Painting is from David LaChapelle's 2003 series called 'Jesus is my homeboy'
Heb 11:32  Do I need to give you more examples? I don't have enough time to tell you about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets.
Heb 11:33  All of them had great faith. And with that faith they defeated kingdoms. They did what was right, and God helped them in the ways he promised. With their faith some people closed the mouths of lions.
Heb 11:34  And some were able to stop blazing fires. Others escaped from being killed with swords. Some who were weak were made strong. They became powerful in battle and defeated other armies.
 
If you read the first part of this article: JESUS, A FRIEND OF SINNERS, you might be thinking that I wrote some pretty outrageous statements. One of those statements was that somebody who committed suicide could be forgiven by God.
 
Suicide cannot be forgiven right? You need to ask for forgiveness, and that would be impossible if you committed suicide right? Jesus didn’t say we needed to ask for forgiveness. Jesus mentions only ONE unforgivable sin. Suicide is not listed as an unforgivable sin. EVERY SIN SHALL BE FORGIVEN!
 
Why did I say that?
 
There are two examples that especially stand out of men who committed suicide in the Bible, Samson and Judas. I will use these two men to illustrate something very, very important. Breaking the law WILL condemn us, but having FAITH in God’s mercy and grace WILL save us from the condemnation of the law.
 
Our first example, Samson, was a Judge in Israel during the time of the Judges. If we read his story from his birth in the Book of Judges 13:24 to his death in Judges 16:30, we recognize a flawed human being (like all of us), who was greatly used by God to deliver his people from the oppression of the Philistines. Samson is an important illustration of SANCTIFICATION.
 
SANCTIFY: H6942, qâdash
BDB Definition:
1) to consecrate, sanctify, prepare, dedicate, be hallowed, be holy, be sanctified, be separate
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be set apart, be consecrated
1a2) to be hallowed
1a3) consecrated, tabooed
Jdg 13:7  But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death. 
 
NAZARITE: H5139, nâzı̂yr, nâzir, naw-zeer', naw-zeer'
From H5144; separate, that is, consecrated (as prince, a Nazirite); hence (figuratively from the latter) an unpruned vine (like an unshorn Nazirite). (The translation, Nazarite, is by a false alliteration with Nazareth.): - Nazarite [by a false alliteration with Nazareth], separate (-d), vine undressed.
 
I believe that the NAZARITE vow is an allegory for MATURE Christians. First, the NAZARITE vow was completely VOLUNTARY. The NAZARITE took a vow that they would SEPARATE themselves unto God’s service for a certain amount of time. When they separated themselves to God’s service, they were expected to NOT cut their hair, they were expected to NOT drink alcohol, and they were expected to live morally exemplary lives. Also, they could NOT touch a dead body for the duration of the vow, even if the body was a close relative.
 
The two NAZARITES that we know about in the Old Testament were Samson, a Judge of Israel, from the tribe of Dan, and Samuel, a Prophet and Judge of Israel from the tribe of Levi. However, the Old Testament does indicate that there were other NAZARITES during the history of Israel and Judah.
 
Amo 2:11  And I raised up of your sons for prophets, and of your young men for NAZARITES. Is it not even thus, O ye children of Israel? saith the LORD. 
Amo 2:12  But ye gave the NAZARITES wine to drink; and commanded the prophets, saying, Prophesy not. 
 
The Prophet Amos, and frankly the whole Bible, tells us that God’s people are usually not appreciated by the people around them, neither will they receive any honor from mankind in general. However, Jesus made it plain that if we are wise, we will seek praise from God alone.
 
Joh 5:44  How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? 
 
I believe the Apostle Paul gives us deep insight into the NAZARITE vow. In the twenty-first Chapter of the Book of Acts, we are told that Paul arrives in Jerusalem and gives an account to the Church elders of his ministry among the Gentiles. The elders in Jerusalem ask Paul to participate with four other men in a NAZARITE ceremony in the temple.
 
Act 21:20  And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: 
Act 21:21  And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. 
 
Although the Jewish elders of the Church expressly exempted Gentile believers from following the Law of Moses, it appears that they held Jewish believers to a different standard, and the Apostle Paul complied with their request.
 
Act 21:23  Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; 
Act 21:24  Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law. 
Act 21:25  As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication. 
 
This course of action by Paul was a radical departure from his own teaching of the gospel to Gentile believers. However, it can probably be explained by his fervent desire to convert both Jew and Gentile to a sincere FAITH in the perfect and finished work of Jesus Christ.
 
1Co 9:19  For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. 
1Co 9:20  And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; 
1Co 9:21  To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. 
 
There is so much confusion and controversy about the Law versus Grace. I dare say that even the most Orthodox Jewish believers realize that it is impossible to keep all the rituals, ceremonies, and sacrifices required under the Law of Moses.  If you don’t believe me, take a few years and really study the Book of Leviticus.
 
Most people will probably agree that nobody can perfectly keep the many rituals, ceremonies, and sacrifices, as laid out in the Book of Leviticus, but there are a great many people who still believe that everybody can, and that everybody must, keep the Ten Commandments:
 
Exo 20:3  Do not worship any god except me.
Exo 20:4  Do not make idols that look like anything in the sky or on earth or in the ocean under the earth.
Exo 20:5  Don't bow down and worship idols. I am the LORD your God, and I demand all your love. If you reject me, I will punish your families for three or four generations.
Exo 20:6  But if you love me and obey my laws, I will be kind to your families for thousands of generations.
Exo 20:7  Do not misuse my name. I am the LORD your God, and I will punish anyone who misuses my name.
Exo 20:8  Remember that the Sabbath Day belongs to me.
Exo 20:9  You have six days when you can do your work,
Exo 20:10  but the seventh day of each week belongs to me, your God. No one is to work on that day--not you, your children, your slaves, your animals, or the foreigners who live in your towns.
Exo 20:11  In six days I made the sky, the earth, the oceans, and everything in them, but on the seventh day I rested. That's why I made the Sabbath a special day that belongs to me.
Exo 20:12  Respect your father and your mother, and you will live a long time in the land I am giving you.
Exo 20:13  Do not murder.
Exo 20:14  Be faithful in marriage.
Exo 20:15  Do not steal.
Exo 20:16  Do not tell lies about others.
Exo 20:17  Do not want anything that belongs to someone else. Don't want anyone's house, wife or husband, slaves, oxen, donkeys or anything else.
 
However, if we study the New Testament, it is obvious that the author of the Ten Commandments (JESUS CHRIST), holds people to a much higher standard than even the most hardnosed Pharisee:
 
Mat 5:22  But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. 
 
Hey, how about this little gem?
 
Mat 5:27  Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 
Mat 5:28  But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 
 
Maybe this next statement by Jesus will get your attention:
 
Mat 12:36  But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
 
Are you beginning to understand that if you believe people can be saved, and make it into heaven, by following the Ten Commandments…that maybe you are mistaken?
 
My main point is that Samson was not a Hero of Faith because he did many mighty and miraculous works; although, God did use him mightily despite all his flaws and weaknesses. Samson was a Hero of Faith because in the end…He had FAITH in God!
 
Jdg 16:28  And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes. 
Jdg 16:29  And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left. 
Jdg 16:30  And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life. 
 
We must recognize that no matter how strong Samson was in his flesh, there is no possible way that he could have pushed over those two middle pillars without the might and power of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, he killed himself and all the Philistines in the house while under the power and inspiration of God! I do not know where all the Philistines ended up, but I am confident that Samson is in heaven, despite all his human flaws and weaknesses. Samson did not make it to heaven because he kept the Ten Commandments, Samson went to heaven because in the end of his life, even though he killed himself, he had FAITH in God.
 
In the end, we are “sanctified” not because of who we are or what we do, but because we have made a covenant with God, and He will use us for His divine purposes, whether His purposes are agreeable to us or not. Of course, I am not saying that it is just fine and dandy to be a reprobate sinner, it is not. As you can see from Samson’s story, and from King David’s story, and from the stories of many other saints in the Bible, our sins tend to come back and haunt us later in life. However, neither our salvation, nor our sanctification, hinges upon our perfectly keeping the Ten Commandments…God will form us into instruments fit for his purposes despite our having faults and weaknesses, and God’s purposes will not be thwarted!
 
1Co 6:19  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 
1Co 6:20  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 
 
The Lord willing, in my next article, I will talk about Judas Iscariot. I believe he is currently in hell, NOT because he betrayed Christ, but because at the end of his life, he did NOT have faith in God!
 
2Co 3:17  Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 
2Co 3:18  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 

Painting is from David LaChapelle's 2003 series called 'Jesus is my homeboy'
Mat 11:18  `For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a demon;
Mat 11:19  the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, Lo, a man, a glutton, and a wine-drinker, a friend of tax-gatherers and SINNERS, and wisdom was justified of her children.'
 
SINNERS: G268, hamartōlos
Thayer Definition:
1) devoted to sin, a sinner
1a) not free from sin
1b) pre-eminently sinful, especially wicked
1b1) all wicked men
1b2) specifically of men stained with certain definite vices or crimes
1b2a) tax collectors, heathen
 
 
I will not say that we should not worry at all about our sins, but it is my contention that the modern Church places far too much emphasis on sin. If we do an e-sword search for “sin” in the Gospels, we discover that “sin” (hamartia, G266) is mentioned by Jesus only once in the Gospel of Matthew, zero times in the Gospel of Mark, zero times in the Gospel of Luke, and eleven times in the Gospel of John.
 
The one time that Jesus mentions “sin” in the Gospel of Matthew, he says that: EVERY sin and blasphemy SHALL be forgiven!!! Huh? EVERY SIN? YES…EVERY SIN!
 
Mat 12:31  Therefore I say unto you, EVERY sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men; but the blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.
Mat 12:32  And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whosoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in that which is to come. American Standard Version.
 
So does that mean that smoking is forgiven? Yes, smoking is forgiven. How ‘bout smoking MARIJUANA? Yes, it is forgiven. Drinking beer? Yes, it is forgiven.
Getting drunk isn’t forgiven, right? Getting drunk SHALL be forgiven. What if you are a mean drunk? Mean drunks are forgiven just like happy drunks are forgiven. O.K, I know that the little sins will be forgiven, but what about the really despicable sins? Surely “rape” won’t be forgiven! EVERY SIN SHALL BE FORGIVEN. Murder? EVERY SIN SHALL BE FORGIVEN.
 
Suicide cannot be forgiven right? You need to ask for forgiveness, and that would be impossible if you committed suicide right? Jesus didn’t say we needed to ask for forgiveness. Jesus mentions only ONE unforgivable sin. Suicide is not listed as an unforgivable sin. EVERY SIN SHALL BE FORGIVEN! I could go on and on, but I think you probably get my point.
 
Jesus heard about His enemies attempting to besmirch His character by condemning those he associated with, but it did not faze him.
 
…a friend of tax-gatherers and sinners?
 
