Act 8:35  Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 
Act 8:36  And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 
Act 8:37  And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 
Act 8:38  And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. 
Act 8:39  And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. 
 
We see in the Book of Acts that an Ethiopian eunuch was reading the Book of Isaiah, the fifty-third (53rd) chapter, but without understanding. The Holy Spirit specifically told the Apostle Philip to approach the Ethiopian’s chariot. When Philip heard that the Ethiopian was reading from the Book of Isaiah, he used the 53rd chapter of Isaiah to preach about Jesus Christ. If you read the 53rd Chapter of Isaiah, you will realize that there is only one person in history Isaiah could have been writing about…JESUS CHRIST!
 
We know that Philip preached about Jesus, but he also must have preached about salvation and baptism in water because the eunuch specifically asks to be baptized. It reminds me of the story in the Book of Acts about Paul and Silas being imprisoned in the city of Philippi.
 
Act 16:25  And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 
Act 16:26  And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. 
Act 16:27  And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. 
Act 16:28  But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. 
Act 16:29  Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 
Act 16:30  And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 
Act 16:31  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 
Act 16:32  And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. 
Act 16:33  And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. 
 
We can see from scripture that salvation is simply “BELIEVING ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST”. The Apostle Paul makes the requirements for salvation plain in the Book of Romans:
 
Rom 10:8  But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 
Rom 10:9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 
Rom 10:10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 
 
BELIEVE IN THINE HEART THAT GOD HATH RAISED HIM (JESUS) FROM THE DEAD.
 
Act 8:36  And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 
Act 8:37  And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.
 
CONFESS WITH THY MOUTH THE LORD JESUS.
 
Act 8:37 I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 
Act 8:38  And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. 
 
We see that the Apostle Paul does not tell us that we need to be baptized in water to be SAVED! However, neither Philip nor Paul wasted any time before they baptized the Ethiopian eunuch or the Jailer in Philippi. Baptism in water is needed for REMISSION OF SINS (publically forsaking sin)! When a new Christian is baptized, they are formally, and publically, leaving Egypt (the Satanic World System)!
 
Therefore, if we lead a person to Jesus Christ on their death bed, we do not need to insist that they be baptized in water. However, if we lead somebody to Jesus Christ, and they confess that Jesus is LORD, and they are able bodied, they should be baptized in water as soon as possible…not weeks, or months, or even years later!
 
Also, if you lead somebody to Jesus Christ, you do not need to make an appointment with a minister, pastor, or priest to schedule a baptism…YOU take them to the closest body of water and baptize them (fully immerse them in water), IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!
 
Act 2:38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the REMISSION of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 
 
REMISSION: G859, aphesis, af'-es-is
From G863; freedom; (figuratively) pardon: - deliverance, forgiveness, liberty, remission.
 
I do not believe “forgiveness” is the best translation of the Greek word APHESIS. The best translation is probably “FORSAKING” or “LAYING ASIDE” our sin, as we will clarify by the Greek root word HIEMI.
 
G863, aphiēmi
From G575 and ἵημι hiēmi (to send; an intensive form of εἶμι eimi (to go)); to send forth, in various applications: - cry, forgive, forsake, lay aside, leave, let (alone, be, go, have), omit, put (send) away, remit, suffer, yield up.
 
If you are reading this article and you BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, but you have never been baptized in water, nor have you publicly forsaken your sin and your attachment to the world, then you should pray to God that He will lead you to a mature Christian who will baptize you for the remission of sins. We see from many stories in the Bible that God sent His servants far and wide to save His lost sheep!
 
Although by the act of baptism, we are publicly forsaking sin and renouncing the authority of Satan over us; however, the devil is not very willing to allow us to work for the benefit of God’s kingdom. Therefore, Satan will do everything in his power to either tempt us back to sin and back under his authority, or the devil will keep us wandering around lost in the wilderness until we die.
 
Rom 6:15  What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 
Rom 6:16  Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 
 
There is no such thing as a little sin. You cannot have one foot in Egypt and one foot in the Promised Land. You need to make a conscious choice that you are going to forsake Egypt, or stay in Egypt. If you decide to stay in Egypt, you will never enjoy the supernatural blessings of God. Egypt can counterfeit the blessings of God, but the leeks, and the melons, and the garlic, and the fish from the Nile River will never be the same as the milk and the honey in the Promised Land. There will always be many false brethren who will try and convince you that the joys of Egypt are the same, or even better than the blessings of the Promised Land.
 
Num 11:4  And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: 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 freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: 
 
Just like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, just like the Children of Israel and Jesus, in the Wilderness, we are going to suffer temptation from Satan during our journey in the Wilderness. That is why we need the BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT! This is also why we need to complete our journey as soon as possible.
 
We cannot overcome Satan in the wilderness by our own strength, but the Holy Spirit can, and will, overcome Satan and the lusts of our flesh…if we invite Him to work on our behalf.
 
We see that after the resurrection, Jesus taught His disciples and His followers for forty (40) days. Interesting that the ministry of Jesus began with a forty (40) day fasting period, and then Jesus ended His ministry with a forty (40) day teaching period.
 
Act 1:1  The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 
Act 1:2  Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: 
Act 1:3  To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: 
Act 1:4  And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 
Act 1:5  For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. 
 
Just before Jesus ascended back to heaven, He commanded His followers to tarry in Jerusalem until they received the “baptism of the Holy Ghost”. We know that one-hundred and twenty (120) people received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost ten (10) days later on the Feast of Pentecost.
 
Act 1:15  And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) 
 
Another interesting fact is that Jesus appeared to about five-hundred (500) people AFTER His resurrection, but only one-hundred and twenty (120) were obedient enough to tarry in Jerusalem and receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost!
 
1Co 15:3  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 
1Co 15:4  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 
1Co 15:5  And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 
1Co 15:6  After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 
 
The Book of Acts does not mention that the disciples “FASTED” during their ten (10) day period of prayer and supplication, but I think we can reach a logical conclusion that the disciples were probably fasting from what the Bible tells us about that ten (10) day period.
 
Act 1:14  The apostles had a single purpose as they devoted themselves to prayer. They were joined by some women, including Mary (the mother of Jesus), and they were joined by his brothers. God’s Word Bible.
 
I picture them all together praying continually, perhaps taking a little water, maybe a little food, and an occasional nap, until they received the baptism of the Holy Ghost…no matter how long it might take! However, there appears to be some significance to a ten (10) day fasting period.
 
Dan 1:11  Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 
Dan 1:12  Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse (VEGETABLES) to eat, and water to drink. 
Dan 1:13  Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants. 
Dan 1:14  So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. 
Dan 1:15  And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat. 
 
I know some people ask God for the baptism of the Holy Ghost and don’t receive it for years…me included. However, I do not believe we have too many years to wait because Jesus is coming back very soon! Therefore, here are some pointers about how you can ask for, and receive, the baptism of the Holy Ghost:
 
1. First, set your mind to pray, and to keep praying, until you receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Some people claim that speaking in tongues is from the devil. God will not give you something evil if you are praying for the baptism of His Holy Ghost.
 
Luk 11:11  If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? 
Luk 11:12  Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 
Luk 11:13  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? 
 
2. Second, FASTING goes with prayer like milk goes with honey. All through the Bible, people fasted and prayed when they really, really, wanted something from God. The prophets fasted, the Apostles fasted, Jesus fasted, fasting will never go out of style!
 
FASTING: G3521, nēsteia, nace-ti'-ah
From G3522; abstinence (from lack of food, or voluntary and religious); specifically the fast of the Day of Atonement: - fast (-ing.)
 
Mat 6:16  "When you fast, stop looking sad like hypocrites. They put on sad faces to make it obvious that they're fasting. I can guarantee this truth: That will be their only reward.
Mat 6:17  When you fast, wash your face and comb your hair.
Mat 6:18  Then your fasting won't be obvious. Instead, it will be obvious to your Father who is with you in private. Your Father sees what you do in private. He will reward you.
 
Jesus said, “WHEN you fast” not “IF you fast”. God expects us to fast if we are serious about our prayers. Fasting appears to be mandatory if we expect deliverance.
 
Mar 9:28  And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out? 
Mar 9:29  And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting. 
 
If you are taking medication, you should probably discuss any long fast with your family drug dealer… I mean with your family doctor!
 
3. Last but not least, start hanging around with Christians that have already been baptized with the Holy Ghost (i.e. usually people who attend charismatic or Pentecostal Churches, but not necessarily).
 
If you spend all your time around people using drugs, or alcoholics, or people who are sexually promiscuous, or people who like to dabble in the occult…you will be attracting demonic spirits, NOT the Holy Spirit.
 
I received the gift of the Holy Ghost when I attended a Pentecostal “revival”. I didn’t fast or pray, I was filled with the Holy Ghost when I was sitting in the pews. The same thing happened several times in the Book of Acts.
 
Act 2:38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 
 
Act 8:15  Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 
Act 8:16  (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 
Act 8:17  Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. 
 
Act 9:17  And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 
 
Act 10:44  While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 
Act 10:45  And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 
Act 10:46  For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 
Act 10:47  Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 
 
EVERY CHRISTIAN SHOULD BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST!!!
 
Do not let the devil steal your victory in Jesus Christ with his bad theology!
 
You might have heard, “The Minister/Pastor/Priest at my Church says speaking in tongues is from the devil.”
 
Jesus called this: BLASPHEMY AGAINST THE HOLY GHOST.
 
Mat 12:31  Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. 
Mat 12:32  And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. 
 
You might have heard, “The Minister/Pastor/Priest at my Church says speaking in tongues stopped with the Apostles.”
 
