Isn’t that what we want? To know what the future holds so that we can prepare not only for ourselves but for those we love? More now than ever; accurate Wisdom, Knowledge, and Understanding is needed as the world collapses on itself twisting every good and Righteous Standard as stated; “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter” - Is. 5;20. Without God’s input into the lives of the Body; many will find themselves unable to hold onto the Faith; rapidly succumbing to false narratives that place them at risk to lose their Salvation as stated; “because you art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spit you out of My (God) mouth” - Rev. 3:16. Without taking up and emulating the attitudes, aptitudes and actions of Jesus; having His mind and spirit; our walk will go through ups and downs and become as stated; “For he that wavers (from Faith to unfaithfulness) is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed (unstable)” - Jm. 1:6.
Many in the Body long for and groan for Jesus’ return. But are they ready to receive it? Just like Salvation and the Holy Spirit; both have been available long before the Word became flesh. And just like these two; it will be by free will supported by Faith to receive Jesus’ return. Why is this so? Consider that as stated; “God sees the heart” - 1 Sam. 16:7 and “All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, But the Lord weighs the motives” - Prob. 16:2. It is not sufficient to say that we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior but by our body, mind and spirit do we prove what this acceptance means to us, not as an outward show but an inward treasure kept in our heart as stated; “For where your treasure is, there will your heart is also” - Lk. 12:34; and “If you then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God” - Col. 3:1. As the Body of Christ; we can only concern ourselves with what Christ concerned Himself with, which as stated; “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has Anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised” - Lk. 4:18. This is because Salvation is a gift; and unless opened, examined and used will not fulfill its true nature as the free gift for life.
Without imitating all aspects of Jesus’ example; we invariably have not used the gift to its full extent as Jesus stated; “If you abide in Me, and My words abide (obey, conform to, adhere to, act in accordance with, heed, acknowledge, respect) in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you” - Jn. 15:7. For no longer are we saves but heirs with Jesus; the mystery of the Holy Spirit and God’s Grace to be followers of Christ; yet equal in His authority and testimony as stated; “And has raised us up together, and made us sit together in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus” - Eph. 2:6; and “Know you not that we shall judge angels (and) how much more things that pertain to this life” - 1 Cor. 6:3. So despite what is going around us; we the Body of Christ have every Kingdom resources at our disposal for Christ’s work to continue, revealing to the world that with His Name we proclaim; “Come, Lord Jesus, Come”!
Flush it Out! - No longer a lamb, but the Lion of Judah!
Apr. 16, 2019.
Come, Lord Jesus; Come!
How can Luke say this being not an intimate Apostle of Jesus but a disciple after Jesus’ death and resurrection? Only by the Spirit and especially by his Faith. Luke knew that not all will accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. So this statement is for those who made Jesus their Lord and Savior. That even those who confess to be a part of Christ’s Body will fail in their Faith upon His return. A sobering thought for anyone who claims to be a Christian. This reminds me of the Parable of the workers - Matt. 20:8. That regardless when one is called into the Kingdom and Great Commission (the landlord’s vineyard); your reward is equal when you are Faithful to the task at hand; but by grumbling, complaining or moaning as the first laborers did by murmuring about the inequities one faces we put ourselves at risk as stated; “So the last shall be first, and the first last; for many are called, but few chosen” - Matt. 20:16. An odd statement by the landlord who just stated; “I do you no wrong: did not you agree with me for a penny” - Matt. 20:13. This is like God agreeing with the sinner who repents to receive Salvation. But by not as stated; “take up his (your) cross, and follow Me” - Matt. 16:24; they become unfaithful; blinded by the flesh and eventually lose their Salvation. The race is for the Faithful not the unwilling.
Because Jesus is the perfection and completion (seven) of the spirit and of man; being the standard (gold) of God’s Kingdom and without Him, there is no Body (church). Then He will be the judge of those who has been given the authority just like John the Baptist to clarify, deconstruct and set the record straight regarding the Spirit, Jesus and ultimately God; that has been perpetuated for centuries by the churches, pastors and ultimately the congregations that have witnessed to the world.
I recently heard a pastor speaking on Jesus’ return as the “Lion of Judah” coming with a warrior’s mindset and not as He came first with the mindset of being “meek and mild”. Here is a perfect example as Jesus stated; “Nevertheless I have somewhat against you” - Rev. 2:4. Jesus’ first coming is often reduced to a part of the Godly character of being merciful and compassionate. Yet, Jesus’ statement of His ministry clearly states; “Think not that I am come to send peace on Earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword” - Matt. 10:34. Sure, Jesus healed the sick, comforted the destitute and helpless, and relieved those held by demons. But He did this to demonstrate God’s will and the authority that He welded and that we of the Body ought to do the same. Jesus also stated; “For you have the poor with you always, and whensoever you will you may do them good: but Me you have not always” - Mk. 14:7. Now, that’s sound harsh! That Jesus invariable is saying so what of the poor and that He should be the attention. Why? Jesus states not only historical but today; “Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek (gentle/patient) and lowly (humble/simple) in heart: and you shall find rest to your souls” - Matt. 11:29. Jesus is talking about how He teaches as one who serves; not how He administers God’s will to do away unrighteousness by boldness and Truth! We must take all of Jesus' character not only those parts that speak to our own weaknesses.
Jesus is the Alpha and Omega! The beginning and the end; or the Dominant and the Least; respectively. Jesus was and is as we also ought to be; whatever God requires for the situation or circumstances that we are placed in. This is the ultimate type of obedience God is seeking. Why? Because we are extensions of God’s will by proxy and Grace through Jesus Christ as stated; “I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me” - Phil. 4:13. The world teaches to focus on one thing and become proficient at it. That is religion! But God through Jesus the man taught us as stated; “with God all things are possible” - Matt. 19:26.
Despite any and all manmade limitation; by Righteous obedience; God is able to work through us to demonstrate His Glory. This is the Spiritual resurrection for all the saved that Jesus and Paul talk about and was revealed by known and unknown followers of Christ. Philip; one of the original Apostles of Jesus’ is best known for being led by an Angel and the Spirit to seek out the Ethiopian eunuch who was trying to understand the Gospel. Philip eventually leads this Ethiopian to receive Jesus Christ. But have you heard of Agabus as stated; “And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth (famine) throughout all the world, which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar” - Acts 11:28. This forewarning enabled many of the disciples to send aid and relief to those would eventually be affected when the tragedy happened. So unlike Nebuchadnezzar; the disciples heeded the Spirit.
To have Faith is to have an unmovable stand based on the Word or we can say; on Jesus. Jesus Christ now sits at the right of the Father which has left us with free will. The same free will that Adam and Eve exercised even though God gave them two Standards or reference to determine their decisions. For us, these two Standards is the word (Bible) and the Holy Spirit. It is only by spending quality time as we have been commanded as stated; “Study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of Truth” - 2 Tim. 2:15. And also, to not only seek but enable the Spirit’s counsel as stated; “How be it when He, the Spirit of Truth (Righteousness), is come, He will guide you into all Truth (Wisdom, Knowledge, and Understanding); for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come” - Jn. 16:13.
How did Jesus fearlessly walk boldly surrounded by those who wanted to kill, steal and destroy Him? He did this as stated; “the words that I speak to you I speak not of Myself: but the Father that dwells in Me, He does the works” - Jn. 14:10. Jesus relied by Faith on God and the Holy Spirit. And by His example, we not only have the same sources but also have Jesus as the final authority regarding our destination of life and not death. That in the end of days; it will be by the Power invested in Jesus’ name to be as stated; “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” - 1 Tess. 4:17. Yet, speaking of Jesus it has been stated; “Nevertheless when the Son of man comes (returns), shall He find Faith on the Earth?” - Lk. 18:8.
God is foremost a visionary who ensures practical events that shape His cause towards their physical manifestations. And with His Word this is done as stated; “So shall My Word be that goes forth out of My mouth (and) it shall not return to Me void (unfulfilled), but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper (grow up) in the thing I sent it (for)” - Is. 55:11. That Word is ultimately Jesus Christ! But it is also us; individuals of the Body; which is Christ’s body; an extension of His mind as Paul states; “But we have the Mind of Christ” - 1 Cor. 2:16. The problem and benefit is free will! For by disobedience we reap a whirlwind and by obedience we harvest the Kingdom; justifying the former with all manner of carnality but with the latter we are justified by the Spirit as stated; “For he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting” - Gal. 6:8. This is reflected in Nebuchadnezzar choices just as ours and unfortunately for many of us it will take God’s heavy hand to bring us down in humility and fear so that He can raise us up as stated; “Who humbles himself to behold the things that are in Heaven, and in the Earth! He raises up the poor out of the dust and lifts the needy out of the dunghill” - Ps. 113:6.
Jesus is talking to the saved that ought to represent the high standard He set for both the Spirit and physical aspects of the body, mind, and spirit. For what purpose? For the Salvation of the world! The Day of Reckoning is not only for the unsaved but really for the saved. Just like God to Nebuchadnezzar; John is used as Daniel to reveal these prophecy to the Body of Christ for their benefit and those in and blinded by the world. The Spirit is just waiting for the new John the Baptists to arise, and begin as stated; “The voice of one crying in the wilderness. Prepare you the way of the Lord, make His paths straight” - Mk. 1:3. Another way to say this is; “shout to the world (wilderness); the Lord is coming; correct all unrighteousness (straight)”.
The Risen Christ not only defeated death but also ensured His authority would not be abandoned until this Age of Grace is completed. He left final instructions for all who claimed and would claim His Blood as their own. Like an emissary or an ambassador; that only speaks on behalf of the king; we who are in Christ are charged with the same. The difference is our King will not die! There will be no;”the king is dead; long live the (new) king! Jesus Christ was and is forever eternal! And by proxy; as His regents on this Earthly domain; our actions are also eternal in their representation of His authority and legacy.
Spiritual Awakening
God’s intent in giving and interpreting Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams was not to instill fear and subjugate him, but to warn him with the hope he would come to repentance with God’s Grace as stated; “Wherefore, king, let my (Daniel) counsel be acceptable to you and break off your sins by (His) Righteousness, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if (hopefully) it may be a lengthening of your tranquility (peace and prosperity)” - Dan. 4:27. Nebuchadnezzar did not heed the word brought to him through Daniel; who is a foreshadow of the Bodies of Christ. The Word of God not only does not return void to God but also is sent continuously across the veil from Heaven to the Earth; from His Spirit to the spirit of man. The tearing down of the temple veil did not remove the religion of man but only attenuated it. This is why Jesus talks about overcoming because the threat of darkness, tradition, and culture to our full restoration still exists, especially in our minds.
What was established for the disobedient man is fulfilled, ordered and matured by the obedient One. For no longer is there a physical barrier preventing all those who seek mercy, compassion, and redemption but rather a spiritual veil of unrighteous free will. Jesus is known by man for His accomplishments of healings, miracles and defeating death but He is honored in the Heavens for His Righteous obedience. Nowhere more than in the Garden of Gethsemane is this revealed as stated; “Father, if You be willing, remove this cup from Me (yet) nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done” - Lk. 22:42. By this token; Christ not only foreshadows His resurrection into Kingdom life but deny’s the flesh for the spirit. A decision that always produces God’s Power and Dominion over any carnal fear of what is seen and heard and as stated; “Now the Just shall live by Faith” - Heb. 10:38. Now, if the Word became flesh and Jesus is the epitome of Faith by obedience to God’s will; this verse can be said; “The Just shall live by (Godly) obedience”. This is reflected by God’s appearance and presence as stated; “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God” - Dan. 3:25. Godly obedience under the most dire of circumstances for the Just often produces the Glory of God.
That ultimate Glory of God is Jesus and by our Righteous obedience until this Age comes to its end, we ought to be crying and establishing as stated; “He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I (Jesus) am coming soon. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” - Rev. 20:22. But what are we testifying to? The Day of Reckoning! Jesus addresses the churches (Rev. 2 and 3); the Body; not the world; of their flaws in representing Him to not only to the world but to each other. These churches referred to as the seven golden candlesticks are all the churches on the Earth that claim Jesus to be their banner for Salvation. The number seven is representative of perfection and completion in both the Spiritual and physical worlds. While golden is representative of the high standard they are charged with. And the church is the saved.
If it was not for His Father’s Grace; we all would be condemned to the gallows or worst left to our devices of darkness just like king Nebuchadnezzar was as stated; “and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field (and) they shall make you to eat grass as oxen” - Dan. 4:32. The Book of Daniel not only speaks of prophesy as it regards Earthly kingdoms that rise and fall; but points to the everlasting Kingdom of God that will eventually destroy all others and be proclaimed as the only true Kingdom of the eternal, omnipotent and immutable YHWH of the universe as stated; “And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up my eyes to Heaven, and my understanding returned unto me, and I Blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored Him that lives forever, whose Dominion is an everlasting Dominion, and His Kingdom is from generation to generation” - Dan. 4:34. A foreshadow of Jesus’ return at the end of this Age; where all who are alive and dead as stated will; “every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced (denied) Him: and all kindreds (traditions, cultures) of the Earth shall wail because of Him” - Rev. 1:7. Those who shed tears of joy will be caught up with Him but those who shed for sorrow will in an instant know their deeds of darkness have been convicted and only despair will be their future.
We all have been like Nebuchadnezzar and like him have been given many opportunities to acknowledge and recognize God’s Kingdom and Jesus in our lives, families, and concerns. Nebuchadnezzar was given the vision for not only his kingdom but for others and their demise. But rather than becoming humble; he became arrogant and exulted his own accomplishments as stated; “Is not this great Babylon, that I (Nebuchadnezzar) have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty” - Dan. 30. He said this after experiencing two dreams and two interpretations by Daniel of not only his kingdom but his person including seeing first hand God’s Power in protecting those who would not bow to his idols exclaiming; “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent His Angel, and delivered His servants that trusted in Him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God” - Dan. 3:28. This Book is commonly acknowledged to be speaking of world powers but it also speaks to every individual who has accepted Jesus.