Thank God that Jesus was friends with tax-collectors or we might not have the Gospel of Matthew. Also, thank God that Jesus is a friend of ALL sinners, or everybody ever born would spend eternity in hell!
 
If we read the Gospels closely, it appears that Jesus (God) actually “preferred” spending time with tax-collectors, prostitutes, gluttons and wine-drinkers rather than keeping company with the religious leaders of His day.
 
When the Pharisees came right out and complained about Jesus’ choice of company, Jesus made a rather snide reply of His own.
 
Mat 9:11  And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? 
Mat 9:12  But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. 
Mat 9:13  But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
 
The Pharisees suffered from a serious religious error that Jesus tried to correct over and over again. The Pharisees believed that there were big sins that other people committed (i.e. tax-collecting, prostitution, and drunkenness), and that there were little sins that they committed (i.e. hypocrisy, arrogance, extortion, and pride).
 
Mat 23:14  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. 
 
If we ever hope to escape from legalism, and we MUST escape from legalism, then we MUST begin to view our own sin from God’s perspective…whether WE believe our sin is big or small is really of no consequence. TO GOD, ALL SIN IS BIG!
 
Isa 64:6  But we are ALL as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
 
However, LEGALISM IS DEATH! Often times I will listen to a preacher, or a minister, or an evangelist and I will think, “Here is somebody who really knows the Word of God!” Then they will suddenly go on a rant about sin and keeping the law, and it really baffles me. How can somebody know the Word of God so well, and then miss the whole point of Jesus’ message to mankind?
 
Mat 23:23  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, JUDGMENT, MERCY, and FAITH: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. 
 
I know that being judgmental of others is very, very easy. I have fallen into that trap more times than I can remember. However, when I begin to judge other people for their faults, I usually end up flat on my face. God has the ability to quickly put me back in my place by revealing my own obvious faults and weaknesses. I believe Jesus said it best:
 
Mat 7:3  And why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the beam of wood in your own eye?
Mat 7:4  Or how will you say to your brother, 'Allow me to remove the speck from your eye,' and behold, the beam of wood is in your own eye? Lexham English Bible.
 
As a matter of fact, if you have some besetting sin that you cannot seem to get rid of, you might ask yourself the following questions, “Am I being too judgmental of other people’s sins? Has somebody offended me so much that I will not forgive them? I have found that when I STOP being judgmental of others, my own sins suddenly stop having such a strong hold on me. I find that when people rant and rave about other people’s sins, they usually have a whole host of sins that they are attempting to hide from everybody else!
 
Luk 6:37  "Stop judging, and you will never be judged. Stop condemning, and you will never be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. God’s Word Bible.
 
Our flesh wants to CONTROL everything, but our born-again spirit wants to relinquish ALL control to God. There is a very simple method to determine whether we are walking in the spirit or walking after the flesh. Do we NEED to be in CONTROL? Then we are walking after the flesh.
 
Have we given all our circumstances, our problems, our friends, our relatives, our sins, and our flesh to God? Then we are walking after the spirit. When we come to this great impasse, and we realize that we are completely powerless against sin and the flesh, whether it is our own or other people’s sin, then we are on the road to permanent liberty.
 
Rom 14:4  Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. 
 
You might be asking yourself, “If we are completely powerless against sin and the flesh, then how can we ever have permanent liberty?”
 
This is the same dilemma that the Apostle Paul found himself in when he wrote his epistle to the Romans, Chapter 7.
 
Rom 7:23  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 
Rom 7:24  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 
Rom 7:25  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. 
 
The answer of course is in Paul’s epistle to the Romans, Chapter 8. We must place our complete and total trust, NOT in the works of our flesh, NOT in our own willpower, but in the finished work of Jesus Christ, He condemned ALL sin and ALL flesh on the cross!
 
Rom 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 
Rom 8:2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 
Rom 8:3  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 
Rom 8:4  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 
 
Walking in the spirit is simply having “continual” FAITH in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.
 
Joh 19:30  After Jesus had taken the vinegar, he said, "IT IS FINISHED!" Then he bowed his head and died.
 
It really is FINISHED! It is always and forever FINISHED! I know it is extremely difficult sometimes, but we must be able to have an objective view of ourselves and of others. We need to realize that no matter how much we want to be in control, we can never be in control. The less control we have, the better off we will be. I know this is counter-intuitive, but it is the truth. We must give everything and everyone to God. If we can stop worrying and fretting about the future because we know that God is in total control…then we will really be free.
 
Php 4:10  But I rejoice in the Lord greatly, that now at length you have revived your thought for me; in which you did indeed take thought, but you lacked opportunity. 
Php 4:11  Not that I speak because of lack, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content in it. 
Php 4:12  I know how to be humbled, and I know also how to abound. In everything and in all things I have learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in need. 
Php 4:13  I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. 
 
It is funny that we spend so much time worrying about other people, and other people’s problems, and other people’s sins, and other people’s bad manners. If God can’t save somebody, what makes us think that we can save them? The best course of action for us, and for everybody else, is simply to focus on our own relationship with Jesus Christ. Then everything WILL work out just fine!
 
Joh 21:20  Then Peter, turning around, saw a disciple following. This was the disciple whom Jesus loved, the one who had also leaned on Jesus’ breast at the supper and asked, “Lord, who is going to betray You?” 
Joh 21:21  Peter seeing him, said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” 
Joh 21:22  Jesus said to him, “If I desire that he stay until I come, what is that to you? You follow me.” World English Bible.
 
Do you see what Jesus was telling Peter? “Don’t worry about him, YOU follow me!”
 
We see that Peter got the message:
 
1Pe 2:20  For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 
1Pe 2:21  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should FOLLOW HIS STEPS: 
1Pe 2:22  Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 
 
FOLLOW: G1872, epakoloutheō
Thayer Definition:
1) to follow (close) upon, follow after
2) to tread in one’s footsteps, i.e. to imitate his example
 
How do we follow His steps?
 
I heard a story about some new Christians complaining to a Missionary about how badly they were being treated by the people in their local town, and the Missionary asked them, “Have they spit in your face?” They were startled by the question and answered, “No, they haven’t.” Then the Missionary answered them, “They spit on the LORD, and then they beat Him, after that they crucified Him.”
 
JESUS IS A FRIEND OF SINNERS! He suffered for us, He died for us. Are we prepared to suffer, and perhaps die, for sinners? Can we suffer and die for people who mistreat us and persecute us? Can we FOLLOW HIS STEPS?
 
According to Church tradition, ALL of Jesus’ disciples followed in His steps ALL THE WAY!
 
The Apostle Paul was beheaded.
The Apostle Peter was crucified upside down at his own request.
The Apostle Thomas died after he was pierced through with spears by four soldiers.
The Apostle Philip was tortured to death.
The Apostle James was stoned and then beheaded.
The Apostle Simon the Zealot was crucified.
The Apostle Matthias was pierced by spears and then beheaded.
The Apostle Bartholomew (Nathaniel) was flayed alive.
The Apostle Jude was crucified.
The Apostle James the Less was beaten to death.
James, the brother of Jesus, was thrown off the walls of the temple, but continued to live, he was then beaten to death by clubs.
The Apostle Andrew was crucified. It is reported that he continued to preach the gospel to the crowds as he was hanging on the cross.
 
The Apostle John was boiled alive in oil…but he did not die!
 
The Book of Revelation tells us that a vast number of people, in these last days, will also follow His steps ALL THE WAY!
 
Rev 20:4  Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
 
I have identified three (3) unpardonable sins in the New Testament:
 

1. Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. Matt. 12:31
2. Receiving the mark of the Beast. Rev. 14:9
3. Falling away from the faith or Apostasy. Heb. 6:6

 
You can read more about them here:
http://www.motsog.com/fundamentals/3-unpardonable-sins
 
In the end, I believe it will come down to this: GOD HAS NEVER WANTED ANYBODY TO GO TO HELL!
 
We do not go to hell because of our sins. We can only go to hell with our eyes wide open. We must knowingly reject the FREE gift of salvation and the LORDSHIP of Jesus Christ! When we understand that Jesus went willingly to the cross to save EVERYBODY, we can truly know that JESUS IS A FRIEND OF SINNERS!
 
Rom 10:9  If you openly say, "Jesus is Lord" and believe in your heart that God raised him from death, you will be saved.
Rom 10:10  Yes, we believe in Jesus deep in our hearts, and so we are made right with God. And we openly say that we believe in him, and so we are saved.
Rom 10:11  Yes, the Scriptures say, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be disappointed." Easy-to-read version.

Even as it is written, Jacob I loved, but Esau I HATED. American Standard Version.
 
HATED: G3404, miseō, mis-eh'-o
From a primary word μῖσος misos (hatred); to detest (especially to persecute); by extension to love less: - hate (-ful).
 
For the longest time I could not understand why God HATED Esau. I thought that “hated” might be too strong a word and I speculated that the word “hated” might not be the right interpretation of the Hebrew word, but when I looked the word up, it appeared that “hated” was the perfect interpretation of the word!
 
Mal 1:2  I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, 
Mal 1:3  And I HATED Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.
 
HATED: H8130, śânê', saw-nay'
A primitive root; to hate (personally): - enemy, foe, (be) hate (-ful, -r), odious, X utterly.
 
Not only did God HATE Esau, but it seems like God HATED Esau’s descendants as well.
 
What was it about Esau that God HATED?
 
Everything in the story of Esau shows that he “attempted” to be a dutiful son. Esau could be described as a man’s man. From the Bible’s brief description of him in the Book of Genesis, we can probably describe Esau as a rugged outdoorsman, while his brother Jacob could probably be described as soft, or more than likely we would refer to Jacob as a momma’s boy:
 
Gen 25:27  And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. 
 
When we read about Esau in the Book of Genesis, it becomes pretty obvious that Esau had little or no interest in spiritual things. All Esau really cared about was fulfilling his carnal appetites, regardless of the consequences. If a person tells themselves that they are not interested in spiritual things, they are making a major spiritual decision that will have momentous consequences for all eternity…not only for them, but for their descendants.
 
At the start of Esau and Jacob’s story, the Bible says that Isaac loved Esau because of the venison he hunted, while Rebekah loved Isaac, who was her favorite son.
 
Gen 25:28  And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob. 
 
The story illustrates that probably everybody has some weakness of the flesh, and Isaac’s main weakness was apparently food! Read the story of the forbidden fruit in the Book of Genesis, FOOD is a major stumbling block for a lot of people! It was FOOD that ended up costing Esau his birthright!
 
Gen 25:29  And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: 
Gen 25:30  And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. 
Gen 25:31  And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. 
Gen 25:32  And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this BIRTHRIGHT do to me? 
 
What exactly is the birthright?
 
Deu 21:17  But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a DOUBLE PORTION of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his. 
 
In forfeiting his birthright to his younger brother, Esau gave up--
1. The right of priesthood inherent in the eldest line of the patriarch’s family;
2. The promise of the inheritance of the Holy Land;
3. The promise that in his race and of his blood Messiah should be born. Esau parted with all this because, as he said in the rough, unreflective common-place strain which marks persons of his character even now, and which they mistake for common sense—“He did not see the good of it all.” “What good shall this birthright do me?”  The Biblical Illustrator.
 
