UNEATEN BREAD

UNEATEN BREAD

The Lord is having me expand on some previous postings by describing in context of Spirit and Truth of the Word of God about uneaten bread. If you have read some of my postings I often mention that the devil attempts to remove the Spirit of God from the Word of God. The devil doesn’t care if you can recite the bible forwards or backwards, the devil doesn’t want you “born again” in Spirit and Truth or to grow in revelations of Spirit and Truth of God’s Word. Keep this principle in mind throughout this posting. Additionally keep in mind the scriptures of feeding the 5000 where Jesus preached to the multitude as this will conclude spiritual revelations which I will get to as we proceed. Pay attention to the emphasis of the bold words as those scriptures will come together with the feeding the 5000, the five foolish virgins, book of revelation and the body of Christ.

Ezekiel 3 (NKJV)

3 Moreover He said to me, “Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.So I opened my mouth, and He caused me to eat that scroll.

And He said to me, “Son of man, feed your belly, and fill your stomach with this scroll that I give you.” So I ate, and it was in my mouth like honey in sweetness.

Then He said to me: “Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with My words to them. For you are not sent to a people of unfamiliar speech and of hard language, but to the house of Israel, not to many people of unfamiliar speech and of hard language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely, had I sent you to them, they would have listened to you. But the house of Israel will not listen to you, because they will not listen to Me; for all the house of Israel are impudent and hard-hearted. Behold, I have made your face strong against their faces, and your forehead strong against their foreheads. Like adamant stone, harder than flint, I have made your forehead; do not be afraid of them, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house.

10 Moreover He said to me: “Son of man, receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears. 11 And go, get to the captives, to the children of your people, and speak to them and tell them, ‘Thus says the Lord God,’ whether they hear, or whether they refuse.

12 Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me a great thunderous voice: “Blessed is the glory of the Lord from His place!” 13 I also heard the noise of the wings of the living creatures that touched one another, and the noise of the wheels beside them, and a great thunderous noise. 14 So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the Lord was strong upon me. 15 Then I came to the captives at Tel Abib, who dwelt by the River Chebar; and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days.

Let me make some comments here and then we can continue with Ezekiel. The very first line the prophet is called the Son of man and we are to be Son’s of God. Eating the scroll is direct reference to the Word of God and speaking to Israel was God’s chosen people which represents the church or corporate body as the gentiles are included. When your heart desires the fullness of the Word of God the Word of God is like honey and sweetness to your heart/soul. Ezekiel was sent to “his own people” but Israel would not listen because they are impudent and hard-hearted. The Spirit of God fortified Ezekiel because Israel was a rebellious house. Now we look at line 10 and scripture clearly tells us that Ezekiel was to receive ALL of the Word of the Lord by eating/consuming the Word of the Lord. We are to speak Spirit and Truth regardless if people hear or refuse to hear the Word of God. The Holy Spirit lifted/took Ezekiel in bitterness in the heat of his spirit but the Lord was strong upon him. The bitterness and heat was not negative but positive as the bitterness was the “strong face and strong forehead” the Lord had given him to stand firm against the opposition of a “rebellious house”. There is a form of godly stubbornness rooted in the righteousness of Christ. How else would you “stand firm” in Ephesians six? Okay now lets continue with the remainder of Ezekiel.

Ezekiel is a Watchman

16 Now it came to pass at the end of seven days that the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me: 18 When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. 19 Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.

20 “Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die; because you did not give him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand. 21 Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man that the righteous should not sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning; also you will have delivered your soul.”

22 Then the hand of the Lord was upon me there, and He said to me, “Arise, go out into the plain, and there I shall talk with you.”

23 So I arose and went out into the plain, and behold, the glory of the Lord stood there, like the glory which I saw by the River Chebar; and I fell on my face. 24 Then the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet, and spoke with me and said to me: “Go, shut yourself inside your house. 25 And you, O son of man, surely they will put ropes on you and bind you with them, so that you cannot go out among them. 26 I will make your tongue cling to the roof of your mouth, so that you shall be mute and not be one to rebuke them, for they are a rebellious house. 27 But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ He who hears, let him hear; and he who refuses, let him refuse; for they are a rebellious house.

Let’s finish up with Ezekiel. Notice “seven days” and remember the number seven signifies divine perfection and completeness. Ezekiel stayed for seven days before releasing the Word of God. This is imperative for every one of us. Even though we “know” we must wait upon the Lord to speak by the power and unction of His Spirit. Once the Word became perfected in Ezekiel he would be commissioned to speak the Word of the Lord. Knowledge without Wisdom is destructive. We must have Wisdom and Revelation together so the application will be of the Lord and not of ourselves. Notice it is the Lord who opens and shuts the mouth of His prophets speaking ONLY the Word of the Lord and NOTHING of himself. This is why you hear me often say to walk with the Lord and prophecy or minister for the Lord we MUST surrender the outcome to the Lord. If you can’t surrender the outcome it is the “pride of life” in you which seeks glory and notoriety just as the devil. You have made everything about you and not of the Lord. Jesus is the Alpha and Omega we are not. Now we can go to the book of Revelations and how John eats the book.

Revelation 10 (NKJV)

The Mighty Angel with the Little Book

10 I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. He had a little book open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices. Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them.”

The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised up his hand to heaven and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there should be delay no longer, but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets.

John Eats the Little Book

Then the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, “Go, take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the earth.”

So I went to the angel and said to him, “Give me the little book.”

And he said to me, “Take and eat it; and it will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.”

10 Then I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter. 11 And he said to me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.”

John eats the book given to him by the Lord Jesus we get both bitter in the stomach and yet sweet as honey in your mouth. Just because the Word of God may be “bitter in your stomach” doesn’t mean it should be rejected, despised or not spoken. Think of it this way the Word was like honey in taste going in, but bitter towards it’s outcome. Doesn’t this sound like the Israelites complaining to Moses about “bitter water” in the wilderness. The bitterness was a reflection of their own heart and water represents the Word of God! What I wanted to emphasis so far is how we receive the Word of God is a reflection of “what is in us” that is not of the Lord Jesus. The Word and Spirit are one, so the Holy Spirit in us would and should not have a problem with the Word of God. The Apostle John did not have a personal problem with bitterness himself what he was to speak was the consequences of bitterness he was about to speak to the Israelites. Now let’s broaden our scope of understanding by going to Jesus feeding the five thousand. I have touched on this before in regards to the disciples becoming Apostles but now I want to reflect on the meaning and implications of the “body of Christ”. When you read the scriptures below reflect on the church/body of Christ. I will expound after you read the scriptures.

Matthew 14:13–21 (NKJV)

Jesus Feeds 5,000

Mark 6:31–44; Luke 9:11–17; John 6:1–13

13 When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities. 14 And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. 15 When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food.”

16 But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

17 And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.”

18 He said, “Bring them here to Me.” 19 Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. 20 So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. 21 Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Now things get more interesting as I expound on the scriptures above. When Jesus went out He went alone but when the multitude heard of this they followed Him. Jesus did NOT ask or command people to follow Him so why did they pursue Him? Let’s reflect on scripture of who these people represent by referring to more scripture.

John 6:44–45 (NKJV)

44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.

We must make this connection that it was the Father who drew the multitude to “come to Jesus”. It was Jesus preaching the Word of God to the multitude because the Father drew them. No one goes to the Father except through Christ Jesus! This is symbolic of the church/body of Christ as Israel was a chosen people.

John 14:6–7 (NKJV)

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”

What is the significance of Jesus giving a COMMANDMENT to sit on the grass! The grass thus has an imperative meaning. The grass is a “feeding place” of provision and Jesus wasn’t feeding them regular bread. Jesus was feeding them the Word of God the very Bread of Life! Here is another point to mention concerning the bread. Jesus lifted the bread toward heaven which reflects it was the Father who drew them to Jesus to be fed with the Word of God. It was the Father who multiplied the bread. Everything Jesus did was to reveal the Father and the kingdom of God.

John 6:35 (NKJV)

35 And Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.

Now let us consider the uneaten Bread, which is the Word of God. I mentioned in an earlier posting that the twelve disciples picked up the twelve full baskets of the Bread/Word of God that was NOT eaten. The disciples were to be the Apostles full of the Bread of Life which is the Word of God.

So let us address the uneaten bread. If you reflect on the Ezekiel and the Apostle John when told to “eat” the Word of God some was sweet to the mouth while some was bitter to the stomach. The uneaten bread was a reflection of their HEART CONDITION TOWARDS THE WORD OF GOD. Do we not see this today in the body of Christ? Picking and choosing what we desire or don’t desire from the Word of God! This is carnality and the “pride of life” from uncrucified flesh/soul. LET ME SAY THIS BOLDLY AS I HAVE SAID MANY TIMES THE “WORD & SPIRIT OF GOD” ARE ONE! What you refuse in the Word you refuse in the Spirit! So whatever you refuse in the Written Word you will not grow in the Spirit of God! The Lord is coming back for a mature bride and not merely a virgin. You must be filled with the Word of God which is also the Spirit of God. So now lets go back to the parable of sowing seed in soil which is a “heart condition”. Notice the multitudes again which reflects the body of Christ as the Father drew the people to the Son/Jesus. I will add my comments between the scriptures below so you won’t have to scroll the page and hopefully make it easier for you.

Matthew 13:1–23 (NKJV)

Parable of the Soils

Mark 4:1–20; Luke 8:4–15

13 On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

Remember the multitude was drawn by the Father. Also take notice the Jesus was in the boat which was on Water which Water and Word are one of the same. The multitude was on dry land.

Psalm 63:1 (NKJV)

1 O God, You are my God;

Early will I seek You;

My soul thirsts for You;

My flesh longs for You

In a dry and thirsty land

Where there is no water.

Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

Stony places is in direct reference to the human heart. Scripture tells us that we have a heart of stone and need a heart of flesh. This is why the ten commandments was written on tablets of stone, it symbolized the condition of the human heart! Jesus said in the gospels that He would write His Word upon our hearts! When the sun is mentioned the seed withered away because the Word of God did not take root, it was superficial and NOT DIGESTED as Ezekiel and John had eaten and digested the Word of God. The thorns refers to disobedience, sin, hardship or in essence “false Christians/brethren” as the wheat and tares (good and evil) are sown together until the “harvest”. The false preachers and Christians/brethren can choke the Word of God within the assembling of the saints and thus Jesus says come out from among them. Mystery Babylon is the Harlot Church. This may sound contrary to what is preached today but take it back to Pentecost and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as they were assembled in ONE ACCORD. This is why we must not be deceived. Judas was among the other disciples just as there are many who are not of the Lord in the house of the Lord. It’s bad enough there are wolves in sheep’s clothing in the pulpits but there are also thorns and thistles, wheat and tares in the pews.

10 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”

11 He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:

When you read line thirteen reflect on what Jesus spoke to the Pharisees that because they said they see their sin remained! Later Jesus would warn the disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees.

Hearing you will hear and shall not understand,

And seeing you will see and not perceive;

15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull.

Their ears are hard of hearing,

And their eyes they have closed,

Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,

Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,

So that I should heal them.’

Closed eyes and ears will NOT be healed!

16 But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; 17 for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

18 “Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

We have established that the Word and Spirit of God are ONE so we can now continue to the story of the ten virgins. I had posted on this a few years ago but now I want to you see how UNEATEN BREAD was the problem with the foolish virgins as BREAD/WORD AND SPIRIT ARE ONE!

I have heard much foolishness about the five foolish virgins not being born again and this is totally untrue. How would they be virgins without being born again and secondly how would they come to the wedding ceremony if the Father didn’t draw them to the Son. The Holy Spirit is the invitation and you must be born again to attend the wedding ceremony. You must be filled with the Word, Spirit and love of God to be the bride.

Matthew 25:1–13 (NKJV)

Parable of the Ten Virgins

25 “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

“And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.

1“Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

13 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

Notice that the foolish had no oil which is the Holy Spirit while the wise took oil in their VESSELS with their lamps. Also notice what the wise virgins answered to go to “those who sell”. This reflects “worldliness” as the Holy Spirit can not be marketed or purchased! The foolish even went out to purchase oil.

Now if you reflect on this posting from beginning to end and realize that the Word of God and Spirit of God are ONE you will understand that uneaten bread will not get you to everlasting life. You must be filled with the Word and Spirit of the Lord Jesus. This is why I repeatedly state the devil doesn’t care if you can recite the Word of God forward and backwards. The devil doesn’t want you born again and being filled with the Word of God. Whatever you refuse from what is “WRITTEN” you eliminate in your life in the Holy Spirit.

Taking this back to the garden of Eden and the fall of Adam let’s reflect on a couple of points from a previous posting of mine. Adam was told NOT to partake of the tree of knowledge of good and evil or he would die. So, “what is death where there was no death” and “what is a flood where there is no rain”. The problem is that you must have faith and belief in ALL OF THE WORD OF GOD. When you refuse to believe the truth of ALL of God’s Word you are not conforming to Spirit and Truth. When you believe the lies of wolves in sheep’s clothing you are not conforming to Christ Jesus and worshiping in Spirit and Truth. It only took ONE lie for humanity to fall and when you listen to lies perceived as truth without a witness from the Holy Spirit you have already fallen into deception. Jesus warned over and over do NOT be deceived.

I hope you have received spiritual revelations and will be enlightened and understand that when anyone twist, distorts or outwardly denies the Word of God do NOT listen or follow them. There is only ONE source of Spirit and Truth, Christ Jesus.

John 14:6–7 (NKJV)

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”

In closing I want to remind you that Water and Word are the same and rivers of living Water in you is the Word and Spirit of God. What the wise virgins had was rivers of Living Water which is the Word and Spirit of God. I also want you to reflect on the warning in Revelations about adding or subtracting from the Word of God. What you refuse to “eat/digest” and let take root is subtracting from the Word of God! How is it people claim to have faith unto salvation but at the same time do not have faith to believe that all of the Word of God is true? This the same principle when Adam stopped having faith and belief in the Word of God and believed Eve who was deceived. What/who you follow you worship! This is why Jesus said the day has come that His people will worship Him in Spirit and Truth as this needed to be restored through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Adam did not know what “death” really was but he needed to believe that EVERY WORD OF GOD IS TRUE! This is exactly what Jesus stated to Satan in the wilderness!

Matthew 4:4 (NKJV)

But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”

Revelation 22:18–19 (NKJV)

A Warning

1For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

When you add any false scripture/beliefs or lies you add the plagues that are Written in the Word of God upon you. When you take away from the Word of God your name will be taken out of the book of life. These are serious warnings and Truth.

When you believe and support a pre-tribulation rapture you condemn yourself to the plagues of the Written Word! This is what I call a “spiritual paradox” just as Satan telling Eve she surely would not die. The pre-tribulation is a lie and deceives you into thinking you are saving your life when you will lose your life suffering the plagues because you added to the Word of God. You are not preparing yourself spiritually to overcome without spot or wrinkle.

Don’t be deceived believing that when corruption puts on incorruption, and mortal puts on immortality that you receive more of the Holy Spirit. You should have already been fully prepared and filled with the Holy Spirit. NOWHERE in those verses does it mention more of the Holy Spirit. It relates to a heavenly body because flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 15:50–54 (NKJV)

Our Final Victory

50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

Salvation is all or nothing just as Jesus is Lord of all of your life or none of your life. If you discard the Bread of Life you will be discarded from the Father. If you deny Jesus which is the WORD IN FULLNESS Jesus will deny you before the Father.

Colossians 2:1–10 (NKJV)

Not Philosophy But Christ

2 For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

4 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS

SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS

Carnality and Narrow Mindedness

One thing you will notice as you grow in maturity in Christ is the paradox of opposites being twisted and manipulated as being one of the same. Similarly to calling evil good and good evil is exactly what Satan does through his lies and deceptions.

Narrow mindedness is a carnal mindset of the soul and fallen nature of humanity resulting in spiritual blindness imposed and empowered by Satan since the fall of humanity. This mindset of narrow mindedness only believing what you have been taught, brought up in and appealing to you or your earthly life experiences. Jesus himself referred to this as “leaven in bread” which was of the religious leaders, better stated the teachings of this world. Surely dying to yourself to follow and be built up in Christ is not appealing to those who perish. As born again believers we must keep ourselves in the love of God which will draw us deeper into the very heart of God, Jude 1:21. Love that is NOT reciprocated does not grow in love or revelations of Christ Jesus.

Salvation is the initial “call” to Christ Jesus but are we being built up into a royal priesthood by Spirit and Truth? Spirit and Truth ONLY comes from the Lord by the indwelling Holy Spirit and not from the teachings of humanity or the wisdom of humanity.

1 John 2:27 (NKJV)

27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.

As stated in my previous postings it was the Spirit of God in Christ Jesus that taught the disciples not the human, but the divine. This has not changed in any way and stands true today. Many people need to be “unlearned” so they can be taught, this is dying to yourself and to others and only seeking the Lord in Spirit and Truth. Everything written or spoken has a spirit attached to it. It’s either of the Lord, Antichrist or your own soul/flesh. This is why what you hear, see and read must be “filtered and validated” by the Holy Spirit. You must receive a spiritual witness from the Lord.

So in conclusion a carnal mindset is narrow minded but believes by deception that is is open and ready for a more “broader way/path of spiritual revelations of Christ Jesus”. Polar opposites in reality but the person never the less believes they are on the right path. Jesus said because you say you can see you are blind! This is narrow mindedness not being able to receive TRUTH because you are not open to truth. So this is believing you are on the NARROW PATH but you are on the WIDE PATH of destruction. I hope you see the paradox of opposites.

