Tag: Lord Jesus Christ

Categories
Bible Preaching

More Than A Song: A War Cry

Apostolic Life Cathedral | More Than A Song | 5/11/2021

Text: Song of Solomon 2:12-13

“(12) The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; (13) The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.”

Psalms 104:10, 12

“He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills….By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.

Proverbs 18:21, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” (You will be judged by the type of speech that comes from your mouth).

Spring has come, and with it the beautiful melody of birds singing. I particularly love to sit on my porch, or in my home office with the windows open, and listen to peaceful songs delivered by the birds.

We even have a rooster here in the Hills of Guyandotte that crows all day long: morning, noon & night.

We tend to equate the singing of birds to the praise of the saints, and while we can agree with that we also see that their singing teaches us a far greater lesson.

Nature teaches us.

Birds are territorial.[1]

They need to have proper space and conditions to raise their offspring.

They will do many things to raise their families.

I understand that there can be a danger in people being too territorial when it comes to trying to reach the world and not allowing others the opportunity to do a work for Jesus, but tonight I am focusing on your families.

You need to guard your family.

Birds will choose their territory based on the availability of food, water, shelter and nesting locations, and then they seek to attract a mate.

Well, the Church is the perfect location for you to begin nesting, and you already have a mate:

Isaiah 54:5, “For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.”

Paul wrote:

(11) Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.  (2)  For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.  (3)  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:1-3).

Birds also claim territory to renew bonds and to let other fowl know that this area is taken.

Birds claim territory through several behaviors, including:[2]

  • Nest building: Some birds, such as different types of wrens, will claim territory by taking advantage of the nesting sites it offers. The males will build multiple nests in suitable locations throughout their territory. The females will then investigate those nests and choose the one they prefer, even if they eventually rebuild the male’s construction to suit their preferences.
    • The Lord Jesus Christ is preparing a place for us, as we prepare ourselves for Him:
      • John 14:2-3, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  (3)  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
  • Drumming: Woodpeckers and several types of game birds claim territory by drumming as an alternative to singing. These low-pitched, rhythmic sounds, whether made by pounding on a hollow tree or by using air sacs, will carry great distances. This alerts competing birds that the territory is not available, as well as lets potential mates know that a strong, healthy bird has claimed the location.
    • “O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph” (Psalm 47:1).
    • Clapping, like drumming, shows an encroaching enemy that we are strong and victorious
    • And to our Lord, it is offered as an expression of praise, worship and thanksgiving for who He is and what He has done.
    • Psalm 66:1, “Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands.”
  • Visual displays: Visual displays such as puffing up colored feather patches, tail flicking or fanning, wing spreading, and other behaviors are all part of claiming territory. These postures and actions also show off a bird’s strength and health to a potential mate. These behaviors are commonly a part of courtship rituals between opposite sexes as well as territorial displays between two male birds.
    • We lift our hands as a visual display of praise and worship:
      • Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.  (Psalm 63:4)
      • Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.  (Psalm 134:2)
      • I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.  (1Timothy 2:8)
        • Worship is closely tied to a life of holiness.
        • Everyone can praise the Lord, but not everyone can worship Him.
    • We dance before the Lord as a visual demonstration of praise:
    • Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints. Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.  (Psalm 149:1-3)
    • Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.  (Psalm 150:4)
    • And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. (2 Samuel 6:14)
  • Chasing: As a last resort, aggressive birds may directly chase intruders or competitors out of their territory. This is frequent in areas where many birds are seeking to claim the same space, or when a dominant male is discouraging younger males that are struggling to claim their first territory. In bird species where family groups remain together in the winter, the male parent may chase away his mature offspring the following spring so they do not infringe on his territory.
    • In this day, you better be aggressive about protecting your home, your nest, your territory.
      • The devil is trespassing on your home and in your mind with all the competing distractions. Why is he so set on distracting you, because he wants your most precious possession:
        • Your relationship with God.
        • Your family’s soul.
          • That old serpent will slip near your nest just to consume your future hope.
  • Singing: Singing is one of the most common ways birds advertise that territory belongs to them. Songs will carry quite far, and birds will perch near the edge of their territory to broadcast their claim to the maximum range. At the same time, a strong, vibrant song will help attract a mate. For some species, such as the northern mockingbird, a more complex song will help birds defend a larger territory and are more attractive to females.
    • Singing is so important that the largest book of the Bible is a songbook – Psalms
    • Psalms 66:1-4, “Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:  (2)  Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious.  (3)  Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.  (4)  All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah.”
    • We are told to “be filled with the Spirit;  speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:18-20).
    • Psalms 150:1-6, “(1) Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.  (2)  Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.  (3)  Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.  (4)  Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.  (5)  Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.  (6)  Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.”

Your Song is More Than A Song.

Your Song is A War Cry.

You are conducting Holy Warfare

Hebrews 13:15, “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”

Psalms 149:1-9 

  • Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.  
  • Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.  
  • Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.  
  • For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.  
  • Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.  
  • Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand;  
  • To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people;  
  • To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;  
  • To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.

[1] SOURCE: https://www.thespruce.com/how-birds-claim-territory-386444

[2] Ibid.

Categories
Bible Teaching

Progressive Revelation

Progressive Revelation[1]

Revelation of Truth is progressive and is best explained by this passage:

“For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear” (Mark 4:28).

Notice Albert Barnes’ note on the progression of maturity in Mark 4:28[2]:

1.    For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself – That is, it is done without the power of man. It is done while man is engaged in other things. God gives it its power.

2.    First the blade – The green, tender shoot, that first starts out of the earth before the stalk is formed.

3.    Then the ear – The original means the stalk or spire of wheat or barley, as well as the ear.

4.    The full corn in the ear – The ripe wheat. The grain swollen to its proper size. By this is denoted, undoubtedly, that grace or religion in the heart is of gradual growth.

a.    It is at first tender, feeble, perhaps almost imperceptible, like the first shootings of the grain in the earth. Perhaps also,

b.    Like grain, it often lies long in the earth before there are signs of life.

c.    Like the tender grain, also, it needs care, kindness, and culture. A frost, a cold storm, or a burning sun alike injure it.

d.    So tender piety in the heart needs care, kindness, culture. It needs shelter from the frosts and storms of a cold, unfeeling world. It needs the genial dews and mild suns of heaven;

e.    In other words, it needs instruction, prayer, and friendly counsel from parents, teachers, ministers, and experienced Christians, that it may grow, and bring forth the full fruits of holiness.

f.      Like the grain, also, in due time it will grow strong; it will produce its appropriate fruit – a full and rich harvest – to the praise of God.

Hebrews 12:29, “For our God is a consuming fire.”

It would appear at first glance that these two verses oppose each other, but when we take into account the progressive nature of revelation we see a parallel between plant growth and the spread of fire.

2018 California Wildfires:[3]

The 2018 wildfire season was the deadliest and most destructive wildfire season on record in California, with a total of 8,527 fires burning an area of 1,893,913 acres (766,439 ha), the largest amount of burned acreage recorded in a fire season….as of December 21. The fires have caused more than $3.5 billion (2018 USD) in damages, including $1.792 billion in fire suppression costs. Through the end of August 2018, Cal Fire alone spent $432 million on operations. The Mendocino Complex Fire burned more than 459,000 acres (186,000 ha), becoming the largest complex fire in the state’s history, with the complex’s Ranch Fire surpassing the Thomas Fire and the Santiago Canyon Fire of 1889 to become California’s single-largest recorded wildfire.

…On August 4, 2018, a national disaster was declared in Northern California, due to the extensive wildfires burning there.

In November 2018, strong winds aggravated conditions in another round of large, destructive fires that occurred across the state. This new batch of wildfires includes the Woolsey Fire and the Camp Fire, the latter of which killed at least 86 people with 3 still unaccounted for as of 4 December 2018. It destroyed more than 18,000 structures, becoming both California’s deadliest and most destructive wildfire on record.

…Humans have been recorded as the main cause of wildfires in California. Various causes, both intentional and accidental, such as arson, unattended campfires, fireworks, cigarettes, cars, and power lines have contributed to this increase in the number of fires.

A direct contributor to the 2018 California wildfires was an increase in dead tree fuel. By December 2017, there was a record 129 million dead trees in California.

Wildfire defined: “A wildfire or wildland fire is a fire in an area of combustible vegetation occurring in rural areas.”[4]

Wildfire types can be generally characterized by their fuels as follows:

1.    Ground fires are fed by subterranean roots, duff and other buried organic matter. This fuel type is especially susceptible to ignition due to spotting. Ground fires typically burn by smoldering, and can burn slowly for days to months.

2.    Crawling or surface fires are fueled by low-lying vegetation on the forest floor such as leaf and timber litter, debris, grass, and low-lying shrubbery. This kind of fire often burns at a relatively lower temperature than crown fires (less than 400 °C (752 °F)) and may spread at slow rate, though steep slopes and wind can accelerate the rate of spread.

3.    Ladder fires consume material between low-level vegetation and tree canopies, such as small trees, downed logs, and vines. Kudzu, Old World climbing fern, and other invasive plants that scale trees may also encourage ladder fires.

4.    Crown, canopy, or aerial fires burn suspended material at the canopy level, such as tall trees, vines, and mosses. The ignition of a crown fire, termed crowning, is dependent on the density of the suspended material, canopy height, canopy continuity, sufficient surface and ladder fires, vegetation moisture content, and weather conditions during the blaze. Stand-replacing fires lit by humans can spread into the Amazon rain forest, damaging ecosystems not particularly suited for heat or arid conditions.[5]

A true revelation is an unveiling of existing truth of which the individual was previously unaware.  Others may already know that truth, but the revelation is a personal opening of biblical truth.

Romans 16:25-26, “Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith.”

This concerns the revelation of the Church, which was spoken of in the Old Testament but not revealed in its entirety until the birth of the Church in Acts 2. Now, today, we read the Old Testament and see parallels, types and shadows which reveal the Church. These truths were always present in the Word of God, but not understood, unveiled, and revealed until the Church’s nativity.

According to David P. Johnson and Jared S. Runck, “progressive revelation indicates that divine revelation unfolds across the story of Scripture with ever-increasing detail and dimension; later revelation always and only adds to prior revelation and never detracts or overturns it.”[6]

Galatians 1:10-24 speaks of Paul’s travel through the Word of God and how Christ revealed the message of the Gospel to Him.  Then he met certain Apostles and found that the same revelation he had received from the Lord was the same Gospel they received and preached:

“For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother. Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not. Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia; And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ: But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. And they glorified God in me” (Galatians 1:10-24).

A true unveiling of revelatory truth will be “line upon line” and “precept upon precept” (see Isaiah 28:10). In other words, progressive revelation builds upon what you already know.

Sometimes God gives clear, sudden and supernatural insight, which Paul identified as either the gift of the Word of Knowledge, or the gift of the Word of Wisdom (1 Corinthians 12:8).

Things to remember:

Scripture interprets Scripture.

1.    Out of the mouth of two or three witnesses let every word be established:

a.    Deuteronomy 17:6, “At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.”

b.    Deuteronomy 19:15, “One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.”

c.    Matthew 18:16, “But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.”

d.    2 Corinthians 13:1, “This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.”

e.    1 Timothy 5:19, “Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.”

2.    Your revelation will never contradict biblical truth – the old illustration of a man who said God told him to divorce one woman to marry another – this contradicts all biblical precedent.  Only one reason in the New Testament for divorce (adultery, fornication).

3.    If it’s “too good to be true” it probably is.

Deut. 29:29, “The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.”

1 Sam. 3:7-21, “(7) Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him….(21) And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.” 

This implies that the revelation of God’s Word is a matter of maturity.  As we grow in the wisdom and stature of God’s Word we will receive (be entrusted with) more truth.

Truth is multilayered like an onion.

When we realize that God is revealing truth to us we are humbled and need to realize that while others may not know the truth – yet – we are responsible for the manner in which we share it.

With regard to Spiritual gifts, some people think that they are more Spiritual than others because of their gifting, but this is not true. Truly spiritual people are into the ministry of:

·       Reconciliation – 2 Corinthians 5:18-20, “(18) And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;  (19) To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.  (20) Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”

·       Restoration – Galatians 6:1, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”

The more of the Word of God you read and hide in your heart (by memorization and meditation) the greater opportunity you give God to reveal deeper truth to you.  As God reveals more truth you will hunger more and more for His continual revelation: “Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me” (Ps. 42:7).

“…The Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God” (1 Cor. 2:10).  A balance of God’s Word and living in the power of the Holy Ghost will reveal Spiritual truth as well.  Simply put, there are some things people never see in the Bible because they are not Spirit led (1 Corinthians 2:14).

Amos 3:7-8, “Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?”

When God speaks or reveals truth to His servant they can’t help but be filled with a desire to speak it, regardless of the positive or negative consequences.

Jeremiah 20:9, “Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.”

Fire spreads and as long as there is fuel it will grow. Our hungry heart searching for more of Jesus Christ is the fuel that ignites the fire of progressive revelation, and when our hearts can no longer contain the fire the compulsion, a drive, to share the flame of the progressive revelation of truth that our Lord has revealed to us.

[1] Notes from an email to Dave Martin regarding progressive revelation dated 9/11/2006.

[2] Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible, Mark 4:28.

[3] 2018 California Wildfires. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_California_wildfires. Accessed: 2/26/19.

[4]  Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (Third ed.). Cambridge University Press. 2008. ISBN 978-0-521-85804-5. Archived from the original on 13 August 2009.

[5] Wildfire. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildfire#Spread. Accessed: 2/26/19.

[6] David P. Johnson & Jared S. Runck. (2017). Handbook of the Prophets, p. 8-9.

Categories
Bible Teaching

The Turning Point

Wellington depot before the avalanche: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wellington,_Washington#/media/File:Wellington_before_the_Avalanche.jpg

“The Turning Point”

Stephen. Kuntzman

(7/16/19)

Text: 2 Timothy 2:15-21

(15)  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

(16)  But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

(17)  And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;

(18)  Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

(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.

(20)  But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.

(21)  If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

Ancillary: 1 Timothy 1:18-20, “This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme [defame, rail on, revile, speak evil].”

It is known as “The Wellington Avalanche,” and it occurred on March 1, 1910, in Wellington, WA.

It “was the worst avalanche in the history of the United States, marked by the total death count, which numbered to 96.[2]

For nine days at the end of February 1910, Wellington was assailed by a terrible blizzard. Up to a foot (30 cm) of snow fell every hour, and, on the worst day, eleven feet (340 cm) of snow fell. Two trains, a passenger train and a mail train, both bound from Spokane to Seattle, were trapped in the depot.”[1]

“Late on February 28, the snow stopped and was replaced by rain and a warm wind. Just after 1 a.m. on March 1, as a result of a lightning strike, a slab of snow broke loose from the side of Windy Mountain during a violent thunderstorm. A ten-foot high mass of snow, half a mile long and a quarter of a mile wide, fell toward the town. A forest fire had recently ravaged the slopes above the town, leaving very little to impede the avalanche.”[2]

“The avalanche missed the Bailets Hotel (which also housed the town’s general store and post office), but hit the railroad depot. Most of the passengers and crew were asleep aboard their trains. The impact threw the trains 150 feet (45 m) downhill and into the Tye River valley. Ninety six people were killed, including 35 passengers, 58 Great Northern employees on the trains, and three railroad employees in the depot.”[3]

 One witness, Charles Andrews, a Great Northern engineer, said it looked like:

“White Death moving down the mountainside above the trains.  Relentlessly it advanced, exploding, roaring, rumbling, grinding, snapping – a crescendo of sound that might have been the crashing of ten thousand freight trains.