It was a low and contemptible thing that Jacob did to his brother Esau, but it is very apparent that Jacob recognized Esau’s lack of appreciation for spiritual things, and it was probably obvious to Jacob that Esau had no appreciation for his birthright or for the God of his parents!
 
Joh 4:24  God is a SPIRIT: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. 
 
When I meditate on this story, I tremble for all the carnal and rash decisions that I have made in my own life. However, I also resolve to NOT allow my carnal desires and appetites to be the primary influence on my future decisions…ESPECIALLY MY SPIRITUAL DECISIONS! I am also confident that if people are regular readers of this blog, they must also have an interest in spiritual things, and they must have an appreciation for God. May God bless us, just like He blessed Jacob!
 
Although Jacob did not possess a sterling character, he had one thing that Esau sadly lacked, Jacob DID appreciate spiritual things. Therefore, God appreciated Jacob. God witnessed the deal that Esau made to sell his birthright for a mess of pottage, and God honored the deal…much to Esau’s sorrow.
 
Heb 12:14  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 
Heb 12:15  Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; 
Heb 12:16  Lest there be any fornicator, or PROFANE person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. 
Heb 12:17  For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. 
 
PROFANE: G952, bebēlos
Thayer Definition:
1) accessible, lawful to be trodden
1a) of places
2) profane
2a) unhallowed, common, public place
2b) of men, ungodly
 
The Book of Hebrews describes Esau as PROFANE, which basically means that he was mainly motivated by his physical appetites, and he had little or no interest in spiritual things. All people fall somewhere on a broad spectrum between nourishing their flesh or nourishing their spirit.
 
100% motivated by flesh                                                                    100% motivated by spirit
↑  ←←←←←←←←←←←←←←←­­­­  ↑ →→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→↑
 
Where do your interests fall on this graph?
 
The Apostle Paul helps us to determine where we are located on the spectrum by giving us a long list of traits that will help us to identify our interests, whether they are physical or spiritual:
 
Gal 5:16  But I say, walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Gal 5:17  For the flesh LUSTETH against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary the one to the other; that ye may not do the things that ye would.
Gal 5:18  But if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
Gal 5:19  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Gal 5:20  idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties,
Gal 5:21  envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things SHALL NOT inherit the kingdom of God.
Gal 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Gal 5:23  meekness, self-control; against such there is no law.
Gal 5:24  And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof.
Gal 5:25  If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk.
 
LUSTETH: G1937, epithumeō, ep-ee-thoo-meh'-o
From G1909 and G2372; to set the heart upon, that is, long for (rightfully or otherwise): - covet, desire, would fain, lust (after).
 
Determining what is motivating us in every circumstance is very serious business because the Apostle Paul tells us that people who primarily gratify their flesh, and people who disregard their spirit SHALL NOT inherit the kingdom of God!
 
Before we make any major decision, we should ask ourselves the following question…Am I being motivated by my flesh or am I being motivated by my spirit? Our choices and our motivations, whether carnal or spiritual, will determine blessing or cursing, life or death, and heaven or hell!
 
When Esau realized that he had lost his father’s blessing, he did what comes naturally to carnal people… he decided to kill his brother Jacob.
 
Gen 27:41  And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob. 
 
We see this same plot line over and over in the Bible, the older carnal brother (or older carnal brothers in the case of Joseph) hate and plot against the younger spiritual brother. (i.e. Cain and Abel, Ishmael and Isaac, Esau and Jacob, Joseph and his older brothers, etc.). We also see in the Bible, and in our present time, that the carnal people of the world will always persecute and kill the spiritual people of the world. According to Jesus, we will see this story unfold more and more just before His second coming:
 
Mat 24:7  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 
Mat 24:8  All these are the beginning of sorrows. 
Mat 24:9  Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. 
 
Therefore, we can begin to understand why God HATED Esau. Not only was Esau indifferent to spiritual things, but he AND his descendants actively opposed God and persecuted the people who God loved!
 
Psa 137:6  Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I don't remember you, if I don't consider Jerusalem my highest joy.
Psa 137:7  O LORD, remember the people of Edom (ESAU). Remember what they did the day Jerusalem was captured. They said, "Tear it down! Tear it down to its foundation."
Psa 137:8  You destructive people of Babylon, blessed is the one who pays you back with the same treatment you gave us. God’s Word Bible.
 
It is impossible to straddle the fence when it comes to the knowledge of God and our understanding of spiritual things. Many people believe they are being fair and broad minded by claiming that they are “agnostic”. They claim it is impossible to know if there is really a God, but the Bible emphatically assures us that God is knowable and His existence and His glory are manifestly obvious to anybody and to everybody! Therefore, anybody who claims that they are an agnostic or an atheist is being disingenuous at best or a fool at worst.
 
Rom 1:20  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 
Rom 1:21  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 
Rom 1:22  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 
 
Jesus specifically tells us that there is no neutral position when we are dealing with our relationship to Him. If we are not His friend, the default position is that we are His enemy… we CANNOT be an innocent bystander!
 
Mat 12:30  He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. 
 
Therefore, when Esau expressed His contempt for his birthright, he openly identified himself as the enemy of God.
 
Finally, we can see that Esau’s flesh was the primary motivating factor because his apparent default position always seemed to be that he would nurture his flesh and neglected his spirit, this is best illustrated by his impulsive decision to marry “several” unbelieving spouses:
 
Gen 26:34  And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite: 
Gen 26:35  Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah. 
 
The personal relationships that we cultivate in this life can either help or hinder our walk with God, and there are very few decisions that are more important to our spiritual growth than who we decide to marry. Unfortunately, God does not approve of second or third chances when it comes to who we decide to marry!
 
Mat 19:4  Jesus answered, "Haven't you read that the Creator made them male and female in the beginning
Mat 19:5  and that he said, 'That's why a man will leave his father and mother and will remain united with his wife, and the two will be one'?
Mat 19:6  So they are no longer two but one. Therefore, don't let anyone separate what God has joined together."
 
Esau decided that if he messed up on his first and second marriage, then the third time would be a charm. Therefore, he decided to marry a daughter of Ishmael.
 
Gen 28:8  So when Esau saw that the Canaanite women did not please Isaac his father,
Gen 28:9  Esau went to Ishmael and took as his wife, besides the wives he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham's son, the sister of Nebaioth.
 
We can learn some valuable lessons from Esau’s mistakes. Esau kept compounding his problems because he was a carnal man and he apparently had absolutely zero spiritual discernment. He continued to make the same mistake over and over again. Carnal people tend to forget that when they are in a deep hole, they should stop digging!
 
When we make an obvious mistake, often the best course of action is to simply to do nothing, and wait until we receive a solution from God.
 
Isa 30:18  Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who WAIT for him.
Isa 30:19  For a people shall dwell in Zion, in Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you.
 
WAIT: H2442, châkâh, khaw-kaw'
A primitive root (apparently akin to H2707 through the idea of piercing); properly to adhere to; hence to await: - long, tarry, wait.
 
 
If we find that we are continually making impulsive decisions and messing up our lives and the lives of people around us, we might become a little more introspective and realize that “impulsiveness” is a sign that we are too carnal; that we are not spiritual enough. Fortunately, there is a simple answer to any problem that we might encounter! WE CAN TURN TO GOD!!!
 
Pro 2:6  For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
Pro 2:7  he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
Pro 2:8  guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.

Rev 12:7  And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels going forth to war with the dragon; and the dragon warred and his angels;
Rev 12:8  And they prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven.
Rev 12:9  And the great dragon was cast down, the old serpent, he that is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world; he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him.
 
If we do not understand and BELIEVE that people are “spirits” and that we are continually interacting with a “spiritual” dimension/world, then we will be constantly manipulated like puppets on a string. 
 
They can beg and they can plead
But they can't see the light (that's right)
'Cause the boy with the cold hard cash
Is always Mister Right
'Cause we are living in a material world
And I am a material girl
You know that we are living in a material world
And I am a material girl
 
Material Girl by Madonna
 
I remember volunteering at a Union Gospel Mission when I was a young man and I distinctly remember the director telling me, “We believe that all our problems are basically spiritual.” After many years of experience, I can confirm the truth of this statement.
 
Once we recognize the fact that we are spirits, which inhabit physical bodies in a physical universe, there are really no boundaries or limitations to what we can accomplish or achieve.
 
Mar 9:23  And Jesus said unto him, If thou canst! All things are possible to him that believeth.
 
Unfortunately, we have a spiritual enemy that is doing everything in his power to keep us ignorant of who we are, and of what we are capable of achieving. In order for Satan and his followers (demons and sorcerers) to keep us in physical bondage, they MUST keep us ignorant of our spiritual identity, and keep us focused on our physical wants and material desires…and Satan is very good at overwhelming us with material desires.
 
The modus operandi of Satan has always been to keep humanity ignorant and enslaved …to the material world.
 
2Co 11:19  For because you are wise, you put up with foolish people gladly!
2Co 11:20  For you put up with it if someone enslaves you, if someone devours you, if someone takes advantage of you, if someone is presumptious toward you, if someone strikes you in the face. Lexham English Bible.
 
The Apostle Paul is being sarcastic to the Corinthians…they were practicing a fake humility, allowing false brethren to take advantage of them, while also overlooking the grossest and most flagrant sins. Does it remind you of any Churches today?
 
Modern Church denominations are full of sorcerers and false brethren, usually in the Church hierarchy, who are diligently working to keep Christians under bondage to lust and materialism, and to keep people subject to their denomination’s control. The more people lust after material things, the more they believe they need to earn (with money) their way to heaven.
 
Jesus tells His disciples an interesting parable about BIRDS in the kingdom of God.
 
Mat 13:4  and while he was sowing, some seed fell on the side of the path, and the BIRDS came and DEVOURED it.
 
DEVOURED: G2719
katesthiō
Thayer Definition:
1) to consume by eating, to eat up, devour
1a) of birds
1b) of a dragon
1c) of a man eating up the little book
2) metaphorically
2a) to devour, i.e. squander, waste: substance
2b) to devour, i.e. forcibly appropriate: widows’ property
2c) to strip one of his goods
1c1) to ruin (by the infliction of injuries)
 
 
Jesus’ disciples approached Him privately and asked Him to tell them what the parable meant.
 
Mat 13:19  When anyone hears the word about the kingdom and does not understand it, the EVIL ONE comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is what was sown on the side of the path.
 
Jesus tells his disciples that the BIRDS are the EVIL ONE coming to take away their understanding of the WORD. These BIRDS are continually attempting to cause confusion, and prevent us from understanding our true spiritual identity and our perfect liberty in Jesus Christ. These BIRDS were operating in Jesus’ day, and they are still operating in the Church today.
 
Mat 23:13  But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. 
Mat 23:14  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye DEVOUR (katesthio) widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. 
 
These BIRDS are very good at putting on a show of religiosity, but their motives are usually plain to anybody with any spiritual maturity or common sense…THEY LOVE MONEY!
 
1Ti 6:10  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 
 
I am not lumping all clergy into the, “they only want your money” camp. There are plenty of good ministers, who are godly, and conscientious, and who work ceaselessly to promote the true gospel of Jesus Christ. However, I also believe they are becoming a distinct minority, if you find a good one stick with them. There are far too many clergy men and clergy women who want to work their way up their denomination’s hierarchy, who only want to enhance their own material position, and build up their own wealth producing “ministry” organization.
 
Mat 13:31  He put before them another parable, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field.
Mat 13:32  It is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it is grown it is larger than the garden herbs and becomes a tree, so that the BIRDS of the sky come and nest in its branches."
 
We see that Jesus told His disciples that the EVIL ONE (people/spirits) would enter into the Church, and would make themselves at home in its branches. These BIRDS were showing up in the early Church, even when the New Testament Church was just barely getting started.
 
Act 20:28  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 
Act 20:29  For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 
Act 20:30  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking PERVERSE THINGS, to draw away disciples after them. 
 
PERVERSE THINGS: G1294, diastrephō
Thayer Definition:
1) to distort, turn aside
1a) to oppose, plot against the saving purposes and plans of God
2) to turn aside from the right path, to pervert, corrupt
 
The Apostle Paul prophesied that wolves would enter the Church after he was gone, and that they would preach a perverted gospel that would actually oppose the plans of God.
 
The more I study the New Testament, the more I realize that focusing on, and lusting after, “perverse things” is a gross perversion of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
 
1Jn 2:15  Have no love for the world or for the things which are in the world. If any man has love for the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1Jn 2:16  Because everything in the world, the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father but of the world.
1Jn 2:17  And the world and its desires is coming to an end: but he who does God's pleasure is living for ever. 1965 The Bible in Basic English.
 
 
You may ask yourself, “What does God want from us?”
 
Joh 4:23  But a time is coming, and it is already here! Even now the true worshipers are being led by the Spirit to worship the Father according to the truth. These are the ones the Father is seeking to worship him.
Joh 4:24  God is Spirit, and those who worship God must be led by the Spirit to worship him according to the truth. Contemporary English Version.
 
Seeketh such to worship Him (τοιούτους ζητεῖ τοὺς προσκυνοῦντας αὐτὸν)
A rather peculiar construction. Literally, seeketh such as those worshipping him: as His worshippers. Such: i.e., those who worship in spirit and in truth, and are therefore REAL (ἀληθινοὶ) worshippers of the REAL God (ἀληθινὸν Θεὸν).
 
If we will contemplate what Jesus tells the Samaritan woman, we cannot help but be repelled, along with Jesus Christ himself, by the extravagance and the materialism of our modern age.
 
Rev 3:17  You claim to be rich and successful and to have everything you need. But you don't know how bad off you are. You are pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. Contemporary English Version.
 
Many modern Christians have ceased seeking intimacy with God, and instead spend all their free time seeking material wealth and worldly success. I guess each one of us must determine for ourselves whether we believe it is a fair exchange. I keep wondering what might happen if the average Christian spent as much time seeking God as they spend seeking material goods and objects? I guess we can only imagine!
 
Isa 35:1  The desert will rejoice, and flowers will bloom in the wastelands.
Isa 35:2  The desert will sing and shout for joy; it will be as beautiful as the Lebanon Mountains and as fertile as the fields of Carmel and Sharon. Everyone will see the LORD's splendor, see his greatness and power.
Isa 35:3  Give strength to hands that are tired and to knees that tremble with weakness.
Isa 35:4  Tell everyone who is discouraged, "Be strong and don't be afraid! God is coming to your rescue, coming to punish your enemies."
Isa 35:5  The blind will be able to see, and the deaf will hear.
Isa 35:6  The lame will leap and dance, and those who cannot speak will shout for joy. Streams of water will flow through the desert;
Isa 35:7  the burning sand will become a lake, and dry land will be filled with springs. Where jackals used to live, marsh grass and reeds will grow.
Isa 35:8  There will be a highway there, called "The Road of Holiness." No sinner will ever travel that road; no fools will mislead those who follow it.
Isa 35:9  No lions will be there; no fierce animals will pass that way. Those whom the LORD has rescued will travel home by that road.
Isa 35:10  They will reach Jerusalem with gladness, singing and shouting for joy. They will be happy forever, forever free from sorrow and grief. The Good News Bible.
 
I believe in the near future, all of mankind must make the decision whether they want God or whether they want the world, the Bible makes it clear that we all must pass through this “valley of decision”.
 
Joe 3:14  Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. 
 
I also believe that a vast amount of wealth will be transferred to many Christians for the last day harvest of souls, and this massive wealth will become a trap if they are not focused diligently on the LORD and His spiritual objectives, NOT their own temporary physical pleasures.
 
Mat 24:43  But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 
Mat 24:44  Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. 
Mat 24:45  Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? 
Mat 24:46  Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 
Mat 24:47  Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. 
Mat 24:48  But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; 
Mat 24:49  And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; 
Mat 24:50  The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, 
Mat 24:51  And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 
 
It is so very important that we are faithful stewards over what God has given us, and we also must remember that this world is only a TEMPORARY home! We will be rewarded or PUNISHED depending upon how well we use the wealth, abilities, and resources that God entrusts to us.
 
Mat 25:27  Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 
Mat 25:28  Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 
Mat 25:29  For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 
Mat 25:30  And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 
 
We must always remember that there is something far, far better waiting for us if we remain faithful to the LORD and His final objective:
 
1Jn 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 
1Jn 3:3  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 

 

1. 4) MORTIFY THE FLESH (SANTIFICATION)
   

 
Gal 5:16  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 
Gal 5:17  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 
 
WALKING IN THE SPIRIT simply means to live according to the TRUTH of God’s WORD, and then to systematically reject the lies of the devil. See REPENTANCE in PART 1 of this article!
 
Rom 8:13  For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do MORTIFY the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 
Rom 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 
 
MORTIFY: G2289, thanatoō, than-at-o'-o
From G2288; to kill (literally or figuratively): - become dead, (cause to be) put to death, kill, mortify.
 
Our FLESH consists of our body, soul, and spirit, when they are disobedient to God. We are not separated from God by our sin, but by our UNBELIEF in His Word…sin is the fruit of our unbelief…but UNBELIEF is the root of all our problems.
 
Col 3:5  Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 
Col 3:6  For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 
 
We can MORTIFY our flesh slowly, kicking and screaming, or we can deal with our flesh quickly, and as painlessly as possible, mortification of the flesh is up to each one of us individually. First, let me warn you that reaching spiritual maturity is a difficult process, no matter how quickly we mortify our flesh…nobody wants to die! Think of your flesh as “Count Dracula”, every time you think he’s dead and buried, he pops up to tempt you in some other area of your life.
 
However, if we recognize that it is a process that we ALL MUST GO THROUGH, then if we are wise, we will get through the process as quickly as possible.
 
We all start out at the same “come to Jesus moment” when we finally recognize that we are seriously missing something in our lives. Different people are dealing with different issues and problems, but EVERYBODY has some problem or problem(s) that they just can’t solve by themselves. Unfortunately, this is also when we are at our most vulnerable.
 
We can compare it to when we look in the mirror after the holidays and realize that we are seriously out of shape and need to get healthy again. Often times, we look for an expert or a guru that “appears” to know what they are doing. There are plenty of people who are willing to “sell” us their book(s), their program(s), their seminar(s), and their special formula(s), which are guaranteed “quick and easy” methods to get us back in shape. However, there is no “quick and easy” way to get back in shape, and there is definitely no “quick and easy” way to reach spiritual maturity.
 
The main problem with “paying” somebody to teach you how to get back in shape is that they have very little incentive to actually teach you how to get in shape. As long as you are sick and overweight, the “expert” can keep you on the hook and “sell” you their latest “health” products forever. Like I have mentioned in previous articles, “money” is a very bad bases for a long lasting relationship, especially for a spiritual mentor.
 
Mat 10:7  And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 
Mat 10:8  Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: FREELY ye have received, FREELY give. 
 
Now let me tell you the BIBLE METHOD to be delivered from sin and to reach spiritual maturity!
 
Joh 17:15  I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 
Joh 17:16  They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 
Joh 17:17  SANCTIFY them through thy truth: thy WORD is truth.
 
SANCTIFY: G37, hagiazō
hag-ee-ad'-zo
From G40; to make holy, that is, (ceremonially) purify or consecrate; (mentally) to venerate: - hallow, be holy, sanctify.
 
Therefore, instead of being separated from God, we separate ourselves from the world, and join ourselves to God through His truth (God’s WORD IS TRUTH).
 
1Jn 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 
1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 
1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 
 
Unless you are a very rare bird indeed, you were raised by your parents and your teachers to be a success in the world: i.e. to study hard, to work hard, to strive to be successful in your chosen field of endeavor, and to gain wealth, power, and the esteem or your family, friends, and neighbors. Of course this is exactly the opposite of everything that Jesus taught.
 
Mat 16:24  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 
Mat 16:25  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 
Mat 16:26  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 
 
God wants us to totally renounce your dreams and aspirations in this world, and to pursue His agenda for your life…mainly he wants us to pursue JESUS. SEE the Book of Ruth.
 
Mat 6:31  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 
Mat 6:32  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 
Mat 6:33  But seek ye FIRST the kingdom of God, and HIS righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 
 
 
 

1. 5) THE NAME OF “JESUS”
   

 
Mar 16:17  And these signs shall follow them that believe; IN MY NAME shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 
Mar 16:18  They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. 
 
NAME: G3686, onoma, on'-om-ah
From a presumed derivative of the base of G1097 (compare G3685); a “name” (literally or figuratively), (authority, character): - called, (+ sur-) name (-d).
 
If you are a BELIEVER in the LORD Jesus Christ, you have every right to liberally use the name of JESUS on your own behalf, and on the behalf of anybody else you might choose. The name of JESUS CHRIST is more than sufficient to deal with any problem we might encounter, spiritual or otherwise, but there is one caveat…you must BELIEVE!
 
They shall do wonders in Christ's name, the same NAME into which they were baptized, in the virtue of power derived from him, and fetched in by prayer. Matthew Henry’s Commentary.
 
There is an interesting story in the Gospel of Mark where Jesus endorses the right of ANY BELIEVER to use His name for good.
 
Mar 9:38  And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. 
Mar 9:39  But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. 
Mar 9:40  For he that is not against us is on our part. 
Mar 9:41  For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward. 
 
Here was a man using the NAME of JESUS to cast out devils, who apparently had no association with Jesus or His ministry. He must have seen one of the disciples using Jesus’ name to cast out devils, and he must have BELIEVED in its sufficiency and authority because he proceeded to exercise that same authority without asking anybody’s permission. The disciples took exception to the man’s actions because they ordered him to stop casting out demons in Jesus’ name.
 
Jesus told His disciples to “FORBID HIM NOT”. He then explained something that is very important for every Christian to understand…”HE THAT IS NOT AGAINST US IS ON OUR PART.” Here is the New King James Version’s interpretation: Mar 9:40  For he who is not against us is ON OUR SIDE.
 
There are so many Christian organizations, and different religious sects/denominations, that will insist that you be a member in good standing for a specific length of time before you start a ministry, or that you must have years of training, or that you need some board’s permission, or letters of recommendation, or worst of all, they will say there is no such thing as demons because nobody has cast out a demon, or healed anybody in their Church, for several centuries.
 
Here is my take on the subject: there is a REWARD for doing ANYTHING good in the name of Jesus! Jesus said that even if you give somebody a glass of water in His NAME, you will be rewarded! I suspect that if you cast a demon out of a person in the NAME OF JESUS, the reward is better than if you give them a glass of water in His name…but you should start somewhere.
 
Col 3:17  And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the NAME of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
 
It seems like these days the only time anybody uses the name of Jesus Christ is when they are cursing somebody out…maybe because so few Christians are using the name of Jesus when they are blessing somebody!
 
There will always be people who warn us of the dangers of “playing” with demons, who bring up the story of the sons of Sceva in the Book of Acts:
 
Act 19:13  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."
Act 19:14  Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so.
Act 19:15  And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?"
Act 19:16  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.
 
It is important to understand that these “itinerant Jewish exorcists” did NOT recognize the Lordship and divinity of Jesus Christ, they appeared to be testing whether the name of Jesus was of some sort of value as a talisman, enchantment, or a magic spell with power over demonic entities. Their father, Sceva, was the head of one of the twenty-four courses of priests that served in the temple at Jerusalem. Instead of serving in the temple with their father, these men were travelling the countryside practicing Babylonian style exorcism… probably for money.
 
The story of the sons of Sceva beautifully illustrates that the name of Jesus may not necessarily be of any benefit to us unless we actually BELIEVE and CONFESS that Jesus is our LORD and SAVIOUR! Therefore, my advice is to first be saved, and then ANY CHRISTIAN can “generously” practice using the name of Jesus for the benefit of themselves, for the benefit of others, and simply for the joy of it. I must confess that I have too often spoken the name of “Jesus” like a magic word at the end of my prayers, but His name could be on my lips a thousand times a day, and still it would not be enough. Speaking the name of JESUS does not cost us anything, but His name surely carries the promise of a great reward. We only need to BELIEVE!
 

1. 6) PRAYER AND MEDITATION
   

 
Mat 17:18  And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. 
Mat 17:19  Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? 
Mat 17:20  And Jesus said unto them, Because of your UNBELIEF: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. 
Mat 17:21  Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by PRAYER and FASTING. 
 
First, let me say that the Bible says that Jesus has already won the war.
 
Mat 28:18  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, ALL power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 
 
We simply need to take possession of what is rightfully His AND ours.
 
1Co 3:21  Therefore let no man glory in men. For ALL THINGS are yours; 
1Co 3:22  Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; 
1Co 3:23  And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's. 
 
Similar to the children of Israel when God gave them the Land of Canaan, we still need FAITH to enter in and take our inheritance from the people and demons that continue to defy us and God. Unfortunately, Satan (the adversary) and his demons, the world (the Babylonian system), and even our own flesh (our carnal nature), is constantly resisting the TRUTH OF GOD’S WORD!
 
Once we get a handle on our own UNBELIEF, then Satan, his demons, and the Babylonian system is a cakewalk…this is where PRAYER and FASTING come into play.
 
PRAYER: G4335, proseuchē
Thayer Definition:
1) prayer addressed to God
2) a place set apart or suited for the offering of prayer
2a) a synagogue
2b) a place in the open air where the Jews were wont to pray, outside the cities, where they had no synagogue
2b1) such places were situated upon the bank of a stream or the shore of a sea, where there was a supply of water for washing the hands before prayer
 
 
God does nothing except in response to believing prayer. John Wesley
 
PRAYER is simply mankind’s acknowledgment that there is a creator, and that He created all things, both in the heavens and in the earth, both the visible and the invisible, and He is keenly interested in our present and eternal welfare, whether physical, mental, or spiritual. According to the Book of Colossians, His name is Jesus:
 
Col 1:15  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 
Col 1:16  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 
Col 1:17  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 
 
Jesus made an interesting statement to His disciples:
 
Mat 21:22  And all things, whatsoever ye shall ASK in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. 
 
I don’t know about you, but I don’t see any limitations on the power of prayer. As a matter of fact, Jesus specifically gives an example that appears impossible!
 
Mat 21:21  Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. 
 
Jesus also made an equally interesting statement:
 
Mat 6:7  But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 
Mat 6:8  Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, BEFORE ye ask him. 
 
Therefore, according to Jesus, God knows what we need BEFORE we ask, and NOTHING is impossible. So, why isn’t everybody on earth rich, healthy, happy, and as wise as Solomon?
 
First, it appears that even though God knows what we need, according to the Book of James, God requires that WE ASK HIM for what we need before He will answer our prayers.
 
Jas 4:2  Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because YE ASK NOT. 
 
Second, apparently God will NOT answer a prayer that is directly opposed to His sovereign will:
 
Jas 4:3  Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 
 
Third, we must have FAITH, and we cannot DOUBT God’s ability, or His desire, to answer a request.
 
Jas 1:5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 
Jas 1:6  But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 
Jas 1:7  For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 
Jas 1:8  A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. 
 
Finally, there are spiritual forces that are continually opposing God and us; therefore, we should be persistent when we pray.
 
Dan 10:12  Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for FROM THE FIRST DAY that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. 
Dan 10:13  But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. 
 
Just because we do not receive an answer immediately does not mean that God did not answer our prayer immediately. We need to recognize that we are in a spiritual battle, and if we do not receive an immediate answer, we need to KEEP PRAYING!
 
2Co 12:7  But I must not be too proud of the wonderful things that were shown to me. So a painful problem was given to me--an angel from Satan, sent to make me suffer, so that I would not think that I am better than anyone else.
2Co 12:8  I begged the Lord THREE TIMES to take this problem away from me. Easy-to-read Version.
 
The Apostle Paul continued praying until he received an answer; although, it might not have been the answer he expected!
 
What do we know about prayer so far?
 

1. We must audibly ASK God for what we want. Jas 4:2
2. Our prayer must NOT OPPOSE God’s sovereign will. Jas 4:3
3. We must have FAITH without doubting. Jas 1:6
4. We must be PERSISTENT. 2 Cor 12:8

 
How can we be sure that our prayer follows God’s guidelines?
 
We should search the scriptures and determine what the will of God is concerning the subject of our prayer, whether it deals with our physical or mental health, or our finances, or our lack of wisdom, etc.,…then we can be assured that our prayer aligns with God’s sovereign will. Then we can ASK in FAITH, and we can be assured that God will answer us.
 
God has established a positive feedback loop, if we will search out the promises in His Word and then confess His Word, God has vowed to fulfill His Word:
 
Isa 55:10  For as the rain cometh down and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, and giveth seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
Isa 55:11  so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
 
What if God doesn’t seem to be answering our prayers?
 
MEDITATION: I have written an entire book on Biblical meditation called: Speak, Hear, and Believe. However, I will write a small amount about the subject because more often than not, it is our own lack of BELIEF that hinders the answer to our prayers and NOT God’s willingness to act on our behalf.
 
PRAYER is when we converse OUT LOUD with God…we can praise Him, or ask him a question, or make a request, or intercede on behalf of somebody else, etc., but MEDITATION requires us to locate a promise from God in a verse and chapter in the Bible, and then speak the scripture verse OUT LOUD, over and over again until we have the verse memorized, and it actually begins to build up our faith within our spiritual man.
 
Rom 10:17  So belief cometh of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
 
Think of PRAYER as having a dialogue with our Father IN HEAVEN, while Bible MEDITATION is a method of knowing God dwelling WITHIN us, which strengthens our FAITH that God is only, and always, acting for our welfare, no matter how dire our circumstances might appear.
 
Are we afraid of the love of God? God is love. Christ is love. God invites you and me in love. He says, Come, and I will bless you. Come, and I will pour My Spirit upon you. Come, and I will make you happy, and call you sons and daughters. Come, and I will save you, and I will soon put you in possession of heaven. The Biblical Illustrator.
 

1. 7) FASTING
   

 
Mat 6:16  "And when you FAST, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
Mat 6:17  But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
Mat 6:18  that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
 
FAST: G3522, nēsteuō, nace-tyoo'-o
From G3523; to abstain from food (religiously): - fast.
 
Jesus said, “WHEN” you fast, not “IF” you fast. If we are serious about getting our prayers answered, then God expects us to fast. The patriarchs, kings, and prophets in the Old Testament fasted, and Jesus, His Apostles, and ordinary Christians fasted during fervent prayer in the New Testament.
 
2Co 11:27  In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in FASTINGS OFTEN, in cold and nakedness. 
 
We see that the Apostle Paul shows that there is a difference between simply being hungry and fasting, FASTING is when we willingly abstain from food as a religious exercise.
 
It is interesting that the original sin of Adam and Eve centered upon EATING the forbidden fruit. Even more interesting, I think, is the fact that Satan’s FIRST temptation of Jesus in the wilderness was focused upon EATING bread.
 
Also, complaints about God, by the Israelites in the wilderness, were centered upon FOOD:
 
Num 11:4  And the mixed multitude that was among them lusted exceedingly: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?
Num 11:5  We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt for nought; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic:
Num 11:6  but now our soul is dried away; there is nothing at all save this manna to look upon.
 
It is difficult to imagine a more ungrateful group than these former slaves, who had just recently been oppressed by Pharaoh, and witnessed the plagues of Egypt, and had just been miraculously delivered through the Red Sea, and had been supernaturally provided for with water and manna from heaven. It also helps me to recognize that the scriptures are obviously true because most of the time they shine a light on how creepy and ungrateful many people can be, especially after God has just given them a winning lottery ticket …Christians should not act like this!
 
Psa 78:18  And they tempted God in their heart By asking food according to their desire.
Psa 78:19  Yea, they spake against God; They said, Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?
Psa 78:20  Behold, he smote the rock, so that waters gushed out, And streams overflowed; Can he give bread also? Will he provide flesh for his people?
 
Complaining about food seems to be one of our favorite pastimes; whether the food is too hot or too cold, or too bland or too spicy, or too much or not enough, very few people are thankful to God simply because He has provided food enough to nourish their body. Everybody wants food to tickle their taste buds and titillate their palates. However, Christians should be the exception to the rule and we should always be thankful…thank you Jesus!
 
1Ti 6:6  But godliness with contentment is great gain:
1Ti 6:7  for we brought nothing into the world, for neither can we carry anything out;
1Ti 6:8  but having food and covering we shall be therewith content.
 
Therefore, our experience and the inspired Word of God informs us that FOOD is one of mankind’s weak spots, and FOOD is one of God’s sore spots. God does not want us to spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about FOOD or worrying about FOOD. There are far more important things that we need to be focused on.
 
Mat 6:25  Therefore I say unto you, be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than the food, and the body than the raiment?
 
FASTING is basically how we emphasize the fact that WE are NOT capable of solving a problem, and that we are looking ONLY to God for the solution to our problem.

I would be remiss if I did not also mention the importance of FASTING, when seeking a RHEMA Word directly from God. FASTING is basically how we emphasize the fact that WE are NOT capable of solving the problem, and that we are looking ONLY to God for the solution to our problem.
RHEMA: We will always treasure the fact that the Lord still speaks today. He not only spoke in the Scriptures, He not only spoke to Paul and John, He is also speaking to us today. The word of the Lord has never ceased. Whenever someone who is working for the Lord stands up to speak for Him, he must expect the rhema. If the Lord does not speak to us today, we are really failures. How many times have we preached, yet the Lord did not speak a word? It is not that there was something wrong with the message, but it was all the general word of the Lord; there was no rhema in it. The problem with the church today is that it lacks the living word of the Lord; instead there are only dead doctrines. There is a real shortage of direct communication from God. There is only a passing on of man's preaching. It is pitiful that so many people have died under good doctrines! May God have mercy upon us and give us rhema. May He speak personally and directly to us today. Only when we have rhema can we move ahead and have the living water to supply to others. What we need is rhema. Watchman Nee, The Glorious Church.

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A COMMON FAST is simply drinking ONLY water and not eating ANY food…that does NOT include drinking tea, coffee, cola, or juices. (I usually do this type of fast when I am seeking a Word [RHEMA] from the LORD). If you are addicted to caffeine, it is very difficult to fast for more than a couple of days.
 
If I did not have any experience fasting, I would start off slow. First, I would try fasting for twenty-four hours. Usually, I fast from 6 P.M. to 6 P.M. the next day. I avoid fasting when I am working unless I decide to start fasting at 6 P.M. on a Thursday night and then fast through to 6 P.M. on Sunday night; thereby, fasting three (3) days with only one (1) fast day while I am working on Friday.


The most I have personally fasted (drinking ONLY water) has been ten (10) days. Expect your dreams to be more vivid, and you may even have a vision. You should keep a notepad and pen close by (day and night) to write down any revelation, dream, or vision that God may give you during this time of fasting. Also, it is very important that you spend time reading and meditating on the Word of God while you fast.


If you fast without praying and meditating on God’s Word, it is called “dieting”…NOT FASTING!
 
Most important, FASTING has nothing to do with getting God to feel sorry for us and deciding to answer our prayers after we have suffered enough. GOD ALWAYS WANTS TO ANSWER OUR PRAYERS!
 
FASTING is mainly about quieting our flesh and our carnal mind so that God’s message can finally get through to us.

Joh 8:34  Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. 
Joh 8:35  And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. 
Joh 8:36  If the Son therefore shall make you FREE, ye shall be FREE indeed. 
 
FREE: G1658, eleutheros
Thayer Definition:
1) freeborn
1a) in a civil sense, one who is not a slave
1b) of one who ceases to be a slave, freed, manumitted
2) free, exempt, unrestrained, not bound by an obligation
3) in an ethical sense: free from the yoke of the Mosaic Law
 
There appears to be something that is obviously missing in the world, and in the Church, which is: genuinely FREE, mature Christians. If there is one word that should be associated with authentic Christianity, it is FREEDOM. I am not talking about the modern hedonistic, “Why don’t we do it in the road?” type of freedom or the infantile “you’re not the boss of me” type of freedom, I am talking about the old fashioned, responsible citizen type of FREEDOM. I am talking about adults who do not believe they need to be constantly monitored and supervised because they might do something stupid type of FREEDOM.
 
Gal 4:4  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 
Gal 4:5  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 
Gal 4:6  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 
Gal 4:7  Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. 
 
The modern nanny states, organized religions, supra-national corporations, and all the other satanic hierarchies in the world, want us to be in constant fear that without them, we will be curled up in the fetal position with our thumbs in our mouths. Unfortunately, a lot of people have bought into this antichrist propaganda.
 
2Co 11:3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 
 
Do you want to be a mature Christian? Do you really want to be FREE? I am going to make this as plain and as simple as possible.
 
 
 
SEVEN STEPS TO PERMANENT DELIVERANCE
 

1. FAITH IN THE WORD OF GOD (SWORD OF THE SPIRIT)

 
First and foremost, you must, must, MUST believe that the Bible is the inspired WORD of GOD!!!
 
Joh 10:34  Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? 
Joh 10:35  If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; 
Joh 10:36  Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? 
 
THE SCRIPTURE CANNOT BE BROKEN!!!
 
The authority of the Scripture is final; it cannot be set aside. Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible.
 
Heb 6:18  That by two immutable things, in which it was IMPOSSIBLE for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 
 
Unbelief is the original curse of mankind, it is like a cancer which is fed and nourished by doubting the WORD of God.
 
Gen 3:2  And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 
Gen 3:3  But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 
Gen 3:4  And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
 
Our ONLY hope of escaping the curse is by BELIEVING in the WORD of God!
 
2Pe 1:20  Knowing this FIRST, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 
2Pe 1:21  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 
 
UNBELIEF is absolutely the crux of mankind’s problems, and it is impossible to serve God without FAITH in God’s WORD!
 
Rom 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 
Rom 1:17  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by FAITH. 
 
We must have an unshakeable faith in the absolute verity of God’s WORD no matter what anybody else might do or say, whether that person is an authority figure, a scientist, a religious leader, or even an angel from heaven!
 
Rom 3:3  For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? 
Rom 3:4  God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. 
 
 
2. REPENTANCE
 
Second, we must re-examine all of the education, and the conditioning, and the philosophies, and the religion that we have been taught and categorically reject anything that opposes the plain TRUTH of God’s written WORD.
 
2Co 10:3  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 
2Co 10:4  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 
2Co 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
 
Repentance is not a once in a life time event, it is an ongoing process that will last a lifetime. As we pray, and read God’s WORD, and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us into God’s truth, we must reject the lies of Satan and his Babylonian system, we will then begin to be transformed into the image of God’s WORD…eventually we will cease being carnal and we will become mature spiritual Christians.
 
1Pe 1:22  Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 
1Pe 1:23  Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the WORD of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 
 
It is important to understand that our spiritual transformation is not occurring in a vacuum. We are in a constant battle to achieve spiritual maturity. Try to imagine a herd of elephants on the Serengeti plain of Africa, surrounded by lions, and jackals, and hyena, and various other types of predators which are constantly seeking to separate the weak and the defenseless from the rest of the herd in order to devour them. However, also recognize this fact, once an elephant reaches MATURITY…there are very few predators that stand a chance against them.
 
According to the ancient Book of Enoch, two-hundred (200) wicked angels called watchers descended on Mount Hermon and then committed the grievous sin of begetting children with the daughters of men. These evil offspring of the fallen angels were called the Nephilim, and there were also the offspring of the Nephilim which were called the Elioudi, these evil offspring of the fallen angels have continued to plague mankind throughout history and today they are known as demonic spirits.
 
Enoch 15:8  And now the giants, who have been begotten from body and flesh, will be called evil spirits on earth, and their dwelling-places will be upon the earth.
Enoch 15:9  Evil spirits proceed from their bodies; because they are created from above, their beginning and first basis being from the holy watchers, they will be evil spirits upon the earth, and will be called evil spirits.
 
Apparently, these disembodied evil spirits are continually searching for a physical body through which they can satiate their evil lusts and commit their evil deeds. Satan has set up a supernatural hierarchy consisting of the angelic watchers and their wicked offspring, which continue to operate and control the world’s various hierarchal systems through people who practice sorcery and either willingly, or unwillingly, worship and obey them.
 
Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities (arche), against powers (exousia), against the rulers (kosmokrator) of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 
 
3. PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD (CONSTANT DILIGENCE)
 
Third, we must recognize that our only hope of victory is recognizing that our true battle is with evil spiritual entities and we should NOT fight with their human puppets.
 
Eph 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 
Eph 6:14  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 
Eph 6:15  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 
Eph 6:16  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 
Eph 6:17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 
 
Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation about demonic spirits that is being propagated in the world and in the Church. I believe the main error that is promoted in the Church is that demonic spirits cannot “possess” a Christian. This is why it is so difficult these days to tell the difference between a “born again” Christian and a reprobate sinner.
 
I suspect most people get their understanding about demonic POSSESSION from Hollywood movies or from the Roman Catholic Church, both of which are just propaganda machines disseminating lies for Satan’s vast world-wide communications network.
 
POSSESSION: G1139, daimonizomai, dahee-mon-id'-zom-ahee
Middle voice from G1142; to be exercised by a daemon: - have a (be vexed with, be possessed with) devil (-s).
 
The Greek word daimonizomai does not necessarily mean somebody is completely controlled by a demon. The word is sometimes also interpreted as “oppressed” or “vexed”.  I believe there are various degrees of daimonizomai, or possession. The Bible indicates that mankind is made up of three parts: a spirit, a soul, and a body. It is important to recognize that demonic spirits can attack our physical body with sickness and disease, etc., they can attack our soul (minds) with negative thoughts, and depression, and fear, etc., and finally they can attack our spirit (conscience) with doubt, and unbelief, and pride, etc.
 
How many demons are there? There could literally be millions or maybe even billions of demonic spirits…I suspect the last number is closer to the truth. We know that they attack Christians, otherwise why would we need to wear spiritual armor or learn how to use a spiritual sword? Also, the Bible indicates that we can be attacked by more than one demonic spirit at a time.
 
Mar 5:9  Then Jesus asked the man, "What is your name?" The man answered, "My name is Legion, because there are many spirits inside me."
 
A Roman legion usually numbered around five-thousand (5000) soldiers! It is obvious that this man in Mark 5:9 is completely overrun by demons and can truly be described as POSSESSED. It is interesting to examine the “symptoms” of this man’s demonic possession.
 
Mar 5:3  He lived in the burial caves. No one could keep him tied up, even with chains.
Mar 5:4  Many times people had put chains on his hands and feet, but he broke the chains. No one was strong enough to control him.
Mar 5:5  Day and night he stayed around the burial caves and on the hills. He would scream and cut himself with rocks.
 
We notice that the man was isolated from people, he possessed supernatural strength, he was self-destructive, and he appeared to be in total despair. His isolation may have been imposed upon him by others, I doubt if anyone wanted him to be around them or their loved ones! I suspect that a lot of demon possessed people are confined to prisons or mental institutions. It is also interesting to note that the United States has more prisoners per capita than any other country in the world.
 
Prison rates in the US are the world's highest, at 724 people per 100,000. In Russia the rate is 581. At 145 per 100,000, the imprisonment rate of England and Wales is at about the midpoint worldwide. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/uk/06/prisons/html/nn2page1.stm

However, the Bible also illustrates that some people can be vexed (possessed) by demons and their only symptoms appeared to be physical illness, they did not necessarily have any mental or emotional problems.

Mat 4:24  The news about Jesus spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all those who were sick. They were suffering from different kinds of diseases and pain. Some had demons inside them, some suffered from seizures, and some were paralyzed. Jesus healed them all.
 
There were also people that showed no signs or symptoms of demon possession, but the presence of Jesus caused the demons to reveal themselves.
 
Mar 1:23  While Jesus was in the synagogue, a man was there who had an evil spirit inside him. The man shouted,
Mar 1:24  "Jesus of Nazareth! What do you want with us? Did you come to destroy us? I know who you are--God's Holy One!"
Mar 1:25  Jesus, his voice full of warning, said, "Be quiet, and come out of him!"
 
My next article will hopefully explain how we can be permanently set free from being oppressed, or vexed, by demons…I believe they are a lot more common than most people realize.
 
Eze 37:4  Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. 
Eze 37:5  Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: 
Eze 37:6  And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. 

I have just finished reading Barton Jahn's book: THE HIGH STANDARDS OF GOD FOR END-TIMES CHRISTIANS. Mr. Jahn describes the necessity for born again Christians to willingly get off the throne of their lives and allow God to take his rightful position as LORD. He also explains how and why God often brings us to, and through, often very difficult and unwanted experiences and circumstances, which he calls "the other side of the cross".
Using both Old and New Testament examples, Mr. Jahn illustrates why God allows, and even orchestrates, our worst experiences to mold us into the kind of people HE wants to spend eternity with, also these often humiliating and difficult experiences are preparing us to be supernaturally used in the END-TIMES!
If your life has not been going the way you wanted or imagined, it just might be because God has something greater in store for you.

1Ti 6:8  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 
1Ti 6:9  But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 
1Ti 6:10  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 
 
We read in the Bible that people have been buying and selling merchandise with gold and silver since ancient times. The Bible first mentions “gold” almost at the very beginning of the Book of Genesis.
 
Gen 2:11  The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is GOLD; 
Gen 2:12  And the gold of that land is GOOD: there is bdellium and the onyx stone. 
 
The Book of Genesis states categorically that gold is GOOD!
 
GOOD: H2896, ṭôb
BDB Definition:
1) good, pleasant, agreeable (adjective)
 
The Bible also often remarks about the wealth, in silver and gold, of various patriarchs and kings from antiquity.
 
Gen 13:2  And Abram was very rich in cattle, in SILVER, and in GOLD. 
 
All through the Bible, everything of eternal value, most especially virtue and wisdom, is compared to gold and silver.
 
Job 23:10  But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as GOLD. 
 
Pro 8:10  Receive my instruction, and not SILVER; and knowledge rather than choice GOLD, 
Pro 8:11  For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
 
Pro 17:3  The fining pot is for SILVER, and the furnace for GOLD: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
 
Isn’t it odd that in recent times, silver and gold has been so denigrated and maligned by modern economists, intellectuals, and business leaders?
 
In truth, the GOLD standard is already a barbarous relic. John Maynard Keynes, A Tract on Monetary Reform (1923).
 
I am confident that those who believe in belief are wrong. That is, we no more need to preserve the myth of God in order to preserve a just and stable society than we needed to cling to the Gold Standard to keep our currency sound. Daniel Dennett.
 
"GOLD gets dug out of the ground in Africa, or someplace. Then we melt it down, dig another hole, bury it again and pay people to stand around guarding it. It has no utility. Anyone watching from Mars would be scratching their head." Warren Buffett.
 
What Warren Buffet ought to know, and what I believe he does actually know, is that GOLD provides a fundamental “utility” that is the foundation of global commerce, trade, economic growth, and most important of all…FREEDOM!  Let’s read what Warren Buffet’s father wrote about GOLD in a famous essay:
 
But when you recall that one of the first moves by Lenin, Mussolini and Hitler was to outlaw individual ownership of gold, you begin to sense that there may be some connection between money, redeemable in gold, and the rare prize known as human liberty.
- Rep. Howard Buffett, 1948
 
We do not have to be geniuses to figure out why tyrants, con men, and bankers would rather not use GOLD as money…the use of FIAT money makes it exceedingly simple for people in positions of power, and other scam artists, to steal money from the general public!
 
FIAT MONEY is a currency without intrinsic value that has been established as money by government regulation.
 
With the exception only of the period of the gold standard, practically all governments of history have used their exclusive power to issue money to defraud and plunder the people. – Friedrich August von Hayek
 
Historians tell us that the Chinese invented silk cloth, the compass, gun powder, paper, moveable type printing, and an invention more destructive and dangerous than gun powder… paper money.
 
Soon after the Mongol took over China and established Yuan (1264-1368) dynasty, it followed the example of its predecessors, Tang, Song and Chin, in using paper currency. The first paper currency issued in Yuan dynasty was in 1260. Various denominations were printed, ranging from a face value of two standard coins to the highest denomination of two strings. Excessive printing year after year soon flooded the market with depreciated paper money until the face value of each certificate bore no relation whatsoever to its counterpart in silver. In 1272 a series of new issues was put in circulation and the old issues were converted into the new ones at the ratio of five to one. The new issues were printed with copper plates instead of wood blocks, as had been the case before. In 1309 another conversion became necessary. In fifty years from 1260 to 1309 Yuan's paper money was depreciated by 1000 percent. http://www.silk-road.com/artl/papermoney.shtml
 
When European leaders learned about paper money from the Mongols, there was no stopping them from forcing the general public to take worthless fiat paper money in place of valuable gold and silver. History also tells us that invariably whenever a government has experimented with the use of paper fiat money, the end results were always the same: inflation, war, economic collapse, and finally the destruction of the government.
 
Gold is not necessary. I have no interest in gold. We will build a solid state, without an ounce of gold behind it. Anyone who sells above the set prices, let him be marched off to a concentration camp. That's the bastion of money.  Adolf Hitler
 
Like Nazi Germany and the Mongol Empire before them, the United States began its experiment with fiat money in 1971, after President Nixon closed the gold window and stopped redeeming the dollar for gold. I believe that the United States, and the whole world, will soon witness the end result of that historically doomed experiment one final time.
 
The gold standard did not collapse. Governments abolished it in order to pave the way for inflation. The whole grim apparatus of oppression and coercion — policemen, customs guards, penal courts, prisons, in some countries even executioners — had to be put into action in order to destroy the gold standard. Solemn pledges were broken, retroactive laws were promulgated, provisions of constitutions and bills of rights were openly defied. And hosts of servile writers praised what the governments had done and hailed the dawn of the fiat-money millennium. Ludwig von Mises
 
I am sorry if I have gone on too long with a history of paper money. I believe GOLD and SILVER is God’s ONLY real money, and everything else, including cryptocurrency, is a Ponzi scheme created to fleece the general public. I also believe that a brief history lesson of fiat money is necessary in order for us to foresee the most likely consequences of using CRYPTOCURRENCY as money. I believe that cryptocurrency will be the last money to be used before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
 
CRYPTOCURRENCY: a digital asset designed to work as a medium of exchange that uses cryptography to secure its transactions, to control the creation of additional units, and to verify the transfer of assets. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptocurrency
 
Rev 13:16  And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 
Rev 13:17  And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 
 
We see in the Book of Revelation that the “beast” and his “beast system” will have a mechanism in place that will actually prevent people from engaging in commerce if they refuse to receive a MARK in their right hand, or in their foreheads. What possibly can it be?
 
MARK: G5480, charagma, khar'-ag-mah
From the same as G5482; a scratch or etching, that is, stamp (as a badge of servitude), or sculptured figure (statue): - graven, mark.
 
A lot of people have speculated about the identity of the “mark of the beast”, including me, but we have to ask another more pertinent question. “How would a mark prevent, or allow, somebody from engaging in trade and commerce?” The answer is, it wouldn’t stop anybody from buying or selling…not unless EVERY TRANSACTION CAN BE TRACKED!
 
If you are familiar with the history of cryptocurrency you might say to yourself, “BITCOIN is a decentralized currency and was specifically created to give people anonymity and privacy!”
 
BITCOIN is the first decentralized digital currency, as the system works without a central bank or single administrator. The network is peer-to-peer and transactions take place between users directly, without an intermediary.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitcoin
 
I know that advocates of bitcoin always proclaim the benefits of cryptocurrency as safe, uncomplicated, and private. However, if you want to do a transaction with anybody, the transaction MUST take place on the cryptocurrency’s peer-to-peer network, and the transaction MUST take place on the internet. Also, advanced cryptocurrencies can pinpoint the time, place, and identity of every financial transaction. Therefore, EVERY TRANSACTION CAN BE TRACKED!
 
I can hear some cryptocurrency advocates protests already, “You can do transactions over the TOR network and do everything in secret!” Can you really? I believe the TOR network is only secret if the government does not care what you are doing on the TOR network. If you do a large amount of transactions using cryptocurrency on the TOR network…no doubt certain people in the government will definitely care!
 
TOR is free software for enabling anonymous communication. The name is derived from an acronym for the original software project name "The Onion Router".
 
TOR aims to conceal its users' identities and their online activity from surveillance and traffic analysis by separating identification and routing. It is an implementation of onion routing, which encrypts and then randomly bounces communications through a network of relays run by volunteers around the globe.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tor_(anonymity_network)
 
Let me tell you the story about the “Silk Road”, NOT the ancient trading route between Europe and China, but a more modern version.
 
SILK ROAD was an online black market and the first modern darknet market, best known as a platform for selling illegal drugs. As part of the dark web,[7] it was operated as a Tor hidden service, such that online users were able to browse it anonymously and securely without potential traffic monitoring. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silk_Road_(marketplace)
 
In 2011, a down on his luck former Eagle Scout named Ross Ulbricht came up with the almost brilliant idea of creating an online black market site called “Silk Road”. His idea was to allow people to do any transaction (legal or illegal) in complete anonymity using the TOR network, while also using “bitcoin” instead of dollars to make payments…brilliant!!! Maybe not so brilliant because although the advocates of “TOR” and “bitcoin” claim that they are anonymous… neither TOR nor bitcoin are private if the government wants to know what you are doing.
 
The project (TOR) was originally developed on behalf of the U.S. intelligence community and continues to receive U.S. government funding, and has been criticized as "more resembl[ing] a spook project than a tool designed by a culture that values accountability or transparency".[19] As of 2012, 80% of The Tor Project's $2M annual budget came from the United States government, with the U.S. State Department, the Broadcasting Board of Governors, and the National Science Foundation as major contributors. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tor_(anonymity_network)
 
Ross Ulbricht was arrested in 2013, he was convicted of money laundering, and conspiracy to traffic narcotics in 2015. His black market site “Silk Road” was shut down, over 144,000 bitcoins were seized (today worth approximately 1.5 billion dollars), and he is currently serving a life sentence in a Federal penitentiary…If Ross really believed that he could do something “anonymously” over the internet, Ross Ulbricht was not very brilliant after all.
 
