faith – Page 2

The City of Jerusalem Above and Below

July 4, 2019July 7, 2019 Pete

Jerusalem Above and Below

To the faithful saints, who are alive in Christ, that have been raised from the dead and now walk by faith. When Christ comes in Spirit [the second time without sin], imparting the faith of Christ to the faithful, one ceases to live according to the law of carnal reasoning [also known as the law of sin and death] and now we walk by faith and not by sight.

Rom 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

2Co 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.

The true Jews and all men in due time will in their seasons, escape the bondage to the law, even Moses [the ten commandments] and the law of the Gentiles [Rom 2:15] and will be called up into heavenly Jerusalem above, being saved.

Isa 4:2 In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.

Isa 4:3 And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem:

This is the ascension of Christ which His Christ also lives because as is the Lord, so are His people [1 John 4:17]. Our lives henceforth are being hidden with Christ [Col 3:3] as we dwell in our inheritance with the saints in heaven in down payment according to our measure of faith, an inheritance undefiled.

Act 1:9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

The Lord’s church is seated in heaven being one with Christ and worship God in Spirit and in Truth, one faith, one Lord, one baptism [Eph 4:5].

Heb 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

Heb 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

Ascending into heaven and the clouds of the Lord’s witnesses is manifested in earnest as the people of God separate from those in the world and those who do not believe the Gospel and the Lord’s promises.

2Co 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

When under the law we are joined to the bondwoman who in type is represented by Hagar and her offspring, Ishmael, who was born after the flesh and not of the Spirit. This is also known as Jerusalem below which is a great city, known by other names [in type and shadow] including Sodom and Egypt, which is where Christ is crucified by the professing Jews of every generation. The spirit of anti-Christ, reigns in these cities [2 John 1:7-11].

Rev 11:8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

It is only a faithful remnant that is given to escape the bondage to flesh and the law of sin and death [our reasoning carnal minds] who are brought into Jerusalem above and build the Temple of the Lord.

Ezr 9:8 And now for a little while grace has been shown from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a measure of revival in our bondage.

Ezr 9:9 For we were slaves. Yet our God did not forsake us in our bondage; but He extended mercy to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to revive us, to repair the house of our God, to rebuild its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem.

The contrasts and differences of the two Jerusalem’s contrast those who walk by faith versus those still bound to the law for the lawless. There is a gathering in Jerusalem on the earth and there is one in heaven neither of which has anything to do with the physical city of Jerusalem in modern day Israel. That Jerusalem is just an outward shadow of the deception we live spiritually as first the natural and then the spiritual. The contrasts of the two Jerusalem’s spoken about in the Scriptures are both spiritual cities we experience in the process of being resurrected from the dead and raised to life in the Spirit.

Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

The story of Abraham and his two sons contains this mystery and God’s plan for the sons of faith [Abraham]. Only the one is the true heir who is exalted and given the promise.

Gal 4:22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.

Gal 4:23 But he who was of the bondwoman [Ishmael] was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman [Isaac] was by promise.

Gal 4:24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.

Gal 4:25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage [to the law of carnal reasoning, aka sin and death] with her children.

Gal 4:26 But Jerusalem which is above [in heaven, the gathering of the saints] is free [released from the law and its bondage], which is the mother of us all.

Heavenly Jerusalem is not entered into unless faith is come, and we rest from our own carnal works. It is here in Jerusalem above that we rest and enter into the Kingdom of God, Christ being our Sabbath.

Heb 4:6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in [into the kingdom of God] because of unbelief:

Anyone trying to enter in outside the gate is a thief and robber which is all men first called and chosen who have not been given the faith of Christ.

Joh 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

Joh 10:2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

By faith we walk, trusting, standing on the promises of Christ. Those in bondage to Agar, to Jerusalem below, have vastly more children today than those precious few in the faith who are initially barren having no children. Spiritually speaking it means the carnal mind at first has far more reasoning’s wresting the judgment of God away rather than receiving the implanted Word with meekness, doing what Christ says. The wisdom of God is foolishness to the natural man and this barren seemingly hopeless state changes through the maturing process. Rejoice ye faithful for you shall bear many children in the Lord.

Gal 4:27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.

Gal 4:28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

Gal 4:29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.

The bondage of Hagar [Agar] is the law and all our carnal thinking before faith comes. This mindset must be cast out as there is no inheritance in the Kingdom of God for Hagar or any of her voluminous carnal offspring. Those walking by faith, are vigilant to guard their hearts and minds, being separated from the world and those bound in the world within ourselves and without.

Gal 4:30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.

Gal 4:31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

This is a hard truth that tries our faith as we learn just how narrow the Way is to the Tree of Life, which is Christ, our spiritual Sabbath. Our spiritual fathers and mothers left behind on the earth have the knowledge and strive to attain righteousness, but they continue to do so in unbelief as they have not the gift of faith and do not have the love of the Truth. Living by every Word of God [Luk 4:4] includes fulfilling the experiences of all the Lord’s disciples that come out of the bondwoman.

Rom 9:30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.

Rom 9:31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.

Rom 9:32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

The faithful remnant pulled out from the chosen few and the many called, are being saved by grace and not by their own works and self-righteousness. The Lord continues the winnowing and let a small remnant escape from the oppression of the law that blinds us at first to this day.

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.

Rom 11:7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded

Rom 11:8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

Once we enter into the Holy City of Jerusalem above, we are going out no more. We are dead to death which is our carnal mind and it is in heaven we have overcome the wicked one, the devil, and dwell in the city of God and are given a new name that no man knows except to whom it has been given.

Rev 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

When the old has passed away, all things are made new even the spiritual city of Jerusalem. There is one on the earth and there is one in heaven. Far better to be called up into the one above.

Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

Our living and fulfilling the prophecy of the Scriptures comes to an end. The things concerning Christ spoken about in the law and the prophets have a defined end. The faithful saints are raised from the spiritually dead when faith comes, and we die daily to our carnal mind which is death. Thus we fulfill the Scriptures and on the third day, our time of knowing Christ after the flesh come to an end as we are called up hither into the Jerusalem above.

Luk 22:37 For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.

When things are fulfilled, Christ is risen. As He is so are we His Christ.

Luk 24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

Luk 24:45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

Luk 24:46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

Those called out of Jerusalem below and brought up hither into the Holy City of Jerusalem above, do not look behind them. Anyone made fit for the Kingdom of God does not turn back to their worldly vomit and the bondage to the law of sin and death that the Lord has mercifully delivered them from. We are commanded to press forward by faith being thankful for all the experiences that have shaped and molded us into the children of the living God.

Heb 11:15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return.

Heb 11:16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

Taking thoughts captive, reaching out for the prize of the high calling in Christ, is how Christ increases and we decrease as we strive to obey Him in all things, dying daily [Gal 2:20].

Luk 9:60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

Luk 9:61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.

Luk 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Let us rejoice in our blessing and guard what has been entrusted to those made faithful. It is impossible for us to be renewed back to repentance if we fall away now in this age, but as Paul, we believe and we are being saved.

Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

Heb 10:39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Peace to the Israel of God.

Articles

The Joy OF the Lord is Our Strength

May 26, 2019June 4, 2019 Pete

The Joy OF the Lord Is Our Strength

Heb 3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

The faith and joy of the Lord are intricately linked. To those truly few called out and separated for salvation, the Lord promises our sorrows that come from our travails will be turned into rejoicing and joy. To those on the other side of the veil, those few given faith unto salvation looks like they have fallen into perdition. Yet the same events to those brought through the fiery trials and persecution is a manifest token and sign that the Lord has come for us.

Php 1:28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.

And that is exactly what has been fulfilled as the Lord’s promises are true. When the Lord appears to us the second time for salvation, imparting faith that converts us from being carnally minded and abiding in death, we become One with the Lord and His Father having been given understanding of the ways of the Lord.

Joh 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

Joh 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

Where the King’s commandments are sent, the Lord’s commandments arise within us and one is converted, becoming a true Jew and a possessor of the light, gladness, joy, and honor.

Est 8:16 The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.

Est 8:17 And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.

The fear of the true Jews is the fear of the Lord that is our beginning of Godly wisdom and one being converted into a spiritual Jew. Many claim the name of the Lord but extremely few are given to know Him in spirit and in truth with those few being worked on by the Potter and Spiritual Physician.

Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

The joy of salvation is knowing we are saved by our faith and none of our own works. We first lose this joy as a consequence of our adultery [disobedience] and murders [hating our brethren], all exemplified in the sin of David [Bathshiba]; that is caused of the Lord and then we are restored of the Lord when we are granted repentance and believe the Gospel.

Psa 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Psa 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with thy free spirit.

It is HIS Joy not ours

It is the Lord’s joy that is put within the escaped remnant being saved in every age. Said another way, it is not YOUR or MY joy, but HIS joy that is to be our strength as the precious few walks out this gospel of grace in faith. It is like faith, even that is not our own faith but is a gift of His Faith. The same with the joy of the Lord!

Joh 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

Joh 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you

It is through our believing [our faith in action]; that we are filled with joy and the fruits of the Spirit manifest having us resting in His peace and the power that now does the work in us.

Rom 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Trusting in the Lord is faith in action and that brings great joy as we know the Lord is wasting nothing and all things being worked in our life are for the greater good of our salvation. That is peace to stand and abide in the place of faith that has with it great joy that is the Lord’s joy growing in us. Being made ready by His Hands and brought to His marriage and wedding feast manifests gladness and rejoicing in our hearts. It makes all the pain and suffering and travails with our fellow man pale in comparison.

Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him [by our obedience]: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

Being given faith gives us the garments and what is needed to be clothed and married to the Lord. To receive faith we have to hear the Gospel and experience many sorrows as we carry our cross and lose our life. When faith has come, this yoke becomes easy as it is for His joy we are made able to endure the cross and despise the shame and persecution by our own people.

Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The Lord loses none of His little ones chosen from the foundation of the world. When He comes His joy begins to be fulfilled in us. The implanted Word that is Spirit and life [Joh 6:63] henceforth leads us into the way of peace and righteousness

Joh 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

Joh 17:13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

Joh 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

The Lord’s joy is our joy if we belong to Him and stand firmly in the Gospel guarding our gates with all vigilance. This was the theme of Philippians 3 and Paul giving all things, counting them as dung, to be found “resting in Christ” [Heb 4] being clothed with the Lord’s garments and not our own.

Php 4:1 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

It is our time in Babylon, where the truth and lies are mixed together, no one is converted and where men seek after their own way of righteousness still being bound by the law of their carnal mind. This is spiritual speak for making their own food and own garments. These actions and this work in the Lord’s name is not of faith and is the bondage we all are appointed to endure first.

Isa 4:1 And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.

We are warned not to let any man come take this crown and steal the Lord’s joy from us [Rev 3:11]. Those still bound to the world and its merchandizing ways [the carnal mind reasoning] go about seeking their own way instead of coming to Christ. That is the snare of Babylon and that mindset will hate us and speak evil of us casting Christ away. This is every man’s evil experience to endure until His joy comes when the morning star is revealed in them.

Psa 30:5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

Those escaped from Babylon that “come out of her” and those that are still bound to the law of their carnal reasonings, “the circumcision” are those given to build the true temple of God holding the joy of the Lord. That was the spiritual lesson here in Nehemiah, speaking of those that escaped from Babylon who are sent to build the wall of faith in Spiritual Jerusalem. It is here we find the famous verse about the joy of the Lord.

Neh 8:9 And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.

Neh 8:10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

The day we come out and make a stand for Christ, despising the shame, is the day of the Lord and when His joy begins to rule our lives.

Act 8:7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.

Act 8:8 And there was great joy in that city.

The deception about “the Jews” is far greater than just the outward physical Jews [physical Israel today] versus the Spiritual Jews. The outward appeal and righteousness of the law is compelling to all flesh and blinds one to the work of faith. We all first persecute the disciples of Christ and expel them. Yet when we ourselves bear these marks for the Lord for our standing up for true righteousness and the Gospel, then great joy will soon come upon us.

Act 13:50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.

Act 13:51 But they shook off the dust of their feet [carnal works and reasonings] against them, and came unto Iconium.

Act 13:52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.

The precious few the Lord is saving all come out of Spiritual Babylon [Rev 18:4]. It is a necessary step to first come out of the world, which Babylon is just a religious rendering of the same world and its reasonings under the law. Remember both Jews and Gentiles have the same law written on their fleshly hearts before faith is come.

Rom 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

Rom 2:15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

When the Lord comes to save us, we are translated into heaven on the third day and then everything changes not in minor ways but in major ways. Our sorrows and pain and doubts are vaporized when the Lord grants us understanding of His plan and work in us. All tears and sorrow vanish.

Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Rev 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

Looking behind ourselves we see many things we did wrong that were worldly and of the flesh. This includes our lusting after riches and chasing knowledge all the while being oppressed and in bondage to the law. The focus is henceforth on the things ordained for the Spirit.

Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink [gaining knowledge focus on learning]; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

All that matters is love which is our obedience and waiting on the Lord to perform that work in us. These verses speaking of love [Agape in Greek also translated as charity] mean so much more when we are brought back to the SIMPLICITY that is in Christ and His commandments. All the other stuff and seeking of riches and tongues will cease when the Lord matures in faith.

1Co 13:8 Charity [OBEDIENCE] never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

1Co 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

1Co 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

1Co 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

In the third day, when the Lord is come, we have all the knowledge we need. Circumcision and more reasonings about the Scriptures will profit us no longer. What we lacked in Babylon [which is the carnal gathering of Jews under the oppression of the Assyrians – the world]; was faith and trust in the Lord and having no confidence in ourselves. That was the punchline of the parable of the righteous man who followed the law but lacked ONE IMPORTANT THING. He could not follow the Lord as he was very rich and still trusted in his own riches and reasonings of what was right and wrong. That was one of the main topics in a recent article called “Who Has Believed Our Report”

This carnal trust, is the buying and selling, the reasoning of what is right and wrong based on the law for the lawless and it stops when faith is come. We forsake all to buy the treasure and therein we now rest in Him.

Mat 13:44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

Now being seated in heaven with Christ, we can worship in spirit and in truth and stay in the Holy City and in His Temple with great joy and fervent praise for all the things the Lord is working in us and through us.

Luk 24:51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.

Luk 24:52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:

Luk 24:53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

The Lord returns for us in our appointed time. He does not and did not leave us captive in Babylon. Our captivity has now been taken captive and we are entering into His Joy. This is the plan of prosperity the Lord has for every man in the appointed day and hour.

Jer 29:10 For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.

Jer 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Jer 29:12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.

Jer 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

Jer 29:14 And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.

This is the same as the fulfillment of the parable of the Talents. When we prove faithful in a few things, He promotes us into greater things and gives salvation and we enter into His Joy.

Mat 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

The power we had over evil spirits when still unconverted is surpassed by our understanding what the Lord meant when speaking to us much earlier in our walk.

Luk 10:17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.

Luk 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

There is great joy in our heaven and all those seated with Christ when one person repents of His self-righteousness under the law [our inequity] and believes the gospel.

Luk 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Luk 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

Trusting only in the Lord, having escaped the bondage and oppression of Babylon and the Scribes and Sadducees that deny the power of the Resurrection, the wall is now built by those few with gladness and joy.

Psa 105:42 For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant.

Psa 105:43 And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness:

Psa 105:44 And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited the labour of the people;

We have to endure a little season where we will feel forsaken as our Lord experienced [Mat 27:46]. Being persecuted and crucified by your own people and waiting on the Lord to raise us up is this season. We will weep and lament as our entire existence as we knew it and our faith is shaken to the core by this trying experience of the cross and be rejected by our own people. This is how the sons of God are made manifest and come forth through much travail that is then quickly turned to joy.

Joh 16:20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

Joh 16:21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.

The power of the Gospel unto salvation is come upon those who have borne these sorrows. But we see our Lord again and in a new and much more powerful way when we walk in true faith believing upon Him being filled with His Joy. Now in faith, we can ask the Lord ANYTHING according to His name and He WILL [not maybe] will do it.

Joh 16:22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

Joh 16:23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

Joh 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

There it is, the promise of faith given to the few who believe and walk according to the Gospel of Grace. When we receive the gospel and the power upon high our afflictions no longer bring sorrow as we have the joy of the Holy Spirit working in us.

1Th 1:5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

1Th 1:6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:

Now being married to Christ in Spirit, we are One with Him and are joined in Spirit with all the saints that walk in faith [Joh 14:20]. The flesh and old ways have passed away. The comforter is come to His people and they are redeemed of the Lord.

Isa 65:17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.

Isa 65:18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.

Isa 65:19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.

It is an honor and blessing to be given to stand up for righteousness sakes and be persecuted and stoned by those that claim they are Jews but are not. Those precious few given to repent and believe the Gospel in every age are the Lord’s redeemed who will be full of joy and exceedingly glad for all the things the Lord is working.

Mat 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

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.

The exceeding and great reward is having the mind of Christ, being seated with Him in our heaven. Now is salvation come when Satan and his carnal reasonings has been cast out of our mind and way of thinking [Rev 12:7-10].

Isa 51:11 Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.

Isa 51:12 I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;

Amen. Grace and peace be with the Lord’s people.

Articles

Who Has Believed Our Report?

May 19, 2019January 20, 2021 Pete

Who Has Believed Our Report?

Faith is so vital to the work of the Lord and is the only way by which every man is being saved in the appointed time. There could be many studies done and redone about faith, what it is, how we receive it [a free gift] and covering the many warnings about falling away from the faith. When the Lord finishes His work in us, only faith is remaining. All else is burned up in the consuming fire of His word [the truth] and all things not of faith are shaken away by the earthquakes [the fiery trials] He brings to His people. We are learning the fear of God and our obedience is being increased as our faith grows by this process.

Heb 12:25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

Heb 12:26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

Heb 12:27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken [Our Faith] may remain.

Heb 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

Heb 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.

The Lord works all things and just sifted His church cutting off those that believe not from those that believe. What started out focused on contending over the lawfulness of divorce quickly became a much bigger litmus test of childlike faith in the promises and plan of God for all men. As the study on the High Calling of Marriage taught, in faith when we believe the Gospel, we need to view physical marriage, in the same way, the Lord views and teaches us by example on spiritual marriage. Our relationship with the Lord under the gospel of faith is marriage for life. His promise is our promise if we are Christ and He promises never to leave or forsake us in the Gospel despite our unfaithfulness and instead will teach us by our sufferings. Paul speaking of marriage calls it the mystery and understanding it in its simplicity is the key to the plan of God for us to follow with all men.

Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

Eph 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Eph 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

Eph 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

Eph 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. [one with the Lord and His Father]

Eph 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

Eph 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

The trial and resulting sifting identified a great gulf between those that believe in the gospel and the promises of the Lord and those that claim faith but are still bound by the law that is not of faith. Unless we are given to come to Christ and leave all our reasonings and strength behind we are not entering into the kingdom of God.

Mat 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Shown another way, it is only when we are dead to the law of our carnal reasonings that we become free to marry Christ in spirit.

Rom 7:2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.

Rom 7:3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.

Rom 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

We first try to marry Christ as an adulteress and have it both ways. And this is the error of our fallen brethren, who have been cut off for our sakes that we might believe the gospel and be saved.

Rom 10:2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

Rom 10:3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

Rom 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

Reasonings of their carnal mind is being bound under the law and is going about seeking to establish their own standard of righteousness. It seems so right to those married to the law of sin and death, but the lack of faith truly blinds one to the righteousness of God that only come by faith. There are still bound to the law of their father the devil.

2Co 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

The law [meaning the law of Moses /Gentiles] like all Words are Spirit [Joh 6:63] and symbolize something bigger than their literal meaning. The law in the Scriptures is a symbol representing our own carnal reasonings that are by definition against the ways of the Lord and keep us abiding in spiritual death never finding the peace the Lord promises.

Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

Being under the law means we are still judging in the flesh and reasoning what is right or wrong, accusing and excusing, going up and down trusting in our own understanding to determine righteousness. This is the same as wrestling with God [i.e. Jacob] which we all first do until the Lord reveals Himself to us and imparts true faith. The professing people of God, “the Jews” have the law but the Gentiles that don’t profess God have the same law as it is written into the hearts and minds of all flesh.

Rom 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

Rom 2:15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

The Lord is the Saviour of all men, both Jews, and Gentiles that have this built-in enmity that is being destroyed when faith comes upon us. The Pharisees and Sadducees and Scribes of every generation are the Jews who are yet carnal and constantly are disputing and contending over the law with endless questions and mindsets versus believing in the Lord with childlike faith. When you see disputes over the law in the Scriptures see this as disputes between what is faith and what is the self-righteous reasoning of carnal men. Stephen exemplifies the man of faith and is stoned to death for daring to stand up and preach Christ [faith alone] to the Jews.

Act 6:11 Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses [i.e. the law which is their carnal reasonings of right and wrong], and against God.

The law was given by God to all men to hold them until the promise of Christ [faith] comes to us.

Gal 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Gal 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

The law of carnal reasoning over what is righteous ends when Christ comes and imparts true faith. The time of reformation is at hand and the standard has been raised considerably especially for marriage that is a symbol for our relationship with the Lord.

Heb 9:10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

The putting away for any reasons so long as a writ of divorce is given is replaced with a temporary putting away without divorce and an ongoing seeking of reconciliation with our spouse. [See Marriage Study for details]. When faith has come, the law for the lawless no longer applies. To those in faith, there is a new standard of righteousness. The bar is raised considerably.

Mat 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

We need to be teaching and living the law of faith and be dead to the law of self-righteousness which is what the law of Moses and the law of the Gentiles represent. All the disputes among the Jews and with the true disciples including our Lord were disputes and contentions over the law which is for a carnal nation only, those to whom Christ has not yet come and imparted faith

Heb 7:16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

Heb 7:19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God

This is the message our brothers and sisters never embraced and if they did, they have fallen from the faith. This is what we read about non stop the reasoning and disputing about the law that never ever ends with endless questions and arguments. That is what is called Jewish fables and endless mindsets in the Scriptures and there are very many warnings about being so ensnared.

Tit 1:14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

1Ti 1:4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

Endless mindsets and carnal questions are the “practical reasonings” of men still bound to the law for the lawless and is not of faith. Thank God we been given the gift of faith and lean not on our own understanding.

Php 3:2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.

Php 3:3 For we are the [true] circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

The true Jews that are being faithful have no confidence in anyone’s flesh or reasonings of what is righteous but are standing upon the commands and the promises of this glorious gospel. It is that simple.

Rom 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Like all the words of Scriptures, Circumcision and Uncircumcision are parables and symbols that represent something much broader and deeper than what the literal physical term means. Keeping the law of Moses [Circumcision] profits us nothing towards salvation and neither does Uncircumcision, meaning one being a Gentile having not the law but still being a law unto themselves. All that matters is love which is our obedience and keeping the commandments which is done when we walk by faith.

1Co 7:18 Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.

1Co 7:19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.

Many under the law [law of self-righteousness not of faith] make a good showing in the flesh in preaching the carnal reasoning that keeps one abiding in spiritual death and not suffering the persecution that comes to those who walk by faith. It is a very deceptive way we only escape by repenting and believing the gospel.

Gal 6:12 As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.

Gal 6:13 For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.

Paul warned of those that would ensnare us into circumcision, meaning keeping the law of carnal reasonings and standing upon that rather than simple childlike faith. Utterly amazing the seduction of the law and the appeal of the circumcision to our flesh. Those of the circumcision are antiChrist’s that seduce the servants of the Lord striving to walk by faith into committing spiritual fornication.

1Jn 2:26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you

Without faith it is impossible to please God and there is no profiting of our new man until our hearing of the gospel is mixed WITH FAITH. This is how one can be every learning but never coming to the knowledge of the Truth. They need faith which they do not have if under the law.

Heb 4:2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.

Pharisees and Sadducees hate to see the spiritually blind and lame Gentiles come to Christ and be healed instantly by faith. Another witness that is through a childlike faith that the Lord perfects His praise and glory from the mouth of babes.

Mat 21:15 And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased,

Mat 21:16 And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?

And earlier in Matthew.

Mat 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

Indeed not many noble, not many wise in the flesh that are of the circumcision and the teachers of these carnal reasonings of righteousness are saved. It truly is a miracle any man is saved by the right arm of the Lord.

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;

Faith not Knowledge Saves

The Scriptures do convey many deep and dark mysteries about the ways of the Lord. Yet it all comes back to the simplicity of Christ. Do we have faith like a little child? If we do then we are being saved.

Pro 16:8 Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.

Being called up hither to a place of rest from our own works and reasoning we no longer live to eat, we eat to live and hold fast the most important thing.

Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness [that only comes by faith], and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Rom 14:18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

The temple that is Christ is far more important than the gold in the temple.

Mat 23:16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple [trusting in knowledge under the law] he is a debtor!

Mat 23:17 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?

Paul warns in every epistle he wrote of our being led astray and shrinking back into perdition and spiritual death.

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

2Co 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

“Disciples indeed” are those who continue in the faith and are set free by the truth they abide in and follow.

Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

Heb 10:39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe [continue in the faith] to the saving of the soul.

Our faith has been increased as we have come out from the bondage of the Circumcision and those that walked with us that trusted in their own knowledge and reasonings. Lord willing, we are standing as little children and trust in the Lord and His simple commands and let Him do the work of salvation. We rejoice no longer in our inequity which is our own righteousness and understanding. We now stand and rejoice in the Truth and do not bow down to the reasonings of our carnal mind.

1Co 13:6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity [self righteousness, not of faith], but rejoiceth in the truth;

This is the main point in the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; who refused to bow down to the reasonings of the law and worship the image our old man that our carnal mind sets up in place of the Lord’s Words.

Dan 3:12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

The result of not bowing but standing in faith is we are hated and rejected by all men, persecuted by our own fellow Jews and cast into the fiery furnace. Such is the cross and Jesus Christ and Him crucified which is the gospel we now preach. Resting in Christ is resting from our own works and our ceasing of bowing to the call of the King of Babylon within us.

Mat 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

The Promises Realized only Through Faith

Rom 4:2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

Rom 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Rom 4:4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

Rom 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Lord willing a time comes when we stop working our own work and do the work of God entering into His rest. What matters to God is our faith!

Joh 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

We have known of these verses for years, but the magnitude of them, and what it really means to rest from our work and lay down all our thinking and reasoning [the righteous self-reasoning of the law] is the only way we enter into life. The Pharisees and Sadducees back then and the Pharisees and Sadducees today are trusting in their own knowledge and righteousness not knowing the righteousness of Christ because that only comes by the free gift given extremely few in the third day.

Rom 4:13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

Rom 4:14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:

Rom 4:15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is [In faith], there is no transgression.

Abraham at first did not believe, but the story of Isaac is the example for us of faith of the new man. In faith, we follow the Lord to the cross knowing He will raise us up and be faithful to all of His promises. When we stagger not, then we are being saved and faith works its work in our lives. But we must get out from the law of carnal reasoning that binds the entire world in unbelief.

Rom 4:20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

Rom 4:21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

Rom 4:22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

Faith in the Lord and His promises are essential to salvation. In fact that is the gospel and what we must turn to in faith.

Heb 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

Heb 11:18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

Heb 11:19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

The Lord’s true people come through a sifting and a shaking process that separates the sheep from the goats which is spiritual speak for separating those who have faith from those that continue to trust in themselves and not the Lord. That will be material for future studies as the Lord wills.

Mat 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

Mat 25:32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

Mat 25:33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

Faith is the Power unto Salvation!

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

We need to start thinking about faith in a much wider and deeper way than we have been. If we stay part of the circumcision or the uncircumcision, both representing carnality and unbelief, we cannot be saved in this age. Abiding in Christ is abiding in that faith and standing and resting on His promises.

1Jn 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

1Jn 2:29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

To come to the wedding with Christ, we need to be clothed in proper garments that the Lord gives us called faith. The same are the fine linen of the saints and that faith is only established and grown in us when we receive and believe the Gospel of grace. It is by that faith through grace in which we stand [Rom 5:2] that we come to know the Lord and have His mind.

Isa 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

The testimony of Christ and faith in His promises has been and will continue to be rejected by all but the called, chosen and faithful few [the very Elect]. Faith in promises of God [i.e. the good news gospel of Jesus Christ], is always first rejected in favor of the reasonings of the carnal mind. All men therefore come to the wedding without the proper garments but are rejected of the Lord as the parable reveals.

Mat 22:2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son …..

Mat 22:11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:

Mat 22:12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

Mat 22:13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Not having faith and trusting in our own riches, we are told where to go to get our clothing. It is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and work the work of God that is bringing the fiery trials and destruction to our old way of life and thinking.

Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

As the King’s servants, we are not to go to the righteous and those that need no repentance. Instead, we are to go to the poor and the sick and those who acknowledge their need for a spiritual physician.

Luk 14:21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.

Mat 22:10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.

Mar 2:17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

The Word of God is always first rejected by the “Jews” who are the Lord’s chosen people but are not faithful because they have not been given faith to believe and still are of the Circumcision. Like Paul, all who preach faith in Christ are rejected and hated by their own people hence Paul and those that believe the gospel are sent forth as preachers to the Gentiles.

Act 13:45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things [faith, the gospel] which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

Act 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

Act 13:47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

Who has Believed the Gospel?

The few that find the way are the few that believe the report of God, the Gospel. It is only those same precious few are given to see [revealed] the strong arm of the Lord which is the same gospel that is the power unto salvation.

Isa 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

The good news that if we walk by faith and rest from our own works and carnal reasonings, we will be saved. It is not maybe with a bunch of carnal conditions that men continue to add.

The reasonings and our own thoughts are always more attractive to flesh than following the narrow way and walking by faith. The carnal mind and those of the circumcision always have a more attractive plan that will tickle our ears and sway all but the very few given to stand steadfast in the faith.

Isa 53:2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

Christ’s ways are rejected and also are those who do Christ and follow in His steps and preach the gospel of grace and trusting solely in the Lord as the way of salvation and righteousness. The Jews, the professing Body of every era, fulfills the Scriptures and rejects Christ despising Him and heaping shame upon Him and those that believe.

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.

Isa 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

We as Christ, those that believe on Him are rejecting the carnal reasonings of men and follow our Lord to the cross. This same death and stripes we receive for standing for righteousness and defending the Gospel are the very things that are saving us.

Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Our flesh wants to argue and contend with those that now persecute and falsely accuse us and parade us naked and expose our past sins. When we follow Christ and walk by faith, we do not fight or argue against those who know not what they do. We keep our mouth shut and are led as sheep to the slaughter trusting in the resurrection to righteousness to come!

Isa 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

Oh, how precious to the Lord is the death of His saints, when the chosen few are able and willing to die for Him and stand up for righteousness sakes.

Psa 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

Those the Lord is saving by the faith are seeing their spiritual prosperity grow as they are matured in the fiery trials. We are learning to give the Lord thanks in all our trials even abiding in faith and staying married to the spouse the Lord has given us. We are being sanctified in all such trials and in turn are sanctifying our unbelieving spouse in the same way the Lord has been sanctifying us since He began to draw us to Him.

Isa 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

Isa 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

Scripture answers Isaiah’s question about who has believed our report? Let’s never forget, it is all the Lord’s doing whether one has faith or not.

Joh 12:38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?

Joh 12:39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,

Joh 12:40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

Those that now reject us as Christ and walk no more with Him [us], having departed from us [1Jo 2:19], did so because the Lord caused them to do it. They cannot believe because He has blinded them. This despite seeing many miracles and spiritual healings in their own life and the life of others. Lack of faith [unbelief] is such a strong delusion to workings of God.

Joh 12:36 While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.

Joh 12:37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:

I pray this study has helped us see faith in a different and brighter light. May we see how strong the seduction of the “law for the lawless” …. those Jews of the “circumcision”, and how that carnal reasoning leads one astray and hinders moving onward to maturity and partaking of the strong meat of the gospel.

Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

The Lord is losing none of those given faith [Joh 6:39]. We do tarry for those given faith but who are not yet strong enough to fight and engage with the Pharisees and Sadducees who know the Scriptures but remain bound by the law [the circumcision]. Let’s keep those brethren in prayer that their faith would be increased and they will be given the boldness to come out for Christ.

Joh 12:42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:

Joh 12:43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

Reading Suggestions:

Hebrews 11

Daniel 3

Philippians 3

Romans 3

Studies

Bearing the Marks of Christ

May 12, 2019May 19, 2019 Pete

The most basic promise and the whole premise of our relationship with God pertain to our being married to Him. That is the essence of what being ONE with God is all about! This letter is confronting the falling away from the faith that is prophesied to occur in the church in every generation. Please be sure to read the prior two articles as they give greater context to what is addressed is in this letter to the church.

The Very High Calling of Marriage

Defending the Gospel on Marriage

These are not minor issues, they strike to the very heart of faith and whether one is walking according to the true faith or not.

To those given the precious gift of faith in Jesus Christ,

The gospel we now stand upon has been rejected by the elders and seemingly by the majority of the professing flock. We do not engage and contend with those the Lord has blinded as indeed our mission is only to the lost house of Israel. But to those precious few given the spirit of God, you need to be reminded of a primary sign of our salvation in the day of the Lord. We thank the Lord for this trial and the sifting of His flock and our living out the Scriptures.

Php 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Php 1:28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.

Php 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

The fact we are being persecuted for defending the gospel is a sign of our salvation. We now suffer greatly for standing for the Lord’s righteousness. The day of the Lord is nigh at hand. We are told and warned of exactly what has unfolded if one has been given eyes to see.

1Ti 4:1 But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons,

1Ti 4:2 through the hypocrisy of men that speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron;

1Ti 4:3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by them that believe and know the truth.

1Ti 4:4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it be received with thanksgiving:

1Ti 4:5 for it is sanctified through the word of God and prayer.

Those who have departed the faith are now forbidding you to marry Christ in faith. That is what keeping you under the law, the circumcision and carnal reasonings of the Jews does. We are not free to marry in the gospel until we die to that law.

Rom 7:1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?
Rom 7:2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.

They also now command that you abstain from the meats of the gospel. Woe unto them who teach the opposite of the truth and what our Lord commands. The very body of Christ, His doctrine and your sacrificed life is what we must be nourished on to grow in Christ.

Joh 6:53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.

Unless one is given to eat and take to heart those commandments now being rejected, they will in no wise inherit the kingdom of God. The time for milk is over.

Heb 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

Heb 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

A strong rebuke is necessary and commanded to win back brothers who have fallen away and are now preaching to you another gospel and commandments of men.

Tit 1:13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

Tit 1:14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

Tit 1:15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

Tit 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Ministers of the gospel preach faith in God and are helpers of each other’s joy teaching them to walk by faith in the Lord’s commands and promises.

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

We preach the gospel, Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Our faith cannot stand upon these many carnal reasonings under the law [Circumcision and without the law Uncircumcision]. We stand only in the power of God who can and will sanctify the unbelieving spouse in your house today and all mankind in due time.

1Co 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

1Co 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Paul and we now warn everyone not to be enticed away by man’s wisdom and reasoning. The faith these men now teach is a weak faith with no power unto salvation. It is really unbelief in the promises of God. The gospel is now openly being mocked and many are making merchandise of it. They now tell you obeying the commands of God is likened to being “put on a leash”. They implicitly are saying His commands are too grievous for us to endure. The wisdom of the wise is perished.

Isa 29:13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

Isa 29:14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.

There are many warnings in the last days of deceivers, especially those of the false circumcision [i.e. those still bound by the law of Moses and their carnal reasoning, not walking in faith] who would entice us away from the gospel with clever words.

Tit 1:10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:

Tit 1:11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.

The mystery of God is the marriage of God to His people through Christ thus becoming One. This occurs when we walk by faith with the full assurance of His promises and are not enticed away by deceivers.

Col 2:1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

Col 2:2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;

Col 2:3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Col 2:4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.

Carnally minded men now contradict the promises of the Lord that says what God births within us overcomes the world and this applies within and without. Many read the Scriptures but so few actually believe in the power of God to do what He has promised.

1Jn 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

Abraham is our example and the father of faith in believing that God could do what is impossible with man’s reasonings. This is the faith that imputes the righteousness of Christ upon one who believes and saves them from their sins. To be saved we cannot stagger on the promises.

Rom 4:20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

Rom 4:21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

Rom 4:22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

Do not be deceived brethren but believe in the Lord and His promises. To be saved one stands solely on the promises of God and abides in His commandments. Those promises include that the believing spouse sanctifies the unbelieving spouse.

1Co 7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

But this promise is so much bigger than just in your home. The entire marriage principle comes back to the salvation of all men and how the Lord is making all men “all in all” with the Father.

Eph 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

Eph 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church [which in due time extends to all mankind]

If Christ is born in you, then we give up our lives and rests from our own works and now wait upon the Lord to make His enemies [within and without including an unbelieving spouse] a footstool. That is faith in action, the true work of God, resting from our own works and trusting God.

Heb 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

Heb 10:13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

What you are now hearing instead are smooth and crafty words that sound godly and righteous but are another gospel and a falling away from the faith of Christ.

Isa 30:9 That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:

Isa 30:10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:

If one does not believe the gospel and its promises as it applies in our physical marriages, which are a shadow of the true marriage with God; then we do not believe in the Lord and have not the gift of faith. All men shall be saved and made one with God and Christ being married in the Spirit.

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.

Gen 22:18 And in thy seed [Faith of Christ] shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

A little leaven and denial of Christ in our physical marriages extends and leavens the entire loaf in negating the gospel and promises of the Lord. Those the Lord uses to bring salvation stand only on faith and that is how the greater works are being done beginning at one’s own house and in their physical marriages in this age.

Joh 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

Joh 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

Joh 14:14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

The true Body of Christ is the believing spouse that is going to sanctify the entire world in the appointed times. Those of the false circumcision are telling you not to trust the Lord nor believe His promises on how believers sanctify unbelievers. They are now openly denying Christ and denying the gospel for which we have been emboldened to contend for the faith in the face of great adversity. We are on trial in this church right now for nothing other than our expressions of the true gospel and the hope and promises of that gospel that the Lord has put into our hearts. We are in good company and we rejoice in this trial.

Act 26:6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers.

Act 26:7 To this promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. For this hope’s sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews.

Those being circumcised by their own works and reasonings are still bound by the law of sin and death. They now compel us to be circumcised like them and not to stand on faith. We are warned to beware.

Php 3:2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.

Php 3:3 For we are the [true] circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

Dogs are unbelievers still under the law returning again and again to their own vomit for spiritual food. They stand opposed to those given faith who do the commandments [don’t divorce in faith].

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.

Rev 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

Rev 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

What men want to teach you about marriage does not hold up to the Lord’s high standards that command us to do not divorce in faith. This is another gospel built upon the law of carnal reasoning that appeals to all flesh.

2Ti 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

2Ti 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

If one does not believe a believing spouse will sanctify an unbelieving spouse, one is actually denying the most basic promise of God and the Gospel. This is a massive fall from grace which is why Paul wrote so passionately and boldly to the Galatians to warn and admonish the church. This sifting is the Book of Galatians being lived by those being saved in this age.

Gal 1:8 But even if we [the Apostles because some are proven false in the end], or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.

When one sees the false circumcision what Paul calls the circumcision as being those still bound by the law of carnal reasonings, then it becomes clear how the true ones suffer persecution for preaching and living the cross of Christ as the only way to salvation.

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.

That is the rule of God the true Israel of God is following.

Gal 6:12 As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised [being bound the law of Moses and their carnal reasoning]; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.

Gal 6:13 For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.

Gal 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

Gal 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision [carnal law of Moses] availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision [carnal law of Gentiles – Rom 2:15] but a new creature.

Gal 6:16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

It is a great privilege to be chosen of God to stand on His Name and His Gospel and bear the stripes from people that claim they love Him and His servants. This trial is an incredible blessing for those given to live out the Scriptures and be rejected and hated for the hope of the gospel the Lord has planted in our hearts. Once we bear these stripes we no longer be troubled by those of the false circumcision that are dogs and outside the true faith.

Gal 6:17 From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

All preachers of the gospel live those words and bear stripes from their own people as well as the heathen and are paraded naked. Part of the high calling and the cost we pay when we defend the gospel.

2Co 11:24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

2Co 11:25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

2Co 11:26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

2Co 11:27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

The whole plan of God falls away when one does not believe. May the Lord grant repentance to those who have fallen from His grace. The faithful will not stand idly but will warn, admonish and blow the trumpet saving all that can hear from this strange fire.

2Co 11:12 But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.

2Co 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

2Co 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

2Co 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

This is not the church of any man. This is the church of Jesus Christ, He is the Head and in His church, the Lord gets all the glory and all things point back to His promises and His truths and not the reasoning of men.

We are standing in the face of tremendous opposition and contention and preach this gospel to the house of Israel. We are to warn not to be entangled again with the bondage of unbelief and our carnal reasoning.

Gal 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Gal 5:2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, [keep the law of carnal reasoning/ordinances] Christ shall profit you nothing. [there will be no sanctification]

Gal 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

Gal 5:5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

We are to fear God and not men. We are not bowing down to lies and unbelief that now masquerades as “teaching”. Those telling you to divorce in faith are denying the Lord and His Words and mixing a lie with their truth thus poisoning or leavening the whole.

1Jn 2:21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

1Jn 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

1Jn 2:23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.

Paul warns us that deceivers will use hypocrisy and speak lies [1Ti 4:1-5] to the people of God. We cannot address them all here but in due time they will be exposed and burnt up in the fire. One such cunning and craftily worded deceit was just shared with you about working out your own salvation. Yes, we are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. The work of God and who must work it in us is clear and it comes by faith.

Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Php 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

The work of God starts and ends with the God-given gift of faith and not the law of circumcision and uncircumcision which are the carnal reasonings.

Joh 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe [STAND ON FAITH] on him whom he hath sent.

Woe to those at ease in Zion who have stopped pursuing the work of God in their heart and now lean back on their own understanding and wisdom. We say Amen to working out your own salvation but what that means needs to be put back under the law of faith and not the carnal law for the lawless that have not received the gift. That is why this saying is so truthful and the warnings of falling back into perdition. Our work for God is our faith and that is our obedience to the commands and promises of God.

Gal 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision [Jews keeping law] availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision [Gentiles keeping law – Rom 2:15] but faith which worketh by love [our obedience]

Gal 5:7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?

Gal 5:8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.

The Word of God needs no helper and it is not going to win any popular votes, the deception and allure of the circumcision is just too great for those not given faith. The Lord knows who are His and they are being quickened by the Truth. We are resting from our own works in faith, we no longer have to worry about what the Lord is doing. We just stand in faith.

Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

We have great faith in the Lord and His promises and the blessings of keeping His commandments which are not complicated or grievous. We have been killed by the Jews for our testimony of the true gospel of Jesus Christ. We cannot be moved and wait upon our Lord who promised Elijah and those beheaded for their witness for the gospel that there is a remnant being saved by grace.

Rev 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

Rev 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

Rev 6:11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

Rom 11:3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.

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.

We all have denied the Lord and acted in unbelief, everyone is guilty. Yet many continue to deny the Lord and betray Jesus Christ by their words and deeds and we pray fervently they to be granted repentance for their error.

The shaking promised of the Lord has begun. We are standing on faith and rejecting all the carnal reasonings of men who search the Scriptures but are not willing [Joh 5:39-40] to come to Him and stand on His commandments.

Heb 12:25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

Heb 12:26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

Heb 12:27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

Heb 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

It is through faith in Christ and His commandments and promises that all men will be saved in their appointed time. True faith will stop the mouths of lions and quench the violence and destruction of strange fire [false gospels].

Heb 11:32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:

Heb 11:33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

Heb 11:34 Quenched the violence of [strange] fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

Heb 11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

Not many stand with us yet we know there is a remnant that are being saved and in that we stand strong in the hope of the gospel we defend with our very lives. We stand and wait upon the Lord.

2Ti 4:16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.

2Ti 4:17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

2Ti 4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

As long as we are physically able, we will preach in this temple of God and blow the trumpet and preach the gospel to those precious few the Lord has given to hear and to believe. The Lord is coming quickly to those being saved in this age. Don’t let any man steal this crown from you.

Rev 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

We now put away those that fornicate with a false gospel and their carnal reasoning. We give them over to Satan for the destruction of their flesh so their spirit may be saved in their day of the Lord. We do not divorce those who have now become our enemies and that is our example in physical marriage. Those in faith, as the believing wife [bride of Christ], through our godly behavior, win back and sanctify our unbelieving spouse [who are of their father the devil] and reconcile them back as the Lord grants them repentance from their fornication.

2Th 3:14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him [put away], that he may be ashamed.

2Th 3:15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

The unbelieving in the gospel who are led by the Lord to depart, we let them depart and are under no further bondage.

1Co 7:15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.

In the same way, our Lord is saving us we save those who still abide in sin and unbelief.

Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Joh 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

Pete & Ronel and the remnant the Lord is saving

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Tag: faith

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