It descended to the ledge where the side tracks lay, picked up cars and equipment as though they were so many snow-draped toys, and swallowing them up, disappeared like a white, broad monster into the ravine below.”[4]

 

Train wreckage from Wellington WA avalanche: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wellington,_Washington#/media/File:Train_wreckage_from_Wellington_WA_avalanche_cph.3b13980.jpg

I remember reading the writer and commentator George Will years ago, and in his essay he quoted these words from the Polish poet, Stanislaw J. Lec, “Each snowflake in an avalanche pleads not guilty.”

There is power in accumulation.

Things don’t just happen overnight, but there is a buildup of either positive or negative amounts that produce a point of no return.

Paul was warning his son in the gospel of the dangers of “the little foxes, that spoil the vines.”[5]

Just as in the days of Jude, there are “…certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.”[6]

These false teachers come into the church from time to time and little by little they feed on the tender grapes who have not fully grown to maturity, and destroy them.

It is time to do as the Apostle directed Timothy, “(1) This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  (2)  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  (3)  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,  (4)  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;  (5)  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”[7]

“FROM SUCH TURN AWAY”

Isaiah was clear about the issues of his time and fallen human nature is still the same today (Isaiah 28:9-13):

(9)  Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.

(10)  For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

(11)  For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.

(12)  To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

(13)  But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

They scoffed at the prophet and the Word of God.

They mocked the words spoken by prophets who had been “moved on by the Holy Ghost” to write and speak what they divinely uttered. 

Doing so, these mockers and blasphemers continued on into a total backslidden state, were broken by the breaking of that Word, and were bound and placed in captivity.

Too many are bound today, by these false teachers, scoffers, mockers, and spoilers.

It is the devil’s plan to do so and he’ll use false teachers, as he did in Paul’s day, to deny truth and overthrow the faith of some.

2 Timothy 2:15-17

(15)  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

(16)  But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

(17)  And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;

They were profane and vain words because they were not based on the Word of God. Their words, their teachings, were blasphemous, and every one that heard them unwittingly were eaten up spiritually like a cancer, like gangrene setting in.

It is almost impossible to expunge false doctrine because it accumulates like snowflakes on a mountain until one day – WHITE DEATH pushes everyone in its patch into the cold abyss.

“FROM SUCH TURN AWAY”

2 Timothy 2:19-21

(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.

(20)  But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.

(21)  If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

 v. 21 – “purge himself from these” = the corrupting influence of false teachers and blasphemers

 It didn’t happen overnight, but it was years (and sometimes centuries).

 “FROM SUCH TURN AWAY”

 The foundation of God standeth sure:

Ephesians 2:19-22, “(19)  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; (20)  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; (21)  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: (22)  In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”
The Word of God is sure:

·        Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.  (Proverbs 30:5)

·        And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.  (Luke 4:4)

·        “…The seed of the word of God.” (Luke 8:11) – [It’s incorruptible and full of life]

·        So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  (Romans 10:17)

·        Heb. 4:12, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

·        1 Peter 1:22-25, “(22)  Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: (23)  Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. (24)  For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: (25)  But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”

In conclusion, Wellington, WA, changed its name soon after that horrible avalanche to Tye, WA.

Changed their name and redirected their future.

Someone needs to redirect their future and turn away from false teachers and blasphemers: “…Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (2 Timothy 2:19b)

This Is Your Turning Point

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wellington,_Washington

[2] Ibid.

[3] Ibid.

[4] https://www.awesomestories.com/asset/view/Wellington-Disaster-America-s-Worst-Avalanche

[5] Song of Solomon 2:15

[6] Jude 1:4

[7] 2 Timothy 3:1-5 

Categories
Bible Teaching

So, You Want To Be Like Jesus?

Sermon: So, You Want To Be Like Jesus? (VIDEO:25:00-1:15:48) | Stephen Kuntzman | 7/8/2018 | Apostolic Life Cathedral – Facebook Page (Huntington, WV)

Categories
Bible Preaching

Pergamos, Christ and You

Much of the following sermon was influenced by the work of Dustin Abbot’s book Revelation Unveiled and F. J. Ellis’ curriculum for Purpose Institute course on The Book of Revelation. So, please allow this disclaimer to serve as my citation for anything I failed to properly cite in the body of the text. Be well & maranatha! 

Text: 

“For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:2).

The book of Revelation is probably one of the most misunderstood and discussed books in the Bible. 

Many, including myself, often read its pages attempting to figure out answers to questions we describe as the end times, or eschatology (the study of the end times).

In those pages, written by the apostle John – John the beloved – students of the Word of God try to figure out future events coming to this world. 

My interest today is not about when, where or how the catching away of the Church will take place.

Nor am I going to discuss seals, vials, elders, or the four beasts sitting around the throne.

I’m not even interested in who the beast, false prophet, or antichrist are, and if they are alive right now.

I know that rockets continue to  drop all over Jerusalem and Israel even while I am in this podium, and that many are discussing the coming of the Lord for that very reason, but that is not why I have lifted this text to our attention today. 

You see, according to Dustin Abbot (in his book Revelation Unveiled), the Book of Revelation is primarily written to reveal Jesus to us. It is a disclosure of the everlasting Truth of who Jesus Christ is yesterday, today, and forever. And along with this is the unveiling of the Church in its relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ.

“The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:” (Rev. 1:1).

It is a “Jesus” book, and in its pages we see Jesus Christ as:

1. Alpha and Omega – the Almighty.

2. One in the midst of the seven candlesticks.

3. One holding the seven stars of the seven churches.

4. The only One worthy to sit on the throne.

5. The Lion of the tribe of Judah.

6. The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. 

7. The King on a white horse.

8. The Judge of all. 

It is also a book written to the church about the past, present, and future.

It is specifically addressed to seven churches: “What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.”

Seven Churches of Asia:

1. Ephesus

2. Smyrna

3. Pergamos

4. Thyatira  

5. Sardis 

6. Philadelphia

7. Laodicea

Some believe that these seven churches are symbolic of various ages that the Church will have gone through from Acts until today (source: Purpose Institute’s notes on the Book of Revelation, lesson 1):

Church/Meaning of Name/Time Period:

Ephesus/Desirable/100-200 A.D.

Smyrna/Myrrh/200-300 A.D.

Pergamos/Marriage or Elevation/300-500 A.D.

Thyatira/Continual Sacrifice/500-1500 A.D.

Sardis/Remnant/1500-1900 A.D.

Philadelphia-Brotherly Love/1900-Rapture

Laodicea/People Rule/Present-Rapture

I also think it is referring to conditions evident in churches right now, spiritual conditions that exist in local assemblies and even in the lives of its individual members.

With that in mind, it is this third church I am interested in today: Pergamos.

PERGAMOS

Revelation 2:12-17  

(12)  And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

Pergamos literally means “married with the world.”

It refers to a condition and time when satan changed tactics to attack the Church.

We all want to be accepted. So, satan stopped persecuting the church and began popularizing it. The church became the “in thing” to join. And so it became fashionable. But while fashionable it was impure. Those joining didn’t leave their sinful practices and those already in it became influenced by the world.

This led to a condition where the Church would become unfaithful to Christ and married to the world.

Jesus is stating here that He is coming with a two-edged to divide the true Church from the false church that is full of compromise and polluted works.

(13)  I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. 

Even as popular culture tried to pervert, popularize, and convolute the name of Jesus, the Church held on to the truth of the mighty God in Christ. They still understood:

*Neither is there salvation in any other…

*In Him dwelleth all the fullness of the godhead bodily…

*Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name…

God has always had a True Church that has held onto His name.

Somewhere and somehow Truth has always been preserved.

Even when satan changes tactics, God is always steps ahead preserving and protecting the Church.

You see, Truth doesn’t need protecting. Truth is true whether all believe it, or none do.

It was Adrian Rodgers who said,

It is better to be divided by truth than to be united in error. It is better to speak the truth that hurts and then heals, than falsehood that comforts and then kills. Let me tell you something, friend, it is not love and it is not friendship if we fail to declare the whole counsel of God. It is better to be hated for telling the truth, than to be loved for telling a lie. It is impossible to find anyone in the Bible who was a power for God who did not have enemies and was not hated. It’s better to stand alone with the truth, than to be wrong with a multitude. It is better to ultimately succeed with the truth than to temporarily succeed with a lie. There is only one Gospel and Paul said, “If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”

-Adrian Rodgers, National Religious Broadcasters Convention in 1996

Pergamos had martyrs who’d died for Truth – Antipas (thought to be the pastor).

(14)  But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

It was Balaam who couldn’t curse the Hebrews. So, he encouraged Balac to have his pagan people intermarry with the Hebrews.

Thus, the Hebrews brought a curse on themselves when their gentile wives brought false gods, heathen practices, and compromise into their homes.

The devil wants you to bring a curse on yourself by allowing a marriage of the holy with the profane in your life.

(15)  So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.  

The doctrine (deeds) of the Nicolaitans: corrupted Paul’s teaching concerning grace, and made it a license to sin.

They were sensual and unrepentant.

They turned the grace of God into lasciviousness.

Paul wrote in response to them: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?  God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:1-2).

2 Corinthians 6:17, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.”

(16)  Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

REPENT – Jesus here gives to John the very first word of the Gospel that He shared in the beginning – REPENT.

It is the only solution for your sin.

It is better to fall in humble repentance now than to be broken by God’s judgment.

Psalms 103:8-11, “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.  He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.  He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.  For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.”

(17)  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

Hidden manna = Divine provision both natural and spiritual.

The Bread of Life, the Lord Jesus Christ, is our sustenance.

White stone = a sign of purity and innocence.

Even in this wicked age of compromise God can keep you pure and declare you innocent.

Name recorded in stone = worthy of eternal life

God would not condemn the True Church to Hell because of the failures of their generation.

“Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2:11-12). 

SOURCES:

Dustin Abbott. Revelation Unveiled.

F. J. Ellis. The Book of Revelation. Purpose Institute.

Categories
Consider this...

Siloam, Bethesda, Baptism and the Endtime

There is a possibility that the Pool of Siloam, and possibly the Bethesda Pool, were locations where 3,000 converts were baptized in Acts 2 following Peter’s answer to this question on that day of Pentecost:

“Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 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. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call” (Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭37‬-‭39‬ ‭KJV‬‬).

Are the stones crying out? Are they revealing truth in a manner unthought of before in these days of the endtime?

“For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it” (‭‭Habakkuk‬ ‭2‬:‭11‬ ‭KJV‬‬).

“And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in” (‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭58‬:‭12‬ ‭KJV‬‬).

If true, then the recent decision to finally excavate the Pool of Siloam may have far greater eschatological importance than what we may currently understand – https://m.jpost.com/archaeology/article-725901

Northern perimeter of the Pool of Siloam.
(photo credit: KOBI HARATI/CITY OF DAVID)

“And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out” (Luke‬ ‭19‬:‭40‬ ‭KJV‬‬).

Consider also this article regarding the Pool of Bethesda – https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-sites-places/jerusalem/the-bethesda-pool-site-of-one-of-jesus-miracles/

The Bethesda Pool, where Jesus heals the paralytic man in the Gospel of John, is a complex site. It appears to have been a mikveh, or ritual bath. As the spot of one of Jesus’ miracles, the Bethesda Pool was built over in subsequent periods with chapels and churches that are still visible today.

What if God, in these last days, is pulling out all the stops and allowing all disciplines of study to reveal the truth of His greatness and the necessity of obedience to the Gospel just prior to His return for the Church?

“Truth shall spring out of the earth; And righteousness shall look down from heaven” (Psalm‬ ‭85‬:‭11‬ ‭KJV‬‬).

If “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,” (Romans 1:20) then what excuse is even possible when the visible is right before our eyes?

We are beneficiaries of God’s rebuilding project: “And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world” (Acts 15:15-18).

“…from the beginning…”

Jesus Christ has broken down walls of division between Jews and Gentiles to make of them one people, the Church, and reconciled us to Him making us recipients of His promises and members of the household of God with a foundation built upon the apostles, the prophets and the Chief Corner Stone – Jesus Christ, the Rock on whom the church is built (Matthew 16:18).

Ephesians 2:11-22, “(11) Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;  (12)  That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:  (13)  But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.  (14)  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;  (15)  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;  (16)  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:  (17)  And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.  (18)  For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.  (19)  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;  (20)  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;  (21)  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:  (22)  In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”

SOURCE:
https://qph.cf2.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-768cda173a5d349231610b674fc344d8-lq

The Pool of Siloam is thought to be less than a mile from the Temple, The Bethesda Pool is a little less than 2 miles from the Temple, and many think that the upper room mentioned in Acts 2 was in the outer court of said Temple. If true, can you see the 3,000 walking to those pools? They are rejoicing, dancing and speaking in unknown tongues “the wonderful works of God” (Acts 2:1-11).

It is exciting to think that the excavation of these two places is happening in our day, and also that the Lord may be using these ruins to call people to Himself saying, “Surely I come quickly” (Revelation 22:20).

Source:

The painting of the blind man washes his eyes in the pool at Siloam is by Harold Copping

The picture of the ruins of the Pool of Bethesda: https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-sites-places/jerusalem/the-bethesda-pool-site-of-one-of-jesus-miracles/

Categories
Bible Preaching

The Comeback Story of the Royal Seed

“While everyone was busy looking after Jezebel they failed to take note of Athaliah.”[1]

Jezebel’s attack on the ministry (the Word of God) was a distraction, Athaliah is a real threat to the kingdom (attack the authority of God), Jehoshabeath (Jehovah-Sworn)[2] will protect the royal seed, and the King will come back.

Text:

“But when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah. But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king’s sons that were slain, and put him and his nurse in a bedchamber. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, (for she was the sister of Ahaziah,) hid him from Athaliah, so that she slew him not” (2 Chronicles 22:10-11).

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy” (1 Peter 2:9-10).

Genesis 3:14-15, “And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:  (15)  And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”

JEZEBEL = “Baal exalts,” “Baal is husband to,” or “unchaste”

When we say her name, it conjures in our mind an image and thought. She was a dangerous queen, the wife of Ahab, the king of Israel, but her true allegiance was to herself.

She refused the Word of Jehovah, and even killed His prophets: “For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD…” (I Kings 18:3-4). – No details, but just that fateful line.

The threatened to kill Elijah after he destroyed the prophets on Mount Carmel. Her intimidation tactic distracted him and he ran.

Refuse the distracting tactics of Jezebel and identify her by her traits:[3]

  • CONTINUALLY TESTIFY OF THEMSELVES: Through their revelations, insight, or spiritual sensitivity.
  • OFTEN SEEK RECOGNITION: Thrive on recognition from the pulpit by leaders, becoming offended or distant if they are not.
  • TRY TO GET CLOSE TO LEADERS:  Fellowship, Flattery, Prophecy
  • SELDOM WANT TO BE IN AUTHORITY: But will seek to be the power behind the throne (with hopes of being the King of the throne).
  • USUALLY ATTRACT THE WEAKEST MEMBERS IN THE CHURCH: Will begin to control and manipulate them with flattery and/or grand prophecies.
  • USE THOSE WEAK MEMEBERS:  To spread slander, discontent, and division, lies…
  • OFTEN TRY TO BE A MATCHMAKER: And try to control those relationships.
  • MOST OFTEN HAVE WEAK SPOUSES: (Like Ahab) But will proclaim them strong, spiritual, and greatly gifted.
  • STEAL PROPHECIES FROM OTHERS:  In order to look better.
  • USUALLY FEEL PERSECUTED: They don’t, believe, want to use me because…
  • OFTEN MAKE EXCUSES:  And never, or rarely, acknowledge their own sins.
  • USUALLY ARE WORKS-ORIENTED: Often fasting and praying hoping to be seen as spiritual.
  • OFTEN FULL OF BITTERNESS: Towards Father, or another male authority figure.
  • OFTEN HAVE FLAWED REASONING: hiding behind a pseudo-spirituality that implies that only the spiritual can understand.
  • OFTEN HAVE CHARISMATIC PERSONALITY: Constantly looking for people to listen to them, with hopes of having their own following.
  • OFTEN REFUSE SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY OF PASTOR:  Get their direction from God, have no need of a Pastor, or counseling.  Usually leave the church and have private meetings – – forsaking the house of the Lord.
  • OFTEN THE SOURCE OF THE JEZEBEL SPIRIT IS SHAME: A grudge one holds against themselves, others, or God.

Yes, Jezebel is dangerous, but most of the time her attack is a distraction, a feint, an attempt to get your attention on a possible danger and to ignore the real danger lurking in the palace hall.

What Jezebel seeks to have is control through manipulation, domination, and intimidation. She works behind the scenes causing division, mistrust, while feeding a spirit of offense with hope of getting you to reject the God appointed spiritual authority in your life.

“The issue is never the issue, the issue is almost always control” –James Rowe

You won’t win this battle in your flesh, it’s spiritual warfare:

Ephesians 6:10-20, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  (11)  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  (12)  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  (13)  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  (14)  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;  (15)  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  (16)  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  (17)  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:  (18)  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;  (19)  And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,  (20)  For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”

ATHALIAH = “afflicted of the Lord”

While everyone was busy looking after Jezebel they failed to take note of Athaliah

Jezebel had a sister-in-law who was married to King Jehoram of Judah. Her name was Athaliah and she was the sister of Ahab.

>>Some scholars believe that Athaliah was the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel<<

Regardless, she was a deadly force to be reckoned with. She was a contemporary of Jezebel and had watched and learned from her, silently learning how and when to make her own move for power. She refused the authority of God.

The desire for power and recognition will destroy you, but usually not until it has hurt and possibly destroyed those in your way. Innocent people, God called people, and children of the King will not stop Athaliah from reaching her goal. Not if she can help it.  

Because she will stop at nothing to get what she wants, God will afflict her mind. There is no peace of mind for Athaliah. She was vexed, troubled, bothered, upset, worried.

When you want something so bad that you will take it, steal it, kill for it, and lie for it. Well, you have an Athaliah problem.

While Jezebel is busy manipulating, pulling the strings and intimidating – Oh, she’s a bully – people to achieve her agenda,

Athaliah sits in the queen’s chamber silently plotting, scheming, and biding her time.

The spirit of the antichrist controls Athaliah. She is driven to destroy the Royal Seed.

God told the old serpent, the devil, back in the Garden of Eden, that while he would bruise the heel of the seed of the woman, the Seed of the woman would crush his head. That passage in Genesis 3:15 is the first messianic prophecy in the Bible and it is a promise that there was One coming who would reverse the curse of sin.

Since that time, the devil has been trying to supplant the promise of God with the antichrist spirit.

Antichrist = “An opponent of the Messiah.”[4]

In another passage, Judah was promised that the scepter would never depart from His line. David was promised that from his seed would come the Messiah.

So, that old antichrist spirit rose up and influenced Athaliah, and she set out to kill all the royal seed of Judah. Every man and every boy of the tribe of Judah who had a claim to the throne she marked down until the right moment and then, when her son died, she had them killed…

JEHOSHABEATH = “Jehovah is an oath”

BUT, Jehovah had sworn that the Seed of the woman would crush the head of the devil, and that the Messiah [the Anointed One] would come through Judah.

This is a good time to tell you, “God keeps His promises.”

Joshua 23:14, “…not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you…”

Delay is not denial.

So, Jehoshabeath [Jehovah is an oath] found one infant son of the royal seed and hid him away. He was hidden in the house of God. Do you want to know the safest place to stay when Athaliah is on the loose? Stay in the house of the Lord.

Jehoshabeath’s husband was Jehoiada the priest, and he hid and protected Joash for seven years in the temple. In that seventh year he gathered all the Levites and all the rulers and captains and showed this the Joash of seed royal and they made a covenant with him saying, “Behold, the king’s son shall reign. As the LORD hath said of the sons of David.”

2 Chronicles 23:11, “Then they brought out the king’s son, and put upon him the crown, and gave him the testimony, and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and said, God save the king.”

This is The Comeback Story of the Royal Seed – It doesn’t matter what plot the enemy of your soul has planned against you. When God has made an oath He will keep it, and He will never leave or forsake you.

Joash [Jehovah fired][5] is a type of Christ. We know how that the devil, the antichrist, tried to kill Jesus Christ – the Messiah:

  1. He was falsely accused and brought before Pilate.
  2. He brutally abused, beaten, bloodied, wounded, tortured.
  3. He was marched to the place of execution.
  4. Then the Royal Seed, the promised Messiah, was brutally staked and crucified to a cross.
  5. Naked. Alone. Rejected. Despised. Afflicted: “…he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”[6]
  6. He died. “On the cross crucified for me He died. He was nailed to the cross for me”
  7. He was buried in a tomb.

Yes, the Christ was buried. He was dead. Everyone has an appointment with death, but this death seemed to be the capstone of Satan’s career.

How could anyone come back from that?

  • You have been dealing with a Jezebel, who is trying to distract you from the ministry God has ordained for you to walk in.
  • You’ve been attacked by Athaliah, who want to kill you because your very existence is proof of God’s power and Lordship.
  • You’ve made mistakes, committed sins, chose paths, and listened to lies that told you that there no coming back from where you are this time.
  • Your marriage is trouble, your prayer life is non-existent, your job is in question, finances are down, sickness is all around you, you’ve hunkered down in a hidden place (secreted away in isolation like Joash of old), and perhaps you’ve just about given up all hope and haven’t the strength to lift the shield of anymore.
  • HOLD ON! Day three is coming! Resurrection power is on its way. the Royal Seed is coming.
  • On that third day, Jesus Christ rose from the dead and He said: “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18).

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is The Comeback Story of the Royal Seed, and He is here right now to help you with your own Comeback Story.

Comeback from depression, sin, anger, marital strife, financial despair, addiction, hopelessness.

Come to Jesus. He trades beauty for ashes, joy for heaviness, forgiveness for sin, peace for anger, unity for strife, miraculous provision for financial despair, freedom from addiction, and He is the God of Faith, Hope, and Love.

Jesus Christ is the Comeback King and you are His Royal Seed.

1 Peter 2:9-10, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:  (10)  Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”

[1] The Lord spoke this into my spirit about 2-3 months ago (July-August 2020) while I was crossing my driveway.

[2] Strong’s. H3090.

[3] Source: Mark F. Kuntzman. (10-14-2007). The Jezebel Spirit.

[4] Strong’s. G500.

[5] Strong’s. H3060.

[6] Isaiah 53:5.

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Consider this...

One Solitary Life -Phillips Brooks

Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village. He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty, and for three years He was an itinerant preacher. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never owned a house. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never put His feet inside a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place where He was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credential but Himself.

While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against Him. His friends ran away. One of them denied Him. He was turned over to His enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed upon a cross between two thieves. His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He owned and that was His coat. When He was dead He was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.

Nineteen wide centuries have come and gone, and today He is the centerpiece of the human race and the leader of the column of progress.

Iam far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched and all the navies that were ever built, and that all the parliaments that ever sat and all kings that ever reigned, put together have not affected the life of a man upon this earth as did that One Solitary Life.

–Phillips Brooks

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Bible Teaching

Jesus Christ: Sonship

Isaiah 9:6 = Jesus is God

The Purpose of Sonship

God has always desired to fellowship with man, but sin came into the human family and separated God from man. The purpose of Sonship was so that God could provide the best means by which He and man could regain their fellowship, and to give dominion over the earth to man again. This fellowship is the result of the sacrifice of the Savior on Calvary. He could only do this by providing complete redemption for mankind. He is the Lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world, Rev. 13:8. In short, the Sonship is about God and man engaging in a loving and healthy relationship that is void of any hindrances (sin), which would separate each from the other. For that to take place a Mediator (the Son) had to provide reconciliation between God and man. This Mediator was realized in the person of Jesus Christ.

Who Fulfilled the Sonship

Jesus Christ fulfills the Sonship. In Colossians 2:9 we are told that in Jesus dwells all the fullness of the Godhead (all the characteristics of God) bodily, and we (the Church) are complete in Him (Jesus). Paul did say that the Gospel message was a mystery, but then he went on to explain what the mystery was: “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory” (I Timothy 3:16). Only Jesus Christ fulfills these six points. Thus proving the adage, “Jesus Christ of the New Testament is Jehovah of the Old Testament.”

Originally posted on 5 June 2010 on https://thepillarandgroundoftruth.blogspot.com/2010/06/jesus-christ-sonship.html