The origins of “bitcoin” also resemble a spook project. According to cryptocurrency legend, bitcoin was created by a mysterious person, or person(s), named “Satoshi Nakamoto”.
 
SATOSHI NAKAMOTO is the name used by the unknown person or people who developed bitcoin, authored the bitcoin white paper, and created and deployed bitcoin's original reference implementation.[1] As part of the implementation, they also devised the first blockchain database.[2] In the process they were the first to solve the double-spending problem for digital currency using a peer-to-peer network. They were active in the development of bitcoin up until December 2010. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satoshi_Nakamoto
 
Satoshi Nakamoto claimed that he lived in Japan and was born on April 5, 1975. All attempts to identify or verify Satoshi Nakamoto’s true identity have proven fruitless. If he/she is a real live person, not only would they be ranked as one of the top coders in the world, but they possess clandestine and covert abilities that make James Bond look like a rank amateur.
 
And yet Nakamoto himself was a cipher. Before the début of bitcoin, there was no record of any coder with that name. He used an e-mail address and a Web site that were untraceable. In 2009 and 2010, he wrote hundreds of posts in flawless English, and though he invited other software developers to help him improve the code, and corresponded with them, he never revealed a personal detail. Then, in April, 2011, he sent a note to a developer saying that he had “moved on to other things.” He has not been heard from since. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2011/10/10/the-crypto-currency
 
If Satoshi Nakamoto is a real person(s), then he/she/they could be sitting on many billions of dollars worth of bitcoin today. However, what if Satoshi Nakamoto isn’t a “person”?
 
There are some people who have speculated that Satoshi Nakamoto is an ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
 
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE is applied when a machine mimics "cognitive" functions that humans associate with other human minds, such as "learning" and "problem solving".
 
There has been much debate about whether Satoshi Nakamoto could be an artificial intelligence. Many people claim that the science of artificial intelligence is nowhere near advanced enough to produce the bitcoin code. However, I do not think even the most knowledgeable people involved in the field of artificial intelligence can possibly keep track of all the advances in the industry.
 
First, there are just too many people and governments working on artificial intelligence to keep track of everything. Second, many advances in artificial intelligence are top, top secret. Third, what if there was an actual sentient intelligence active today and it wanted to keep its own presence secret? According to artificial intelligence researchers, when AI reaches a point to where it can begin to learn and then program its own code, it will then be able to learn and improve itself at an exponential rate, and it will thereby rapidly surpass all human intelligence combined. http://www.motsog.com/fundamentals/the-artificial-intelligence-ai-god
 
 
Eph 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 
Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 
 
I believe there are sentient “intelligences” much higher than ours that have been present and active in the world since long before the computer age. The Bible gives us brief glimpses into their activity, and their involvement in the affairs of mankind. I do not doubt that these higher intelligences are capable of mimicking the identity of an artificial intelligence. It seems to me that the sudden appearance of cryptocurrency and its capabilities at this point in human history is not a coincidence. I am firmly convinced that Satan and his minions are hard at work trying to prepare for the arrival of the final world leader called the beast, the son of perdition, and the antichrist. I also believe that cryptocurrency will be an integral part of the "beast system".
 
Rev 13:7  And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 
Rev 13:8  And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. 
 

I have recently published another FREE e-book. It is a compilation of my "TRIBULATION TIMELINE" blog articles with some new stuff added. If anyone is interested in reading it, you can click the link on the right side of the webpage or you can CLICK HERE.

Gal 1:11  But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 
Gal 1:12  For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. 
 
There is a very valuable principal that can be applied to nearly everything…CUT OUT THE MIDDLEMEN.
 
Food is a good example, the more times that food is handled and processed by other people, the more tasteless and unhealthy it generally is for you. Whereas, if you grow you own food, and eat it directly from your own garden, when it is ripe and ready to harvest, generally it will provide you with optimal freshness, taste, and nutrition.
 
This principal of “cutting out the middlemen” is doubly important for your spiritual health.
 
1Co 11:3  But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. 
1Co 11:4  Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. 
1Co 11:5  But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. 
 
The Church has become horribly abnormal and corrupt through the historical machinations of various people seeking to gain wealth and power (the Nicolaitans).
 
When the Apostle Paul discussed marriage, he often brought the discussion right back to the very beginning of creation, to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. His argument was simple, yet very powerful…the husband should ALWAYS represent Jesus Christ, and the wife should ALWAYS represent the Church.
 
Did you notice that Paul said that the head of EVERY man is Christ…NOT the apostles, NOT the prophets, NOT the pastors, NOT the popes, NOT the bishops, NOT the priests, NOT the ministers, NOT the elders, NOT the church board of directors, etc., etc. Let that sink in for a while, “the head of EVERY man is CHRIST!
 
Col 2:18  Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of ANGELS, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 
 
We see where these false teachers were coming from by the words “vainly (eike – without success or effort)” and “puffed up (phusioo – proud)”. It brings to mind false prophets like Muhammad or Joseph Smith, who both claimed they received visits from angelic beings, which somehow gave them license to totally corrupt the gospel of Jesus Christ and start whole new religions.
 
The word (HUMILITY), occurring elsewhere always in a good sense, in this chapter (comp. Col_2:23) seems to point to something blameworthy: ‘a false and perverted lowliness, which deemed God was so inaccessible that He could only be approached through the mediation of inferior beings’ (Ellicott). A Popular Commentary on the New Testament.
 
ANGELS: G32, aggelos, ang'-el-os
From ἀγγέλλω aggellō (probably derived from G71; compare G34; to bring tidings); a messenger; especially an “angel”; by implication a pastor: - angel, messenger.
 
Although the world “angel” is often used to describe “heavenly messengers”, it was also often used to describe “people”. SEE Matt. 11:10, Luke 7:24, James 2:25.
 
Read the 2nd Chapter of Colossians closely, you will see that false teachers were attempting to substitute “philosophy” and the “traditions of men” for the perfect gospel of Jesus Christ. I like Ellicott’s commentary: ‘a FALSE and PERVERTED lowliness.’
 
Whenever we place frail and flawed people on a pedestal, they are destined to disappoint and fail us. We should never confuse a mere human with God. It is like comparing a drop of water with the ocean!
 
All through the Bible we notice that people seem to want a human intermediary between them and God. When God came down on Mount Sinai to meet with the children of Israel, the people wanted Moses to be their intermediary.
 
Exo 20:19  And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. 
 
During the time of the Judges of Israel, the people wanted God to make a king to rule over them.
 
1Sa 8:4  Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, 
1Sa 8:5  And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. 
1Sa 8:6  But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. 
1Sa 8:7  And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. 
 
When we determine in our heart that we want to serve a flawed human being, in reality we are rejecting God’s reign over us. I suspect that most people are convinced that a person is much easier to serve than God. If there is one thing the Bible makes perfectly clear… people are much, much harder to serve than God! This applies both to the secular and to the religious world.
 
If you look hard enough for somebody to serve, you will usually find them, and the people who insist on being served all the time are not the type of people you actually want to serve.
 
Dan 4:17  This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men. 
 
Think about it for a second, Who actually NEEDS to be served all of the time? I think I can break it down into three categories: 1) Very YOUNG children NEED to be served. 2) Very SICK people NEED to be served. 3) Very OLD people NEED to be served.
 
Everybody else should serve ONLY God!
 
Mat 4:10  Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him ONLY shalt thou SERVE. 
 
ONLY: G3441, monos, mon'-os
Probably from G3306; remaining, that is, sole or single; by implication mere: - alone, only, by themselves.
 
SERVE: G3000, latreuō, lat-ryoo'-o
From λάτρις latris (a hired menial); to minister (to God), that is, render religious homage: - serve, do the service, worship (-per).
 
We observe that the words “service”, “homage”, and “worship” are all related. Service and worship are what Satan craves and demands from people. Therefore, when people crave to be in positions of power, we know exactly where they are coming from…don’t we?
 
I should interject that there is nothing wrong with lending people a helping hand occasionally, or when we enter into short term contractor situations, the problems begin to magnify and get out of control when we enter into permanent employee/employer relationships with other people…especially when we cultivate religious relationships based on money!
 
Act 20:29  For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 
Act 20:30  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 
 
This description is in stark contrast to Paul’s description of himself as a true Apostle:
 
Act 20:33  I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. 
Act 20:34  Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. 
Act 20:35  I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. 
 
Now let us read how the Apostle Peter described the conduct of a true elder of the Church.
 
1Pe 5:2  Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 
1Pe 5:3  Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 
 
Now let us read how the Apostle Peter described false prophets and teachers that would infiltrate the Church in the last days.
 
2Pe 2:3  And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. 
 
You do not need to possess the wisdom of Solomon to know the difference between a true disciple of Jesus Christ and a false shepherd.
 
Rev 2:15  So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 
Rev 2:16  Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 
 
The LORD commends the Church of Ephesus because they hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans and He condemns the Church of Pergamos because they tolerated the Nicolaitans.

We see that the Nicolaitans have been in the church from nearly the beginning and now they are so much part of the church that people don’t even recognize that Jesus “hates” their deeds and their doctrine.

The word nicolaitan comes from the combination of two Greek words:

G3532, Nikolaos, nik-ol'-ah-os
From G3534 and G2004; victorious over the people; Nicolaus, a heretic: - Nicolaus.
Let’s dig a little deeper, shall we?
G3534, nikos, nee'-kos
From G3529; a conquest (concretely), that is, (by implication) triumph: - victory.
G2004, epitassō, ep-ee-tas'-so
From G1909 and G5021; to arrange upon, that is, order: - charge, command, injoin.

The Strong’s concordance says that Nicolaitans were adherents of a heretic named Nicolaus. I believe this is just a deception the Nicolaitans came up with to hide their presence in the Church.

We can understand who they really are and what they believe by the Greek meaning of the name: VICTORIUS OVER THE PEOPLE. The Nicolaitans believe that somebody should be in charge, and that the people needed to be under a command structure or hierarchy.

If you have not recognized who the Nicolaitans are then all you need to do is look into the infrastructure of nearly any modern organization. Most modern organizations are set up under the Nicolaitan system of hierarchy, a system of command and control, whether the organization is government, corporate, or religious. Another name for the Nicolaitan system in the Bible is BABYLON! The Nicolaitans will tell you about Jesus all day long and every day of the week but they will never introduce you to Jesus.

The True Church is just the opposite. The saints hear directly from God, they serve ONLY God, and ALL the saints are Kings and Priests of the Most High. The saints have a family relationship with ONE Father, and ONE High Priest, and ONE another.

Zec 11:15  And the LORD said unto me, Take unto thee yet the instruments of a foolish shepherd. 
Zec 11:16  For, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, which shall not visit those that be cut off, neither shall seek the young one, nor heal that that is broken, nor feed that that standeth still: but he shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces.