8:14  And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.

Daniel didn't understand what this prophecy meant and it wasn't until nine years later  that it was explained to Him.

Dan 9:21  Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.

Dan 9:22  And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.

Dan 9:23  At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.

Dan 9:24  SEVENTY WEEKS are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

Dan 9:25  Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be SEVEN WEEKS, and THREESCORE and TWO WEEKS: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

Dan 9:26  And AFTER THREESCORE and TWO WEEKS SHALL MESSIAH BE CUT OFF, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

Dan 9:27  And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the MIDST OF THE WEEK he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Remember earlier we read that the Third Temple Being Rebuilt believers use this verse Dan 9:27 to support their false beliefs.  They strip it out of context and away from the 70 weeks = 490 years and place it at the very last days, making that last week of the 70 weeks future NOT past.

When is the beginning of the 70 weeks (490 years) supposed to begin?

Dan 9:25  ...from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be ….

We need to understand that at the time of these visions of Daniel's Jerusalem had been destroyed, it didn't truly exist as it once had been and was in great need of restoration. Remember, Daniel himself was taken captive out of Jerusalem and brought to Babylon.

So when did the command to restore and rebuild take place?

Ezra 7: 1-27

Ezr 7:1  Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,

Ezr 7:2  The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,

Ezr 7:3  The son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,

Ezr 7:4  The son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,

Ezr 7:5  The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest:

Ezr 7:6  This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.

Ezr 7:7  And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.

Ezr 7:8  And he came to Jerusalem in the FIFTH MONTH, WHICH WAS IN THE SEVENTH YEAR OF THE KING.

Ezr 7:9  For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.

Ezr 7:10  For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.

Ezr 7:11  Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel.

Ezr 7:12  Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time.

Ezr 7:13 I MAKE A DECREE, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.

Ezr 7:14  Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand;

Ezr 7:15  And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem,

Ezr 7:16  And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem:

Ezr 7:17  That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.

Ezr 7:18  And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God.

Ezr 7:19  The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God, those deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem.

Ezr 7:20  And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasure house.

Ezr 7:21  And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily,

Ezr 7:22  Unto an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred measures of wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.

Ezr 7:23  Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?

Ezr 7:24  Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them.

Ezr 7:25  And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not.

Ezr 7:26  And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.

Ezr 7:27  Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem

And this gives us the date to start from, an historical date-  457 BC.

The Seventy Weeks.

Seven times seventy- 490 days.

490 days = prophetic years.

If they began in 457 BC then they ended in 34 AD.  

And do you know how we KNOW this is the correct interpretation?  Because the prediction of the Messiah involved.

More on this tomorrow by the grace of our God.

Please Father, please let us know and comprehend Your truth, Your prophetic truth. We don't want to be among the deceived, please Father, bless us with comprehension and a heart to follow all Your truth no matter how much it rips away our cherished beliefs, we would have YOUR TRUTH, only YOUR TRUTH!

Keep us in YOU most Holy Wondrous Father in Heaven.

All in the name of Your Only Begotten Son- Jesus Christ!

Amen. 

We are Covered in darkness

'And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.  But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.'

John 3:13-21

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Light is come into the world and men loved darkness rather than light- because their deeds were evil. Every one that doeth evil hates the light.

When we think of evil we don't think or all evil.  We've come to think of evil as the *really* bad things, not the little evils.

Some might perceive pride as a little evil.

Some might perceive selfishness as a little evil.

But I believe pride and selfishness are HUGE evils and when we are prideful and selfish we are loving the darkness, not the light. We don't want our EVIL in the light, we want it hidden. We want what has become known as the huge evils- murderer, torturers, rapists, thieves, we want them to be the targets. We don't want our SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE evils to be seen, not even by ourselves. Yes, I said that, we don't want to see our own evils, we'd much rather see the evil of others.

Light is come into the world.

Men loved darkness.

We are COVERED in darkness and we love our darkness.

When we see the reality of our evil in the light of the Cross we can't help but surrender all that we are to our God, knowing He and HE alone can save us in His Light! We can ONLY have light through our Savior.  Any light we try to manufacture on our own is deception. 

In the Light of the Cross we know we are helpless and must rely on our Savior for life NOW and life everlasting.

Look at Your life, truly look at your life- and pray for the eyesalve that the Holy Spirit can give to us so that we may see TRUTH, that we may see the evil in ourselves and NOT hide under the cloak of darkness fooling ourselves into thinking we live in light.  Please LORD we would NOT live in darkness!

Please LORD we want YOUR LIGHT!

Bless us Father in heaven, bless us Savior, our LORD JESUS, bless us Holy Spirit with Your love.

We are filthy and without any righteousness, save us from ourselves!

Please.

Thank You all, thank all of You for such wondrous love!

Amen.

Not born again physically

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

John 3:3

Born again.

Not born physically again.

Born again.

Some people have near death experiences, and that old 'their life flashed before their eyes' comes into play. Then some times those same people are suddenly experiencing their lives in a different way. They are so grateful to be alive they will swear even the food tastes better than it did before. Others start living their lives more cautiously because life is so precious, while still others more recklessly because they have a sense of how short life is. The point I'm trying to make is experiences can change our life perspective. We change all the time. For as much as people sometimes love to say they are stuck in their old ways, life is changing around them and they are changing too. No one is the same as they were a year ago. You might laugh and say they are and even go as far as to say they are the same as ten years ago.  Habits can remain the same that's true, but our lives are constantly changing. How you view things change, they have to. With each new event in life our life changes. You might grumble the same but things are changing. Our bodies are changing, and our minds change too. Change is inevitable.

Being born again is a CHANGE taking place in our lives. A realized, intentional change.  Being born again is comprehending the need to change.

Jesus wasn't telling Nicodemus that he had to be birthed again physically, He was telling Him he had to be born again spiritually. He has to recognize his NEED in the spirit. He has to realize that it isn't the flesh birth that matters, the flesh birth will not help us realize the kingdom of heaven.

'That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.'

Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?

Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? 

More on this tomorrow by the grace of our LORD, our SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST!