Time Doesn't Change Things, The Day of the Lord Does!

 My brother's suicide crashed in on me again tonight.  

I don't know how long it has been since that day.

It doesn't matter.

Time doesn't change anything about that day.

Time doesn't heal anything about that day.

You know what will change everything?

The Day of the Lord!

We live in "this evil age".  The ruler of this world will be thrown down soon and his wrath will be like nothing that has ever been seen.  The reality of the 3 1/2 year fade to black of his kingdom will drive him to power-filled deeds of darkness.  The remnant people of God will lay down their lives willingly, sacrificially as a manifestation of the Life of the Lamb that was slain.  This Final Witness will testify to the chosen people that their God reigns, no matter what the circumstances will be shouting.  The God of Israel will meet with His people in the wilderness, face to face.  Hosea will have Gomer's love once and for all because Love Never Fails.  The Day of the Lord changes everything.  The cost that will be paid before that day will seem extravagant to those who are not aware of the joy set before us in the glorious Kingdom of our Lord.  The cost will seem extravagant to those who do not know we are living in "this evil age" and it must come to a close. We must make clear the field we are playing out these end times on.  We must pray that eyes will be opened and truth will be revealed.

My brother's suicide crashed in on me again tonight, but one day the devil is gonna hang on his own gallows!  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pupsopSaJ8

Paul was a Jew His Whole Life

 Paul did not convert to anything as a result of His encounter with Yeshua on the road to Damascus.  He stayed Jewish, but now he acknowledged that Yeshua was the long awaited Messiah of the Jewish people.  Paul participated in the temple, with sacrifices, vows and feasts throughout the book of Acts.  Paul's good news that he shared with the Gentiles was that they were now to experience the blessing of Abraham's children.  They could be included into the family, adopted in with the God of Israel as their father.  Yeshua's amazing sacrificial death had opened the way.  

We pray for Jerusalem, because in the next age, they will bless the nations, as a born again nation and Yeshua will be on a throne in Jerusalem and from there the nations will be counseled into peace, and all the money spent on war will be spent on providing for people.  

The covenant disciplines that Israel has experienced as recently as the holocaust are proof that God is still in covenant with them.  Mercy is shouting, "Wake up, pay attention!"  

The promises did find fulfillment in the Messiah of Israel and ultimately He is dispersing them to the Jewish people and the land, because their call is irrevocable.  God will do it, just like He did it in Paul's life He will do it with the nation of Israel.

"Your body is a temple" was meant to be a metaphor, so that the people would be encouraged to keep themselves pure, it was not meant to be taken literally, the real temple was still standing when Paul wrote that. The abomination of desolation is the sign that Yeshua said to watch for and He was talking about a real temple, in the real land of Israel - when we disconnect from this all sorts of errors result.

The kingdom of God is within you does not change the fact that the kingdom of God is coming in a real physical way with the fulfillment of all that was spoken through the prophets.  God will do it, in a real land through a real people.

Three Thoughts I Don't Want to Lose

Three thoughts I don't want to lose so I will post them here.

 worship pattern

Altar sacrifice for sin   just a time of confession as we look at the word of God and see where the Spirit shows we have fallen short.  Pray for Jerusalm, Marantha, having all things in common, 1 Cor 13 etc

Bronze Laver rejoice in the cleansing power of the blood

12 Showbread  -- remember His promises speak them out down payment as it give Glory to Him

mainly for the age to come

Lampstand admitting our need of His light  crying out to eat from only the Tree of Life

Altar of Incense   Praying as led by the Spirit of God  united with His heart His cry

Veil  gratitude for the Lamb that was slain

Ark of the Covenent   Manna   resting in daily provision

Tablets  rejoicing in the Law

Aaron's Rod  Rejoicing in being chosen

Persecution and trials are a cause for rejoicing when one understands that this "evil age" is not to be our home. The foundation of our understanding is the approaching day of the Lord, and after that the fullness of the glory of the Kingdom of God. God is faithfully purifying the sons of Levi. Any persecution and trial is in exact proportion to what the wisdom of God has determined is necessary for us to be a vessel of honor for the Master's use in this age and even more importantly the age to come. The God of Israel, has a plan for His chosen people and the land that He gave them. We as Gentiles are grafted into Messiah's community and our call, as clearly stated in scripture, is to join in the Messiah's sufferings, lovingly, willingly, laying down our lives as a manifestation of His lovingkindness. We submit to proper authorities unless to do so violates our ultimate submission to God. We do not unite with any power that uses formula's, or earthly means. We eat only from the tree of Life. The glory of God is the only thing that matters.

This is the deep truth that is hidden in plain sight in all the writings of the God of Israel that we follow. Suffering is tied to glory. We rejoice in suffering and weakness because it draws us to Him. It reminds us this is a very temporary, evil age. It is coming to a close on the Day of the Lord. We are strangers, pilgrims, sojourners here, this is not our home, this is not our age. We are given by the grace of God, a down payment of the Holy Spirit and power to point to the age to come. The message of the cross is carried by those who know suffering and who have been brought to a place of "disconnecting" from this age. The cry of "Maranatha" is a cry of a people longing for home. Satan is very aware of God's covenant with Israel, with the Jewish people, and so Hitler and the preview of the persecution of the anti-Christ. The "church" has lost sight of this and God is calling for us to REGAIN our sight, SO THAT, when the anti-Christ does come and begins to try to wipe out the Jews, the "church" rises up and lays down its life in a MANIFESTATION of the love of YESHUA, so that the Jews eyes can be opened to see the faithful love of the God of Israel even in the midst of the greatest time of trouble the world and specifically the Jew has ever seen. God is working very hard to prepare a people who LOVE NOT THEIR LIVES UNTO THE DEATH that is the high call and this time of tribulation in your life is a microcosm of the macrocosm. Welcome to the jungle, He is with us and will always be with us, no matter what! Maranatha!!

Habakkuk Is A Powerful Book

 The prophet Habakkuk is burdened.  A powerful, Gentile nation has surrounded and is about to conquer Judah.  This Gentile nation is not a nation chosen by God, they do not follow or worship the God of Israel.  It is becoming more and more clear to Habakkuk that Babylon is about to be used by God to severely chastise and discipline Israel.

He can't believe it.

He can't comprehend it.

How is this justice?  How long will it go on?

God replies, I am indeed using Babylon and their power to conquer is from me, they don't know it, but it is.

Habakkuk is even more perplexed.  Bablyon thinks they are conquering out of their own strength and they have no mercy, how in the world can You, the God of Israel be behind all this?

Chapter 2

Habakkuk says, basically what Peter says, "Well I don't have anywhere else to go for answers, so I will stay here and wait for your answer, before I say anything more, but, I do really want to say more, because none of this is making sense to me."

God replies, this isn't just your answer, this is an answer for the nation of Israel who will be running for their lives when the overwhelming scourge of Babylon comes through crushing and destroying.  They will need to know I had this written down beforehand.  They will need to know I am in control and there is still hope, even when it looks like there is absolutely, positively no hope.

God says clearly, I know exactly who Babylon is.  I know they are unjust, violent and evil, focused on this present age and trying to rise above calamity in their own strength.  Every bit of what they have planned and what they accomplish is temporary, but one day, Habakkuk, ONE DAY, this purified, chastised, disciplined, broken nation of Israel brought to the end of their strength will fulfill their high calling to fill the earth with the knowledge of God!  The discipline of the covenant is in perfect harmony with the high calling of the covenant!

Every idol will be brought down.  Every earthly king and kingdom will bow and pass away.  

I am on the throne.

Chapter 3

Habakkuk replies "Oh now I see the incredible, amazing call that is on the chosen people to be a blessing to all the nations of the earth, requires a deep breaking, so that everyone can clearly see Your glory."

You will return.

You will act with justice.

You will make all things right.  This gentile nation will one day be crushed.  By faith I see You doing it, even when I cannot see You doing it.  

By faith, I know You will be true to all Your promises and so when everything is screaming You are not faithful, I will zip my lip and trust You alone. 

This Age is Never Our Focus

 1 Peter 2:13 "For the Lord’s sake, submit yourselves to every human authority—whether to a king as supreme, 14 or to governors sent by him for the punishment of those who do evil and the praise of those who do good. 15 For this is God’s will, that you silence the ignorance of foolish men by doing good. 16 Live as free people, but not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil. Rather, live as God’s slaves. 17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.18 Slaves, with all respect submit yourselves to your masters—not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are harsh. 19 For this finds favor if, for the sake of conscience toward God, someone endures grief from suffering undeservedly."  

This age has a purpose, to make us aware of our weakness and of our need for God, and to give us opportunity to live by His life and proclaim the coming Kingdom.  

Who the ruler is doesn't matter.  How the ruler is treating you doesn't matter.  Whether you are rich or poor doesn't matter.  Whether you are slave or free doesn't matter.

As the veil of this age is ripped away, what is revealed is almost none of the stuff associated with this age matters.  

What ultimately matters?  Did you live like you were a stranger and sojourner in this age?  Did you live like all your hope was in the King and the Kingdom of the age to come?  

"and they loved not their lives unto the death"

Apocalyptic Gospel

 We live in “this evil age” there is coming the Day of the Lord which closes this age and inaugurates the age to come. This understanding, that history is moving toward a cataclysmic end and a confrontation between the brokenness of humanity and the righteousness of God gives

1. CLARITY to the things that are important in this age and the things that are meaningless.

2. CERTAINTY and endurance to our hearts because the God of Israel who is faithful and true has clearly defined where the future is going.

3. COMMITMENT to proclaim this message that we are to lay down all striving to attain in this age and live by the Spirit for the age to come.

The restoration we long for, to see a gathering “like in the Book of Acts” is tied to our coming to the same understanding that they had.  The signs given by the Holy Spirit attest to the age to come.  

 Hebrews 6:4,5 “For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age 

to come, ” 

Romans 8:18-25  “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the eagerly awaiting creation waits for the revealing of the sons and daughters of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, [n]in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23 And not only that, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons and daughters, the redemption of our body. 24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, through perseverance we wait eagerly for it.”  

The signs like taking a little taste of the turkey before the Thanksgiving meal give us the grace to persevere in this evil age.  So the outpouring of the Spirit results in temporary changes in this age that point to the eternal changes that are to come.  God raised Jesus to point to the hope of the resurrection in the age to come.  

The Messiah is waiting for the day chosen by God when all His enemies will be defeated.  That day will come, this is the good news.  

There are 3 feasts of the Lord left in this Jewish narrative. Trumpets, judgment and tabernacles.  Trumpets to announce the end of this age and the Day of the Lord.  Judgment = the Day of the Lord.  Tabernacles = God dwelling with man.  

One book, one story.

(Grateful for the Apocalyptic Gospel podcast)

Keep Trusting, Surrender to Obedience

 1 Peter 2:6-12  " For it says in Scripture,

“Behold, I lay in Zion a stone,
    a chosen, precious cornerstone.
    Whoever trusts in Him
    will never be put to shame.”

7 Now the value is for you who keep trusting; but for those who do not trust,

“The stone which the builders rejected—
    this One has become the chief cornerstone,”

8 and

“a stone of stumbling,
and a rock of offense.”

They stumble because they are disobeying the word—to this they were also appointed. 9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

10 Once you were “not a people,”
    but now you are “God’s people.”
You were shown “no mercy,”
    but now you have been shown “mercy.”