I believe the Apostle Paul’s reference that he died daily was not to sin but to carnality of thinking and believing. It was Paul who wrote in Romans should we continue in sin and crucify Christ again making a mockery of the Lord’s grace. If you reflect on Paul’s journey of faith it is absolutely incredible and heavenly how Paul preached. It was Paul who said he fed them milk because they were carnal and couldn’t tolerate solid spiritual food. Read Galatians 2:20 and Galatians 6:14 as these scriptures are for all of the saints so we may be the true image and likeness of Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 4:3–4 (NKJV)

But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

We know that the broad path leads to death and destruction and that the narrow path leads to everlasting life in Christ Jesus. Think of this contrast and reflect on it: narrow mindedness believing you are on the narrow path to salvation but actually the wide path to destruction. Verses a Spiritual mindset in Christ by self denial/crucifixion of the soul seeking revelations of all Truth in Christ Jesus from Spirit and Truth. By dying to your personal beliefs and seeking the Lord in Spirit and Truth you allow the Holy Spirit to bring revelations of Truth to your Spirit and renewing your mind in Spirit and Truth. Man’s wisdom will never stand against the Lord’s revelations in Spirit and Truth. Shortly after my salvation the Lord Jesus took me all the way through my childhood and revealed to me the spiritual attacks through people including family. While doing this I became aware the Lord was sustaining me without me even knowing. Without going into great detail this helped me in many ways understand the spiritual realm and the influences of Satan working through people. I was set free of all of my past so I could live for the future in Christ Jesus. Hallelujah!

We need Spiritual Revelations which including both the way/path of salvation and the Godly wisdom to withstand the wiles of the enemy by spiritual discernment. In other words a “broad mind” or Spiritual mind/mindset which through the Spirit of God reveals all truth, the mind of Christ. This means submitting our thoughts to the thoughts of God by the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 139:23–24 (KJV 1900)

23  Search me, O God, and know my heart:

Try me, and know my thoughts:

24  And see if there be any wicked way in me,

And lead me in the way everlasting.

Discernment is from the Spirit of God so if you are born of the Holy Spirit you should be growing in Wisdom and Revelation to be able to discern the spirits. Leaning on your understanding leaves you prey to the devil. Your wisdom won’t help you, you need Wisdom from Above.

1 Samuel 30:8 (NKJV)

So David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?”

And He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.”

There are NO shortcuts in making mature spiritual sons of God. The Israelites spent 40 years in the wilderness only to make idols while Moses entered into the presence of the Lord up on the mountain. We must pursue holiness by Spirit and Truth and this includes our mindsets so that we may have the mind of Christ in us. Paul said “let this” mind be in you. “Let” signifies the will of our souls to bow and surrender to Spirit and Truth.

Philippians 2:5 (NKJV)

The Humbled and Exalted Christ

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

Matthew 11:29–30 (NKJV)

29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Rest is no longer defined as keeping the sabbath it is the very person of Christ. Sure you can honor the sabbath but it is no longer a “remembrance” it is a life in Christ. Rest and peace is a positioning of our heart towards and in Christ Jesus. Read it for yourself. Peace doesn’t rest upon you it dwells in you as a born again Christian. Peace is a Spirit as Jesus is the Prince of Peace!

John 14:27 (NKJV)

27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Hebrews 12:14 (NKJV)

14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:

James 3:17 (NKJV)

17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

Colossians 1:9–13 (NKJV)

Preeminence of Christ

For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,

 

John 9:41 (NKJV)

41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.

Don’t be fooled my just taking the one scripture of calling evil good and good evil as you must apply this principle to all things pertaining to life and godliness. The only way to overcome is by true Spiritual Revelations by the Holy Spirit! If Satan can appear as an angel of light how do you come to the revelation that it is Satan speaking, by revelation from the Holy Spirit and NOT leaning on your own understanding. How do you determine a wolf in sheep’s clothing, by revelation from the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 10:16 (NKJV)

16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

Carnality and narrow mindedness portrays that you have all the wisdom and knowledge you need thus there is no dependency upon Christ Jesus or the need for Revelations of Spirit and Truth. This is the “pride of life” and the “lust of the flesh” determining what your desires of truth are and NOT what is Spirit and Truth from Christ Jesus. Self righteousness and pride are ungodly and the Lord resists the proud.

The whole earth is the “valley of the shadow of death” so we are surrounded by darkness and evil everywhere. See my post: https://abidingbread.com/2025/04/16/the-valley-of-the-shadow-of-death/

1 John 2:16–17 (NKJV)

16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

Proverbs 3:5–7 (NKJV)

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct your paths.

7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;

Fear the Lord and depart from evil.

I am troubled when someone makes a statement like I follow pastor so and so because pastor so and so has not finished his race here on earth. Every single follower of Christ is NOT exempt from the wiles and schemes of the Devil. If you follow a pastor who has believed lies or false teachings from man’s wisdom you will be led astray by NOT SEEKING the Lord Jesus in Spirit and Truth! This is why I do not have any “likes” of ministries or pastors on my social media. I do not have availability 24/7/365 to vet them as not fallen from the narrow path and Spirit and Truth. Furthermore I do not exalt a man I only exalt Christ Jesus.

Stop believing the lies that you yourselves can not experience the true, pure and holy glory of God here and now. The resurrected Christ is available to all of us. Just be absolutely sure that the Holy Spirit in you bares witness to the Living God Christ Jesus as Satan masquerades and an angel of light.

I take the disposition that even when someone uses the terminology, Lord, God or even the name of Jesus I need to know who their Jesus is because it may not be the Jesus I know!

Acts 19:15 (NKJV)

15 And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”

2 Corinthians 11:1–4 (NKJV)

Concern for Their Faithfulness

11 Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly—and indeed you do bear with me. For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!

I was helping a pastor online who was struggling and he reached out to me so I spent over a half hour telling him things and encouraging him in Spirit and Truth. He replied what a sermon. I said it was not a sermon it was experiential life in Christ. Everything I stated was testimony not a sermon! Now reflect on the Apostles, Prophets, Saints gone before us considering everything they spoke was not only inspired by the Lord but experiential life in Christ Jesus. It wasn’t just belief it was true experiential life. Just as the Apostles witnessed and testified of Christ so can we through an experienced life in Christ Jesus. We are called to live the life of Christ here and now.

May the Lord continue to strengthen you in His Spirit of Truth and in revelations of Christ Jesus.

METHODOLOGY AND TRADITIONS

METHODOLOGY AND TRADITIONS

Methodology and traditions are absent of the Holy Spirit because it is the Holy Spirit that has the power and inspiration to do or perform a certain thing or act and not a method or tradition. The seven sons of Sceva copied a method and we know how that turned out for them. The devil and those who are his like to teach methods or formulas because it doesn’t require being led and empowered by the Lord. The sons of God are led and empowered by the Spirit of God. Isn’t the “sinners prayer” a method also? Preaching the gospel in Spirit and Truth reveals and demonstrates the POWER OF GOD unto salvation there was no “sinners prayer”. In the book of Acts it was the Holy Spirit that added to the church. There was no mention of a sinner’s prayer it was Godly Spiritual Conviction of the heart that rendered repentance and admittance of our fallen nature and the absolute need for the Lord’s forgiveness and Lordship leading us in the ways of HIS righteousness and truth.

It’s as if Catholicism has entered the church of Christ Jesus and the method of repentance is going to a “confessional” and doing what a priest tells you to do and praying prayers for forgiveness. The priest cannot forgive your sins! So ask yourself who is being empowered by the sinner’s prayer, it is likely the pastor is being exalted because you are doing and following your pastor. The pastor then under the inspiration of the devil receives the glory by a prideful spirit as if his prayer got you saved. Jesus is omitted and circumvented. The sinners prayer does not convict you of sin it is the Holy Spirit. Where in Acts 2 does Peter say repeat this prayer? Peter is giving them the Gospel in Spirit and Truth just as Paul said that he preached Christ Crucified!

Acts 2:36–39 (NKJV)

36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

Romans 8:14 (NKJV)

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

Acts 19:11–16 (NKJV)

Miracles Glorify Christ

11 Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. 13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 14 Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so.

15 And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”

16 Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

Romans 1:16–17 (NKJV)

The Just Live by Faith

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

Much of what people consider the assembly referenced as the church of Christ Jesus is nothing more than a Hollywood presentation appealing to your emotions, itchy ears and fallen nature because the Spirit of God does not exalt any human. The Spirit of God only testifies of Christ Jesus and exalts Christ Jesus in Spirit and Truth. It’s no wonder food and drink are allowed in sanctuaries these days as church today resembles a movie theater and void of the desire and preaching of Spirit and Truth and the gospel on holiness!

When you preach in Spirit and Truth and the gospel of holiness you are preaching Christ Jesus so people will follow and desire Christ Jesus this is why sin is not address and holiness is not preached so you will follow a wolf in sheep’s clothing and NOT the Living God Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 6:11–7:1 (NKJV)

Be Holy

11 O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. 13 Now in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open.

14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

I will dwell in them

And walk among them.

I will be their God,

And they shall be My people.”

17 Therefore

Come out from among them

And be separate, says the Lord.

Do not touch what is unclean,

And I will receive you.”

18  “I will be a Father to you,

and you shall be My sons and daughters,

says the Lord Almighty.”

7 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

THE MIND OF CHRIST

THE MIND OF CHRIST

Philippians 2:5–11 (NKJV)

The Humbled and Exalted Christ

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The only way to have the mind of Christ Jesus is by the crucified life having died to this world, the lust of the flesh, the desires of this world and the wisdom of this world in the human soul. Just as Eve was one flesh with Adam and through the consummation of human marriage the husband and wife become one flesh so it is with the soul of a man and the Holy Spirit. By choosing to “die to one self” by our own free will to gain Christ Jesus we allow through a process of sanctification and the indwelling Holy Spirit to crucify our soul’s ungodly desires, believes, carnality, lusts and everything that contradicts the Lord Jesus. We must humble our self’s allowing the Holy Spirit to bring us to the place of crucifixion of our carnal man/soul so that the fullness Christ in us may dwell and reign in us bringing us to son ship in Christ Jesus. In essence the human soul does not cease to exist but it has been transformed into the image and likeness of Christ Jesus just as we were originally created before the fall of humanity. The soul of a man/woman becoming one in the Spirit of the Lord Jesus, two becoming one!

Romans 8:14 (NKJV)

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

Ephesians 1:17–23 (NKJV)

17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

To receive the spirit of wisdom and revelation of Christ Jesus and to have your eyes of understanding enlightened you need to be humble, teachable and a have a godly desire (motives and intents of the heart) for Spirit and Truth and sanctification by the Spirit of God. There are no short cuts! You must die to your personal beliefs, teachings of humanity and any doctrines or teaching contrary to Spirit and Truth. The teaching of men signifies the natural or carnal man while the teaching of the Son’s of God refers to those in spiritual maturity with Christ Jesus. This is why the first prerequisite to follow Jesus was to pick up your cross and deny yourself. Denying is not limited in scope it is broad in scope as the OLD MAN is dead and the new creation has been given birth. Given birth doesn’t signify maturity it is the beginning of the new creation in Christ Jesus. Adam was created as a man not a child or infant which implies maturity.

1 Corinthians 2:6–16 (NKJV)

Spiritual Wisdom

However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

But as it is written:

Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,

Nor have entered into the heart of man

The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Notice that in line six states “who are mature” and in line sixteen it mentions the “mind of Christ”. While none of us has “arrived” so to speak are we remaining humble and hungry for Spirit and Truth? Are we growing in revelations of Christ in Spirit and Truth being conformed to His image and likeness?

Jesus Himself said if there be any darkness in you how great is that darkness which is in reference to our spiritual condition. Darkness is of the god of this world and the fallen nature of the human soul. The lamp is symbolic of the Holy Spirit we know this from the five foolish virgins as their lamps were not full of the Spirit of God or the love of God. We are called to be a “lamp on a hill” full of the Holy Spirit to reveal Christ Jesus to this world. You can not still have a love for this world, the things of this world and be in complete/perfect love with the Father.

Matthew 6:21–23 (NKJV)

21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

Matthew 5:14–16 (NKJV)

14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

1 Corinthians 3:1–4 (NKJV)

Sectarianism is Carnal

3 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?

The Apostle Paul is referencing sectarianism as different doctrines, beliefs, traditions, specific groups of people within the church or anything that causes division and lack of unity in Spirit and Truth. If anyone preaches a different gospel or for that matter speaks contrary to any of the Word of God they have the wrong doctrine/understanding. If they are humble and assembled in one accord they will receive correction from the brethren. This is not just from the pulpit to the pews but from the pews to the pulpit. A house divided will not stand and let God be true and every man a liar.

Romans 3:1–4 (NKJV)

God’s Judgment Defended

3 What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God. For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written:

That You may be justified in Your words,

And may overcome when You are judged.”

We read that those with the circumcision of the heart the oracles of God were committed. We are to know the ways and truths of the Lord Jesus. So the problem becomes who is circumcised which is to be born again with a heart of flesh and the Holy Spirit and who is not circumcised within the church assembly as well as who is not humble and teachable. Is their heart desiring the fullness of Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior or just Christ Jesus as savior?

If Christ Jesus is not Lord of your life He is not your savior. You can’t have two masters. The walk of a saint is not the “hokey pokey” dangling one foot in the kingdom of God and the other dangling over the kingdom of the devil/this world. When we are born again we are spiritually removed/delivered from the kingdom of darkness of this world. That being said you still have free will and there lies the potential for false teachings and ungodly influences to lead us astray.

Romans 10:8–10 (NKJV)

But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

1 Corinthians 3:18–23 (NKJV)

Avoid Worldly Wisdom

18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”; 20 and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” 21 Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours. 23 And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

Each of us need revelations of Christ Jesus in Spirit and Truth and NOT by the teachings of this world or the influences of this world. Jesus made it clear when he said give Caesar what is Caesar’s and give God what is God’s. In other words do not combine or mix the things of this world or the rulers of this world together as one with Christ Jesus. We have one mediator, one advocate, one teacher, one NAME and Savior and that is Christ Jesus. Those in Christ Jesus are in this world but not of this world.

Ephesians 4:14–24 (NKJV)

14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 1but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

I have witnessed people tossed to and fro from many false prophets and the doctrines of these false prophets. You must allow the Lord Christ Jesus to establish HIS foundation of Spirit and Truth in your heart. We need to stop thinking of church as a building but a human temple as God does NOT dwell in things made with human hands. Truth is truth no matter the opinions or lack of understanding of others and the Written Word does NOT contradict the Living Word Christ Jesus or the Holy Spirit.

The New Man

17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Let us ask ourselves now how is anyone going to be successful at spiritual warfare without the mind of Christ Jesus? Believing lies being preached or spoken and living in the emotions and feelings of the carnal mind and soul will NOT overcome the wiles of Satan. We must be firmly rooted and grounded in the Lord Jesus in Spirit and Truth.

If your natural senses are not submitted and ruled by the Holy Spirit you will easily be led astray by what you hear, see and the pride of life which is what the enemy of our souls uses against us. Emotions and feelings are major inroads for the enemy. We must surrender our thoughts and understanding to the Holy Spirit and seek wisdom from the Lord in all things.

Galatians 2:20 (NKJV)

20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Galatians 6:14–15 (NKJV)

14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.

Passivity is not passion, it is denial masquerading as intent. If you are not growing in Christ and revelations of Christ you are embracing passivity and denying Christ. Would you consider marrying someone you don’t know or are not passionate in getting to know? Jesus is the Bridegroom and we are called to be His Church. Shouldn’t you know the Bridegroom intimately and seek Him with passion and FULLNESS of heart?

John 3:29–36 (NKJV)

29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease. 31 He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. 33 He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. 34 For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. 35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. 36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

Philippians 3:7–11 (NKJV)

But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Matthew 16:26 (NKJV)

26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

Numbers 6:24–26 (NKJV)

24 “The Lord bless you and keep you;

25 The Lord make His face shine upon you,

And be gracious to you;

26 The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,

And give you peace.” ’

PERCEPTION – DECEPTION – LIES

PERCEPTION, DECEPTION AND LIES

I have always said that “perceptions leads to deception and validates the lies”. The very words perception and deception are ABSENT of TRUTH thus allowing lies to be propagated, believed and spoken. This is what is happening in the vast majority of churches today as holy scriptures are being distorted, twisted as well as blatant lies preach by the Antichrist spirit in pulpits today. When Jesus was confronted in the wilderness by Satan it was a battle of TRUTH verses LIES and manipulation of scripture! You can not defeat Satan with lies and if you believe the lies that the Antichrist spirit is preaching from the pulpits you are on the wrong side and promoting the devil. You must have, listen and submit to the Spirit of Truth by the indwelling Holy Spirit. I have told many married couples that when you perceive there is a problem in your marriage do NOT delay in speaking with your spouse as the longer you perceive without the truth the perception will validate any deception the enemy has tried to get you to believe which renders a lie perceived as truth.

John 8:31–32 (NKJV)

31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

John 16:13–15 (NKJV)

13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

Today’s technology has made false preaching of the Antichrist like a super highway and mostly impersonal. What I mean by impersonal is like “texting messages”. You can text someone a message asking how they are doing and they may reply they are okay but how do you know? However if you truly know this person and call them you might here them say they are okay but determine by the manner of their speech they are NOT okay. Is your relationship with Christ Jesus impersonal also, do you know the voice of God for yourself or are you merely reading the text or following someone else’s version of who God is? If you are following someone else or even your ownpersonal beliefs verses revelations of The Spirit of Truth you may have idolatry in another Jesus!

John 10:25–27 (NKJV)

25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me. 26 But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

Galatians 1:6–10 (NKJV)

Only One Gospel

I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:3–4 (NKJV)

3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!

Let us take a look at the biblical narrow way of life. I will highlight and underline word of emphasis for your consideration. There are two ways of life. The narrow way and the broad way. The narrow way leads to eternal life in Christ and the broad way leads to death and destruction.

Matthew 7:13–14 (NKJV)

Two Ways of Life

13 Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Back in February 2013 after leaving a spiritual battlefield in a west coast ministry school in December of 2012 I was praying at 2 am in the morning and the Lord spoke to me. The Lord spoke and said if He were to come at that time only three percent of the assembled church was truly His and ready for His return. While I know this might sound overwhelming for some of you when the Lord reveals revelations it is not overwhelming to the recipient as it is Spirit and Truth thus factual and truth. The reason I mention this that deception is often gradual but also built upon constant deception. Thus you are constantly being led astray through deception of false teaching/preaching and prophecy. That is why there is a mixture of what is true and what is NOT true. NOTICE I purposely did not use the word TRUTH! Truth is a Spirit not just mere words! This is why spiritual revelation by the Spirit of Truth is needed for discernment.

Let me see if this helps clarify. When anyone speaks what they proclaim is the Word of God they are prophesying. That does NOT mean they are a prophet as in the office of a prophet. There is either a true witness by the Spirit of Truth or there is NO witness by the Spirit of Truth which should be indwelling in EVERY born again believer. In fact you will get an inner feeling that something is wrong when the Spirit of Truth does not bare witness. When Jesus was tempted in the Wilderness Satan used Psalm 91 against Jesus to tempt Jesus but the Spirit of Truth/Holy Spirit discerned the motive and intents of Satan because there is NO TRUTH IN SATAN! So whenever someone preaches, teaches, prophesies or claims to speak the Word of God the Spirit of Truth in you MUST bare witness! Similarly Peter said to Jesus where shall we go you have the WORDS OF LIFE! Hebrews 4:12 the Word of God is living! So if what is being spoken does NOT bare witness with the Holy Spirit in you it is NOT FROM THE SPIRIT OF GOD! There are ONLY two kingdoms so which kingdom are you listening to?

Let me mention another observation regarding gossip. The devil will use legalism in his understanding and interpretation of gossip which will cause many to not speak Spirit and Truth! When you allow this to happen you are not likely to witness and speak truth because of legalism found in fear! If you are speaking in Spirit and Truth it is NOT gossip!

How can one saint in the bible talk about another saint in the bible and it is NOT gossip! How do the different gospels verify each other if they are gossip! Many have allowed the devil to keep them from speaking in Spirit and Truth out of fear and legalism! If what you desire to speak has been revealed to you IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH it is NOT gossip! Exposing false prophets is exactly what we are called to do! We do it by speaking and revealing TRUTH by Spirit and Truth! Have you verified TRUTH BEFORE YOU SPEAK or are you just spreading lies, deception, false gospel and accusations from the accuser of the brethren? This is the principles of what is gossip verses truth! This being said you could consider someone who repeats FALSE DOCTRINE as gossip as there is NO validation of TRUTH!

gossip

noun

1 casual conversation or unsubstantiated reports about other people.

2 chiefly derogatory a person who likes talking about other people’s private lives.1

I want to elaborate on the power of gossip and how destructive it is and demonic. When I was on the west coast in ministry school I was under spiritual attack because a pastoral leader told my ministry class behind my back that I needed prayer. These students DID NOT seek the Lord for Spirit and Truth and actually prayed what the pastor told them who was inspired by a Jezebel spirit! So they believed and were deceived they were praying for me when they were actually prophesying curses over me! NEVER pray on the words or accounts of what other speak without seeking the Lord! You should ALWAYS seek the Lord for His will whenever you pray for someone even when the person them self comes asking for prayer. If you are uncertain what to pray just pray asking the Lord to fulfill HIS will for that person! Do not come into agreement with gossip, deception and lies and pray them! Just as witches meet in covens false prayer falsely believed as truth in a group can masquerade as the will of God!

When I was in ministry school and ministering in the prayer center I was told that I had to follow the leaders and was not allowed to personally pray for anyone but to reveal to the leaders if there was something I believed to be needed to pray. This is a false way to pray, witness or even do deliverance. The one who receives revelation also receives the power of that revelation. There was a young woman who filled out a prayer card stating she had candida, vaginal yeast problems, digestive problems and needed prayer. So the leaders in my prayer group prayed over her “symptoms” about these problems. The Holy Spirit rose up in me and I said none of these issues is the real problem. The problem is your thyroid, that is what the Lord revealed to me. (The thyroid regulates hormones which can cause her health issues.) I asked if I could gently put my hand on her throat and pray. She said yes, it is always necessary to get approval and with their approval they give the Lord permission as Jesus will NOT violate free will. I laid hands on her and began to pray and she began to cry. She then stated that she had been to a church for prayer and the pastor put his hand on her throat and SHE FEARED she received a spirit! I then asked for permission to pray again and the Lord had me to cast out that spirit and she was free and healed! All prayer must be led by the Spirit of God through the anointing of God! It is the anointing that breaks the yoke of bondage.

Matthew 7:15–20 (NKJV)

False and True Teaching

Luke 6:43–45

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 1Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

Matthew 7:21–29 (NKJV)

True Way into the Kingdom

Luke 6:46

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Ask yourself regarding line 22 who might this represent? It is a reflection of the false church, false converts and the Harlot church. We know that the son’s of God are led by the Spirit of God so they would NOT be classified as lawless! This is the Harlot in Revelation. Let’s go on reading scriptures.

Parable of the Two Builders

Luke 6:47–49

24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

Response to the Sermon

28 And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, 29 for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Luke 6:39–40 (NKJV)

Luke 6:39–45 (NKJV)

Parable of the Blind Leading the Blind

Matt. 7:3–5, 16–18

39 And He spoke a parable to them: Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch? 40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher. 4And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye? 42 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother’s eye.

43 “For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. 45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

What I want to emphasis in the parable above is the word brother. Those who sit under false teachers “blind leading the blind” are the brethren of the blind! They represent a “body” or “church” as spoken in the book of Revelation. A TRUE FOLLOWER of Christ will not be associated with FALSE BRETHREN or sit in the house/body of False witness of Christ Jesus! Deception of the devil has you not even aware of the plank in your own eye while seeing the speck in someone else’s eye. Spiritual bondage can not remove or cast out spiritual bondage! Jesus uses the word brother to tell us they are of the same family/body! So those that are deceived follow deception that is preached building a brethren or church which is the Harlot Church because it is not established in Christ Jesus in Spirit and Truth! John the fifteenth chapter describes this perfectly. I can not over emphasize that the wisdom of humanity is futile and we should NOT lean upon our own understanding or what others teach but rely totally dependent upon Christ Jesus by His Spirit of Truth! People are following ministers by idolatry because of their own lustful desires and itchy ears.

Jesus warned us of this and told us He would send them a spirit of delusion because they loved not the truth. I warned of this several years ago that by this spirit of delusion and reprobate minds that these people have passed beyond reconciliation in Christ Jesus. If the Lord wills it NO man can turn and stand against it. Lately I keep thinking of 2 Chronicles 7:14 “if my people” and how many think they are of the Lord but are not of the Lord as in Matthew 7. How people pray in vain thinking they are being heard but the Word of God tells us that the prayers of a righteous man is what is needed.

James 5:16 (NKJV)

16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

Proverbs 15:29 (NKJV)

29 The Lord is far from the wicked,

But He hears the prayer of the righteous.

In conclusion we come back to the narrow way of truth verses the broad path of deception. I also want to emphasize again the word “brother/brethren” as it applies to both paths either the TRUE CHURCH or the FALSE/HARLOT CHURCH built by the Antichrist through lies and deception. What I have witnessed is the ditch on the left and right have expanded in width so far apart by deception that the narrow path is hardly visible to most at this time! People are focused on “far left” or “far right” so that they have lost comprehension, understanding and visibility of the narrow path. This brings greater clarity to what Peter spoke.

2 Peter 2:20–22 (NKJV)

20 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. 21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”

Matthew 7:13–14 (NKJV)

Two Ways of Life

13 Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

2 Thessalonians 2:7–12 (NKJV)

For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

We are living in the last hours of the end of the age and only those who are totally seeking, desiring and following Jesus in Spirit and Truth will be able to stand against the works of the lawless one. The false deceived church is of the Antichrist and this church will rise against the TRUE church of Christ Jesus and the saints of Christ Jesus. I speak these things NOT out of fear but out of concern for those who do not take their faith seriously and earnestly seek to become mature sons of Christ Jesus. All of us should seek to live out Galatians 2:20 and Galatians 6:14 and be prepared for the pending war that is going to come against the saints of Christ Jesus. Let each of us examine ourselves so that we each may be able to stand in the fullness as sons of God and walk in the fullness of Ephesians 6 with the equipment needed for this spiritual confrontation.

Galatians 2:20 (NKJV)

20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Galatians 6:14–15 (NKJV)

14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.

1 Soanes, C., & Stevenson, A., eds. (2004). In Concise Oxford English dictionary (11th ed.). Oxford University Press.

WALKING ON WATER

WALKING ON WATER

Many years ago the Lord had me to respond to a Facebook post regarding Peter lacking faith to walk on water. When the Lord told me to respond to the post I asked the Lord if I should send it in a private message because of the unbelief of many as they would not receive what I was going to reveal. I suppose looking back today I would likely quote what Paul said that he fed them milk because they were not ready for solid food. I did as the Lord asked of me and wrote my reply needless to say I came under attack as totally absurd and was accused of stating that Jesus was a “shape-shifter”. I only received one response that was positive. Never the less the Lord is having me write this post regardless of the opinions of others.

So today the Lord has put it on my heart to write about this publicly so people can see what really was happening and get spiritual insight. If you have read some of my other articles I emphasized that it was the Son of God by the Spirit of God that discipled the disciples. Not the son of Man. Let’s begin by reading the walking on water event then I will provide my commentary. I have highlighted some key verses to reflect on.

Matthew 14:22–33 (NKJV)

Jesus Walks on Water

Mark 6:45–52; John 6:14–21

22 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. 23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. 24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.

25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.

27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”

28 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”

29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”

31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”

Looking at verse 24 you can see what the conditions were that the boat was going through. The fourth watch is the hours between 3 am and 6 am in the morning. This is likely why people have dreams or prayers of intercession during these hours of the day. Notice that when the disciples saw Jesus walking on the water they were troubled saying “IT IS A GHOST”! What they saw was Jesus in the Spirit not in the flesh. It would be foolish to say otherwise because they had been with the incarnate Christ for some time now.

What Jesus was revealing to them was what was written in the Torah, book of Genesis! Jesus was revealing Himself as the God of creation as in Genesis 2. Hallelujah! Glory to God! Jesus replies to them not to be afraid! Notice Peter had not yet stepped out of the boat but all of the disciples cried out for fear. Now pay attention to the interaction between Peter and Jesus.

Peter speaks out “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” Jesus replied COME. What happened here was Peter was “testing the spirit” of “ A GHOST/SPIRIT” which is required of all of us! (1 John 4:1) Jesus appeared in the Spirit not as a man. When Jesus replied COME (Revelation 22:17) Peter responded in faith and stepped out onto the water. Jesus told us that His sheep hear His voice so Peter was testing the spirit and heard the voice of the Lord. Let’s read a few scriptures and then I will continue commenting.

Genesis 1:1–2 (NKJV)

The History of Creation

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

1 John 4:1–3 (NKJV)

4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

When Peter took his eyes and attention OFF from Jesus who was revealing Himself in the Spirit and focused his attention to the waves of the storms, winds and conditions he began to sink. Jesus stretched out His hand and grabbed Peter stating “you of little faith, why did you doubt”. Peter originally stepped out in faith but when he took his focus off the Lord he put his confidence in his own ability and not that of Jesus. Paul writes in his epistle to have NO confidence in the flesh! Please remember Peter is a disciple and learning to grow in faith. Faith is always tested so that we may grow in faith, trust and love in Christ Jesus as all are 3 in 1 of equal measure. Where you lack in one you lack in all of them. If you truly want to grow in faith, love and trust in the Lord Jesus the Lord will help you to release the burdens of this world so that you can grow in revelations of Christ Jesus and witness the supernatural provisions and loving care of our Lord Jesus.

Matthew 6:25 (NKJV)

25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?

This next point is one of my own but I believe it bares mentioning. Originally Jesus appeared as a Ghost but then Jesus hand reached out. While the scriptures do not state this what I believe happened is Jesus went from The Holy Ghost/Spirit back to the incarnate Christ physical human body. I believe as Jesus approached the boat in the Spirit of God He went back to the Son of Man as the incarnate Christ as Jesus stretched out His hand to Peter. So I pose this question could Peter having seen the Spirit of God “hovering over the face of the waters” witnessed the Lord transforming back to the incarnate Christ and thus lost faith in the human/flesh as the divine was not manifest any longer? Just a thought to pose.

When I stated this on the Facebook post years ago I was laughed at and asked to back it up with scripture. Immediately I thought of the transfiguration! The disciples were told on the Mount of Transfiguration NOT to tell anyone until after Jesus was resurrected, however they saw once again Jesus as the Spirit of God. In Isaiah 43:2 reflects on the “faith” of Jesus being with us when we pass through the waters, rivers or even the sea for that matter that these waters will NOT overflow you because Jesus is with us.

Isaiah 43:2 (NKJV)

2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.

When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,

Nor shall the flame scorch you.

Revelation 22:17 (NKJV)

17 And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

Matthew 17:1–13 (NKJV)

The Transfiguration

Mark 9:2–13; Luke 9:28–36; 2 Pet. 1:17, 18

17 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.” When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

9 Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.”

10 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

11 Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. 12 But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.

Philippians 3:3 (NKJV)

For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,

Now take a moment to reflect on these scriptures and ask yourself why do people falsely believe today that they can not encounter the resurrected Christ when the disciples witnessed the transfiguration of Christ BEFORE they received the Holy Spirit? Why do people say you would have to have been alive and witnessed the incarnate Christ to be an Apostle when Paul encountered the resurrected Christ.

I truly believe with all of these false teachings such as preaching cessationism has stripped the power of God from the saints. These false pastors are preaching “unbelief” by denying the Spirit and Truth of God’s Word! The doctrines of men, demons and many religious organizations have stripped the power of God from the LIVING WORD. I have said this in many of my postings that the devil doesn’t care if you read your bible or can recite your bible. The devil does NOT want you to be born again and operate in the Power of God because when you do you are a threat to the devil’s kingdom. Every born again saint is removed/delivered from the kingdom of darkness and the clutches/hands of the devil! Very few teach or preach on gifts of the spirit, how to walk by the spirit, discern the spirit and be empowered by the spirit of God. We need to build a “spiritual house” not an earthly house with the knowledge of men but with revelations of Christ Jesus. Without the five fold ministry the church has become powerless and filled with unbelief and this blocks and restricts the power of God. Because of unbelief many will not operate in the power of God.

It wasn’t that Peter had NO faith or Peter would not have gotten out of the boat! Peter’s faith was challenged so Peter could grow in faith and revelations of Christ Jesus! I will give you a key point to remember when you “step out in faith”. You must surrender the outcome to the Lord, we do not hold the outcome only the Lord holds the outcome! Otherwise you will receive the “sign of Jonah” spending 3 days in darkness which means dying to yourself and repenting.

I hope this posting has helped you to reflect upon these scriptures and maybe view these events a little differently. Let us trust in Christ Jesus with ALL of our hearts and lean not upon our own understanding.

PROPHECY

PROPHECY

Prophecy has exploded this past decade and with most of this prophesy is false and of the Antichrist spirit. This is exactly what Jesus warned us of and what Paul wrote about. It would be wise to remember that Elijah was outnumbered 850 FALSE PROPHETS to 1 and that was thousands of years ago! HOW MANY MORE FALSE PROPHETS ARE THERE NOW?

1 John 2:18 (NKJV)

Deceptions of the Last Hour

18 Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.

Matthew 24:4–5 (NKJV)

The Tribulation

Mark 13:5–23; Luke 21:5–24

4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.

These people are preaching lies, deceit and false doctrines of demons! Yet I see so many “professing” Christians following these false prophets, liking these false prophets and promoting these false prophets. THIS IS A REFLECTION OF YOUR HEART! If you love the Lord you will not fellowship, promote or like false prophets.

Galatians 1:6–8 (NKJV)

Only One Gospel

6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.

2 Corinthians 11:1–15 (NKJV)

Concern for Their Faithfulness

11 Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly—and indeed you do bear with me. 2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!

Paul and False Apostles

5 For I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles. 6 Even though I am untrained in speech, yet I am not in knowledge. But we have been thoroughly manifested among you in all things.

7 Did I commit sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge? 8 I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you. 9 And when I was present with you, and in need, I was a burden to no one, for what I lacked the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself. 10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no one shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia. 11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows!

12 But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

APOSTLES AND PROPHETS

APOSTLES AND PROPHETS

Ephesians 2:20–22 (NKJV)

20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Let me start out by saying I do not believe in the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) at all, but that does not mean I do not believe in the five fold ministry or the gifts of the Holy Spirit. I also know the path to salvation is narrow and few find it so that being said the “path” or “call” to the apostolic or prophetic or any of the five fold ministry is even likely more narrow than the path to salvation. Many are called but few are chosen.

I also need to point out this simple truth that if vastly overlooked so it will help you understand why today’s denial of the five fold ministry is not true. It was NOT the Son of Man who taught the disciples it was the Son of God who taught them. All true disciples are taught by the Holy Spirit not man! So if a person teaches you without spiritual knowledge and revelation it is in vain! I will cover this more further in this posting.

John 14:10 (NKJV)

10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.

Matthew 16:13–17 (NKJV)

Revelation of the Person of the King

Mark 8:27–30; Luke 9:18–21

13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”

14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

As you clearly see in the above scriptures it was the Son of God (Spirit of God) that taught the disciples but when you listen to a man or person you will often get their “understanding or interpretation” and not spiritual revelation from the Holy Spirit or Jesus. I always tell people when you receive spiritual revelation from the Lord it is eternal, forever a part of your spirit. It is NOT head knowledge, it is heart and spirit knowledge.

Let us also reflect that ANY of the five fold ministry offices can be infiltrated by the Antichrist spirit. No office or person/saint is exempt from this. Just because an individual has not experienced or operated in the Holy Spirit and cast out demons or healed the sick doesn’t mean that this doesn’t happen today through a saint today. If you haven’t cast out demons or healed the sick perhaps the problem is not with the Lord, it is with you.

Matthew 10:7–8 (NKJV)

And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

I have personally witnessed and exposed demonic spirits by revelation of the Holy Spirit that are within the church assemblies everywhere I go and only to get laughed at, mocked and ridiculed. So let us look at which five fold offices exposed witchcraft, Jezebel, Ananias and Sepphira and other demonic spirits in the bible.

Peter received revelation from the Holy Spirit that Ananias lied which kept a lying spirit from entering the church of Christ Jesus. Paul in Acts 16 cast out a spirit of divination that was following his ministry potentially affecting the TRUE WITNESS and revelation of Christ Jesus. The prophets exposed false prophets and Jezebel throughout the Old Testament. Samuel rebuked Saul and said “rebellion is as witchcraft”! Wow, could rebellious denial be witchcraft in the church because they rebel against truth and do NOT seek the Lord in Spirit and Truth? We wonder why the church is in suck dismal and pathetic condition spiritually as the denial of true apostles and prophets existence has made things even worse.

Matthew 10:40–41 (NKJV)

40 He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.

People will clearly tell you that true discernment is missing in the body of Christ and there are several reasons for this. Primarily the elimination of the five fold ministry which is necessary for true edification of the saints. While each born again person should have discernment I question why they don’t have personal discernment. The Holy Spirit is the only source of TRUTH and many have they put their trust in a person, NOT in Christ Jesus. I believe it is the lack of a true born again experience and/or total dependency upon the Holy Spirit in Christ Jesus. If you know your spouse, shouldn’t you know who is NOT your spouse? Jesus is the Bridegroom and the church is called to be His bride, shouldn’t we know the Bridegroom personally and intimately?

Amos 3:7 (NKJV)

7 Surely the Lord God does nothing,

Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.

While the scripture says prophets let’s focus on servants. I have heard right from the pulpits and lips of professing Christians that only the Lord knows the hearts of the people. This is correct but only a partial truth as the Lord reveals the hearts of people to His faithful and obedient servants! Just look back at Peter confronting Ananias, Paul with the young damsel with the spirit of divination.

Preachers are not called to preach to someone’s intellect they are to preach matters of the heart! Jesus wants to give them a NEW HEART AND A NEW SPIRIT. This is why there is no mention in much of today’s preaching about sin or matters of the heart! Preaching today is from man’s theology, man’s teaching, man’s beliefs, man’s wisdom rather than Spirit and Truth!

Ephesians 2:20–22 (NKJV)

20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Now I know what my critics might say. They look at the phrase “having been built” and take it out of context. This is why they say there are no more apostles and prophets. So tell me when did Christ Jesus stop building His church and why are you preaching the good news of the gospel if the church stopped being built? What that statement refers to is the established church on the foundation of Christ through the apostles and prophets. In truth many years ago the Lord showed me a primary reason the church is in such pitiful condition is because true apostles and prophets have been kicked out of the church of Jesus Christ and false ones are in the church claiming to be apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers and evangelists. Additionally to many preach against the offices of apostle and prophet as well as some of the gifts of the spirit.

Jeremiah 17:9–10 (NKJV)

9The heart is deceitful above all things,

And desperately wicked;

Who can know it?

10 I, the Lord, search the heart,

I test the mind,

Even to give every man according to his ways,

According to the fruit of his doings.

So if the Spirit of God dwells in you how is it you can’t discern or preach matters of the heart? If you don’t preach matters of the heart how do you preach true repentance? In the book of Acts it clearly states the Holy Spirit added to the church not a sinners prayer.

Today we have preachers that deny the offices of apostle and prophet yet them themselves claim to be the only office necessary such as pastor/teacher. So here is a question to consider. If the Holy Spirit is incapable of lying and the Holy Spirit reveals all truth how do these preachers make the claims that the office of apostle and prophet ceased. How is it they claim that certain gifts have ceased! Where there is one untruth how many untruths might there be? I’ll let you discern if it is and untruth or a blatant lie.

Hebrews 13:8 (NKJV)

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Numbers 23:19 (NKJV)

19God is not a man, that He should lie,

Nor a son of man, that He should repent.

Has He said, and will He not do?

Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

1 Corinthians 3:11 (NKJV)

11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

There is a reason there is a five fold ministry and the number five signifies the fullness of grace! The divine power of God in fullness. I will admit and boldly proclaim that all five offices have been infiltrated by the Antichrist spirit but that does not mean they do not exist. Just because there are many calling themselves Christ doesn’t mean they are Christ. Many will falsely come in the name of the Lord but that doesn’t mean we don’t believe in the Lord.

1 Peter 2:6–10 (NKJV)

Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,

Behold, I lay in Zion

A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,

And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”

Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,

The stone which the builders rejected

Has become the chief cornerstone,”

and

A stone of stumbling

And a rock of offense.”

They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

Matthew 10:40–41 (NKJV)

40 He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.

Matthew 10:11–15 (NKJV)

11 “Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. 12 And when you go into a household, greet it. 13 If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!

I have been to churches that the Lord has spoken to me Matthew 10:11-15 personally. They have not rejected me they have rejected the Lord Jesus!

Ephesians 4:11–16 (NKJV)

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

So ask yourself this question. Why would Paul write this regarding the five fold ministry after the book of Acts/Pentecost was written if there are no apostles or prophets as they would have had to been with the incarnate Christ? TO PREACH THAT THERE ARE NO MORE APOSTLES AND PROPHETS TODAY BECAUSE YOU WOULD HAVE HAD TO LIVED AND SEEN THE INCARNATE CHRIST IS LIKE SAYING THE BLOOD OF JESUS HAS NO POWER TODAY BECAUSE YOU WOULD HAVE TO HAVE BEEN AT CALVARY WHEN JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED.

Why were the Epistles even written in the first place if the “foundation” had been already laid and was established properly? Why was correction being brought to the “established” churches by the apostles if apostles are not necessary? Why is correction not allowed today within the church? When you say that someone would have to have been alive when the incarnate Christ was on the earth are you saying the resurrection never happened because NONE of the disciples became apostles until after the resurrection! My God is alive and living!

Why would Jesus tell the disciples that when the Holy Spirit came it would bring all of His teachings back to their memory? It was the power of the resurrection by the indwelling Holy Spirit that made them apostles. Has Jesus stopped His ministry by stopping the Holy Spirit to create born again believers and the five fold ministry? Has Jesus stopped building His church? I believe this is the major problem! Man is building his ministry and NOT THE KINGDOM OF GOD. How is it for salvation your faith must be in Christ and once you go or attend church your faith is in a man calling himself a pastor or preacher?

John 14:26 (NKJV)

26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

What they don’t see clearly is that none of the disciples became apostles until they received the Holy Spirit either by Jesus breathing on them or after Pentecost in Paul’s case. Jesus breathed on the disciples after His resurrection. So when you say you would have had to been with the Incarnate Christ this is not completely true as Paul was not with the original disciples Paul encountered the Resurrected Christ Jesus. The five fold offices are given by the Holy Spirit not by dispensational grace.

John 20:22 (NKJV)

22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

This is the perfect example of the New Testament church as Paul encountered the resurrected Christ not the incarnate Christ.

When Paul received the Holy Spirit he departed for approximately three years or more, but when Paul came back He wrote the epistles to put the Church back on it’s foundation! How could a relatively new convert see what was wrong with the church and people confessing to be Christians for many years can not discern what’s going on in the church?

One of the foundational oversights that goes neglected is that the incarnate Christ Jesus taught the disciples by THE SPIRIT OF GOD. It was the Spirit of God not the son of man that taught the disciples! The disciples were taught by the spirit of God! That is why Peter said to Jesus, you are the Messiah the Christ! Jesus responded flesh and blood has not revealed this to you but my Father has revealed this to you! A man cannot teach things of the Spirit of God they must be taught and received by the Spirit of God! This is why Jesus said it was best if He left so the Holy Spirit could come and bring EVERYTHING THAT WAS TAUGHT TO THEM BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD IN THE INCARNATE CHRIST JESUS AND THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT COULD BRING IT BACK TO THEIR REMEMBRANCE.

This explains how Acts 1:21-22 and 1 John 2:27 work together! Once the Holy Spirit is sent you would not need to have been alive with the incarnate Christ! The incarnate Christ taught by the Holy Spirit and 1 John 2:27 teaches by the Holy Spirit! In Acts 1:21-22 that is why they wanted someone who was around the teachings of the incarnate Christ because they were taught by the Spirit of God prior to Pentecost! It was the Lord’s desire that they all be commissioned/sent at the same time! So Paul was not with the incarnate Christ but by the Spirit of God through the indwelling Holy Spirit became an apostle for the Lord Jesus. That is why Paul spent approximately three years alone with the Lord because the Lord had been with the original disciples for three years. Do you see this similarity?

True discipleship has not changed! Today it is the Holy Spirit that disciples a born again believer!

1 John 2:27 (NKJV)

27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.

1 Corinthians 2:11–16 (NKJV)

11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

There are many problems in the church today and they evolve from the basic principles that Christ MUST be the Chief Cornerstone and Head of the Church. When you deny there are apostles and prophets you deny how Jesus established and continues to establish His church and by doing this you allow the enemy to infiltrate the church because you have limited the fullness of how the Church is to be established. Just look at how Elijah mentored Elisha, Paul mentored Timothy and how Paul and the apostles encouraged the saints and edified the saints. Don’t confuse preaching with building a “spiritual house/church” for the Lord! They are not the same!

I know many will deny what this post reflects and that is your choice but be careful you do not deny the Lord or the fullness of the Lord by your lack of understanding, faith and belief! 

Let me ask you why then does Revelation 2:20 which is about the end of the age mention testing apostles to discern true ones from false ones if they don’t exist any longer in the church of Christ Jesus?

Revelation 2:2 (NKJV)

“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;

James 1:5–8 (NKJV)

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Matthew 23:1–39 (NKJV)

Jesus Characterizes the Pharisees

Mark 12:38–40; Luke 20:45–47

23 Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5 But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. 11 But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

Jesus Condemns the Pharisees

13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. 14 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.

15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.

16 Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.’ 17 Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold? 18 And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it.’ 19 Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? 20 Therefore he who swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it. 21 He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by Him who dwells in it. 22 And he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits on it.

23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 24 Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!

25 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.

27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, 30 and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’

31 “Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ guilt. 33 Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? 34 Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, 35 that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36 Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.

Jesus Laments Over Jerusalem

37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! 38 See! Your house is left to you desolate; 39 for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”

I have always prayed this simple prayer to the Lord as while I know my calling and gifting neither belongs to me, it belongs to the Lord.

Lord help me to be whatever you need me to be when you need me to be it”. While I know my gifting and calling it is never about me it’s about revealing Christ Jesus and if that is preaching, prophesying, praying, counseling or whatever I just want to be what Jesus needs in the moments He needs it for someone else. This is being led by the Spirit of God not walking in an “office” because it is Christ and Christ alone that needs to be revealed, released and prophesied.

I hope this posting has brought understanding and clarity. Above all seek the Lord and read the full counsel of God’s Word. I offer this one posing thought, ask yourselves why it was the apostles and prophets that were martyred, imprisoned, stoned, whipped, tortured and despised by the religious leaders and why by denial of their existence today they are still being martyred spiritually by the religious leaders?

SPIRITUAL FORNICATION

SPIRITUAL FORNICATION

I wanted to write something very important regarding fornication that many people might not be aware of because they never stopped to think about it or never heard it preached. Whenever you have sexual intercourse whether married or not you must realize that “everything that is of that person now becomes part of you” and vice versa. This includes not only the natural but the spiritual! Becoming one flesh is two becoming one. So every person you have had sexual relations is a part of you. How fragmented has your soul become? Why do you compare one relationship with another relationship you once had? This is spiritual influences at work. That should be alarming to some people.

If this happens with consensual sex imagine the effects of rape, sodomy, physical abuse, etc. How many people are on antidepressants, drink alcohol or do drugs to try to bring relief to alleviate physical symptoms of a spiritual problem without knowing it is spiritual! This is why psychology falls short as it helps with “coping mechanisms” but not spiritual problems. I have counseled woman that were raped, men that were sodomized and I can tell you that if left untreated spiritually other symptoms can develop such as bi-polar, schizophrenia, etc. We were born with ONE MIND not multiple person disorders.

How is it that a personality changes quicker than you can turn a light switch on or off! It is spiritual influences at work through the thoughts and mind of the afflicted.

Luke 8:26–40 (NKJV)

Demons are Cast into Swine

Matt. 8:28–34; Mark 5:1–20

26 Then they sailed to the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee. 27 And when He stepped out on the land, there met Him a certain man from the city who had demons for a long time. And he wore no clothes, nor did he live in a house but in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me!” 29 For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had often seized him, and he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles; and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the wilderness.

30 Jesus asked him, saying, “What is your name?”

And he said, “Legion,” because many demons had entered him. 31 And they begged Him that He would not command them to go out into the abyss.

32 Now a herd of many swine was feeding there on the mountain. So they begged Him that He would permit them to enter them. And He permitted them. 33 Then the demons went out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the lake and drowned.

34 When those who fed them saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. 35 Then they went out to see what had happened, and came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 36 They also who had seen it told them by what means he who had been demon-possessed was healed. 37 Then the whole multitude of the surrounding region of the Gadarenes asked Him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. And He got into the boat and returned.

38 Now the man from whom the demons had departed begged Him that he might be with Him. But Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you.” And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.

40 So it was, when Jesus returned, that the multitude welcomed Him, for they were all waiting for Him.

All of creation was created by spirit and so everything has spirit. So every unclean or demonic spirit someone might have can become a part of you through sexual relations. Think about marriage vows of covenant and for better or worse, richer or poorer, health or sickness these are all things through two flesh becoming one flesh as well as the challenges of this world.

The attacks of the adversary/devil are real because marriage is a covenant ordained by God. So let it be no surprise that the prince and power of the air is going to try to break your covenant of marriage. Now imagine that you had previous sexual relations with someone other than your current spouse. What are you potentially bringing to this marriage in the spiritual realm and transferring to your current spouse?

1 Corinthians 6:16–20 (NKJV)

16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.” 17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Think of the spiritual attractions that become a part of you through sexual relations. Why do people tend to leave one partner/spouse to only find another one of the same spirit? That is because that spirit is now in them from the previous sexual relations. Just think of the spiritual rebellion of the 60’s when FALSE PEACE was propagated and sex, drugs and rock’n roll was promoted. Are you seeing Woodstock? It was really spiritual rebellion called a “peace movement”. See it for what it is and not for what people call it.

Galatians 5:19–21 (NKJV)

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Eventually those spirits in that person get stronger and have more influence, power and “self interest” seeking personal gratification over covenant marriage relationship. What you might have thought was just casual has now taken root to destroy you and others.

2 Corinthians 6:14–18 (NKJV)

14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

I will dwell in them

And walk among them.

I will be their God,

And they shall be My people.”

17 Therefore

Come out from among them

And be separate, says the Lord.

Do not touch what is unclean,

And I will receive you.”

18  “I will be a Father to you,

and you shall be My sons and daughters,

says the Lord Almighty.”

Now please hear my heart. It is not my intentions to condemn anyone only to point out what is spirit and truth. You may get divorced 5 times and remarried 5 times without truly knowing what is working in the background which is spiritual. The Lord does NOT approve of divorce and remarriage unless your FIRST spouse is dead and your future second spouse is not divorced with his or her spouse still alive. 1 Corinthians 7

I often use this analogy for men but it can be used for women also. Let’s say a man sees three eighteen year old women who are identical triplets in bikinis and on a scale of physical attraction from 1 to 10 they rate a 15. Now you look at triplet number one, then number two, but when you look at triplet number three you say to yourself “what I wouldn’t do to spend 30 minutes in bed with her”. Tell me knowing that all three triplets are identical are the first two ugly? What is there about the third triplet that put those thoughts in your mind? Could it be a lustful spirit. What would happen if you went forth and had sexual relations with her knowing the transference of spirits though sexual relations?

I could give you ministry testimony after testimony about this so I will just make a simple statement for you to understand the spiritual side. Whenever someone is feeling “lonely” the devil will tempt you with LUST masquerading as LOVE. Whenever you are lonely seek the Lord for His companionship and love! Spirits play “piggy back” so going to a night club or adult entertainment club can bring these spirits home with you! They will attempt to attack the whole household.

Colossians 3:5–6 (NKJV)

Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,

Please consider this thought which some will say I am over spiritual. Everything starts in the spiritual realm and manifest in the natural/physical realm. I will give you a quick testimony for insight. I was asked to join another Christian to meet and pray for an older gentleman who struggled with his faith and emotional feelings. This man always stated that he had a hard time urinating. So when I met the man at his apartment I asked if I could pray for him. He said yes. The Lord had revealed to me that this man was sexually violated so the defilement of the spirit in him was causing this problem with urination. I laid hands on him and prayed for him and the unclean spirit came out and the man jolted as it left him. I then said Lord a house swept clean that is not filled invites seven fold unclean spirits. Lord fill him with your Holy Spirit. The following week the person I went with to pray for this older man told me that the older man told him that he had been sexually abused. I said yes I know that is why I prayed the way I did and now he is free to share testimony with you of the Lord setting him free. He is no longer bound by an unclean spirit.

I wanted to share this with you so you can see how the spirits effect the natural/physical. Ladies and gentleman you only get one body and have one soul and surely you don’t want to go through torment from unclean spirits.

The human soul will never be satisfied with “HUMAN” love as it was created for GODLY LOVE. You need to repent and ask the Lord for forgiveness, cleansing by His blood and be baptized in water and the Holy Spirit. This true repentance, cleansing and baptism of the Holy Spirit will begin cleansing and sanctification of your soul and allow the Love of Christ Jesus to dwell within you. Divine heavenly love that no mortal can provide you. Then by the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit you will walk by the spirit of God not fulfilling the desires of the flesh.

Galatians 5:16–21 (NKJV)

Walking in the Spirit

16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Genesis 2:24 (NKJV)

24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

Matthew 19:5–6 (NKJV)

and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

I hope this article has been helpful to you see the significance of the spiritual affects of fornication. Fornication is of the spirit realm which manifests in the natural realm. So when you worship false gods, seek palm readings, tarot cards, horoscopes, astrology or ANYTHING other than the Lord Jesus for spirit and Truth you are worshiping evil spirits and performing spiritual fornication against the Lord Jesus. This would include many traditional holidays which are pagan holidays worshiping false and evil deities.

May the Lord bless you. If you know someone that could benefit from this article please share. I could give many other examples but I believe you will see the overall significance.

SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT

SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT

Without spiritual discernment you will end up doing what many try to do within the church. You will try to bring redemption to the ungodly spirits in a person that needs deliverance because you do not discern the spirits. There is no redemption for unclean spirits. Thus the people remain captives and your efforts are futile. It takes discernment of The Holy Spirit and power of The Holy Spirit to cast out unclean spirits not the wisdom of man.

This is no different that the woman with the blood issue seeking physical wellness and healing. The carnal man can not heal or deliver someone from what is spiritual.

1 Corinthians 2:14–16 (NKJV)
14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Acts 16:18 (NKJV)

18 And this she did for many days.

But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour.