Tag: Lord’s Supper

Letters

The Nicolaitan Spirit and its Deeds

Peter

The Seduction of Israel 

We give thanks to the Lord and our Father in heaven, who has quickened these words in our hearts to share and edify the saints scattered into the world.  May they be received with thanksgiving to those who hear them.

The Nicolaitan spirit and the resulting deeds are not what have been commonly taught by the precepts of men.  A Nicolaitan spirit has nothing to do with the lordship of one over another, as some have been taught.  That is all extra-biblical and nowhere to be found in the Scriptures.  This false teaching then aids those who speak against the ministers and rule and authority the Lord sets in His church, who are sent to preach the Gospel in all boldness and power.  Carnal men have gone beyond what is written to concoct their false doctrine of the Nicolaitans.

A Nicolaitan in spirit is something completely different, as the sum of the Word of Truth makes clear.  A Nicolaitan, in the simplest terms, corrupts the Lord’s commandments.  We take nothing away from or add to the Lord’s commandments, but just do them.  That is brotherly love unfeigned.  The simplicity of Christ, the commandments are readily corrupted by the carnal mind, as the tempter brings in a little leaven at an opportune time.

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. 

Many false teachers and antichrists have corrupted the holy things of the Lord, the commandments, with subtle twists and turns. This is not the purity a chaste virgin is to have, and is indeed a corruption of the Gospel and the living commandments.  The bride of Christ, the pure virgins, are set apart only for their husband and do not have relations elsewhere.

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.

Those with a Nicolaitan spirit corrupt the commandments of Christ and fornicate with the gods [carnal thoughts] of the world.  The corruption is done by adding to or taking away from the Word, mixing truth with error. A Nicolaitan spirit takes no heed in their walk to abide by the four necessary things the Apostles commanded in their letter after the council on circumcision.

Act 15:28  For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 

Act 15:29  That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. 

A Nicolaitan spirit is a slothful spirit that takes the commandment to be set apart and “be ye holy because I am holy” and waters them down to justify themselves and reap the wages of unrighteousness.  The Lord hates this Spirit, as do those in the church of Ephesus.

Rev 2:6  But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 

The churches of Pergamum and even Thyatira, however, do not purge out this spirit and continue to eat things sacrificed to idols and commit spiritual fornication and thus invite the wrath of God.

Rev 2:14  But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit spirtual fornicaton. 

Rev 2:15  Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which things I hate. 

The Nicolaitan spirit is better known as the doctrine of Balaam, which teaches Israel to eat things sacrificed unto idols and commit spiritual fornication against the Lord.  It is idolatry and unfaithfulness to the commandments.  A Nicolaitan spirit does not strive to be holy and to diligently keep and wholeheartedly obey all the commandments of the Lord.  It is the same as a Jezebel spirit; it is idolatry and spiritual fornication.  The Lord hates this spirit and its deeds, as He is a jealous God and demands our whole heart in faithfulness to Him alone.  Even with this spirit that God hates, we have many things right and are doing much charity and service in the faith.  Yet the Lord’s standard is even higher than we yet know.

Rev 2:19  I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. 

Rev 2:20  Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. 

Understanding this is why “the HOW” we partake of the Lord’s supper when we come together is vitally important.

1Co 11:17  Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. 

1Co 11:18  For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. 

1Co 11:19  For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. 

1Co 11:20  When ye come together therefore into one place, is it not to eat the Lord’s supper? 

Seduction is not overt; it is indeed subtle; hence, we have the unique word for seduction.  Those being seduced do not even know they are being seduced until the deed happens.  It is true in natural seductions, and it is also true in the spiritual. John writes as we now write to warn of this subtle seduction, that is, deception, which takes us away from the living commandments received into our hearts when we believe the Gospel.

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

1Jn 2:27  But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

We always abide in Him, meaning the commandments.  It is permitted, as the sum of the word tells us to eat meat sacrificed to idols.  But we can never mix the two tables, which is the mistake of the Nicolaitans.  They are not holding fast to the commandment.  Knowledge and information on virtually anything can become an idol.  Idols puff us up, but charity, the keeping of the commandments, edifies.  Those in the faith know an idol is nothing, as we know there is only one true God.

1Co 8:4  As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. 

1Co 8:5  For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) 

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

We are free in Christ to eat meat sacrificed to idols, but we need to be careful not to lay a stumbling block for others, especially the weak and the young in the faith, who see us doing such things.

1Co 8:7  Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. 

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

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

If the strong partake at an idol’s temple, for example, watching YouTube videos or being in a meeting where politics is the subject, we are none the worse for it.  We should eat or listen, without asking questions or engaging in the back-and-forth carnal dialogue.  But if a brother weak in the faith sees us doing this, it could cause them to stumble.  It is far better to abstain where possible.

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

But we cannot openly bring or encourage the knowledge of idols, which is the meat of idols, into our partaking together of the Lord’s supper.  Doing so causes the whole house of Israel to eat things sacrificed to idols and commit spiritual fornication.  It brings the idolatry into the house of God and serves it up with the Lord’s supper.  This angers the Lord, who is jealous for His people.

1Co 10:20  But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. 

1Co 10:21  Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils. 

1Co 10:22  Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he? 

When we come together to eat the Lord’s supper, we preach and talk about the commandments.  That is the simplicity of Christ.  This is the Gospel, the daily bread we eat that brings eternal life by the death of the old man and the sacrifice of the new man.  Any other way of eating when we are gathered together is not good and is the true Nicolaitan spirit.  Paul warns of eating and drinking unworthily at the Lord’s table.

1Co 11:23  For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:

1Co 11:24  And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 

1Co 11:25  After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 

1Co 11:26  For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. 

1Co 11:27  Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 

This topic is so important to being faithful and holy before the Lord.  We are now setting our affections on the things above, not on those of this world.  Everything in our lives changes when the Gospel comes.  It is our coveting [which is idolatry] more than just the commandments that leads to this error.

Col 3:5  Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 

To cement our understanding, we need to bring Balaam into the picture.  Balaam was a prophet-for-hire who loved the wages of unrighteousness.  A recent study on Phinehas dealt with the aftereffects of Balaam’s sin that caused Israel to mingle with the Moabites.  This brought the plague upon the congregation, killing many.  Balaam brought this spirit and temptation into the house of Israel, which caused them to sin.

Num 31:16  Look, these women caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the LORD in the incident of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD. 

Corrupting the Lord’s commandments, “did God really say”, or “a little bit of this or of that is okay”, is what the carnal mind and tempter do in leading us off the narrow road of holiness.   Dying to self on the cross of suffering and giving up our old way of life is indeed hard, but it is the only way to become holy in all of our behavior.  Not one stone is left when the Lord tears down the old temple to build the new temple, which Temple we are, having received the Gospel.

Mat 24:2  And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

The Lord is jealous for His people and thus hates the Nicolaitan spirit that strays from His Holy things, namely the commandments.  Here ye the Lord.  Balaam mingled with Balak, the king of Moab, and thus corrupted himself and all who subsequently took his counsel.

Num 22:41  And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people. 

Balaam was seen entering into feasts with the Moabite king and thereby eating meat sacrificed unto idols.   The children of Israel saw him do this, and it led them to be seduced into their fornication with the Moabites and Midianites. This is what Paul wrote about in setting a good example for the weak.    Indirectly, Balaam brought a curse upon Israel by leading them into idolatry and spiritual fornication, which corrupted the commandments of the Lord.  As we saw in the Phinehas study, the result of Balaam’s counsel was the women of Moab seducing the men [their doctrine of being holy] of Israel by coming to their feast with Baal, the sun god.

Num 25:1  And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. 

Num 25:2  And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. 

Num 25:3  And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel. 

This grievous sin is what stirred Phinehas into action, who thrust a spear, the Word of Commandments, through the belly of the fornicating Israelite prince and the Moabite daughter of a prince.  We are vigilant watchmen ensuring the children of Israel are not seduced into committing this idolatry or spiritual fornication when eating at the Lord’s table.  Seduction is subtle; it seems innocent enough, but the Lord’s standard is indeed high.  If we do not repent and turn back when it is exposed, the Lord brings a sword against our house.

Rev 2:16  Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

Eating things sacrificed to idols and committing fornication are what we do when we bring our worldly conversations and experiences into our fellowships.  Such food cannot be mixed with the holy things of God, and only a little leaven corrupts the whole of the meal.  If we are not diligent, our carnal lusts and interests become the topic, and Israel is enticed to eat things sacrificed unto idols.  This can be any worldly interest, even too much worldly sorrow, giving too many details of our problems, rather than just speaking of the commandments and promises of God.  A lust for more knowledge and information beyond the commandments is covetousness, which is also idolatry.

All learn these lessons in the appointed time, as all things are ours to fulfil. Lord willing, our hearts are being made to consent to this doctrine of godliness in all our behavior.  Many argue and strive against it, but those being saved from their sins are learning to be content with the commandments because that is where the gain is found.

1Ti 6:6  But godliness with contentment is great gain. 

1Ti 6:7  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 

1Ti 6:8  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 

1Ti 6:9  But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 

Feeding the flock of God is to feed them the bread of life, the living commandments, that is the Gospel.  This is all we feed the flock, and this food, the meat of the Gospel, is what judges every man in the last day.  This is what the lost sheep eat to be recovered and made well again.  It is salvation.

Eze 34:16  I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment

The sheep get sick, fall asleep, and some die spiritually when the Lord’s supper is corrupted by a Nicolaitan spirit.

1Co 11:29  For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 

1Co 11:30  For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

One cannot corrupt the commandments of Jesus Christ and the holy things and expect to make meaningful progress towards overcoming and salvation.  Such a spirit keeps one ever learning, having a form of godliness but denying the very knowledge and power of the commandments that save them.  In time, the Lord brings all of this to light, but since He comes in different watches, the result is fiery trials and divisions within the house.

The Nicolaitans are said to have gone astray, turning away from the Gospel that saves every man in the appointed time.  Nicolaitans love the “extra pay” they receive in the form of men’s esteem when they soften or take away from the commandments, thereby corrupting them.  Do not let any man steal your crown with such subtle deceit.

2Pe 2:15  Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 

Jude also spoke of this and says woe unto those who have this spirit and think that godliness has any gain for the flesh.  They speak against the preachers of the Gospel, just as in the days of Korah, and are swallowed up by their carnal lusts if they do not repent.

Jud 1:11  Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. 

Carnal minds much prefer the old wine rather than the new wine of the Gospel of the living commandments.  Nobody wants to die, nobody wants to forsake all and give up everything they have to follow God. Thus, the carnal mind is readily attracted to the Nicolaitan spirit that profits the flesh and makes following Christ smoother in its delusion.

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: 

The ministers of this Gospel preach this Word boldly so that nobody falls for the deception of the easy way.  The way is narrow, and few find it.

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

Why do we preach and exhort with boldness?  Here is why.

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. 

The truth is this Gospel is not popular, it is the essence of Jesus Christ that all flesh reviles and hates.  They esteemed Him not, and so it is today.  We earnestly contend for this one true Gospel against the corruption of the Nicolaitan spirit.

Jud 1:3  Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 

We pray everyone is on watch for the Nicolaitan spirit in our walk and assemblies.  We need to act upon it when we see it, as the plagues of Israel when they committed fornication with the Moabite and Midianite nations are written for our admonition, so we understand the consequences of not acting.  The commandment is to be holy and to utterly slay every doctrine or thought that exalts itself against the knowledge of the commandments.  Only the useful things that edify remain, as everything in our thought and speech is to be brought through the fire and purified by the water of the Word, the commandments, that washes it clean.

Num 31:22  Only the gold, and the silver, the brass, the iron, the tin, and the lead, 

Num 31:23  Everything that may abide the fire, ye shall make it go through the fire, and it shall be clean: nevertheless it shall be purified with the water of separation: and all that abideth not the fire ye shall make go through the water. 

God is a holy God, far holier than we can comprehend.  Everything in God’s presence or His name is said to be Holy.  The Scriptures have many nouns preceded by the Word HOLY.  The list of what is Holy includes these forty: Holy anointing, Holy commandments, Holy calling, Holy day, Holy nation, Holy flock, Holy people, Holy covenant, Holy Scriptures, Holy Spirit, Holy water, Holy brethren, Holy bread, Holy meat, Holy food, Holy prophets, Holy angels, Holy feasts, Holy men, Holy convocations, Holy name, Holy oil, Holy perfume, Holy gifts, Holy ark, Holy vessels, Holy crown, Holy arm, Holy temple, Holy heaven, Holy sabbath, Holy hill, Holy mountain, Holy sanctuary, Holy habitation, Holy linen, Holy tithe, Holy garments, Holy saints, Holy ground, Holy kiss, Holy God, and Holy One who is Christ and the Most Holy which is where the Ark or the commandments live in our hearts.

The Scriptures speak of the “holy things” and refer to the commandments that now live in those who receive the Gospel.  We hold these holy things [commandments] dear and abide continually in the knowledge we have been given of the Holy.  This is the Father and is understanding.

Pro 9:10  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. 

Salvation has come to those who hear and keep these holy commandments.  All things are made new in a new heaven and a new earth.  Only those with the mark of Holiness on their forehead can enter into the holy of holies and abide with the Father and with the Son.

Exo 28:36  And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.

We have been called to a holy calling, not by our works but by the power of the living Gospel if we have received it.  This comes with the sufferings and afflictions of the carnal world, and all without the Spirit hate us.

2Ti 1:8  Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 

2Ti 1:9  Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 

When we receive the Gospel into our hearts, the end has come.   Salvation has come, and this is the result.

Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.

Studies

The True Living Bread of Life

Peter

The Bread of Life is the Commandments

The bread of life is Jesus Christ.  I speak not of the man, but the living Word, the Son of God, whose Spirit IS the commandments of the Father.  The commandments of the Father are the heavenly bread that brings eternal life, which is to know the only true God and His Son.  By eating Christ’s body [flesh] and drinking His blood, we enter the new covenant and begin to partake of the precious promises.    When the commandments come and we eat, we are supping with Christ and are being made new.

Mat 26:26  And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 

Mat 26:27  And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 

Mat 26:28  For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 

Mat 26:29  But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.

When the saints come together, the primary purpose is to partake of the Lord’s supper.  This is not the ritual of eating physical bread and drinking actual wine as the world’s Christian churches do.  No, the words of Christ are Spirit and speak spiritual truths to those given ears to hear. We eat the Lord’s supper daily [Give us this day our daily bread] as it is how we overcome our sins and are remade into His image.  We take the Lord’s commandments to heart, always meditating on them and above all striving to obey.

1Co 11:20  NKJV Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. 

Our communing with Christ is to keep our eyes stayed on Him, the living commandments.  Remembering the serpent of brass on the pole, when we look to Christ being crucified; we are healed and made alive.   We eat His bread daily for remembrance of the living commandments.

Luk 22:19  And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. [My Word, My Commands]

By partaking of the Lord’s bread and drinking His cup, we are dying daily with Christ as we are being resurrected from spiritual death.

1Co 11:26  For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.

The church is always to be focused on the Apostles’ doctrine which is the commandments that are the bread of life.

 Act 2:42  And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 

Act 1:1  The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 

Act 1:2  until the day in which He was taken up, after He [Christ] through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, 

We also have been given these commandments by His Spirit, and now preach the true Gospel with boldness and power, given to us by God.

Those who walk with Christ sup with Christ.  It is here that we are eating the living commandments, and then after we have supped, we are drinking of the cup.  Drinking of the cup, that is His blood, is our walking out what we just ate.  This means we endure many trials, temptations, and chastening as the grace of God works in us mightily by way of the living commandments in our belly.  The sweet taste of the commandments becomes bitter to our bellies as we begin to die daily with Christ after partaking of His flesh, the bread of life.

Rev 10:9  And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey. 

Our hearts are now being established by the grace [not the meat or knowledge] that flows from our eating and drinking at the table of the Lord in His kingdom.

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 

When the commandments come to those who hear them preached, a bright light, the day star, has arisen within them.  One’s desires and pursuit of spiritual knowledge wanes and is replaced by a zeal and hunger for the righteousness that only comes by eating the living commandments that are Jesus Christ.  This is the blessing of God.

Mat 5:6  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. 

This is what it means to have the faith of Jesus Christ.  When we hear the living commandments of Christ, His Word, and believe, we are being raised out of our spiritual graves and entering eternal life.  This is the resurrection from the dead by the power of the living commandments, that is, the Gospel unto salvation.

Jhn 5:24  “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

Jhn 5:25  Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.

This bread of life, being these commandments, the living Word, is just one of the parables of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It is both a deep parable and, simultaneously, simple to understand when given spiritual eyes to see it.  The Gospel, the living commandments of Jesus Christ, is the mystery hidden for the ages and only revealed to the saints in the appointed time.

Col 1:26  the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 

Two Trees and Two Tables Where Food is Served

There are two trees and two tables from which God’s creation eats.  One table and tree, the table of devils and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, feed the flesh and bring glory to man.  The other table, the Lord’s table, and the tree of life bring eternal life and glory to God.  Being yet carnal, we all eat of the first table and tree first as the commandments of the Lord, the Lord’s table is not attractive to us.  Instead we eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil first and die spiritually, which exposes our sin (nakedness) and separates from the living Christ [the commands] that brings life.

Gen 2:16  And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 

Gen 2:17  But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. 

The food of knowledge of good and evil appeals to the flesh and our innate lust, and the pride of life.  Without the Spirit of God, we have zero defense to resist the devil who tempts us to eat of the tree that we were commanded not to eat.  Being deceived, we become like gods, knowing good and evil.

Gen 3:22  And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: 

The Lord’s plan has us being cast out of paradise and only finding the way back to the tree of life by coming through His angels, the Cherubims, in our appointed time.

Gen 3:24  So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. 

Both tables and trees serve their purposes in preparing us for Christ.  When  Christ, the holy commandments, come to us by His Spirit, we no longer eat at the first table, that is also called the table of devils.  It is the table of devils because it brings glory to man appealing to our lusts and pride.  We belong to the Lord when Christ comes to us and we provoke Him to jealousy when we are not obedient.

1Co 10:21  You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table and of a table of demons. 

1Co 10:22  Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He? 

To be saved, the spiritual food we are eating needs to change.  We are to keep the feast of the Lord, but change tables, eating only unleavened bread, that is the truth.  Christ’s words are the truth; they are His commandments.

1Co 5:8  Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 

The many called but not chosen miss the Lord when He comes to them and do not recognize Christ and His Christ who preach and speak the Gospel.  Flesh scoffs at and is dismissive of the commandments and has created all sorts of false doctrines as to why they are not the focus of one’s walk.  The carnally minded are more interested in feasting on knowledge that is more satisfying meat to the flesh than the bread of life.  Carnal disciples, all of us at first do not understand the meat the Lord is speaking about.

Joh 4:32  But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. 

A day comes, Lord willing, that is TODAY, when in our spiritual graves we hear the Gospel of the living commandments and believe.  We thus are resurrected, arising into newness of life.  The true sons of God are henceforth led by the Spirit of God [The living commands]  and are eating at the altar, where those who serve the tabernacle with their knowledge cannot.  We are now partaking of the Tree of Life, which is the same as the hidden manna that is the living commandments of our great God.  Speaking of things that are not as if they already were [Rom 4:17], the saints of the Lord are overcoming their sins.  We have been grafted into the tree of life.

Rev 2:7  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. 

In the Holy City that is Spiritual Jerusalem, where the saints gather and Christ is revealed, this tree is the centerpiece and brings forth all the precious promises of the Lord.

Rev 22:2  In the midst of its street, and of the river, from here and from there, was the Tree of Life, which bore twelve fruits, each yielding its fruit according to one month. And the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

The first table of knowledge (the tree of knowledge) satisfies the lust of the flesh and our pride of life.  It gives power to the flesh to have this knowledge and promotes the spirit of the Nicolaitans where respect of persons is paramount.  It is impossible to break away from it until and unless Christ comes to us, we hear and believe.  John 6 reveals the parables about our spiritual food and contrasts these two tables and the two trees using the two distinctively different kinds of spiritual bread.  Until we eat of the second table, we as Jews have not the living Word abiding in us and remain of our father the devil pursuing the lusts of the flesh.

Joh 8:43  Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 
Joh 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 

The dream is one, and these parables about bread and tables speak of the same truth.  We have the manna of Moses and the true heavenly manna that is Jesus Christ.  It is Christ the living commandments that is the unleavened bread that true Jews, the sons of Aaron, in type eat in the holy place [the temple of the Lord we are]

Lev 6:16  And the remainder thereof shall Aaron and his sons eat: with unleavened bread shall it be eaten in the holy place; in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation they shall eat it. 

The professing Jews drawn to Christ [us as professing Christians] come for spiritual food, the loaves and fishes, and not the healing miracles that come from the commandments.  Flesh wants the meat, meaning the knowledge and not the commandments.

Jhn 6:26  Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.

While knowledge is useful and needed, that meat has limited use and indeed perishes.  Instead, Christ commands us to labour for His meat that brings life everlasting.

Jhn 6:27  Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

The Lord has appointed us a kingdom to rule over that is within us.  If we have the commandments living inside, we are eating His flesh and drinking His blood with Him in the kingdom of God.  This is the good news of the Gospel, which we now believe and obey.  The judgment that is saving us is now on the house of God as we eat at the table of Jesus Christ.

Luk 22:29  And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; 

Luk 22:30  That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Paul said it more plainly. The only thing that matters in the end is love or a new creature.  We know that the love of God is defined as obeying His commandments [1Jo 5:3].  His commandments are the bread and spiritual meat that is making us perfect.  Other things are put away when the Living commandments come into us.

1Co 13:8  Love [obedience] never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 

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

1Co 13:10  But when that which is perfect has come [The Spirit, the commandments, the living Christ], then that which is in part will be done away. 

It is the “Jews” in symbolism who pursue this knowledge by endlessly studying the law and the prophets.  This was Paul, and we, as former Pharisees seeking our own righteousness before we heard and believed the Gospel.  God is no respecter of persons, and the promise of salvation is for all who call upon His Name, which are the commands and the Lord’s doctrine.  Those who call on the commandments are the ones being saved to the Jew first [those with knowledge of the law and the prophets, the circumcision], and also to the Gentiles who know none of the knowledge.  Having all the knowledge does not matter, as there is no difference with God.

Rom 10:12  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 

Rom 10:13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 

One can come into the kingdom at the last hour and still get the same reward as seen in the parable of the vineyard worker in Matthew 20.  It is simply not necessary to be “circumcised” and become a Jew to be saved.  This statement on “circumcision” has nothing to do with the outward practice of Judaism; it is a parable we only understand by revelation.  The ritual and label of circumcision are a parable representing our constant pursuit of more and more knowledge.  The flesh Jews’ history, written for our admonition, tells us that circumcision avails nothing and all that matters is the keeping of the commandments.  Those circumcised walked in circles in the wilderness endlessly studying the Scriptures [law and the prophets], but never made it to the promised land and died.  Joshua tells us why.

Jos 5:5  Now all the people that came out were circumcised: but all the people that were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, them they had not circumcised. 

Jos 5:6  For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD …

We are circumcised Jews in this regard, having spent years studying the Scriptures, but we were initially not made to come and embrace His Commandments.  We preferred to study at the table of knowledge as the fire of the word is more bearable.  Yet now we embrace and preach this Gospel boldly.  We come to Christ, and believe, and then these living commandments, the Spirit, are put into us.

Joh 5:38  But you do not have His word [commandments] abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. 

Joh 5:39  You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 

Joh 5:40  But you are not willing to come to Me [the commandments] that you may have life. 

Knowledge is good, but the focus needs to be on the commandments, the true bread of life.  We are told to eat at home if we hunger for knowledge and not burden the church.

1Co 11:34  And if any man hunger [for the knowledge], let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come. 

True faith is believing the commandments and coming to the living Christ.  This requires a preacher, an angel of the Lord to be sent and the Lord to open one’s ears to hear the Gospel.  The Lord has sent us and we know that some are now hearing and believing.

Rom 10:17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 

All the Apostles and disciples of Christ preach obedience and becoming a doer of the commandments, not a hearer only.  The Jews who heard Christ speak, eating of the loaves and fishes, ask Christ, What shall they do to do the works of God?  Christ answers.

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

Christ’s simple answer is hidden in the mystery of the Gospel.  The work of God is to believe in the living Word and the Commandments that the Father sent by way of Christ.  This is also known as believing in His name.

Joh 1:11  He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 

Joh 1:12  But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 

The temple of the Lord is built upon the Holy Commandments, the very living Words of Jesus Christ given to Him by the Father.  They are the cornerstone upon which the house of God is established.

1Pe 2:7  Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 

1Pe 2:8  And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 

The commandments become a stumbling stone and an offense to those Jews who want knowledge and remain covetous of even more.  Eating the bread of life is eating the hidden manna that only those with the Spirit of the commandments eat.

Rev 2:17  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. 

Eating the hidden manna, the mystery of the Gospel, is how we overcome our sins and become a lively stone and a part of the living spiritual Body of Christ.  We are one building of God, growing up together, with the commandments [Jesus Christ] as the foundation.

1Pe 2:5  Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 

Carnally minded Jews/Christians [us in our former blindness] claim faith but do not truly believe, instead trusting in their knowledge, which in symbol is the manna of Moses. They remain blind to the true bread being preached to them by Christ and His Christ.

Jhn 6:30  They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?

Jhn 6:31  Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

The Lord differentiates between the knowledge of Moses and the power of the living commandments that is the risen Christ within us.

Jhn 6:32  Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven [God’s Holy Commandments]

Jhn 6:33  For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

Far better to have the POWER unto salvation.  Many are called, but only a few are chosen to receive the true bread in this age.  Many desire to have it, they come to Christ, but cannot believe the Gospel as it is not given to them to believe.  Only the few chosen are drawn to Christ and embrace the Gospel of the living commandments.

Jhn 6:34  Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.

Jhn 6:35  And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

Jhn 6:36  But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.

Jhn 6:37  All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

Christ came to do His Father’s will, which His Christ does also once we are converted and believe the Gospel.  We are then likewise sent to raise those given ears from the spiritually dead by preaching the commandments.

Jhn 6:40  And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day

Those who preach the commandments are Jesus Christ in this world.  They are the saviors on Mt. Zion [Oba 1:21], as the living Word does the work in judging and saving those who hear.  When we visit others with the gospel, and they hear us, we are waking them out of their sleep by preaching the commandments.

Joh 11:25  Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 

Joh 11:26  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 

In all the parables of Christ raising the dead [Joh 11:11, Mat 9:24, Mar 5:39, Luk 8:52], Jesus said the dead were only sleeping.  Christ speaks a commandment to “come forth” or “arise”, and the dead respond being  resurrected.    This is the power of the living commandments, the Gospel unto salvation and is now come in the flesh of those the Father has called.

Eph 5:14  Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 

Those given to believe in the Lord’s living commandments, the true Gospel, are also known as the children of the day.  The Day Star, His commandments, have arisen in our hearts.  Everyone else walks in darkness.

1Th 5:5  Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 

We do not sleep but stay focused, always praying and fasting [obeying the commandments] and do not get drunk by feasting on knowledge [wine] that ensnares many into spiritual drunkenness.

1Th 5:6  Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 

1Th 5:7  For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 

Those asleep and those drunk with the knowledge remain in darkness, yet believe they are in the light, as the Lord explains.  The knowledge is just a shadow of the true Christ, the living commandments.

Mat 6:23  But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! 

Staying on the commandments, eating His bread, and abiding in His light brings salvation over our sins and completes the work of God and the need for further chastening from our heavenly Father.

1Th 5:8  But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 

1Th 5:9  For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 

We cannot go back to our vomit and seek our own glory through more knowledge, gluttony, and drunkenness.  Christ is come, the commandments is come into our hearts, and the meat and wine that represent the knowledge of the law and the prophets is no longer the focus.

Rom 14:17  For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 

The Jews who continue to eat the manna from Moses remain dead in their sins.  The bread they are eating is dead letters and not alive.  Moses’s manna, also known as the bread of affliction, does not bring eternal life.  Only Christ, the living and active Word by His Spirit does.  This is the true living bread of life.  There is great power in these Scriptures.

Joh 6:46  Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. 

Joh 6:47  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. 

Joh 6:48  I am that bread of life.

Joh 6:49  Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.

Joh 6:50  This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 

Joh 6:51  I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. 

The Lord’s bread is His flesh, and we must partake of that flesh to be saved and find eternal life.  One remains dead in their sins until they eat the bread of life, which is receiving the living commandments into our heart.

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. 

As we begin to eat the bread of life and drink the cup, we are dwelling with the Lord, and He with us.  This is the very definition of life eternal.

Joh 6:56  He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. 

Joh 6:57  As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. 

Joh 6:58  This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. 

We lose brethren on the way when they hear these words of truth about the bread of life and eating the body of Christ’s flesh.  Many turn from Christ and walk no more, having not been made willing to pay the cost to be a disciple.

Joh 6:65  And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 

Those who hear and believe in this Gospel of the Kingdom now have access to the throne of the living God.  If we ask for anything according to His will, He opens the door to our heaven and provides the bread of life.

Mat 7:8  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

Mat 7:9  Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?

Mat 7:11  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

Disciples of Christ are formed and grown unto maturity by eating of the bread of life.  Christ commands us to feed His lambs this bread.  This is our ministry to the living Body of Christ, be they Jew or Gentile, scattered in the earth.   His Words bring eternal life and spread the life-saving fire to all mankind in the end.

Joh 21:16  He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.