Stephen called this: RESISTING THE HOLY GHOST.
 
Act 7:51  Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. 
Act 7:52  Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: 
 
You might have heard, “The Minister/Pastor/Priest at my Church says that speaking in tongues should be done in private, and that we should do everything “decently and in order”.
 
The Apostle Paul called this: QUENCHING THE SPIRIT.
 
1Th 5:19  Quench not the Spirit. 
1Th 5:20  Despise not prophesyings. 
1Th 5:21  Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 
 
The Apostle Paul specifically told the Church at Corinth: “covet to prophecy” and “forbid not to speak in tongues”.
 
1Co 14:39  Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. 
1Co 14:40  Let all things be done decently and in order. 
 
There will be a day of reckoning for all the foolish Shepherds/Ministers/Pastors/Priests that have actively tried to prevent the Holy Ghost from sanctifying His Church. However, God will have a victorious, overcoming Church prepared for His Son. A glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle!
 
Every movement of the Spirit of God must also run the Gauntlet of the devil’s forces. The Dragon stands before the bearing mother, ready to swallow up her child (Rev. 12:4). And so with the present Pentecostal work in its beginning. Frank Bartleman, Azusa Street, How Pentecost Came to Los Angeles.
 
Eph 5:25  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 
Eph 5:26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 
Eph 5:27  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 

Act 1:4  And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 
Act 1:5  For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. 

THESE MAY BE THE MOST IMPORTANT ARTICLES THAT I HAVE EVER WRITTEN…IF MY READERS CAN UNDERSTAND THEM, AND TAKE THEM TO HEART!

In my last article, I wrote that I believed there will be a last great outpouring and baptism of the Holy Ghost just before the return of Jesus Christ. However, we do not need to wait a few short years for this outpouring (my timeline is 2022 AD). We all need the baptism of the Holy Ghost RIGHT NOW!
A great misconception many people have is that we need to be holy, clean, and without sin to receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost. If this were the case, nobody would ever receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost. We need the baptism of the Holy Ghost because it is HE that makes us holy and clean. It is the Holy Ghost who washes the inside and outside of our unclean vessels. Without the Holy Ghost, we can never be fit instruments for God’s service.

Act 1:6  When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 
Act 1:7  And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 
Act 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 
Act 1:9  And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 

Jesus commanded His disciples to tarry in Jerusalem until they received the Holy Ghost! We are being exceedingly presumptuous if we think we can be of any service to God WITHOUT the baptism of the Holy Ghost. The baptism of the Holy Ghost is not needed for salvation, but the baptism is definitely REQUIRED for service to God and to accomplish a victorious life and a divinely directed ministry.

Zec 4:6  Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, BUT BY MY SPIRIT, saith the LORD of hosts. 
Zec 4:7  Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it. 

There is a definite sequence of events in the New Testament. Jesus is our PERFECT example, Jesus is our perfect PATTERN. First, Jesus went to John the Baptist in order to be baptized in WATER.

Mat 3:13  Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 
Mat 3:14  But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 
Mat 3:15  And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. 
Mat 3:16  And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and LIGHTING upon him: 

Our baptism in water represents DEATH itself. Unfortunately, most people do not realize or understand this, they still have an abundance of hopes, plans, and strategies to improve themselves and their lot in life without any consideration for God’s plan for their life.

After Jesus was baptized in water, the Spirit of God descended like a dove, and LIGHTED upon him.

LIGHTING: G2064, erchomai
Thayer Definition:
1) to come
1a) of persons
1a1) to come from one place to another, and used both of persons arriving
1a2) to appear, make one’s appearance, come before the public
 
After we are baptized, we should begin digging a grave for our old plans and our old aspirations, and we should be asking God for His new plan for our life. We should consider our old pre-salvation, worldly plans, and aspirations DEAD. How many Christians actually die to their self? I dare say…not many.
 
Php 2:19  But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. 
Php 2:20  For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. 
Php 2:21  For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's. 
 
I am not pointing fingers because for too many years I sought my own plans, and not the things which are Jesus Christ’s. I believe that the Lord is willing, in these last days, that our understanding will be opened for the world’s sake, and for our own sake.
 
After Jesus was baptized in water, we observe that Jesus, FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, was driven into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit for forty days and forty nights, and all the while He was fasting and then He was tempted by the devil. Why?
 
Luk 4:1  And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led in the Spirit in the wilderness
Luk 4:2  during forty days, being tempted of the devil. And he did eat nothing in those days: and when they were completed, he hungered.
 
We must always remember that Jesus is our PERFECT PATTERN and example.
 
Heb 4:14  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 
Heb 4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 
 
The Exodus of the nation of Israel from the land of Egypt was also our example (but not a perfect one), and an allegory of our own SPIRITUAL journey, the story of Exodus reveals our complete bondage to sin and death (the World), and the story eventually unveils God’s plan for our arrival and possession of the Promised Land (the Kingdom of God), which is the ONLY place of peace, liberty, Godly service, and victory. Israel had to deal with the same temptations that Adam and Eve had to deal with, and the same temptations that Jesus Christ had to deal with, and the same passions and temptations that ALL of us must deal with BEFORE we enter the Promised Land.
 
Act 14:14  Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, 
Act 14:15  And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like PASSIONS with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: 
 
PASSIONS: G3663, homoiopathēs
Thayer Definition:
1) suffering the like with another, of like feelings or affections
 
Nobody is exempt from dealing with the same passions and temptations common to all people. We should receive some comfort in realizing this because the Bible shows us that supernatural victory is possible if we will only trust God. We see that Jesus, like the nation of Israel during the Exodus, came out of Egypt. We are ALL born under bondage!
 
Mat 2:14  When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: 
Mat 2:15  And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son. 
 
Then like the nation of Israel, Jesus was baptized in the wilderness.
 
1Co 10:1  Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 
1Co 10:2  And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 
 
Being obedient is good, but having understanding is better. Baptism in water represents the death of our old man, and the death of our old life, and our RESURRECTION and our re-birth as a new man in Jesus Christ, and the dedication of our new life to GOD! Baptism is not just a mysterious ritual that Christians go through.
 
If we are following the PERFECT PATTERN of Jesus Christ, first we must be baptized in water, then we must be anointed for service to God… we must be baptized in the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues!
 
Mar 5:41  And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. 
 
There are several places in the Gospels where Jesus spoke in a different language, and His words had to be INTERPRETED. I believe Jesus was speaking in tongues by inspiration of the Holy Ghost. He was NOT uttering strange incantations!
 
Just like the nation of Israel during the Exodus, Jesus went into the wilderness. Unlike most of the nation of Israel, Jesus did not die in the wilderness. Also, unlike the nation of Israel, Jesus only spent forty DAYS and NIGHTS in the wilderness, NOT forty YEARS in the wilderness!
 
Luk 4:1  And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 
Luk 4:2  Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. 
 
The amount of time that we each spend in our own personal wilderness depends upon whether we allow the Holy Ghost to mortify (put to death) our flesh and our carnal passions. Like the children of Israel, for the last two-thousand (2000) years, most Christians have died in the wilderness…I do not mean figuratively, I mean the MAJORITY of Christians have literally died without experiencing a supernaturally victorious life…that is about to change!
 
In the story of the Exodus, two old-timers (Joshua and Caleb) entered into the Promised Land, but the last generation were born and raised in the wilderness, they with Joshua and Caleb, also boldly went in and conquered the Promised Land.
 
I believe that Joshua (Jesus) represents Jesus Christ, the head of the Church, patiently waiting for the final generation to reach maturity before He enters into the Promised Land.

Caleb: H3612, kâlêb, kaw-labe'
Perhaps a form of H3611, or else from the same root in the sense of forcible; Caleb, the name of three Israelites: - Caleb.
 
H3611: H3611, keleb, keh'-leb
From an unused root meaning to yelp, or else to attack; a dog; hence (by euphemism) a male prostitute: - dog.
 
Num 14:21  But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD. 
Num 14:22  Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; 
Num 14:23  Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it: 
Num 14:24  But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it. 
 
I believe Caleb (dog) represents all of the old-timers born before 1967, who have glimpsed the Promised Land, who possessed faith to enter in, who have prepared themselves to enter in, but who are prevented from possessing the Promised Land prior to the arrival and maturation of God’s ANOINTED GENERATION. SEE http://www.motsog.com/fundamentals/gods-anointed-generation
 
When I was a kid there were a lot of old-timers who were sure that Jesus was coming back during their life-time, but they never lived to see it…the second coming of Jesus is the most looked for event in world history!
 
Mat 24:32  Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: 
Mat 24:33  So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. 
Mat 24:34  Verily I say unto you, This GENERATION shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. 
 
GENERATION: G1074, genea, ghen-eh-ah'
From (a presumed derivative of) G1085; a generation; by implication an age (the period or the persons): - age, generation, nation, time.
 
If you have read many of my earlier articles, you understand that I believe JERUSALEM is the key to understanding Bible prophecy.
 
JERUSALEM: H3389, yerûshâlaim,  yerûshâlayim, yer-oo-shaw-lah'-im, yer-oo-shaw-lah'-yim
A dual (in allusion to its two main hills (the true pointing, at least of the former reading, seems to be that of H3390)); probably from (the passive participle of) H3384 and H7999; founded peaceful; Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine: - Jerusalem.
 
JERUSALEM literally means TEACHING PEACE.
 
JERUSALEM is the place where Jesus taught, and ministered, and died, and rose from the dead on the third day. JERUSALEM is the place where Jesus will return and reign over the whole world for a thousand years! Therefore, we need to keep our eyes on JERUSALEM. On June 7, 1967, the Israeli Defense Forces took the Old City of JERUSALEM during the Six Day War. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem_Day
 
I believe that on the Feast of Pentecost, June 7, 2030, the feet of Jesus Christ will touch down on the Mount of Olives, in the City of JERUSALEM. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyEHFJ8IP1I
 
On June 7, 1967, I believe the countdown began for the generation that will witness the events surrounding the prophecies of the last days and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. If you read the prophecies of the Bible, it is obvious that prophetic events are unfolding at an ever increasing speed, and JERUSALEM IS THE KEY.
 
Luk 21:20  And when ye shall see JERUSALEM compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. 
Luk 21:21  Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. 
Luk 21:22  For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 
Luk 21:23  But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. 
Luk 21:24  And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and JERUSALEM shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. 
 
 

Isa 46:9  Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 
Isa 46:10  Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: 
 
Beginning on April 9, 1906, PASSOVER Eve, the Holy Spirit fell upon a small number of Saints at 214 North Bonnie Brae street, Los Angeles, California. From this small beginning, the charismatic and Pentecostal movement would sweep the world. Here is what Frank Bartleman, an observer of the events at Azusa Street, wrote about the beginnings of Pentecostalism.
 
I went to Burbank Hall, the New Testament Church Sunday morning, April 15. A colored sister was there and spoke in “tongues”. This created a great stir. The people gathered in little companies on the sidewalk after the service inquiring what this might mean. It seemed like Pentecostal “signs”. We then learned that the Spirit had fallen a few nights before, April 9, at the little cottage on Bonnie Brae street.
They had been tarrying very earnestly for some time for an outpouring. A handful of colored and white saints had been waiting there daily. It was just at Easter season again. For some reason I was not privileged to be present at that particular meeting. A number had spoken in “tongues” there.
I went to the Bonnie Brae meeting in the afternoon, and found God working mightily. We had been praying for many months for victory. Jesus was now “showing himself alive” again, to many. The pioneers had broken through, for the multitude to follow. There was a general spirit of humility manifested in the meeting. They were taken up with God. Evidently the Lord had found the little company at last, outside as always, through whom he could have right of way.
There was not a mission in the country where this could be done. All were in the hands of men. The Spirit could not work. Others far more pretentious had failed. That which man esteems had been passed by once more and the Spirit was born again in a humble “stable,” outside ecclesiastical establishments as usual. Azusa Street, How Pentecost Came to Los Angeles, by Frank Bartleman, 1925, Public Domain.
 
We see that the original Azusa street revival started from a “small company” that was fasting and praying outside the control of organized religion and the established Church. A small company OUTSIDE THE CAMP!
 
Heb 13:12  Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. 
Heb 13:13  Let us go forth therefore unto him WITHOUT THE CAMP, bearing his reproach. 
 
This leads us back to the story of Gideon and God’s three-hundred (300) CHOSEN.
 
Jdg 7:16  And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a TRUMPET (shophar) in every man's hand, with EMPTY PITCHERS, and LAMPS WITHIN the pitchers. 
Jdg 7:17  And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the OUTSIDE OF THE CAMP, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do. 
Jdg 7:18  When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, The SWORD of the LORD, and of Gideon. 
 
We see that God’s CHOSEN each had a TRUMPET, with an EMPTY PITCHER, with LAMPS WITHIN the pitchers. We are about to learn some good stuff here!
 
TRUMPET: H7782, shôphâr
BDB Definition:

1. horn, ram’s horn

 
The TRUMPET was a “ram’s horn” (shophar) fashioned into a musical instrument. The “ram’s horn” is first mentioned in the Book of Genesis when God tells Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac.
 
Gen 22:11  And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. 
Gen 22:12  And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. 
Gen 22:13  And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. 
Gen 22:14  And Abraham called the name of that place JEHOVAHJIREH: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen. 
 
JEHOVAHJIREH: H3070, yehôvâh yir'eh, yeh-ho-vaw' yir-eh'
From H3068 and H7200; Jehovah will see (to it); Jehovah-Jireh, a symbolical name for Mt. Moriah: - Jehovah-jireh.
 
Abraham calls the mountain of sacrifice JEHOVAH-JIREH, a compound word combining God’s name, JEHOVAH, with the word JIREH, which has some interesting meanings:
 
JIREH: 7200, râ'âh, raw-aw'
A primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitively, intransitively and causatively): - advise self, appear, approve, behold, X certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, X indeed, X joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, X be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see (-r, -m, one another), shew (self), X sight of others, (e-) spy, stare, X surely, X think, view, visions.
 
If we combine the name of JEHOVAH with JIREH’S different meanings, we receive deep insights into the significance of Abraham’s obedience and the sacrifice of his son:
 
JEHOVAH-APPEARS, JEHOVAH-APPROVES, JEHOVAH-CONSIDERS, JEHOVAH-GAZES, JEHOVAH-MEETS, JEHOVAH-PRESENT, JEHOVAH-PROVIDES, JEHOVAH-RESPECT, JEHOVAH-REGARDS, JEHOVAH-SEES (ONE ANOTHER), JEHOVAH-SHEWS (SELF), JEHOVAH-VISIONS.
 
Every Christian should know that this specific story of Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac is a perfect allegory of the sacrifice of God and His own Son, JESUS CHRIST. It is ONLY through the BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST that we have standing before the Lord God ALMIGHTY! Only when we contemplate God’s supreme sacrifice do we truly understand how much God LOVES US!
 
Rom 8:31  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 
Rom 8:32  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 
Rom 8:33  Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 
Rom 8:34  Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 
Rom 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 
Rom 8:36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 
Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 
 
The “ram’s horn” represents all these things and much, much more. Let’s take another look at the “sound” of the SHOPHAR.
 
Exo 19:16  And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet (SHOPHAR) exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. 
Exo 19:17  And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. 
Exo 19:18  And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. 
Exo 19:19  And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.
 
The “ram’s horn” represents the meeting ground between GOD and MAN! We are reconciled forever with God through the BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST! We can approach Him and He can approach us. Jesus Christ is our SAVIOUR,      He is our RIGHTEOUSNESS, He is our PROTECTOR, He is our PROVIDER, He is our INTERCESSOR, He is our FRIEND, and He is our BROTHER!
 
Next in the story of Gideon, we see that God’s CHOSEN carry an EMPTY PITCHER.
 
EMPTY: H7386, rêyq,  rêq
rake, rake
From H7324; empty; figuratively worthless: - emptied (-ty), vain (fellow, man).
 
If we look up the word EMPTY in the “King James Concordance” we find some interesting context for the word.
 
Rth 1:20  And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi (pleasant), call me Mara (bitter): for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. 
Rth 1:21  I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again EMPTY: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me? 
 
Often times, it is only when we are EMPTY that God can fill us with His Spirit and use us for His purposes. When all of our hopes and our dreams have been crushed and broken, then God can fill us with His hopes, and His dreams, and His Holy Spirit.
 
In Frank Bartleman’s book “Azusa Street: How Pentecost came to Los Angeles”, he wrote the following message from God:
 
“Shortly after God filled me, His Spirit rested mightily upon me one morning, and He said to me: ‘If you were only small enough I could do anything with you.’ A great desire to be little, yea, to be nothing, came into my heart. But it has been, oh, so hard to keep low enough for Him to really work through me.
 
God often times allows us to go through some very difficult and trying circumstances until we recognize our own limitations and turn to Him for our provision and begin to LEAN upon Him continually for our sustenance and for our supply.
 
Son 8:5  Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved?
 
Like the LORD, we need to EMPTY ourselves and HUMBLE ourselves so that we can provide a fit vessel for the Holy Spirit.
 
Php 2:5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 
Php 2:6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 
Php 2:7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 
Php 2:8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
 
The Apostle Paul recognized that in these earthen vessels, God has concealed the excellency of His power.
 
2Co 4:6  For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 
2Co 4:7  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
 
The only way that God’s power can be revealed in us is if these earthen vessels are broken.
 
Jdg 7:20  And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon. 
Jdg 7:21  And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled. 

God wants us to spend TIME with HIM! That is how God mortifies our flesh and breaks these pitchers of clay.


It is a secret joy to find
The task assigned beyond our powers;
For thus, if ought of good be wrought,
Clearly the praise is His, not ours.
--Houghton
 
When I was reading Frank Bartleman’s book about the Azusa Street Revival, the following verse from the Book of Genesis came to my mind:
 
Gen 6:3  And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. 
 
God told Noah that His spirit would only strive with man for one-hundred and twenty (120) years…then the flood came. Jesus told us that His second coming would be “as it was in the days of Noah.”
 
Luk 17:26  And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. 
Luk 17:27  They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
 
If we count one-hundred and twenty years from the beginning of the Azusa Street revival on PASSOVER 1906, we come to PASSOVER 2026. This is the date that I believe the “Christian Exodus” from the world “Babylonian” system (which includes organized religion) will take place. See my FREE book “Christian Exodus: Out of Babylon”. https://www.free-ebooks.net/search/christian+exodus
 
It is my belief and contention that all of the stories in the Bible, the characters and the timelines, are all allegories and examples to us who live in these last days. I believe the New Testament also teaches this method of interpreting the Bible.
 
1Co 10:10  And don't complain as some of them did. Because they complained, they were killed by the angel that destroys.
1Co 10:11  The things that happened to those people are examples. They were written to be warnings for us. We live in the time that all those past histories were pointing to.
1Co 10:12  So anyone who thinks they are standing strong should be careful that they don't fall. Easy-to-Read Version.
 