11 Loved ones, I urge you as strangers and sojourners to keep away from the fleshly cravings that war against the soul. 12 Keep your conduct honorable among the Gentiles. Then while they speak against you as evildoers, they may—from noticing your good deeds—glorify God in the day of visitation." TLV

It is in trusting faith, leading to surrendered obedience that we grow into the likeness of Him to whom we are called.  Looking unto Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.  We are grafted into the people of God, the root supports our gentile-ness and allows us to be seen as chosen.  Gentiles should simply rejoice and obey from a heart of gratitude that appreciates the life of the Messiah being given for and to them.  This really is not a complicated thing.  Good thing because not many among us are wise!

A Living Sacrifice

 1 Peter 2:4 "As you come to Him, a living stone rejected by men but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house—a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Messiah Yeshua." 

As Romans 12 tells us, we are the living sacrifice.  It is such a high and beautiful calling.  Voluntarily dying daily, to be a small unveiling of the glory of God.  "Rejected by men" should be our expectation, if we expect anything else we may fall into self-pity and bitterness.  God raise up a people who are faithful to You, from a heart of gratitude and as my friend says, "We love You back, Lord."

There Is an Age to Come (1 Peter continued)

 There is an age to come.  Actions in this age determine how things will go in the age to come.  Obedience (trusting surrender) to the Messiah of Israel is the key.  Get out of the way and let His life flow through you. 1 Peter 2:1 "So get rid of all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all lashon ha-ra."  This is a sentence on the Hebrew word  lashon ha-ra. "It has been said that lashon ha-ra (disparaging speech) kills three: the person who speaks it, the person who hears it, and the person about whom it is told."   This speech can be true speech, but words that should not have been spoken.  That takes it to a new level doesn't it.  "But it is true." is no longer a good enough reason to open your mouth and let spew, are the words coming from the tree of Life?  Did the Lord direct you to say them?

"But I tell you that on the Day of Judgment, men will give account for every careless word they speak."  Matthew 12:36  There is an age to come.  There is a coming judgment and your words in this age are an important part of that judgment.  

The Cost Demands Action

 Continuing through Peter's first letter.   1 Peter 1:18 You know that you were redeemed from the futile way of life handed down from your ancestors—not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with precious blood like that of a lamb without defect or spot, the blood of Messiah. 20 He was chosen before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through Him you are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your trust and hope are in God.

22 Now that you have purified your souls in obedience to the truth,[e] leading to sincere brotherly love, love one another fervently from a pure heart. 23 You have been born again—not from perishable seed but imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For,

“All humanity is like grass,
    And all its glory like a wildflower.
The grass withers, and the flower falls off,
25 But the word of the Lord endures forever.”

God is saying very clearly, this life, this age, is not the point!  Nothing in this age stands alone.  Pursuing things in this age is a ridiculous waste of the imperishable, incredible cost that was paid to redeem you from death, hell and the grave.  Focusing on this life is FUTILE - "incapable of producing any useful result, pointless".  The precious blood of the Lamb, demands, draws out, hounds us, to a much higher calling in this age, with an unbroken focus on the next age, the earthly kingdom of the Messiah, with an open heaven and angels ascending and descending on the Son of Man, a truly amazing, restored picture of earth ruled by the only One worthy to open the seals.  Lift up your eyes!

Suffering Before Glory in a PIcture

 

 

On a walk with a dog and came upon this scene that I feel perfectly illustrates the true principle of suffering before glory.  In the forefront of the picture is a part of the forest that has been harvested and it looks like it has been devastated, but further out and further away the glory of the forest and the mountains and the view is breathtaking.

As we continue through First Peter, this picture can help us see the hope that keeps us on the path of life.  First Peter 1:13 So brace your minds for action. Keep your balance. And set your hope completely on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Yeshua the Messiah. 14 Like obedient children, do not be shaped by the cravings you had formerly in your ignorance. 15 Instead, just like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in everything you do. 16 For it is written,

“Kedoshim you shall be, for I am kadosh.”

17 If you call on Him as Father—the One who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds—then live out the time of sojourning in reverent fear."

Peter says clearly we should deny the cravings of our flesh, our self-life.  Instead, we gaze upon, we focus, we press into the reality of the beauty of His holiness and this transforms us into the image of the One we are obsessed with.  The Tree of Life version makes this so real.  Holy ones you shall be, for I am Holy.  Circumstances and the things that happen to us through the actions of other people are never to be our focus, there is no justice there, there is no beauty there. Expectations and hope not placed in the Holy One will be dissappointed and crushed.  "Holy One, what are you doing here and now?  How can I receive this in a way that glorifies Your Son?  I am poor, blind and lame, You are all-sufficient come and Live through me."  This suffering in my flesh is here to make me holy.  Thank you for Your covenant faithfulness to me.  

Do you see what a horrible lie the pre-trib rapture is?  It says, "You can bypass suffering and go straight to glory."  It says, "Love wouldn't allow you to go through tribulation, it would remove you before it comes."  This ear-tickling message is simply not true.  The very foundation of it is cracked and cannot be built upon.  When the shaking comes all who trust in it will be shaken and fall and it is only a cry for the mercy of God that will pick them back up.

Trials, So That...

 To continue our journey of understanding the on-going transformation of being a true follower of the crucified Lamb of God, we will take a slow stroll through First Peter.

1 Peter 1:7 "These trials are so that the true metal of your faith (far more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire) may come to light in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Messiah Yeshua."

Trials are a gift from God, so that we can see worked out in our lives by the life of Messiah Yeshua, the genuineness of our faith.  

Once when our bank account was totally inadequate for the current needs, a peace of God was given to us that this was a time to rest and trust and see the hand of God.  He met the need on the day it was due from a totally unexpected source.  

The "trial" of a low bank account, resulted in an opportunity to express fear, panic, frustration or faith in the God who promised to never leave us or forsake us, in the context of being content with what you have.  He is good, He is worthy of our trust.  His promises are true, His love is without end.  Trials speak a language of being abandoned and forsaken, faith speaks back to the trial a firmly planted sureness in the goodness of the love of the sovereign God.

So, thank you, "trial" for the opportunity to grow in the grace and knowledge of Yeshua the Messiah of Israel!  Every response in this life is a deposit in the next life.

Clearly There is More To This

 Philippians 3:7 But whatever things were gain to me, these I have considered as loss for the sake of the Messiah. 8 More than that, I consider all things to be loss in comparison to the surpassing value of the knowledge of Messiah Yeshua my Lord. Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things; and I consider them garbage in order that I might gain Messiah 9 and be found in Him not having my righteousness derived from Torah, but one that is through trusting in Messiah—the righteousness from God based on trust.  10 My aim is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the sharing of His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death— 11 if somehow I might arrive at the resurrection from among the dead.

12 Not that I have already obtained this or been perfected, but I press on if only I might take hold of that for which Messiah Yeshua took hold of me.  13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself as having taken hold of this. But this one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the reward of the upward calling of God in Messiah Yeshua.

A friend has been sharing and trying to make clear the burden of the Lord.  This portion of scripture is just one spot of many where believers in Yeshua are encouraged to proceed through the gate of His death and resurrection and onto the Way of choosing, by the Life He places in us, to die to self and to embrace the suffering of the flesh that results in choosing to live by the Spirit of God.  Sharing in His sufferings is key to living a life that fully reveals the costly redemption of our lives.  

This understanding will change how we respond to trials, to difficult people, to situations that normally, in the flesh, would result in anger or a call to "stand up for our rights".

Let's start this journey through the scriptures.

Bad Company

 1 Corinthians 15:33, NASB: "Do not be deceived: 'Bad company corrupts good morals.'"

Reading this in its context for a Bible Study the other night it turns out.  In its proper context the bad company being spoken of here is anyone who is focused on this life.  Anyone who is caught up in this world system and busy with the things of this world, pursuing their best life now is bad company.  Anyone seeking answers and fulfillment in this life is bad company.

We are a people of the resurrection.  When we went under the waters of baptism we literally died and what came out of those waters is new life.  This new life is no longer under the powers and principalities of the air, this world system.  This new life is His life, eternal and imperishable.

This new life has as its focus the kingdom to come, the return of the conquering King.  We love not our lives unto death because we are already dead to everything in this life.

We are totally free of the powers of the air and this world system.

Totally free, new creations, living by and for the eternal life of the King, everyone who is not in this condition is bad company.

A Very Rare Song Recommendation

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_LmRcr8Mm4

Redemption Song with an arrangement by this wonderfully talented man and family.

I can't fully explain it, but it reaches me, reaches deep into my Spirit and speaks to me

of love, and hope and peace.

Enjoy.

If You Mock Israel When They are Cast Down...

 Say to the Ammonites, ‘Hear the word of the Lord GOD! Thus says the Lord GOD: “Because you said, ‘Aha!’ against My sanctuary when it was profaned, and against the land of Israel when it was desolate, and against the house of Judah when they went into captivity, indeed, therefore, I will deliver you as a possession to the men of the East, and they shall set their encampments among you and make their dwellings among you; they shall eat your fruit, and they shall drink your milk. And I will make Rabbah a stable for camels and Ammon a resting place for flocks. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.” Ezekiel 25:1-5

This is a warning that the "church" would do well to heed.  Judgment will come during the time of Jacob's trouble, but those of us who follow the Messiah of Israel and the God of Israel better have the same heart and attitude as Paul displayed in Romans 9:1-4

Our call is to bring hope and help to the chosen people, period.  They are His brethren and that makes them our brothers and sisters, period.

It will not be easy to be associated with them when the anti-Christ is rising up with an army and great fury, but this life is not all there is and we know that so we willingly, lovingly give up our lives, just like the crucified Lamb that we follow.

This is the only path through the tribulation, "and they loved not their lives unto the death."  Mercy reveals this to us now.  People get ready!

The Gospel

 When Isaiah talks about the gospel in chapter 35 and 40...

When, in Galatians, it says the gospel was preached to Abraham...

When gigantic promises are given to David that a king from his line would sit on the throne forever...

The gospel was being preached.

The God of Israel has a gospel and 

surprise

it is tied to a specific people and a specific land.

Rescued from the Reich

 A Rabbi who came to know Yeshua as Messiah has had a book published in English, whose title is the title of this post.  In it he points out the 7 benefits of his being rounded up during the Nazi time and put in a holding area with many other Jews. 

1)  We should never say, "This is mine."

2) We are all equal.  (The lie of wealthy vs. poor is stripped in such situations)

3) Humility is taught in such situations.

4) It removes the fact that we pay too much attention to food.

5) Suffering washes our souls, it has a purpose and it lifts us above pettiness.

6) Our appreciation and gratitude for the smallest things grows when we are suffering.

7) Experiencing hunger, makes you know what that feels like and helps you understand.

In conclusion we must draw the appropriate lessons from the misfortune.

The Cunning Adversary

 This question was posed and is a great discussion starter.  "Why was the serpent allowed to tempt eve in the garden? Do I assume that Satan must've been so at that point? But...that's not in Genesis"

Revelation 12:9, and 20:2 both describe Satan as the ancient serpent, so I would say we are okay to presume, this was the beast or the form that Satan used to speak to Eve.  

Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28 have double meanings associated with them, both an earthly king an enemy of Israel and Lucifer/Satan.  Ezekiel 28:13-15 
"Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.

¹⁴ Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.

¹⁵ Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee."

Satan is a created being, an amazing angel who seems to have been the one assigned to cover.  Was humanity what he was supposed to/ designed to cover, and when he fell did he switch to being our accuser?  That would be my take on the situation.  

Free will implies a choice between at least two masters, and through appealing to desire in human nature mankind made the choice to listen to Satan and not to God.  The bottom line of all this is, we serve a God of truly amazing love who would not leave us in a state of fallen, but suffered and died as the way to bring us up and out.  So Satan was allowed to tempt because God knew that ultimately He would redeem mankind and make us vessels of mercy. 

Any feedback would be appreciated.  This is one of the Big Questions, for sure.

His Love For His Chosen People

 Guest post from my beloved, who is coming into a deep understanding of the heart of love God has for His chosen people.

I listened to a podcast from FAI ministries called Better Beautiful and it was talking about David after he had defeated Saul basically said “Is there ANYONE I can show the lovingkindness of the Lord to?” (Chesed) and that was on Jonathan’s behalf – and that we as believers and followers of Yeshua should basically be saying the same thing, but on Yeshua’s behalf, Is there ANYONE on the face of this earth left that I can show the Lovingkindness of the Lord to? It was very moving and even later on during my morning walk with the Lord I felt Him speak to my heart, When the “church” cut out God’s people from any longer being God’s people, they cut out God’s heart. That we lost the lovingkindness of the Lord when we believed the lie that God was done with His chosen people. And I felt Him say to me, “Laura you cannot understand my heart until you know my heart for my people.”

Baptism, Where Have You Gone?

 Somewhere along the line, baptism which was always tied to salvation in the proclamation of the gospel in the entire time after Jesus, got lost.  

Something in our presentation of the gospel is not the same as it was in those days.  We seem to be missing the message that our bodies are bodies of death and that baptism is needed to seal the transformation that our words invite.  The physical act of baptism is a very real act in the spirit realm.  Romans 6 makes this clear and other passages back it up.  

Presenting the gospel as a get out of hell free card, points to all the benefits for us, but does not make us aware of the death that is inherent in our fleshly nature.  Our presentation of the gospel should include the need for the death of the fleshly nature and then maybe more people would say with the Etheopian eunuch, "There is water what prevents me being baptized?"  The fact that people do not say this when we present the gospel means that we have fundamentally changed the message.

We should repent and reexamine this.  Oh Lord heal, Oh Lord forgive.

Wisdom That Never Fails

 The wisdom from above is demonstrated in a humility that ultimately leads to death and trusts God to resurrect.

A people who trust God through death are the true overcomers.

All idols are ultimately robbed of their power when we willingly, lovingly, trustingly, obey even unto death.

God is at work in us both to will and to do!

Who is Peter Writing To?

 "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as strangers, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen ² according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you."  1 Peter 1:1,2

"But there were also lying prophets among the people then, just as there will be lying religious teachers among you. They’ll smuggle in destructive divisions, pitting you against each other—biting the hand of the One who gave them a chance to have their lives back! They’ve put themselves on a fast downhill slide to destruction, but not before they recruit a crowd of mixed-up followers who can’t tell right from wrong."2 Peter2:1,2

Peter gets credit for 2 letters in the Messianic Writings.  The question for today is, "Who is he writing to?"

He is writing to those who are scattered?  Scattered from where?  What physical place on this planet is he referring to?  If you answered the land of Israel and specifically Jerusalem you are correct.   This is the home of the Messianic Kingdom, this is where the Messiah will sit on His throne.  We gentiles get to be born again, which makes us born in Zion, (Psalm 87) and we get to call it our home too, but it becomes our home by being grafted into their vine.  That is the key that keeps us humble and prevents us from giving into destructive divisions that pit us against each other.  

We are not against the Jewish people we are grateful to be grafted into their vine.  

This is not a new dispensation, this is not plan B, this is not a new thing called the "church" which God had to start up, because the Jewish people failed Him so miserably.  

Peter was very clearly writing to the predominantly Jewish believers who had to flee Jerusalem because of persecution.  That does not invalidate the two books he wrote.  It simply makes clear we gentiles were born into a story much bigger than us!   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiAn7t7iXcU

The Attitude of a Learner

 Talk to people wiser than you, and do more listening than talking.

I practiced this today.

And this gem was dropped into my lap.

God said to me, "Don't teach him, learn him."

In reference to a situation where the person was caring for someone with special needs

that they did not know and just as they were getting ready to use some techniques that

they had learned, God stopped them with that sentence.

What a difference it makes when you approach a person as a learner and not a teacher.

Humbly listen and see them and join them on their level.  This will eliminate the stress of trying 

to control the situation or educate them.

The Perfect Sacrifice

 

"With one perfect offering, Jesus has perfected forever those who are being made holy,"  Hebrews 10:14 Voice translation

Today during a worship song, the absolute perfection of the blood of the sacrificed Lamb was revealed to me. It hit me in a way I can't really describe, but there is NOTHING that remains to be done. The sacrifice is PERFECT. The way is CLEAR. All is PAID.

A perfect sacrifice is a complete payment, with no further anything needed added to it ever.

His perfect blood, the blood of the God/man, the sacrificed Lamb of God.

When you receive the sacrifice of the Lamb, you are free, free, totally free.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MQxucF53VY

You, Yes You, Have an Adversary

 

"Stay alert! Watch out! Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, searching for someone to devour."  1 Peter 5:8

That is present tense, and that is an opponent, an adversary, someone working against you.

My tendency is to go to discouragement.

This must not be.

You are being opposed.  Expect opposition.

"2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." James 1:2,3

It should be joy to us, because we should value and deeply pursue the perseverance that it produces.

God help us.  Give us new eyes, new desires.  YOU!

Create Communities

 "The focus of God's people is not to create explanations for suffering, but to create communities around suffering, co-suffering communities to absorb suffering and see it transform into cruciform grace."  Ann Voskamp page 238 "The Broken Way"

"Hopelessness is what flings one into the presence of evil."  "Evil is always a function of distractions, a turning away from God." page 239

"A Broken Way" is turning out to be one of the most practical books I have ever read.

Shameless Audacity

 "I tell you, even though he won’t get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his friend’s shameless boldness, he will get up and give him as much as he needs." Luke 11:8 CSB  The NIV uses the words "shameless audacity".

The Lord is describing the type of prayer that moves mountains.  This prayer is being offered for the comfort of another, because the "asker" realizes he does not have what it takes to provide for his guest.  He goes to the one he knows does have the means to provide for his guest and even though it looks bad, he keeps on knocking.

May God truly show us and give us this type of prayer.

Forgiven MUCH

 “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.”  Luke 7:47

Extravagant love and extravagant gratitude and extravagant humility had just been shown to Yeshua, and the self-satisfied were getting very, very, very uncomfortable.

A beautiful but terrifying revelation is when we see the truth of our condition., the depth of our depravity if not for the grace of God.

This revelation has power to break arrogance and replace it with pure compassion.

For that I am most grateful.

May I always be the one in the room who has been forgiven MUCH and loves much.

Israel and the Grafted in, Ever Grateful, Ever Humble Gentile Brethren

 

"I believe the great purpose of Israel's election is to show the nature and character of redeeming love" Reggie Kelly  Which is the nature and character of God, which is being worked into those who follow the Lamb.

 

 "...you have come to a condition of being a bride adorned for the Bridegroom having the glory of God, and this is that glory, His nature, His compassion, His mercy. He is waiting for a bride who is like Him and not just some American plastic counterfeit." Art Katz "Becoming a Prophetic Church Part 5 Psalm 102" 

 

The wisdom of God displayed on the cross is that willing, sacrificial love is the one force in the universe that is the ring that rules them all.  

 

Satan has a counterfeit, he always does.  With the promise of a heavenly reward, he lures people to willingly blow themselves up.  They do not know what they are doing.  It is being done from a selfish motivation and with violent intent to take the lives of others.  It is nearly impossible to fight against an enemy who is willing to die in the act of killing you.  

 

But the wisdom from above seeks for a way to save you, even if it is at the cost of their life.  This kind of love is what the followers of the Lamb who was slain are learning in the day to day, moment by moment opportunities that come to die to self.  The flesh has a kingdom and a brick is removed from that kingdom every time you choose to go lower.  This is the release of the love of God through you.

The light shines, the salt preserves, Yeshua becomes the firstborn of many sons.

There is no higher call.

There is no greater purpose.