Sermons
Eternal Security --I did NOT say Social Security --I said Eternal security............
I recreated this sermon from one I had heard preached many years ago by the glorious servant of Our Lord Brother S. M. Lockridge. He has long since passed on to Glory :)
The 23rd Psalm
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He's Mine-- Is He Yours? Who? The Lord, creator of All things.. The Lilly of the valley, the bright and morning star... Is He Your Shepherd? Tell me, is He Yours?How do you know?
IS Yes IS --He Is is --He Was is --and always will be is.... Eternity in excellence, magnanimity in Glory, the all ever present one, the Alpha and the Omega, The Beginning and the End... He Just IS....
My Shepherd …
John 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my [sheep], and am known of mine.
Joh 10:15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
Joh 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, [and] one shepherd. ((The other sheep are the gentiles, the Church))
My shepherd—is He yours? Do you claim him in every breath you take --every thought you make, ---every step you take--- Is He yours???
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I shall not want: He is always there for me--- yet the world will forsake me,, my family forget me --my false friends forswear me---Yet Every true need, be it grace in trial, nakedness in body, festering in the flesh, yet He will be there to give me what I Need...peace passing all understanding, joy in His presence, and His angels winging me to glory at my last breath
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Psa 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD [is] good: blessed [is] the man [that] trusteth in him.
Psa 34:9 O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for [there is] no want to them that fear him.
Psa 34:10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good [thing].
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
Though I not know how, he gives me rest... though I often toil in vain, He brings me rest... I lie down under His watchful gaze careless of the noises of the forest, safe under His care
Joel 2:22 Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.
He leads me beside the still waters.
Raging waters of strife confusion, dissension, peril of apostate men tug at my soul, but He leads me back beside the still waters of his truth...and I lie down contented in His love...
Phi 4:12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
Phi 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
He restores my soul;
Trials vex me, men (and, Yes, women) tempt me, money lures me, the tempest toss me, yet I find rest for my soul in his Word...
Joe 2:25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
He leads me- for by myself I am totally lost, rationalizing any silly sinfulness.
Isaiah 43:15 I [am] the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King.
Isa 43:16 Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters; For His name’s sake.
Righteousness- for only He is the way, the truth and the life... only He calms my sea, bring me safe to shore and rest in the bosom of His Love...
As He could swear by none greater, He swore by Himself... To Moses he declared tell Pharaoh “I Am that I Am has sent me”...
That there is None other, no other name under heaven by which we must be saved
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
All day long we travail through this world, not knowing what moment may thrust us through the portal of eternity.
The hellfire licks at our ankles and the yawning teath of the abyss Knaws at us, swallowing us whole at any moment but for His love.
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
For His name’s sake.
Psa 24:7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
Psa 24:8 Who [is] this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
Psa 24:9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift [them] up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
Psa 24:10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he [is] the King of glory. Selah.
I will fear no evil;
sure of foot and swinging the avenging sword of righteousness, He is beside me , behind me and before me...
Gen 15 Fear not, Abram: I [am] thy shield, [and] thy exceeding great reward.
For You are with me;
Closer than a brother, sister or mother, we cling to your bosom in faith and trust...
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
They chasten me closer, draw me nearer, comfort me truer, guide me gently into your rest..
1 thess --He is coming,-- Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood, of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
A strong tower we run to before our foes.... you bless and nourish me even as the enemy is at my gates... you are the deliverer of my rest...
You anoint my head with oil;
My anointing is forever, my sonship is sure, my heart is pure, dwelling in your grace,
your chosen, purchased possession,
Exo 40:15 And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.
My cup runs over.
More than I could want, more than I could desire, more than I could dream, Your love abounds an overflowing bounty in me
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
For your love grace and mercy will be with me, you will never forsake me, though the sun fail to shine, the stars fall from the heavens, your mercy endures Forever...
David said:
Psa 37:23 The steps of a [good] man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
Psa 37:24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth [him with] his hand.
Psa 37:25 I have been young, and [now] am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread
All the days of my life;
A day is as forever in your sight, yet the days shall not run short of your love for us..
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
I will Dwell... not visit, dwell... not stay overnight, Dwell... not until this or that happens, but Dwell.....
Where Church? Where will I dwell?
In GoDs house, Where is GODs house?
Rev 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
So, How Long??? How long Church? How Long will I dwell??
Forever.
What? Until the rent isn’t paid? Until the landlord throws me out?? until MY sins catch up to Me???
How long Church will I Dwell? Forever? How long is that? Forever and ever and ever and ever ?
How long is that Church???
Forever? Forever!!! -- that, Church, is Eternal Security...
Doctrine of Imminence
If you knew you only had days to live would you not call out to GOD?
In the very same way,
If you really believed Jesus was coming tomorrow, what would your attitude be? What would you DO ???
Belief in Jesus soon return leads to Holiness !! Being set apart from this world.. Set apart for Jesus use...
All throughout the Church age, faithful witnesses have longingly gazed up into the heavens hoping that Jesus coming would be in their day... The apostle Paul thought that Jesus might come back in his day, since the gospel had already gone throughout the world--- His world,, the Roman empire of his time...
But Paul did not realize that Jesus meant all of planet Earth.. Even though in hind sight through the efficatcy of the Holy Spirit we can now see that it is plainly written in scripture that Jesus would not come back for another 1900 years, It was still hidden from them.. However, this doctrine comforted the believers.. Through their faith, they worked wonders in the power of GOD...
1st Thessalonians 1:10--- expresses hope and a warm spirit of expectantcy
To serve the living and true God: and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
1 John 3:2,3 Results in a victorious spirit and a purified live living in Holyness
1John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
1Jo 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
iv. We shall be like Him: This reminds us that even though we grow into the image of Jesus now, we still have a long way to go. None of us will be finished until we see Jesus, and only then truly we shall be like Him.
d. We shall see Him as He is: Perhaps this is the greatest glory of heaven: not to be personally glorified, but to be in the unhindered, unrestricted, presence of our Lord.
1 Corinthians 13:12). . Paul said of our present walk, For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known ( Today, when we look in a good mirror, the image is clear. But in the ancient world, mirrors were made out of polished metal, and the image was always unclear and somewhat distorted. We see Jesus now only in a dim, unclear way, but one day we will see Him with perfect clarity.
1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 Paul included himself as among those looking for Jesus return Also 2 Thess 2:11
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
c. And thus we shall always be with the Lord: The manner in which Jesus will gather us to Himself is impressive. But the main point is that whatever the state of the Christians (dead or alive) at the Lord's coming, they will always be with the Lord. This is the great reward of heaven - to be with Jesus. Death can't break our unity with Jesus or with other Christians.
i. We shall always be with the Lord is an important truth with many implications.
· It implies continuation because it assumes you are already with the Lord.
· It implies hope for the dying because in death we shall still be with the Lord.
· It implies future confidence because after death we are with the Lord.
· It implies advancement because we will one day always be with the Lord.
1 Timothy 6:14 That thou keep [this] commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ
For when we keep focused upon Jesus, this present world fades away.
Hebrews 10:17
For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
Luke 19:13
And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
i. Some gifts are distributed differently by God, according to His own pleasure; others are universally given to believers - such as the gospel, which is given to each Christian in equal measure.
ii. Delivered to them ten minas: It isn’t that each servant received ten minas, but that ten were distributed to the group as a whole, one to each of the ten servants.
b. Do business till I come: While the master was away, receiving his kingdom, the servants were expected to do business - to use the resources that the master gave, and to use them to the utmost.
James 5:8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
Matthew 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
Mat 24:43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
Mat 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Mat 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
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.
Rev 3:3 If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
d. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief: Jesus warned them of the great danger in failing to watch. If they ignored His command to be watchful, then Jesus would come upon them as a thief, at a time completely unexpected.
i. I will come upon you: How would Jesus come upon them? He could come in the sense bringing immediate judgment. Or, He could come in the sense of His coming at the rapture of the church (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Used in either sense, it showed He might come suddenly and unannounced, so they must be watchful.
So If We Do watch-- we will not be surprised !!!!!
1Th 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
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.
2. (4-5) The basis for Paul's exhortations
a. But you, brethren, are not in darkness: In addressing their behavior, Paul first simply told the Thessalonian Christians that they should be who they are. God has made us sons of the light and sons of the day. The time when we were of the night or of the darkness is in the past. So now we simply have to live up to what God has made us.
i. "In the Semitic languages generally to be a 'son' of something means to be characterized by that thing." (Morris)
b. That this Day should over take you as a thief: Paul means that this should not happen for the believer who lives according to their nature as a son of light and son of the day. They will be ready for the return of Jesus Christ.
i. "Paul is led from a consideration of the day of the Lord to the thought that the Thessalonians have nothing to fear from the coming of that Day. This leads to the further thought that their lives should be in harmony with all that that day stands for." (Morris)
ii. In some respect, the coming of Jesus will be a surprise for everybody, because no one knows the day or the hour (Matthew 24:36). But for Christians who know the times and the seasons, it will not be a complete surprise. No one knows the exact hour a thief will come, but some live in a general preparation against thieves. Those who are not in darkness, who live as they are all sons of light and sons of the day, these are ready for the return of Jesus.
iii. But if we are in darkness - perhaps caught up in some of the sin Paul warned against previously in this letter - then we are not ready, and need to make ourselves ready for the return of Jesus.
3. (6-8) Paul's exhortations: be awake, sober, and watchful.
Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.
a. Therefore let us not sleep: Because we do not belong to the night nor of darkness (1 Thessalonians 5:5), our spiritual condition should never be marked by sleep. Spiritually speaking, we need to be active and aware, to watch and be sober.
i. Not sleep: Paul used a different word here than for the sleep of death mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 4:13. "The word sleep is here used metaphorically to denote indifference to spiritual realities on the part of believers. It is a different word than that in 4:13-15 for the sleep of death. It covers all sorts of moral and spiritual laxity or insensibility." (Hiebert)
ii. Sleep speaks of so much that belongs to the world (the others), but should not belong to Christians:
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I greet people in my large church with the words “Jesus is coming”. They smile – and/or are politely impatient-, then hurry away... After all, I've told them this before. However, they seem to miss the whole point ...Recently, I asked one delightful brother “why do I say Jesus is coming?”
His answer was “I dont know” looking at me... So I answered “Because He IS coming very soon”
All I got was a smile, and he went off to talk with someone else...
It seems we are continually met with a spirit of apathy and a lack of understanding about the times in which we live. Despite all the things going on in the world today, the sense of urgency about the hour seemes lost .
Sometimes, I find myself really wanting to grab them by both sholders, shake them and screem in their faces “wake up ! He is coming! Soon! Really soon!” What are you susposed to be doing about it?”
How are you susposed to be living your life?”
After all, they have children and then grandchildren they want to watch growing up, a football season they want to see, retirement plans they dont want to miss... In the minds of most all believers,
they have a vague knowledge that Jesus could come back today, but they put the possibility of His coming on the top shelf of their closet because they really dont want Him to come back any time soon... because then that would mess up all their plans for the future...
The large church I have been a member of for 30 years is spending three million dollars on a sanctuary remodel... A remodel facelift! 3 million! I shake my head in disbelief! I think I am the only person appauled by this waste! Think of how many Bibles could have been bought, how many missionaries could have been blessed by even half of that sum... Two million of what we spent was actually in CASH! And cost overuns will reach another 200 thousand $$$...
The “Its all about ME” doctrine has led the church away from its true purpose, saving souls... going out into the highway and hedges and compelling people to come in to GODs house
And Doctrine- dont even let me get started about doctrine! And wanna-be- Bibles...Most churches are disappearing down the “purpose driven rabbit hole of consummer led theology... theology so called, appealing to the lust of the masses instead of preaching the true WORD of the ages, given to us by our Redeemer and Lord...
Finally, The doctrine of imminence has us watch, praying, faithfully working to reach the lost in the final moments of this age before Jesus calls us home to glory.
We are faithful because we are his, and as faithful sons, we long to hear our masters voice
His words, “Well done thou good and faithful servant. Enter into the Joy of your Lord...
Amen... Maranatha.
Coming Soon
Notes from “Doctrine of Imminence”
Yes we can know He is coming Soon. He told us exactly when He was coming the 1st time Daniel ch9... then gave them 40 years to repent
At the return from Babylon Zerubbel the prince led a handful... the rest were too comfortable in Babylon & dispersed from Europe to China... just like they are comfortable in NYC today... like back then, why would any sensible Jew want to go back to Zion, surrounded by those ugly kill-crazy people???
Years later Gods man Ezra led another pathetic few back to Zion, feeling led to rebuild GODs house... even then the people rebelled ---So few priests returned that they had to select some men from other tribes to do priestly duties!
And that the people would rather build their beautiful homes than GODs house...
Hag_1:4 Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste? Cieled means walls with lavish and expensive carvings and paneling!
Later Nehemiah the ordinary man was told by GOD to build the wall of Jerusalem when the Noble and the Priest had failed....... Just like today, GOD uses Only the humble servant...
And Daniel's 70 week prophecy began
-explain Daniel ch9 prophecy—using Enduring Word.Com commentary !!
Dan 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
Dan 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
Dan 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
And as I said, GOD the merciful gave them a generation to repent before bringing judgment... this time for 2 Millennia..
Hos_6:2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. ---A type and shadow of Jesus being raised after 3 days!!!---
It has been said that when a Jew disobeys, GOD wacks him twice... Just like Moses twice struck that rock in the wilderness to get water for those annoying wining Jews...... It might also be noted that as the Jews wined to Moses to go back to Egypt, It was to Egypt they were returned by Rome as worthless slaves.........
So, we've seen how
Amo_3:7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
Rev_10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
The mystery of The Jews return to Israel in 1948 is also declared by the prophets... go to Ezekiel 4:4-6 and bookmark Leviticus ch 26...
Eze 4:1 Thou also, son of man, take thee a tile, and lay it before thee, and pourtray upon it the city, even Jerusalem:
Eze 4:2 And lay siege against it, and build a fort against it, and cast a mount against it; set the camp also against it, and set battering rams against it round about.
Eze 4:3 Moreover take thou unto thee an iron pan, and set it for a wall of iron between thee and the city: and set thy face against it, and it shall be besieged, and thou shalt lay siege against it. This shall be a sign to the house of Israel.
Eze 4:4 Lie thou also upon thy left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it: according to the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon it thou shalt bear their iniquity.
Eze 4:5 For I have laid upon thee the years of their iniquity, according to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days: so shalt thou bear the iniquity of the house of Israel.
Eze 4:6 And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year.
Israel chastized 430 years, if they would not then repent, the remaining years of their punishment would be multiplied by 7 …Leviticus 26:28... the remaining 360 years multiplied by 7 is 2520 Jewish years; 407,200 days.... ending the very day in May 1948 when Israel became a nation again...
Lev 26:27 And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me;
Lev 26:28 Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins.
However sadly just like in the 1st return from Babylon by Zerubbel, only a pitiful few returned to Zion , and in unbelief and rebellion.. The vast majority were just to comfortable in NYC, the new Babylon...
19 years later, like in Ezra's time, they could build the temple, but chose not too... once again they feared the surrounding people and they did not see GODs temple as important... Their own lives homes & families were first..... Just like here GODs house comes in last place in the hearts and wallets of GODs people...
So How long the generation?
Matthew 24 speaking to the JEW says:
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.
So clearly Jesus is telling the JEW, not the Church that his 2nd coming would be at the very end of the generation that sees the fig tree, Israel, growing and budding in the land...
How long is a generation? I was born the year that Israel returned in 1948 and have seen Israel Blossoming despite many trials...... GOD says a man gets 70 years, a few 80... However the Word says “that generation”, not just a few survivors...
And we will be outta here 7 years before HE come in Glory to Rule...
By all accounts we are already way past the 9th inning, with Casey at the bat :)--- the Rapture WILL be Very SOON !!
Then GOD uses the Tribulation to bring His precious Hebrew people back to Himself...
A special note: We are in the Jubilee year (50th year)from when Israel retook Jerusalem!
Daniels 7 weeks and 49 weeks??? Maybe the final 7 weeks /49 years before the Tribulation?
The 4 blood moons happened a year before Jewish Independence in 1948
The 4 blood moons happened during Israel's capture of Jerusalem
The 4 blood moons ended Last Year!!! Is GOD telling us something?
Russia is stopped cold in Eastern Europe blustering furiously and threatening... God says:
Ezekiel 38:4 And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, ----Against Israel----
>>Russia is rapidly running of both Money and Time... They waisted the opportunity to modernize and organize their economic system,... instead they raped it for instant profits... With the collapse of oil prices they have lost most of their income... in less than two years they will hit the wall...
As well, 1/3rd of their population is Moslom... and being quickly radicalized... a Huge danger in their midst
Turkey has Just turned away from the West towards Russia readying their mighty army to come against Israel... They May even sieze the American nukes in Turkey...
Iran will have the bomb any day now... if they havn't already bought one with Obama dollars from North Korea... Or even Pakistan...
Saudi Arabia is already trying to buy Nukes from Pakistan --- or anyone else!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Saudi Arabia , Like Russia,is living on borrowed time.... Their bid to bankrupt our American shale oil has badly failed, and come back to bite them... They are living off their cash reserves... in less than two years, their whole system comes crashing down into chaos as the govt can no longer pay for their universal wellfare state..... in Saudi, No One Works !! Everyone gets a paycheck!!!
However, when the Ezekiel Gog Magog war breaks out, Saudi Arabia merely protests, meaning that this Ezekiel war must happen before the Saudi elites are lynched; hung upon the usual lamp posts!!!
Pastor J D. Farag in Hawaii does a weekly u-tube prophecy update, a must see! One of his repeated comments is that all these events have a “shelf life” like the milk the grocer puts in the cooler!!!
A LOT has to happen—really soon!!! AND There are lots more that I havn't covered.
Finally, Do you remember Revelation 3:3 ?
Rev 3:3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
Meaning I think that If we ARE watching, we won't be surprised, that we will know the “”hour””--
meaning time and season-- when he's coming!!! And I thing Its really SOON !!!
SO- Are you looking UP?
Maranatha!!!!!!!!!!
Maranatha!!!!!!!!!!
Notes About Ancient Israel
Why did the angels announce Jesus birth to the shepherds ?
Why not around the temple on a feast day? Why not to Caesar Augustus in Rome?
After all, the shepherds did not look good, smell good, were the lowest class in society....
But GOD saw fit to show Himself to the humble, to his servants such as the old priest Simon and the widow Anna in the temple 8 days after Jesus birth.....
Even today, Jesus shows himself to those who earnestly seek him
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 naught things that are:
1Co 1:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
How many people are members in a church or synagogue, and think that they are good to go,
Just like the Pharisees that Jesus condemned???
Those who looked down their nose at the trailer trash and ex-cons in our society ?
What were the expectations of the Jews ?
Jacob prophesied in Genesis 49:8/10 exactly where the Messiah would be born, and to the Tribe of Judah....... And even gave the generation Messiah would come...
Gen 49:10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
The book of Daniel was revered across the whole Greek empire, from Athens to Persia to India.
Daniel exactly prophesied the whole history of the Greek Empire, Astounding the whole ancient world.
The prophet Daniel in Ch 9's 70 week (490 year) prophecy told the whole world exactly when and where Jesus was going to present himself as Messiah.
The 3 wise men had certainly read Daniel. They knew that the Messiah had to be born maybe 30 or 40 years before Daniel said the Messiah was going to present himself , SO unlike the Jews in Jerusalem, the wise men were watching.... When they saw THE Sign in the heavens, the Holy Spirit told them to go to Judah.
The religious elite in Judah were unbelieving, they were liberals . Herod had thrown out the Bible believers and brought in His Sadducee supporters ... So the Sadducee told the Wise Men to go away, and, BTW, stop in Bethlehem, as Micah had said:
Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Jesus was less than two years old at that point....
The Wise men brought Gold, a Kingly gift,which the family needed to flee into Egypt... The frankincense and Myrrh spoke of Jesus crucifiction and Embalming and burial... The family need to flee because Jeremiah 31:15 said that Herod would order the killing of all the young boys in Bethlehem.
What did the rabbis like Gamaliel say about the messiah in Jesus generation?
“Woe unto us, for the scepter has departed, and Shiloh has not come—we sit in ashes lamenting our fate... We have been abandoned by our God.”
showing that unlike the Greeks,they were oblivious to Daniels prophecy.......The liberals were running the Temple....
In their minds, the Scepter had departed when Rome sized the power of life and death from the Sanhedrin,.........This happened when Jesus was a boy...
So the prophecy Had been fulfilled, Messiah was walking among them.
And they were clueless about it...
Factions in Judah
Like was said by a Jewish leader in 1948,“we could have a nice little war here without any Arabs”
three main factions:
the Liberal Sadducee who ran the temple and the Pharisees who looked good, smelled good and looked down their noses at everyone else as being “unclean”..
The Revolutionaries, the Zealots who wanted to throw out the Romans and bring in good secular govt. (run by themselves of course)
The Collaborators with Rome ... The Jewish Hellenists who worshiped the Roman Peace, wanted 'Peace and safety” … they were humanists just like today...
as Solomon said, there is nothing new under the sun...
When they finally did revolt from Rome in 66AD it was a chaotic mess.
See Josephus “Wars of the Jews” its free online......
When John the Baptist came along
All the right people in Jerusalem asked, why is he baptizing and in the Jordan river of all places... people snickered, shook their heads.... after all, baptizing or ritual cleansing was a very Hebrew thing... Jews did it every holy day and before entering the temple...
The religious elite sent a delegation out there anyway, and John was very rude to them... how dare John talk like that to his betters?
Later along, we find out that John came in the spirit and power of Elijah, fulfilling the old testament prophecy mentioned in:
Luke_1:17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
When Jesus came along
Factions everywhere, despising each other, all vieing for power, position,
with the Romans caught in the middle, like our troops in Iraq, Afghanistan.
All agreed however, that only the right, , politically correct person could be the leader or even the Messiah.... whoever or whatever a messiah was... every faction had their own idea about who the Messiah was supposed to be.
Scripture pictures two messiahs, a suffering servant and a mighty king..
The faithful remnant saw the coming Messiah afar off like you will see far away mountains.
What they could not see was that there are large long valleys between those mountains..... one particular valley of 2000 years....
Guess which Messiah the Jews of Jesus day wanted? They didn’t think they needed the messiah depicted in Isaiah 53, dieing for their sins.... they went to temple,did the Law of Moses thing, well, kinda sort of anyway,,, associating with all the right people... tithing, sacrificing then going right back to their worldly ways... and somehow thinking they were good....
not a clue that blood sacrifices were only good to cover excuse their sins if there was also repentance..... a repentance that changed their lifestyle, a repentance that brought them into a close walk with GOD....
As in today, the vast majority just went through the motions of having a religion, they just did not get it....
So,Where did Jesus come from? Only his family and a few neighbors knew Jesus was born in Bethlehem fulfilling Micah's prophecy …. and after all Jesus only lived there for a year or so... He grew up in Nazareth...
Even though he supposedly was a son of Joseph and of David the King,“everyone just knew” that Jesus was illegitimate, that Mary was a harlot who had gotten pregnant before her marriage to Joseph...... so the whispers were very loud against Him in that small town...
They forgot the scripture which said:
Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (which means “GOD with us”)
He had to be both Immanuel and Jesus / Joshua which means “God saves”
It is said in isaiah:
Isa_53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
So when Jesus started preaching and doing miracles, people in his home town rejected him...
Mat 13:54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?
Mat 13:55 Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
Mat 13:56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?
Mat 13:57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and in his own house.
Mat 13:58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Every established Rabbi had apprentices or deciples..... Rabbis would quote their rabbi as their authority such as Paul said that he was a disciple of the renown Gamilael....
so when Jesus started calling fisherman and tax collectors to be his disciples, the community was in disbelief.... and all the right people mocked Him....
Some said “Search the scriptures, that no prophet comes out of the Galilee “..
I'm sure others said: said 'Half naked fisherman, tax collectors follow him.... the no-bodies of society mingled with the unclean …..”
Is it any surprise then that He was despised and rejected ?
Except for the ordinary people who followed Him to be healed or on a couple occasions to be fed....
Everywhere Jesus went He preached kindness, humility, righteousness,
and He vigorous taught against pride and haughty religiousness....
Jesus taught;
Mat_5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat_5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Mat_5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Mat_5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Mat_5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
And so much more........
Jesus taught in parables or stories,IMHO, so that only those truly searching would understand ….
Rich Young Ruler
there so many good people like the “Rich young ruler” that I write about in my book who came to Jesus and said:
Mat 19:16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
Mat 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
Mat 19:18 He (the rich young ruler) saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
Mat 19:19 Honor thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
Mat 19:20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
Mat 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
Mat 19:22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
The “Rich young ruler” did not understand that its not what we try to do that forgives our sin, but faith in Jesus who paid the price in His blood for our sin.
It has been well said that religion is man searching vainly and futilely for GOD, while Christianity is GOD searching for people who will trust in Him....
Just like the prophet Elijah when he was searching for GOD, he could not hear GOD :
1Kings 19:11 And GOD said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:
1Ki 19:12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
The faithful listen for GODs still small voice....
Finally, the thread of blood
GOD slew animals, shed their blood to cover Adam' and Eves sin.
Abel came with a blood sacrifice and was accepted by GOD, Cain came without blood and was rejected by GOD
The Fathers one by one came to GOD with blood, Abraham offering Issac until stopped by GOD.
In Egypt, GOD instructed the Hebrews to paint the blood on the door posts of their homes so the death angel would pass over.
When the Hebrews took Jericho, the spies told Rehab the harlot who had sheltered them to hang a scarlet cord from her window, and so her family was spared and she became the great great grandmother of King David.
Year by year blood was offered in the temple to cover the peoples sin, with only the righteous few understanding their salvation by looking forward to the suffering Messiah who would once and for all pay the price for their sin on the cross...
Read ALL of Isaiah 53 for the picture of Jesus on the cross paying the price for our sins.
Zechariah
The Messiah coming as the mighty King:
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isa 9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Zec 14:3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.
Zec 14:4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east,...................................
Whose feet? Who is coming?
Zec 14:5 And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.
Zec 14:8 And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.
Zec 14:9 And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one. Israel,Do you remember the Shema ?
Deut 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD is our God the LORD alone
(the Tenakh)
And what of the nation Israel?
Zec 13:8 And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.
Zec 13:9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.
Zec 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
Zec 12:11 In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.
Zec 12:12 And the land shall mourn, ….......every house in Israel
Zec 13:6 And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.
Job 19:25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
Job 19:26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
Job 19:27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
We know that Messiah, Jesus lives and He is coming very soon,,,
what is your relationship with GOD/ Are you ready for Him to come?
Pork has poisons that inhibit the immune system... Hebrew University Jerusalem found that people eating Kosher have 1/3rd the cancers of the population at large... Eating Selfish, crab, other scavengers like pigs seriously affects your health... A great privately published book was written about this 30 years ago I have in my library... “Gods key to health and happiness” by Elmer AJosephson.
This book is still Available on Amazon.com!!!
You really need to tell people about this...
Fewer flu, colds, respiratory and such illnesses... Me and other people I know that avoid pork etc seldom get flu and if we do it seldom lasts more than one day..
Why do you think “they” call it the “swine Flu”? Think for once!!
Pigs are the worst vector for viruses around !
If you feed pork to any animal they will sicken and die! Only man can eat pork and keep living! (for a while, at least!)
Pork is the only meat that rots from the inside out! Because of the poisons!
Pig kill and eat deadly poisonous snakes—because the poison the snakes use to bite them does not effect them—because they already have lots of poison in their bodies!!!
Trichinosis is in almost ALL pork... And you cannot kill those worms by cooking the meat!
Pork is not inspected for Trichinosis!
Autopsies show 1 in 3 people are infected by Trichinosis!
Colonies of Trichinosis worms masquerade as many other illnesses! (as many as 50)
Pigs have several types of paresite WORMS You can ingest!