I believe that God has also allotted us one-hundred-and-twenty (120) years for His spirit to STRIVE with man in these last days, and then the judgment. However, I also believe that God will have one last great out-pouring of His Holy Spirit, just before the marriage supper of the lamb. I believe that this last great out-pouring will last for three-and one-half (3 and ½) years, similar to the ministry of Jesus. If we count back three-and-one-half (3 and ½) years from Passover 2026, we come to the Fall of 2022.
 
STRIVE: H1777, dı̂yn, dûn, deen, doon
A primitive root (compare H113); to rule; by implication to judge (as umpire); also to strive (as at law): - contend, execute (judgment), judge, minister judgment, plead (the cause), at strife, strive.
 
Smith Wigglesworth, a Pentecostal Evangelist who also attended the Azusa Street Revival, had a vision of one last great outpouring of the Holy Spirit just before he died.

Wigglesworth cried saying, “I probably won’t see you again now. My job is almost finished.”
As he continued to pray, he cried “I see it, I see it!”

Brother Sumrall asked, “What do you see, what do you see?

He said, “I see a healing revival coming right after World War II. It’ll be so easy to get people healed. I see it! I see it! I won’t be here for it, but you will be.” And there was a healing revival right after the war.

He continued to prophesy, “I see another one. I see people of all different denominations being filled with the Holy Ghost.” That was the Charismatic Revival. God raised up people during that era, like the Full Gospel Businessmen.

Then Brother Wigglesworth continued, “I see another move of God. I see auditoriums full of people, coming with notebooks. There will be a wave of teaching on faith and healing.” We did experience that wave he saw, and we call it the Word of Faith movement.

Then he prophesied, “After that, after the third wave,” he started sobbing. “I see the last day revival that’s going to usher in the precious fruit of the earth. It will be the greatest revival this world has ever seen! It’s going to be a wave of the gifts of the Spirit. The ministry gifts will be flowing on this planet earth. I see hospitals being emptied out, and they will bring the sick to the churches where they allow the Holy Ghost to move.”

http://www.prayforscotland.org.uk/smith-wigglesworths-1947-prophetic-word/

I may be off by a few years, but I believe that God does have a time table and an end date to His Spirit STRIVING with man. All I can say is this, if we do not humble ourselves, and prepare ourselves to meet Him when He comes, “Shame on us”.

I also believe that the last great move of God will not begin under the authority or patronage of organized religion, but it will happen when God’s CHOSEN go outside the camp and seek God’s Spirit, and seeks to know God’s will. I believe the end of the great outpouring of Pentecost will be similar to its beginnings. The Holy Spirit cannot be under the control of man…God and His Spirit is, and will always be, sovereign.

Zec 4:10  FOR WHO HATH DESPISED THE DAY OF SMALL THINGS? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth. 
Zec 4:11  Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof? 
Zec 4:12  And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? 
Zec 4:13  And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. 
Zec 4:14  Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth. 

Always and forever, God uses the despised and the small things of the world to confound the wise and the mighty. God uses the few to put armies to flight. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

1Co 1:26  For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 
1Co 1:27  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 
1Co 1:28  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 
1Co 1:29  That no flesh should glory in his presence. 
 
 

2Ch 16:9  For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is PERFECT toward him.
 
PERFECT: H8003, shâlêm, shaw-lame'
From H7999; complete (literally or figuratively); especially friendly. (shalem used by mistake for a name.): - full, just, made ready, peaceable, perfect (-ed), quiet, Shalem [by mistake for a name], whole.
 
Our heart needs to be PERFECT towards God. In other words, we must be inclined to listen to God and to put Him first in our lives. God makes a strange request before He uses Gideon to deliver Israel.
 
Jdg 6:25  And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Take thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it: 
 
Although I am sure that Gideon loved his father, God made Gideon step out in faith and take a stand against the idolatry of his father and the idolatry of the people in his home town. When we serve Jesus Christ, often times we must boldly contend with the people that we love the most. However, when we put Jesus first, He can even make our enemies to be at peace with us.
 
Pro 16:7  When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
 
It is absolutely essential that we make Jesus Christ the center of our life. However, when we do make Jesus Christ the center of our life, it usually has immediate and unwanted consequences.
 
Mat 10:35  For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 
Mat 10:36  And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. 
Mat 10:37  He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 
Mat 10:38  And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 
 
Although making Jesus the center of our life will usually have what appears to be negative consequences, if we keep our focus on Jesus, He is more than capable of changing our lives for the better, but He is also able to change the lives of those closest to us for the better. In the story of Gideon, he also makes a strange request of God.
 
Jdg 6:36  And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said, 
Jdg 6:37  Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said. 
Jdg 6:38  And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water. 
Jdg 6:39  And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew. 
Jdg 6:40  And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground. 
 
Just because an angel appears to you, it does not necessarily mean that it is an angel of the Lord. Gideon wanted to be double sure that it was actually God who was talking to him, or else he would be leading the armies of Israel to certain destruction and death. However, once Gideon was positive that he had received a Word from the Lord, He did not turn back. Many Christians today fail to listen to the Apostle John’s warning and learn from Gideon’s example.
 
1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but TRY the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 
1Jn 4:2  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 
1Jn 4:3  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
 
TRY, G1381, dokimazō, dok-im-ad'-zo
From G1384; to test (literally or figuratively); by implication to approve: - allow, discern, examine, X like, (ap-) prove, try.
 
There have been many false prophets throughout the Bible and throughout history, who were obviously false, if people would have simply tested them with the WORD of God. Anyone who denies that Jesus Christ is God in the flesh, or who denies the fundamental teachings of the God’s Word, is a false prophet even if they can perform miracles.
 
Rev 13:13  And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 
Rev 13:14  And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. 
 
This leads me to a defining characteristic of God’s CHOSEN. God’s elect are not easily led astray because they study and KNOW the Word of God and they depart from iniquity.
 
2Ti 2:19  Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 
 
The defining characteristic of a false teacher is heresy against the plain truth of God’s WORD with continual increasing UNGODLINESS.
 
2Ti 2:14  Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. 
2Ti 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 
2Ti 2:16  But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 
2Ti 2:17  And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; 
2Ti 2:18  Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. 
 
Just because someone reads and studies the Bible does not necessarily mean that they should be a teacher. A righteous and holy life is a marker of everybody who is walking in the spirit and a true follower of Jesus Christ. Anybody who is constantly causing division among the brethren is definitely not being led by the Spirit of God.
 
UNGODLINESS: G763, asebeia, as-eb'-i-ah
From G765; impiety, that is, (by implication) wickedness: - ungodly (-liness).
 
The Book of Jude expressly warns that in the last days false teachers will abound, who will attempt to lead believers into sin and apostasy.
 
Jud 1:17  But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 
Jud 1:18  How that they told you there should be MOCKERS (false teachers) in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 
Jud 1:19  These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. 
 
MOCKERS: G1703, empaiktēs, emp-aheek-tace'
From G1702; a derider, that is, (by implication) a false teacher: - mocker, scoffer.
 
The unmistakable sign of God’s chosen is love for God’s Word and love for the brethren.
 
Php 2:5  Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
Php 2:6  who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
Php 2:7  but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. English Standard Version.
 
Apart from God’s Word, it is simply impossible for a person to mature spiritually. Both the Old and New Testament testify that it is the Word of God that transforms us and equips us to serve God and His Church.
 
Psa 119:103  How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 
Psa 119:104  Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. 
Psa 119:105  NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. 
 
Knowing the Word of God is very important but equally important is UNITY of the brethren. If we are being led by the spirit, we should all be working towards the same goal. If there is a division among the saints then there is obviously some “Christians” who are not walking in the spirit and who are not listening to God.
 
This world is a minefield and if we are not listening to God there is a good chance that we will get ourselves and other people hurt. It is more important to simply wait and to hear from God than to take action without hearing from God first. God did not reprimand Gideon for asking for a sign before taking action, but God did reprimand King Saul for taking action without following for His direction.
 
1Sa 15:20  And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 
1Sa 15:21  But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal. 
1Sa 15:22  And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, TO OBEY IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 
1Sa 15:23  For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king. 
 
Samuel told King Saul that rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft. Look around yourself today, the world is in complete rebellion against God. Everyone does what is right in their own eyes and ignores the warnings in the Bible. Of course if a person does not listen to God, it is impossible for them to obey God. This brings me to another interesting detail in the story of Gideon.
 
Jdg 7:4  And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go. 
Jdg 7:5  So he brought down the people unto the water: and the LORD said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink. 
Jdg 7:6  And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water. 
 
I have read several commentaries about why God chose those who lapped water with their tongue over those who bowed down upon their knees to drink, but I believe the difference is simply this: The men who lapped water with their tongue were LISTENING TO GOD! The defining characteristic of someone who is walking in the spirit is “unpredictability”. People cannot predict where the “spiritual man” is going to go, or what they are going to do next. Therefore, they stand out from the crowd.
 
Joh 3:6  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 
Joh 3:7  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 
Joh 3:8  The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. 
 
The defining characteristic of someone who is not listening to God is “conformity”. They usually go along to get along. Before they make a decision, they put their finger up in the air and find out which way the wind is blowing. They do not want to appear “stupid” or “strange” to the people who are around them. They do not want to rock the boat or cause waves. They want to be exactly like everybody else, and they do not care whether going along with the crowd displeases God or not.
 
Jesus made is very clear that going along with the crowd, and being liked by everybody around us, is a sure recipe for disaster.
 
Luk 6:26  How horrible it will be for you when everyone says nice things about you. That's the way their ancestors treated the false prophets. God’s Word.
 
If we are actually listening to God and obeying His voice, it is more than likely that we will end up being an outcast and a pariah to everybody around us. If we want to be one of God’s CHOSEN, isolation and criticism is often the price we must pay.
 
2Ti 4:16  At my first hearing no one stood up in my defense. Everyone abandoned me. I pray that it won't be held against them.
2Ti 4:17  However, the Lord stood by me and gave me strength so that I could finish spreading the Good News for all the nations to hear. I was snatched out of a lion's mouth.
 
However, the good news is that God will never abandon us, and in these last days we will surely experience things that few people have ever been privileged to witness.
 
Joh 1:11  He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 
Joh 1:12  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 
 
It is the Christmas season and we should be casting our hearts and minds back to the story of a young girl who was about to give birth to the Son of God.
 
Luk 1:31  And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 
Luk 1:32  He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 
Luk 1:33  And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 
Luk 1:34  Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 
Luk 1:34  Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 
Luk 1:35  And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 
 
The Church has also been promised that in the last days, she will also travail and give birth to the Son of God.
 
Rev 12:1  And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: 
Rev 12:2  And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. 
 
The Church, like Mary, must simply believe God’s Word, and then claim it for herself.
 
Luk 1:37  For with God nothing shall be impossible. 
Luk 1:38  And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. 
 
Like Mary, we must all meditate on God’s Word and claim it for ourselves: “BE IT UNTO ME ACCORDING TO THY WORD.” Then the Son of God will be revealed in us!
 
Rev 12:10  And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 
Rev 12:11  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
 

Mat 20:16  So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few CHOSEN.
 
CHOSEN: G1588, eklektos, ek-lek-tos'
From G1586; select; by implication favorite: - chosen, elect.
 
God’s “chosen” (His PERFECT/MATURE sons) are those who have equipped themselves to serve their Father’s plan, and have stopped pursuing their own worldly agenda and desires.
 
How do I know that the four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, are all true accounts of a true person named Jesus?
 
I read about a MAN, or I should say GOD, who in the four gospels went about doing good, healing the sick, casting out demons, feeding thousands of people, teaching that we should love our enemies, and do good to them that hate us, and that we should pray for them that persecute us.
 
Mat 5:44  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 
Mat 5:45  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 
 
Then I read about how the authorities persecuted HIM, condemned HIM, and crucified HIM. I also read that all the people that He healed, and cast demons out of, and taught, and the thousands of people He fed, and the multitude of people who shouted Hosanna during the good times, were nowhere to be found when He needed comfort. With only four exceptions: one disciple (John), one woman He cast seven demons out of (Mary Magdalene), His aunt, and of course His mother. Most of the people around Him when He died were not mourning Him…but MOCKING Him.
 
Mat 27:39  And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, 
Mat 27:40  And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. 
Mat 27:41  Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, 
Mat 27:42  He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. 
Mat 27:43  He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. 
 
From my own personal experience in this world…I KNOW THAT THE STORY OF JESUS IS TRUE!
 
When I was a young man my father told me that about five percent (5%) of people are good, and about five percent (5%) are bad, and about (90%) will do whatever the rest of the crowd is doing. Now that I am old, I think my dad’s estimate of the number of good people was way too high, and his estimate of the number of bad people was way too low. However, it may be that the world is just that much worse since then.
 
What I do know from experience is this: when times are good, you will have a lot of people (friends) around you who will want to share in the good times, but when times are bad, you will find out how alone you really are…if you are really blessed, you might have a spouse, or a child, or a friend, or a parent that will stick around and comfort you in times of trouble, but don’t count on it too much…especially in these last days.
 
Now that you know my pessimistic view of people, or should I say my “realistic” view of people, let me tell you my optimistic view of God!
 
Heb 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for HE hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 
Heb 13:6  So that we may boldly say, The LORD is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. 
 
God has a final plan to save and deliver as many people as possible from the torments of an eternity in hell, and He has given His CHOSEN the enviable position and opportunity to witness His plan being implemented.
 
How do we equip ourselves to serve our Father’s plan? The process itself is really quite simple, but the “commitment” to begin and complete the process will be exceedingly difficult. Hopefully, the other articles in my blog have helped to convince you that time is not on our side!
 
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. 
Rom 8:15  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 
Rom 8:16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 
 
                                                                                       
First, we need to be COMMITTED. If we are sitting in front of a television during most of our free time, eating pizza and drinking soda or beer, wondering who ate all the chips, we are probably not very committed to JESUS CHRIST. Our first step is to stop lying to ourselves! I know, I know, I know, we all work hard, we need time to relax and recharge our batteries. If we need to work sixty hours a week to keep up with all our monthly bills, and house payments, and to buy more toys, if we are constantly taking on more “responsibilities”, will we ever have time for JESUS CHRIST? Just asking? Listen to the Apostle Paul.
 
2Ti 2:3  Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of JESUS CHRIST. 
2Ti 2:4  No man that warreth ENTANGLETH himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please HIM who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
 
ENTANGLETH: G1707, emplekō, em-plek'-o
From G1722 and G4120; to entwine, that is, (figuratively) involve with: - entangle (in, self with).
 
I can hear people right now…I can’t leave my parents, or I can’t leave my children, or I can’t leave my spouse, or I can’t leave my grandchildren, or I can’t leave my friends, or I can’t leave my dog, or I can’t leave my cat, or I can’t leave my business, or I can’t leave my stamp collection, etc., etc., etc. Frankly, if God can’t protect and take care of your loved ones, neither can you. Listen to JESUS CHRIST!
 
Mat 10:37  He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 
Mat 10:38  And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 
Mat 10:39  He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. 
 
If you have been reading my blog, you probably understand that I believe that the “world system” has been under the control of Satan and his demonic followers since the fall of Adam and Eve, for nearly six-thousand (6000) years. However, although God has been extremely patient, He is not going to allow this world to remain in a “fallen” state forever. There will come a time when God’s “grace” will come to an end and His “judgment” will begin. Perhaps you are counting on God holding off judgment until you grow old and die? That may be the worst mistake anybody could ever make!
 
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. 
 
We need to learn a lesson from the story of the tortoise and the hare:

The Hare & the Tortoise

A Hare was making fun of the Tortoise one day for being so slow.
"Do you ever get anywhere?" he asked with a mocking laugh.
"Yes," replied the Tortoise, "and I get there sooner than you think. I'll run you a race and prove it."
The Hare was much amused at the idea of running a race with the Tortoise, but for the fun of the thing he agreed. So the Fox, who had consented to act as judge, marked the distance and started the runners off.
The Hare was soon far out of sight, and to make the Tortoise feel very deeply how ridiculous it was for him to try a race with a Hare, he lay down beside the course to take a nap until the Tortoise should catch up.
The Tortoise meanwhile kept going slowly but steadily, and, after a time, passed the place where the Hare was sleeping. But the Hare slept on very peacefully; and when at last he did wake up, the Tortoise was near the goal. The Hare now ran his swiftest, but he could not overtake the Tortoise in time.

The race is not always to the swift.
 
All through the New Testament, we are warned to STAY AWAKE!
 
1Th 5:5  Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 
1Th 5:6  Therefore let us not SLEEP, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 
 
SLEEP: G2518, katheudō, kath-yoo'-do
From G2596 and εὕδω heudō (to sleep); to lie down to rest, that is, (by implication) to fall asleep (literally or figuratively): - (be a-) sleep.
 
Unfortunately, there are many people in the world, including many Christians, who believe that they have all the time in the world, but in reality their time in this world is swiftly running out! The Apostle Paul describes our short amount of time here on earth as a RACE.
 
1Co 9:24  Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 
1Co 9:25  And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 
1Co 9:26  I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 
1Co 9:27  But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. 
 
If the Apostle Paul did not take his salvation, or his journey here on earth for granted, how much more should we, who are living in the very last days, be preparing ourselves to meet the LORD when He comes?
 
I believe the story of GIDEON in the Book of Judges is our best illustration of why God will choose certain people over others. First, Gideon had zero self-confidence.
 
Jdg 6:14  And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? 
Jdg 6:15  And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house. 
 
The world is constantly encouraging people to be more “self-confident”, but God’s sanctification process is mainly attempting to teach us that we cannot have any confidence in ourselves.
 
Php 3:3  For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. 
 
Another word for self-confidence is PRIDE.
 
1Pe 5:5  Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the PROUD, and giveth grace to the HUMBLE. 
1Pe 5:6  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 
1Pe 5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 
 
PROUD: G5244, huperēphanos, hoop-er-ay'-fan-os
From G5228 and G5316; appearing above others (conspicuous), that is, (figuratively) haughty: - proud.
 
God actively resists the PROUD but He gives grace (favour) to the HUMBLE.
 
HUMBLE: G5011, tapeinos, tap-i-nos'
Of uncertain derivation; depressed, that is, (figuratively) humiliated (in circumstances or disposition): - base, cast down, humble, of low degree (estate), lowly.
 
I believe another definition of HUMILITY is simply for a person to have a “realistic” understanding and acknowledgment of an average man’s capabilities in comparison to God’s capabilities. Let me explain.
 
The Bible contains many stories about MIRACLES. These are events or capabilities that completely defy logic and our common experiences in the world. We understand from our experience in life that one man does not put an army to flight, we know that blind people do not suddenly see, we know that lame people do not suddenly leap up and walk, we also know that dead people do not rise from the grave. In other words, these events are what most people would call “impossible”. However, the Bible continually affirms that what is impossible for man is exceedingly easy for God.
 
Mar 10:27  And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. 
 
In the Books of the Bible, God is constantly putting people in “impossible” situations, so that they will learn “humility” and turn to Him for MIRACLES.
 
Jdg 6:11  And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites. 
Jdg 6:12  And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. 
Jdg 6:13  And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his MIRACLES which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. 
 
MIRACLES: H6381, pala, paw-law’
BDB Definition:
1) to be marvellous, be wonderful, be surpassing, be extraordinary, separate by distinguishing action
1a) (Niphal)
1a1) to be beyond one’s power, be difficult to do
 
I believe in the not too distant future, God is going to put the whole world in an “impossible” situation, and we will need to turn to Him for MIRACLES.
 
2Ch 16:9  For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.
 
 

Hos 6:1  “Come! Let’s return to Yahweh; for he has torn us to pieces, and he will heal us; he has injured us, and he will bind up our wounds. 
Hos 6:2  After two days he will revive us. On the THIRD DAY he will raise us up, and we will live before him. 
 
I am becoming more and more confident that the Church, and more specifically the last days Church is, and will be, a direct “mirror” or “reflection” of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
 
2Co 3:18  But we all, with unveiled face seeing the glory of the Lord as in a mirror, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit. World English Bible.
 
The Apostle Paul indicates that each Christian individually, but also the Church collectively, is being transformed into the image of the Lord Jesus Christ. This transformation will reach its perfect conclusion at the rapture/resurrection, but I also believe that the Church will have an end-times ministry that will directly reflect, and conform to, the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ.
 
Pro 4:18  But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light, that shines more and more until the perfect day. World English Bible.
 
I have written previously about “God’s Anointed Generation”, how the legalization of abortion all over the world, that began in 1967 and continues to this day, is eerily similar to the attempt by King Herod to destroy Jesus while He was still a baby.
 
http://www.motsog.com/fundamentals/gods-anointed-generation
 
We are also beginning to see the truth, the light, and the resurrection power of the “grace message” of Jesus Christ overcoming, and overthrowing, the traditional and highly legalistic Church message of the not too recent past.
 
Zec 4:7  Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain; and he shall bring forth the top stone with shoutings of GRACE, GRACE, unto it. American Standard Version.
 
GRACE: H2580, chên, khane
From H2603; graciousness, that is, subjectively (kindness, favor) or objectively (beauty): - favour, grace (-ious), pleasant, precious, [well-] favoured.
 
 
If you are a Christian, you have probably noticed that the persecution of the Church, and the persecution of the Jews, is increasing more and more around the world. We are seeing Church shootings, Synagogue shootings, the beheading of Christians, and yes, even the crucifixion of Christians.
 
https://www.charismanews.com/world/52438-11-christian-missionaries-crucified-and-beheaded
 
In the summer of 1967, we first became aware of what was then called the “summer of love”, which was a thinly disguised introduction of sexual immorality (fornication and demons), foreign religions (i.e. witchcraft and demons), and drug use (i.e. sorcery and demons). This so called “cultural revolution” of the 1960’s was simply a war against the teachings of Jesus Christ and a war against Christianity. Thus, we saw the Christian West falling into the “apostasy” spoken about by the Apostle Paul.
 
2Th 2:3  Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion (apostasy) comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
2Th 2:4  who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.
 
This all has set the stage for the appearance of the antichrist, and it is also preparing the world for the implementation of a “final solution” in order to deal with the so called “intolerance” and “hindrance” of Christianity, and the creation of a “New World Order”.
 
It appears from how Satan has targeted this last generation, he knows something that most people do not know. We must understand that Satan was intimately involved in the fall of Adam and Eve; therefore, even if we do not know the exact date of the fall…Satan does! If we do not know the exact date of the resurrection of Jesus Christ…Satan does! If, as I suspect, God has a six-thousand year timeline beginning from the fall of Adam and Eve and finally ending at the arrival of Jesus Christ and the beginning of His one-thousand year millennial reign, then Satan knows that his time is very short, and he is pulling out all the stops in order to stop the “manifestation of the sons of God” (motsog).
 
Rev 12:12  Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. 
 
Before the persecution of the Church kicks into high gear, I believe there must be another great outpouring of the Holy Spirit similar to the day of Pentecost.
 
Joe 2:28  "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.
Joe 2:29  Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit.
Joe 2:30  "And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke.
Joe 2:31  The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes.
 
Although charismatic Church denominations are some of the fastest growing Churches in the world, the unity of the charismatic movement is a far cry from the UNITY of the early Church just after Pentecost.
 
Act 4:32  And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and soul: and not one of them said that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
Act 4:33  And with great power gave the apostles their witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
Act 4:34  For neither was there among them any that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
Act 4:35  and laid them at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto each, according as any one had need.
 
I must confess, I have not sold everything that I own and given it away to the poor. Also, I will confess, I do not have any plans to start sharing everything I own anytime in the near future. However, one day I expect that Jesus will ask me to do exactly that, and I hope and pray that I will be obedient when I hear His voice!
 
Mat 19:21  Jesus said to him, “If you want to be PERFECT, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 
 
PERFECT: G5046, teleios
Thayer Definition:
1) brought to its end, finished
2) wanting nothing necessary to completeness
3) perfect
4) that which is perfect
4a) consummate human integrity and virtue
4b) of men
4b1) full grown, adult, of full age, mature
 
I believe that at some point in the future, Jesus will ask His “chosen” to leave everything behind and to follow Him.
 
Mar 10:29  And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, 
Mar 10:30  But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. 
Mar 10:31  But many that are first shall be last; and the last first. 
 
God’s “chosen” (His PERFECT/MATURE disciples) are those who have equipped themselves to serve their Father’s plan, and have stopped pursuing their own worldly plans and desires. I will write more about God’s “chosen” in my next article.
 
Heb 5:13  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 
Heb 5:14  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age (TELEIOS, PERFECT), even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. 
 
I suspect many people believe that I am just another in a long line of “false prophets” who have set dates for the return of Jesus, and like those previous date setters, I also will turn out to be wrong. I admit that I have set specific dates: September 23, 2029 for the rapture and June 7, 2030 for the Second Coming of Jesus and the beginning of His Millennial reign. If you are interested, you can read my FREE books “The Christian Exodus: Out of Babylon” and “Tribulation Timeline”.
 
https://www.free-ebooks.net/ebook/Christian-Exodus-Out-of-Babylon
 
https://www.free-ebooks.net/ebook/Tribulation-Timeline
 
However, I have never claimed to be a prophet, nor do I claim that I have any inside information that is not available to everybody else. I do claim to be a Christian, and I also claim that I am filled and baptized by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, I might have some “revelation” that is not available to some people. I also claim to have been studying the Bible for over forty years, which is probably more than most people. The key to deciphering the date of the Lord’s return is the Second Epistle of Saint Peter.
 
2Pe 3:8  But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that ONE day is with the Lord as a THOUSAND years, and a THOUSAND years as ONE day. 
 
I first came across Archbishop James Ussher’s dating of the earth when I was a teenager.
 
Ussher's proposed date of 4004 BC differed little from other Biblically-based estimates, such as those of Jose ben Halafta (3761 BC), Bede (3952 BC), Ussher's near-contemporary Scaliger (3949 BC), Johannes Kepler (3992 BC) or Sir Isaac Newton (c. 4000 BC).[1][dubious – discuss] Ussher was influenced by the same account as the apocryphal Book of Jasher, dating the worldwide flood to 2349 BC and the birth of Terah in 2127 BC. The date of 4000 BC as the creation of Adam was at least partially influenced by the widely held belief that the Earth was approximately 5600 years old (2000 to Abraham, 2000 from Abraham to the birth of Christ, and 1600 years from Christ to Ussher), corresponding to the six days of Creation, on the grounds that "one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day" (2 Peter 3:8). This tradition was believed to indicate that Jesus would return in 2000 AD,[2][3] more than six thousand years after 4004 BC. Modern proponents of this interpretation hold that the creation date 4004 BC could be inaccurate.
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ussher_chronology
 
Therefore, God created the earth OVER six-thousand (6000) years ago. Needless to say, I was very excited by the approach of the date 2000 AD. Also, needless to say, I believe the WHOLE Bible is the inspired Word of God! However, there was no great tribulation in the late 1990’s, and Jesus did not come back in 2000 AD when I was hoping He would. So was Archbishop Ussher wrong? Was Sir Isaac Newton wrong? Was I wrong??? I don’t think so. Then I came across an extra-Biblical text called the Epistle of Barnabas.
 
http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/barnabas-lightfoot.html
 
Barnabas 15:3
Of the Sabbath He speaketh in the beginning of the creation; And
God made the works of His hands in six days, and He ended on the
seventh day, and rested on it, and He hallowed it.
Barnabas 15:4
Give heed, children, what this meaneth; He ended in six days. He
meaneth this, that in six thousand years the Lord shall bring all
things to an end; for the day with Him signifyeth a thousand years;
and this He himself beareth me witness, saying; Behold, the day of
the Lord shall be as a thousand years. Therefore, children, in six
DAYS, that is in six thousand YEARS, everything shall come to an end.


Then I began to ponder…If everybody was not wrong about the six-thousand year time frame, then perhaps their starting date was wrong. What if God did not start His countdown at the beginning of creation, but He started His countdown at the FALL of Adam and Eve? It stands to reason that God allowed Adam and Eve some period of time in the Garden of Eden before He allowed Satan to tempt them into rebelling against Him by eating the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil! I believe that period of time was thirty (30) years, and that is why Jesus was crucified in 30 AD and not at the year zero (0), and that is also why I believe Jesus is coming back around 2030 AD.
 
*** I also must mention that according to my calculations, Jesus could come back in 2027 AD or 2033 AD. If you are wondering why, read my Book, “The Christian Exodus: Out of Babylon”. It will become clearer the closer we get to His arrival! Frankly, I believe we will see the true gospel message being restored and the working of the Holy Ghost with resurrection power will become more and more evident as the Lord’s Day approaches. I believe the arrival of the Lord on Mount Sinai was a “dress-rehearsal” for the Coming of the Lord before the start of His millennial reign.
 
Exo 19:16  And it came to pass on the THIRD DAY in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. 
Exo 19:17  And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. 
Exo 19:18  And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. 
 
Another “THIRD DAY” story that I had missed was the story of Joseph when he met the chief butler and the chief baker in prison.
 
Gen 40:20  And it came to pass the THIRD DAY, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. 
Gen 40:21  And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand: 
Gen 40:22  But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them. 
 
It was usually part of the job description of ancient butlers (cup bearers) to taste the King’s drinks, and part of the job description of ancient bakers was to taste the King’s food, prior to serving food and drink at the King’s table. I suspect poison was a favorite way of disposing of heads of state both then and now. Therefore, the chief butler and the chief baker were literally putting their lives on the line before every meal, and they were both probably held in very high esteem by Pharaoh. If Pharaoh fell ill after a meal, but both the butler and baker remained healthy, they both probably came under suspicion for poisoning Pharaoh. It appears from their dreams that the chief butler was innocent and the chief baker was guilty, but Pharaoh figured it out! When Jesus comes back, on the THIRD DAY, He will also judge His servants.
 
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.
 
Now we come to the crux of the matter. Our salvation is important, but Jesus Christ has an important plan that is not accomplished…yet.
 
Luk 13:31  The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee. 
Luk 13:32  And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the THIRD day I shall be PERFECTED.
 
PERFECTED: G5048, teleioō, tel-i-o'-o
From G5046; to complete, that is, (literally) accomplish, or (figuratively) consummate (in character): - consecrate, finish, fulfil, (make) perfect.
 
Wasn’t Jesus already PERFECT? The Greek word “teleioo” (G5048) is directly related to the Greek word “teleios” (G5046), which means “finished” or “full grown”. I believe Jesus had something in mind far greater than just His own resurrection. His final goal is the PERFECTION of His Church.
 
Luk 8:14  And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to PERFECTION . 
 
PERFECTION: G5052, telesphoreō, tel-es-for-eh'-o
From a compound of G5056 and G5342; to be a bearer to completion (maturity), that is, to ripen fruit (figuratively): - bring fruit to perfection.
 
Not only is the PERFECTION of the Church the final goal of Jesus Christ, it was also the Apostle Paul’s overriding goal and purpose.
 
2Co 13:9  For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your PERFECTION. 
 
Therefore, when the Lord made a promise to the Pharisees…He also made a promise to us. Most important of all, He made a promise to Himself. On the THIRD day, HE would be PERFECTED!
 
The Apostle Paul made it clear that the Church is the BODY OF CHRIST!
 
Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, WHICH IS THE CHURCH.
 
No price is too dear to reach this ultimate goal. There was no price too dear for Jesus, there was no price too dear for the Apostles, and there is no price too dear for us!
 
Joh 2:18  Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? 
Joh 2:19  Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in THREE days I will raise it up. 
Joh 2:20  Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? 
Joh 2:21  But he spake of the temple of his BODY. 
 
If we are hoping that the Church will be raptured before the great tribulation…WE ARE MISSING THE WHOLE POINT!
 
Mar 8:31  And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must SUFFER many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after THREE days rise again. 
 
SUFFER: G3958 paschō    pathō    penthō, pas'-kho, path'-o, pen'-tho
Apparently a primary verb (the third form used only in certain tenses for it); to experience a sensation or impression (usually painful): - feel, passion, suffer, vex.
 
Before a child’s birth, there first comes SUFFERING.
 
Gal 4:19  My little children, of whom I TRAVAIL in birth again until Christ be formed in you, 
 
TRAVAIL: G5605, ōdinō
Thayer Definition:
1) to feel the pains of child birth, to travail
 
Php 1:29  For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to SUFFER for his sake;
 
1Pe 4:1  Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath SUFFERED in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 
1Pe 4:2  That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 
 
The saints of God have been SUFFERING for almost two-thousand (2000) years. The Church of Jesus Christ has been in TRAVAIL for almost two-thousand (2000) years. The modern Church wants to escape SUFFERING, but there is no escape! The Church will TRAVAIL, and the Church will PREVAIL, because we are at the dawn of the THIRD DAY!
 
Joh 20:14  And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. 
Joh 20:15  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. 
Joh 20:16  Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
 
I try to imagine what Mary Magdalene felt that Sunday morning as she stood weeping for the missing body of her Lord. Suddenly, hope beyond hope, she recognizes that familiar voice speaking her name. She turns and sees Him, He who has power and authority over all things…even power and authority over sin and death. Can we begin to imagine…the thrill, the euphoria, the RUSH she must have felt at that moment? Now, we can only imagine, but on the THIRD day, we will experience what Mary Magdalene experienced that Sunday morning…and much, much more!
 
1Co 15:51  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 
1Co 15:52  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 
1Co 15:53  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 
1Co 15:54  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 
1Co 15:55  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 
 
 
 

Painting is from David LaChapelle's 2003 series called 'Jesus is my homeboy'

Luk 22:3  Then entered Satan into JUDAS surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. 
Luk 22:4  And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them. 
Luk 22:5  And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.
 
There are two examples that especially stand out of men who committed suicide in the Bible, Samson and Judas. These two men 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. Lack of FAITH in God’s grace and mercy WILL surely condemn us.
 
Joh 5:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and BELIEVETH on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
 
Our second example, Judas, was one of Jesus’ twelve disciples during His earthly ministry. Judas shows us the terrible consequences of being SELF-CENTERED instead of being CHRIST CENTERED!
 
Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 
Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 
 
This may be one of the most terrifying things that Jesus ever said! Hear what John Wesley, one of England’s greatest evangelists, said concerning this passage of Scripture:
 
We have prophesied - We have declared the mysteries of thy kingdom, wrote books; preached excellent sermons: In thy name done many wonderful works - So that even the working of miracles is no proof that a man has saving faith.
 
I never knew you - There never was a time that I approved of you: so that as many souls as they had saved, they were themselves never saved from their sins. LORD, IS IT MY CASE? John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes.
 
If John Wesley must ask himself this sobering question, then I think we all must spend serious time in reflection and self-examination. I am afraid too many people are entering into Christian ministry for selfish reasons: they seek fame, or worldly distinction, or employment, or sexual opportunities (think cult leaders or Catholic Priests), or… WEALTH. Apparently, “money” was the main motivating factor for Judas Iscariot.
 
Joh 12:4  Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, 
Joh 12:5  Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? 
Joh 12:6  This he said, NOT THAT HE CARED FOR THE POOR; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. 
 
Judas Iscariot was either the last, or near the last disciple chosen by Jesus. When we see paintings of Judas, he is usually depicted as a shifty eyed scam artist that nobody in their right mind would trust with money. However, I suspect that he most probably resembled one of the leading members of your local chamber of commerce: clean cut, well groomed, showing concern for the welfare of others (especially the poor), always glad to see you… perhaps greeting his friends with a kiss? I suspect that he cultivated all of the outward traits of a generous character, when his actual character was just the opposite. Judas was just putting on an act, an act that Jesus saw through.
 
The truly sobering fact is that Judas was intimately associated with Jesus Christ through his entire three-and-one-half year ministry. He saw Jesus performing astounding miracles; he saw the blind receive their sight, he saw the lame walk, he saw the lepers cleansed, he saw the dead raised from the dead! Judas was probably nearby when Jesus was preaching to thousands of followers. He was close at hand when Jesus was explaining the parables. He was actually there when Jesus walked on the water! Judas had an intimacy with Jesus that the rest of us can only dream about: he lived with Jesus; he broke bread with Jesus; he walked many miles with Jesus; he slept close to Jesus; he had many opportunities to ask Him any question, great or small. He could have broached any subject. He could have asked Jesus questions that we all wonder about: questions about heaven and hell, questions about life and death, questions about righteousness and sin, questions about faith, mercy, hope, and…LOVE. However, his main concern seemed to be enriching himself.
 
Mat 5:44  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 
Mat 5:45  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 
Mat 5:46  For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
 
There is something really amazing that few people seem to consider. Jesus “graciously” gave Judas AUTHORITY to cast out devils, to heal the sick, and to preach the kingdom of God!
 
Luk 9:1  Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. 
Luk 9:2  And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. 
 
This should make us all pause and THINK! Maybe, just maybe, we do not have to be some special person, or some holier than thou saint, in order to heal the sick, or to cast out devils, or to perform miracles?
 
Jas 5:16  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 
Jas 5:17  Elias was a man subject to like PASSIONS as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. 
Jas 5:18  And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. 
 
PASSIONS: G3663, homoiopathēs, hom-oy-op-ath-ace'
From G3664 and the alternate of G3958; similarly affected: - of (subject to) like passions.
 
Maybe we should think twice about putting people on a pedestal, and maybe we should think twice, three times, four times, or seventy times seven times, before we put ourselves up on a pedestal. We could be casting out demons, healing the sick, and performing miracles…but we might still be on the path to hell!
 
We must, must, MUST examine what is motivating us. Are we motivated by selfishness or by LOVE? Are we motivated by our own personal desires and lusts, or are we truly motivated by concern for others? Are we motivated by our own carnal nature, or are we motivated by the Holy Spirit?
 
THE PATH OF JESUS CHRIST IS NOT A PATH OF SELF-INDULGENCE, BUT A PATH OF SELF DENIAL! Read what F.B. Meyer says about the true Christian walk:
 
Our Lord compares this to entrance by a strait gate and walking on a narrow path. It is the way of the Cross. We must say “No” to the “I” life which is seated in our soul and which must be ruthlessly denied. We must say of it as Peter did of Jesus, “I do not know the man.” The way of self-indulgence begins on a primrose path and ends in a wilderness. The path of self-denial is steep and difficult at the start, but leads to a paradise of joy. Through the Bible Day by Day (F.B. Meyer).
 
I like how F.B. Meyer describes the narrow path: THE “I” LIFE…MUST BE RUTHLESSLY DENIED!
 
So then…How exactly do we deny our “I” life?
 
It is purely a work of God’s WORD, producing the fruits that can only be produced by the Holy Spirit.
 
Jas 1:21  Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to SAVE your SOULS. 
 
SAVE: G4982, sōzō, sode'-zo
From a primary word σῶς sōs̄ (contraction for the obsolete σάος saos, “safe”); to save, that is, deliver or protect (literally or figuratively): - heal, preserve, save (self), do well, be (make) whole.
SOUL: G5590, psuchē, psoo-khay'
From G5594; breath, that is, (by implication) spirit, abstractly or concretely (the animal sentient principle only; thus distinguished on the one hand from G4151, which is the rational and immortal soul; and on the other from G2222, which is mere vitality, even of plants: these terms thus exactly correspond respectively to the Hebrew [H5315], [H7307] and [H2416]: - heart (+ -ily), life, MIND, soul, + us, + you.
 
Our mind, our thoughts, and our emotions, must be transformed, and conformed, to God’s mind, and God’s thoughts, and God’s emotions. That spiritual transformation can only be accomplished by meditating on God’s WORD, and by completely rejecting our own selfish desires. God’s Word will transform and renew us into His image.
 
Eph 4:20  But ye have not so learned Christ; 
Eph 4:21  If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 
Eph 4:22  That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 
Eph 4:23  And be RENEWED in the spirit of your MIND; 
Eph 4:24  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 
 
RENEWED: be renewed. Gr. ananeoō (S# G365, only here). This word occurs frequently in the Apocrypha [1Ma_12:1, 1Ma_12:3 (see TDNT, IV. 900)]. Implies that the whole course of life now flows in a different direction. The Ultimate Cross-Reference Treasury.
 
"But with you it is not so: YOU LEARNED THE CHRIST!" In spite of its abruptness, this construction would be necessary, if it were only "the Gentiles" of Eph_4:17 with whose "walk" St. Paul means to contrast that of his readers. But, as we have seen, he has before his eye a third class of men, unprincipled Christian teachers (Eph_4:14), men who had in some sense learnt of Christ and yet walked in Gentile ways and were leading others back to them. Eph_4:20, after all, forms a coherent clause. It points an antithesis of solemn import. There are genuine, and there are supposed conversions; there are true and false ways of learning Christ. Strictly speaking, it is not Christ, but the Christ whom St. Paul presumes his readers to have duly learnt. The words imply a comprehending faith, that knows who and what Christ is and what believing in Him means, that has mastered His great lessons. Expositor’s Bible Commentary.
We see that Jesus warned His disciples about “False Prophets”. He declares: “BY THEIR FRUITS YE SHALL KNOW THEM!”
 
Mat 7:15  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 
Mat 7:16  Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 
Mat 7:17  Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 
Mat 7:18  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 
Mat 7:19  Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 
Mat 7:20  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 
 
Not only do false prophets produce evil fruit, but the people that they disciple, and who follow their teachings, will also produce evil fruit. There is a stark contrast between the wheat and the tares. Wheat produces seeds that are nourishing to the body, but tares produce fruit that is poisonous to the body. The difference between a true follower of Christ and a false follower is the difference between FAITH and UNBELIEF, the difference between LOVE and SELFISHNESS!
 
Rom 10:9  That if thou shalt CONFESS with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt BELIEVE in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
 
CONFESSING with the mouth that Jesus is LORD is the easy part, but actually BELIEVING that God raised him from the dead, can be extremely difficult. I suspect that there are a lot of people today that confess that Jesus is LORD, but deep down inside they do not actually believe that the Bible is a true narrative, nor is it inspired by actual events, nor is it about actual people.
 
They may attend a Church because their family attends that Church, or they may attend because it is a good place to make business contacts, or it is a good place to meet a future husband or wife, or they may simply attend because it is a good source of entertainment when football season is over…Who knows the heart of man? However, in the end, their actions will eventually betray them.
 
Mat 20:18  Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, 
Mat 20:19  And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again. 
 
We see that Jesus tells His disciples, including Judas, exactly what is going to happen to Him just before He enters Jerusalem for the last time. He tells them that he will be persecuted, condemned, and crucified. He also tells them that: “THE THIRD DAY HE SHALL RISE AGAIN”.
 
Two of Jesus’ disciples fail miserably just before His crucifixion: Judas betrays Jesus for a fairly insignificant amount of money, and Peter fails utterly in his own self-assessed loyalty to the LORD.
 
Mat 26:14  Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, 
Mat 26:15  And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. 
Mat 26:16  And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him. 
 
Judas reveals that if we continue to flirt with some besetting sin, even while we are confessed followers of Christ, selfishness and self-centeredness places us in serious jeopardy of eventually being overcome, and even losing our salvation. I suspect that Judas was not so far gone that he did not suffer pangs of conscience when he stole money from the bag that he was placed in his keeping for safekeeping. However, if we continue to ignore our conscience, and continuously willfully sin, then eventually that sin, and perhaps even the devil himself, will completely control us.
 
Joh 13:26  Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. 
Joh 13:27  And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. 
Joh 13:28  Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him. 
 
However much we might conceal our sins and our ulterior motives from people, we can never hide our sins or our motives from Jesus Christ. We find out that although Judas seemingly assented to the fact that Jesus was the Christ, his hidden sin, and his betrayal of Jesus for money revealed his deep seated UNBELIEF.
 
Joh 6:67  Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 
Joh 6:68  Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 
Joh 6:69  And WE BELIEVE and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. 
Joh 6:70  Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a DEVIL?
 
DEVIL: G1228
διάβολοςw
diabolos
Thayer Definition:
1) prone to slander, slanderous, accusing falsely
1a) a calumniator, false accuser, slanderer
2) metaphorically applied to a man who, by opposing the cause of God, may be said to act the part of the devil or to side with him
 
We see that after Judas betrayed Jesus, he felt genuine sorrow; however, it was a worldy sorrow, and not a sorrow that led him to true repentance.
 
Mat 27:4  Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. 
Mat 27:5  And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
 
There are some people who theorize that Judas fully understood that Jesus was God’s sacrifice that would atone for the sins of all mankind, but once again his actions deny this false theory. This is why I believe he is now in hell. Judas did not actually believe that Jesus was the Messiah, neither did he believe that Jesus would rise on the third day, or he would have patiently waited for three days for the return of the LORD.
 
Peter, on the other hand, also experienced an almost overwhelming sorrow when he recognized just how weak and pitiful his loyalty actually was to the LORD, even though I am sure he truly believed that Jesus was the Messiah. It appears that Peter’s belief in Jesus’ resurrection was also pitifully weak.
 
Mat 26:74  Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. 
Mat 26:75  And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly. 
 
However, although Peter also betrayed Jesus by denying Him, he still retained some hope in the truth of the LORD’s words. Peter gathered back with the other ten disciples. Best of all, when the other disciples did not believe the report of Jesus’ resurrection, Peter immediately arose and RAN to see for himself!
 
Luk 24:4  And it came to pass, while they were perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel:
Luk 24:5  and as they were affrighted and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
Luk 24:6  He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
Luk 24:7  saying that the Son of man must be delivered up into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
Luk 24:8  And they remembered his words,
Luk 24:9  and returned from the tomb, and told all these things to the eleven, and to all the rest.
Luk 24:10  Now they were Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James: and the other women with them told these things unto the apostles.
Luk 24:11  And these words appeared in their sight as idle talk; and they DISBELIEVED them.
Luk 24:12  But Peter arose, and RAN unto the tomb; and stooping and looking in, he seeth the linen cloths by themselves; and he departed to his home, wondering at that which was come to pass.
 
We know that after the resurrection of Jesus, He does not reprimand Peter for his disloyalty. He only asks Peter one question, but He asks it three times: DO YOU LOVE ME?
 
Joh 21:17  He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; THOU KNOWEST THAT I LOVE THEE. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 
 
Despite Peter’s disloyalty, despite Peter’s rashness, despite Peter’s weak faith, HE DID LOVE JESUS! This in the end is what separates the wheat from the tares, the gold from the dross, and the BELIEVER from the UNBELIEVER.
 
2Co 7:10  For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
 
In the end, no matter what sins we may commit, the BELIEVER will always turn back to Jesus, and the UNBELIEVER will always turn away from Jesus. Simply to be “sorry” is not enough, the believer’s LOVE for Jesus AND their love for the brethren will always identify whether they are true BELIEVERS IN JESUS.
 
1Jn 3:20  For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 
1Jn 3:21  Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. 
1Jn 3:22  And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 
1Jn 3:23  And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and LOVE ONE ANOTHER, as he gave us commandment. 
1Jn 3:24  And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. 
 
 

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.