Tag: election

Articles

Christ Jesus is Everything 

Rohnel

The Beginning and the Ending

Rohnel, and my beloved husband, Peter, angels and servants of God and Christ, unto the little children scattered in the world beloved of God, called to be saints, called to be faithful: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Job 37:5  God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend. 

Job 37:6  For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength. 

Job 37:7  He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work. 

Psa 66:8  O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard: 

Psa 66:9  Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved. 

Keep My Commandments and Live

Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 

Rev 14:12  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 

Rev 14:13  And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours [we stop accusing and excusing within ourselves]; and their works do follow them. 

Christ Jesus is Everything

Christ tells us He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End:

Rev 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

Christ is the I AM, and He is which WAS, and He is which is TO COME, and beside Him there is no other God. Christ is One with the Father.

Rev 1:8  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. 

Ecc 3:15  That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past. 

Isa 45:5  I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:

Isa 45:6  That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else. 

Joh 10:30  I and my Father are one. 

Christ is the Lord, the I AM of the Old and New Testaments.

Exo 3:14  And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

Joh 8:58  Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. 

When you see Christ, you see the Father because He is the express image of God, the Father’s Person.

Joh 14:8  Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 

Joh 14:9  Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? 

All things are of God, the Father, through Christ, is mentioned by few and believed by even fewer.

Pro 26:10 The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors. 

Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

Rom 11:36  For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. 

God, the Father, says Christ, His Son, IS God:

Heb 1:8  But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 

Heb 1:9  Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. 

Few are given to know who the true Christ is and to be brought into the inheritance of age-enduring life, which is knowing Christ and the Father, being intimate with them in vessels of clay. The exclusion of the majority does not change the immutable truth of who Christ is and what He is doing in the lives of all men.

Dan 4:35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

Isa 40:12  Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance? 

Isa 40:13  Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him? 

Isa 40:14  With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?

Isa 40:15  Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing. 

Christ was in the beginning of all things because He IS the Word of God.

Joh 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 

Joh 1:2  The same was in the beginning with God. 

Joh 1:3  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 

Christ IS the Word of Wisdom, and He was from the beginning.

Pro 8:23  I [Word of Wisdom] was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. 

Pro 8:24  When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. 

Pro 8:25  Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: 

Pro 8:26  While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. 

Pro 8:27  When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: 

Pro 8:28  When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: 

Pro 8:29  When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:

Pro 8:30  Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; 

Christ is the Beginning and the End, and He created and IS creating all things through the Power that God the Father gave Him. The Power of His Word holds all things together. The Power of His Word is His Commandments. Who can know it? The Commandments are the mystery that was hidden, and this is now being revealed to the true children of God.

Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

1Co 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

What constitutes all things, and the depth of Christ being the Alpha and Omega, is far larger and more profound than the natural man within us is able to comprehend, until the Day comes when the Lord opens the eyes of our understanding to see Him as He is. Our seeing and understanding is His mercy to us, His true children, in this age and in every age since Christ.

Eph 1:17  That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 

Eph 1:18  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 

Eph 1:19  And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 

Eph 1:20  Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 

Christ is far above anything, and He fills all in all. Christ is His Body, the fullness that fills all in all. It pleased the Father that in Him all fullness dwells.

Eph 1:21  Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 

Eph 1:22  And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 

Eph 1:23  Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. 

Col 1:19  For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 

Heb 1:3  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; 

All that happens and all that anyone does are from the Lord. All men are first a living soul, Adam, and are being remade into the Lord from heaven, a quickening Spirit, in time and order. First comes the man of sinful flesh through Christ, and then comes the new man, a quickening Spirit through Christ. Flesh and blood were never intended to inherit the kingdom of God.

Isa 45:9 Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker [the first man Adam]! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?

1Co 15:43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:

1Co 15:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

1Co 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

1Co 15:46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

1Co 15:47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven [the first and the last].

1Co 15:48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.

1Co 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly [the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end].

1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

All things have been written in the Lord’s Book of Life before there were any such days. Christ made the earth, and created man upon it, and the hosts of heaven also. He did and does all of His desire as it is this day. Our days are already determined, and He has appointed our boundaries.

Psa 139:16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

Job 14:5 Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;

Isa 45:12  I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded. 

Isa 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

Christ is our Creator, and this includes our initial marred in the flesh, rebellious and sinful state. There are no exclusions to His sovereignty. Many do not believe that Christ is the Creator of all, through God, the Father’s design, even the hardening of our hearts as it is this day.

Isa 63:17 O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants’ sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.

Psa 90:3 Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.

Isa 40:28  Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

Rom 1:25  Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

1Pe 4:19  Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

Here is the vision of what Christ, the Potter, is making and the process He has ordained for it. Man did not fall in the Garden of Eden, but instead was created in bodies of sinful flesh on purpose. And this is how all of Israel [humanity] are being saved in the end, in a specific order and times appointed. Think spiritually. Israel is not physical Israel out there, but Israel within. Christ speaks in parables.

Jer 18:1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,

Jer 18:2 Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.

Jer 18:3 Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.

Jer 18:4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

Jer 18:5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

Jer 18:6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

Bodies of sinful flesh, that is to say, our carnal minds and hearts of stone, are being changed into sons of God in every age and in every age since Christ. Many are called, few are chosen, and fewer are being made faithful [perfect]. Sons of God have the mind of Christ and strive to keep His Commandments.

Mal 3:6  For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. 

Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

Rom 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

Rom 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

Christ first gives us the experience of good and evil on purpose. This experience teaches us to discern between good and evil. In Christ’s higher ways, our own wickedness is used to correct us.

Jer 2:19 Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

Luk 19:22  And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: 

Through the process of judgment, we learn good and evil, and we are taught the righteousness of Christ, which is to know and obey Christ’s Commandments, making us a holy and a separated people unto Christ and unto God, the Father.

Isa 26:9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

Jhn 9:39  And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

Jhn 12:31  Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

Jhn 16:7  Nevertheless, I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 

Jhn 16:8  And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

Knowing that all things occurring are not mere happenstance but are for the sake of God’s chosen is a humbling thought. As we mature in Christ, we look back and see how the Lord is working out everything in our lives, whether good or evil.

2Co 4:15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

1Pe 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

In the Book of Revelation, John turns to see the true Christ, the written Word of God, the Word of His Grace, and many more. John saw Christ with spiritual eyes.

Rev 1:10  I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, 

Rev 1:11  Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, 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. 

Rev 1:12  And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; 

Rev 1:13  And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. 

Rev 1:14  His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; 

Rev 1:15  And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. 

Rev 1:16  And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. 

Rev 1:17  And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

Rev 1:18  I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. 

We are being brought to our wits’ end in our Day of the Lord, and being taught that of our own striving, we are not able and are not conquering anything. We are all first fools and incapable of stopping our sinning despite the outwardly clean cups. Then the Lord IS come to bring judgment upon our house, destroying the man of sin within.

Psa 107:17 Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.

Psa 107:18 Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat [the true Gospel]; and they draw near unto the gates of death.

Psa 107:19 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses [when we come to see we ourselves are beasts and nothing good dwells in us].

Psa 107:20 He sent his word [causes us to hear His Word spoken by the angels of God], and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

This process begins in Christ, when we see and understand who and what the abomination of desolation is, sitting in God’s Temple.

Mat 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 

2Th 2:4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 

Once this happens, victory comes little by little. This is the Lord’s work in us to bring salvation and to give us deliverance. We are being brought to Mount Zion [Christ’s Commandments] and are being raised from spiritual death, which is the letter of the law for the lawless. We are being raised through the Power of His Commandments, Christ doing all. The nations are within us.

Deu 7:22  And the LORD thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and little: thou mayest not consume them at once, lest the beasts of the field increase upon thee. 

Deu 7:23  But the LORD thy God shall deliver them unto thee, and shall destroy them with a mighty destruction, until they be destroyed.

Deu 7:24  And he shall deliver their kings into thine hand, and thou shalt destroy their name from under heaven: there shall no man be able to stand before thee, until thou have destroyed them. 

Rom 7:6  But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

2Co 3:6  Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

We all live the experiences of thinking it is up to us to save ourselves, yet we realize that we miserably fail. On our Day of Judgment, we learn quickly that Christ is everything, and that we can do nothing of ourselves [John 15].

Psa 107:23 They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters [carnal works, flesh].

Psa 107:24 These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.

Psa 107:25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.

Psa 107:26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.

Psa 107:27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.

Psa 107:28 Then [when we see we are the abomination and in need of a physician] they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.

Psa 107:29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.

Psa 107:30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

It is when we are given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God [the land within us] that we bow before the Lord, knowing He is working all things after the counsel of His will. Then we understand what working out our own salvation with fear and trembling means, knowing that it is God, through Christ, and not us, who works in us to will and to do according to His good pleasure.

1Jn 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

Mat 13:16  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 

The Lord is the One who first makes our paths crooked, and then, in due time, comes and straightens them. He is doing it all, the First and the Last, and everything in between our lives. We draw near heavenly Jerusalem through His work in us.

Isa 45:1 Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;

Rev 22:12  And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 

Rev 22:13  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

Rev 22:14  Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 

The sons of God know that Christ is doing it all. He holds our right hand [we are His workmanship, mere clay in His hand], He subdues kings [the sins, false doctrines, and idols of the hearts we believe in], He opens doors and gates and gives us ears to hear and eyes to see. His Word does not fail to accomplish what it has been sent to do. If we are Cyrus in this age, a type and symbol of His true people, the Lord goes before us to make our crooked paths straight. He always goes before us; that is to say, Christ is our example to follow.

Isa 45:2 I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:

Mat 26:32  But after I am risen again [within you] I will go before you into Galilee. 

We come to know He IS the Lord when He brings judgment upon us and pours out His wrath on our carnal lusts and desires, the law of sin in our members, accusing and excusing within ourselves. All things in our lives are brought into His marvelous Light. Nothing escapes His judgments that are the Living Commandments.

Joe 2:2  A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. 

Joe 2:3  A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them. 

Isa 45:3 And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.

Mat 4:16  The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. 

Mat 4:17  From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 

Christ’s Name, which are His Commandments, are written into our minds and hearts. Christ does this within His elect remnant in every age since Pentecost. He comes to save the true Israel of God, chosen before the world was even formed. Only a remnant escapes from spiritual Jerusalem to this day. Who has eyes to see and ears to hear? His Words are spiritually discerned.

Isa 45:4 For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.

Isa 45:5 I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:

Rom 11:4  But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. 

Rom 11:5  Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

Rom 11:6  And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. 

We are taught by abiding in the Lake of Fire, which is Christ. We live and move and have our being in Him. We learn a new appreciation for what the fear of the Lord [obedience to the Lord] means, and the completeness of what His sovereignty means. Christ gives life and breath to all things.

Act 17:24  God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 

Act 17:25  Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; 

Act 17:26  And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; 

Act 17:27  That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

Act 17:28  For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. 

The sons of God, through experience, learn good and evil and speak and show others that it was not us but Christ who is causing all the evil in our lives. We prophesy and speak about these things:

Isa 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

Amo 3:6  Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it? 

Amo 3:7  Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

Amo 3:8  The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy? 

And when a door to our inner heavens is opened to these truths, then the pure doctrine, the pure unadulterated Gospel falls from the sky and comes to our earth, and the crops and fruit of the Lord begin to blossom within us, which is the righteousness of the saints. We are the tender herbs of the Lord, that is to say, if we are chosen in this age.

Deu 32:2  My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:

Deu 32:3  Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. 

Isa 45:8 Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.

The salvation of all men is sure in its appointed time and order. It only awaits the timing that the Father has already declared. All things are of the Lord. Those with God’s Spirit, His Commandments dwelling in them, know and believe these truths.

1Co 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

1Co 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

Enjoy the Lord’s feast. Do not forget the Lord. Be ready when He comes. Be in His Word, know His Spirit, which are the Commandments of Christ. Christ comes spiritually, like a thief in the night, through His Christ, who are those chosen for salvation and who are sent forth to preach the Gospel. Go to the truthinscripture.com website and to the subtitle: Commandments. Read the verses below, the Lord speaks to us, those of us reading and writing. Think spiritually, think within.

Jer 7:25  Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day I have even sent unto you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them: 

Jer 7:26  Yet they hearkened not unto me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck: they did worse than their fathers. 

Jer 7:27  Therefore thou shalt speak all these words unto them; but they will not hearken to thee: thou shalt also call unto them; but they will not answer thee. 

Jer 7:28  But thou shalt say unto them, This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the LORD their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth.

Jer 7:29  Cut off thine hair, O Jerusalem, and cast it away, and take up a lamentation on high places; for the LORD hath rejected and forsaken the generation of his wrath. 

We take heed, Lord, and we hear Your marvellous Voice speaking to us. Today, if you hear His Voice, do not harden your heart. Do not be afraid, only believe.

Receive ye the Gospel, receive ye the Holy Spirit.

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Peter

The Snare of Politics

Recently I was asked if there was a post regarding politics and the admonishments for Christians to abstain from engaging in such activity.  This note focused light (the truth) on a weak spot in my walk.  I instantly knew why no such article existed on the website as my flesh, which struggles to abstain from political thought and dialog did not want to be exposed.  Here is what the Lord gave me to reply.

Hi B________ and thanks for writing.  This topic hit the nail on one of my weaknesses and where I still need help from the Lord. As you may know, I am an American now living in South Africa for nearly a decade.  I think the Lord put me here to get away from the scene going on in the USA.  I was just there visiting physical family and was horrified by the political climate and the nonstop bombardment of political ads and talk.  No matter where you went, you could not get away from it.

You are correct in pointing out a most basic truth which is as Christians, Christ followers, we are not to vote in any elections.  Such action is getting involved in the affairs of this world.  Anyone still voting is not acting in the faith, and has forgotten the Lord is working all things, even appointing Presidents of the USA, per the council of His will.  All of us first fall as we are dragged into the truth and out of this world.  It is a process and getting our carnal habits and interests burned out of us takes time.  Little by little, we are being transformed and leaving those worldly pursuits behind.

The standard of coming out of the world and not getting engaged in its affairs is more than just not voting.  Putting on the mind of Christ has us adopting a new thought life which will stay on the things above, not on the things below.  The Lord is in charge and He has already determined who is going to win all elections.  As you know the Lord directs men’s steps and even gives them their every thought.  If the Lord wants Trump to win it is going to happen or conversely, if He wants Harris, she will win.  Almighty God is always getting what He desires and there is nothing any man can do about it.

We are to follow the Lord in all we do yet we are weak in the flesh and it is only by making mistakes, falling down, and being corrected, that we overcome our sins.  We really should not care who wins the election or what insane policies and laws are being passed.  The world is certainly waxing worse and worse and this craziness is to be expected as all of it is prophesied.  Lord willing, with this prompting, an article/post will soon follow.

Yours in Christ,  Pete

The Snare of Politics

Engagement with politics ensnares a good portion of mankind and very many professing Christians in its net.  We see campaigning, fundraising, and endorsements of various candidates by all types of celebrities and even clergy from Christian churches.  To the carnal Christian, this lends credence to political activity and encourages more of it rather than less of it.  But it is not supposed to be this way.

The Lord was ALWAYS about His Father’s business and we are to be doing the same as Him.

Luk 2:49  And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” 

As He was sent so He sends us into the world, which is to do His business which is the Father’s business.  Christ wants all of our hearts, minds, and souls.  He does not want us to share it with “Caesar”, with Caesar being a type and shadow for the leaders of any nation.

Mar 12:17  And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.

While NOT VOTING in elections is a most basic understanding of what would Jesus do,  the struggle of staying out of the world’s affairs, and specifically politics is much bigger.  Anyone reading the news or watching TV cannot help but be bombarded with politics no matter where one lives.  Abstaining from such activities is the best line of defense and instead, we should spend our free time focused on the things of the Lord.

Col 3:1  If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 
Col 3:2  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 

Seeking the things above will have us being dead to the things the world chases and striving to put away the uncleanness from our lives.  It is more than just politics as virtually everything in the modern world [the internet, social media, TV] steers its user towards unclean, evil and covetous like lusts.

Col 3:3  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 
Col 3:4  When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. 
Col 3:5  Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 

I confess my continued weaknesses in being too much into the news and by extension engaged in too much thinking of political issues.  I know the truth but have not yet gotten totally out of the snare.  It really is all carnal vanity if we stop and consider our faith and the truth of the Lord working all things.  King Solomon learned that all these worldly pursuits were vanity.  We also learn it as we fulfill those prophecies and live those words.

Ecc 1:2  Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. 

Ecc 1:14  I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. 

Spending an ounce of energy on politics is vanity.  This is absolutely true for the few in the faith grounded on the truths of God’s word.  This starts with the Lord’s absolute sovereignty over the affairs of every man.  Nothing happens outside the will of our Father who is working ALL THINGS for the counsel of His will.

Dan 4:35  And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? 

Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 

Job 23:13  But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth. 

The Lord has already determined who will win every election and He will bring it to pass just as He has already declared it.

Isa 46:10  Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: 

The Lord will orchestrate His will by whatever means He has determined.  We know that He alone directs the steps of every man, gives them their every thought and even the very words they speak.

Jer 10:23  O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. 

Amo 4:13  For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought

Pro 16:1  The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.

The true Israel of God won’t be engaged in political activities such as voting or campaigning.  Doing so is contrary to our faith. We are to let the world and those of the world engage in their politics as the Lord moves them to bring about His will.  The harder and more subtle engagement with politics to avoid is the exposure we get from the news or engaging in conversation with others.  We need to be diligent to avoid such vain conversations if at all possible.

2Ti 2:16  But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

It is not just for our own sake we should do this, it is for the sake of our weaker brothers and sisters who may get the wrong idea.  The more mature should set an example for the immature to follow.  It is not a sin per se to have opinions on political topics.  Yet by openly engaging in debates and discussions, we may create a stumbling block for others who see us partaking in such discussions.  This reminds us of the wider meaning of what it means to partake of the food and meat of those outside the faith.

1Co 8:8  But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. 

1Co 8:9  But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. 

1Co 8:10  For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; 

It can be difficult to find polite ways to limit, decline, or exit our participation in political conversation.  Yet we should do all we can to avoid it or at least minimize it.  It’s so easy to be sucked into a trap as we all have opinions but they are better kept to ourselves.

Christ is busy dividing this world and bringing every man’s hand against His neighbor. It’s a prophetic promise and we are seeing it play out in our lifetimes in the current political climate.  This is particularly true in the USA but appears to be a growing global phenomenon in every country. The Lord is using politics to divide the people of the earth by creating quarrels and strife.  A servant of Christ is to avoid such strife.

2Ti 2:23  But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. 

2Ti 2:24  And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 

Our walk and ministry are likened to many things including being priests, ambassadors, and even soldiers.  As a good soldier, we cannot please our Lord if engaged in anything but the mission He gives us.  Political engagement is not our mission and is a key affair of the world.

2Ti 2:4  No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

Walking by faith in a weak body of flesh, we are in a constant war between our flesh and the spirit.  This war in heaven that is, was and will be transforming us from being carnally minded to having the spiritual mind of Christ.  This battle is primarily fought inwardly and this applies to the political temptations that inevitably come before us.  We are learning to take captive our carnal thoughts [fascination with politics, interest] and become obedient to the commands to be separated from the world.

2Co 10:3  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 

2Co 10:4  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 

2Co 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 

Lord willing, I hope my failures [and yours if this applies to you] are in the rearview mirror so I/we won’t have to repeat the lessons.  It takes effort and initiative to take a stand and resist the temptations when they come.  A solider for Christ must engage in this fight if we hope to win it.  This we are doing if we keep on enduring on the walk of faith.  Our involvement and even our interest in politics and other worldly distractions will be burned up.

Eph 6:10  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 

Eph 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 

It seems more so now than ever in my lifetime, temptations to engage in political discourse are pervasive.  All these worldly topics of interest are carnal distractions that are likened in the Scriptures to a net [e.g. the Internet].  All men are captured by the net except for an escaped remnant the Lord chooses.    It gives some real-time definition to what the Scriptures call “the net” that has captured all but a chosen few.

Mic 7:2  The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net. 

We need to remain vigilant to escape this trap.  Through the similitudes of the prophets, this mystery and worldly snare is foretold to those with eyes to see.

Ecc 9:12  For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.

The prophet Habakkuk [who is you and me in our time], laments about this seemingly losing battle of being captured and killed by the net.

Hab 1:15  They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad. 

Hab 1:16  Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous.

The carnal food in the net is plenteous and thereby men are snared and locked in place.  Only by turning our eyes back to the Lord and staying focused on His words and admonishments can we be saved from this net.

Psa 25:14  The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant. 

Psa 25:15  Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net. 

We are passing through this world as pilgrims and sojourners but are not to be of this world.  We have been separated as a peculiar people.

1Jn 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 

2Co 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,

The Apostle Peter described those called out of the world as aliens and strangers in a foreign land.  This separation from the world is a great gulf fixed that is the faith of Jesus Christ.  This gift of faith is given to a few in every generation, yet it is a defining metric that separates us from all others.  Those in the world will think it strange that we do not run after them in their dissipation.  By standing for Christ, and not engaging in political activities and discourse, we seem weird to them, and we are spoken evil of.

1Pe 4:4  In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. 

Joh 15:19  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 

The further we walk with Christ, we are losing relationships with friends and family and becoming increasingly set apart and isolated.  This is to be expected, and we are learning to count it all joy when we see the Lord’s hand in our life.  As Christians, our citizenship is not of this world or any country.  We are first and foremost not Americans, Canadians, Nigerians, Chinese, Fins, Germans or any nationality.  We belong to Jesus Christ the Lord and Saviour.  He alone is to be our allegiance, demanding all of our hearts, mind and soul.

Php 3:20  For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 

While we sojourn, we seek a better country and a spiritual city in heaven which the Lord has promised.

Heb 11:9  By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 

Heb 11:10  For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 

The faithful few will be falsely accused of many things, including being arrogant and thinking we are better than others.  This is because we do not partake of the same interests and habits as they.  Yet we do not revile back and instead rejoice as great is our reward.

Mat 5:11  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 

Mat 5:12  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. 

Christ told us that like Him, we are a light unto the world, rather than an active part of the world.  The Lord is calling light [His Christ] out of the darkness [ the world].  The Elect in every generation are likened unto ambassadors.

2Co 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 

2Co 5:18  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 

2Co 5:20  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.

Ambassadors in the world do not get engaged in the affairs of the people they are sent to but rather represent the one who has sent them.  We are sent by Christ to shine His light upon those He puts in our path.  We cannot be a good ambassador if we become entangled in politics and forget our mission for Christ.

Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 

Putting on the new man and shedding the old man requires us to think on things above, not on the things below on this earth.

Lastly it is worth mentioning that we are to pray for all men but not for the reasons the Babylonian orthodox churches of men teach.  We are to pray for all men that they allow us to live a quiet and peaceable life in Christ.

1Ti 2:1  I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

1Ti 2:2  For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

We are not to pray for the world [Joh 17:9, Jer 17:16] which means we do not pray that one leader versus another leader wins an election.  Such activity is pure vanity!  We shall be praying for His will to be done as it will be.

We should more urgently pray for one another, our precious brothers and sisters in the faith. May the Lord keep us from becoming entangled in the affairs of the world and the elevated political climate we find ourselves abiding.

May the Lord bless those in the faith and give them strength.

 

Pete