Tag: obedience

Commandments

Be Patient in Tribulation

Peter

In Patience We Possess Our Souls

Peter and Rohnel, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus gathered with us and those scattered in the world, grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. We thank our Lord for His enduring mercy, which continually opens our eyes to see our sin and to bring correction.

Father, we confess our lack of patience and striving against your work in our lives and ask for strength to overcome and walk as your faithful witnesses.  We are the most blessed who delight in your ways, who are prospering, being planted by the rivers of life that are your Commandments.

Psa 1:1  Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 

Psa 1:2  But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 

Psa 1:3  And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 

The Lord commands us to be patient in our lives and to look towards and wait upon Him to provide what we need, knowing the Lord works all things for the counsel of His will.  The Lord chose us to bear spiritual fruit that remains even in the midst of many temptations to do otherwise.  This includes abiding in patience, which is the focus of this study on the Commandment to be patient.  Being patient also means being long-suffering and retaining self control or temperance.  This study came about as a rebuke and admonition to my impatience, hastiness and lack of self control which kept the fruit of the Spirit from budding forth.

Gal 5:22  NKJV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 
Gal 5:23  gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 
Gal 5:24  And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 
Gal 5:25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 

Impatience is an affection of the flesh; it is not the fruit of the Spirit.  Patience is far more important than we realize because without it, we do not bear the downstream fruits of the spirit, and also are not obedient to the Commandments to be gentle and kind.

1Ti 6:11  But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

2Ti 2:24  And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

The fruits of the Spirit are the products of our walking in faith and come forth when we obey the one great Commandment to love the Lord with all our heart, mind, and soul.  An impatient spirit is not a spirit submitted to what the Lord is working in the moment and is disobedience. In the day of the Lord, our impatience is brought into the light and fire that is the Living Commandments.  Progression onward to maturity is stalled, bearing little fruit, when we do not overcome and continue through much patience to show godliness and kindness in all our behavior. Adding to our faith is growing in the faith unto the mature man in Christ.  Patience needs to be added to yield godliness in all our behavior.

2Pe 1:5  And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 

2Pe 1:6  And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 

2Pe 1:7  And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 

2Pe 1:8  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Not being patient is one being impatient, and it’s a sign that one is still a beast.  Impatience comes forth from the pride of life that is being burned away in the Commandments as we lay down our lives in obedience.

Ecc 3:18  I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts. 

Ecc 7:8  Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

If not patient, we are not possessing our souls as the Lord demands.  We remain and abide in conflict with what the Lord is doing to reshape and remold us into holy vessels in which He and the Father dwell forever.  In our day of the Lord, we suffer great tribulation, and the Lord tells us to patiently endure and wait for Him to finish His work.

Luk 21:19  In your patience possess ye your souls. 

Mat 24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 

If our lives are defined by haste and angst, we are not at rest or being patient. These are signs we are striving against what the Lord is doing at this moment of our lives.  This behavior and thought life are kicking against the pricks. The Lord says it is hard to kick against His pricks; we just make our trials worse.  Far better to just obey the Lord.

Act 9:5  And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

Act 9:6  And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

Pricks in the natural are known as goads and are designed to keep cattle moving in the direction [in submission] to what the herdsman or shepherd demands.  Pricks in the spiritual is the grace of God, our trials, the exact situation we are in that is part of all things the Lord works, to keep us in submission to Christ, the Living Commandments, and do what our Maker demands.  The word translated pricks is also translated as stings, as the pricks or stings, being the Lord’s grace, move us towards Christ and His righteousness.  If we do not obey, more stings and more pricks follow to bring us into subjection and be content and patient.  The Lord does not fail to prosper His Word in His elect.  When we push back, resist, and are impatient, more pricks are added until we submit.

Num 33:55  But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell. 

Rom 5:20  Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 

We are learning to put down the sword, our carnal mind, and rest in the Living Christ, the Commandments of the Father that live in us.  The tribulations and grace continue until our beast is subdued.

Rev 13:9  If any man have an ear, let him hear. 

Rev 13:10  He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. 

Our rebellious actions are futile and do nothing to change the Lord’s heavy arm pressing upon us.  Any resistance puts us deeper into torment and distress.   Far better to take heed of the Lord and obey His commandments.  We rest in peace and learn to be patient.

Jas 1:3  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 

Jas 1:4  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 

The sacrifices and offerings the Lord desires and accepts are those of a contrite and meek spirit.  Impatience and hastiness are the antithesis of a broken spirit, and thus the Lord sends fiery trials in the appointed time to burn this beastly character out of us.

Psa 51:17  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

John describes the great tribulation that all brethren endure as being the patience of Jesus Christ.  All things we endure require patience to stay the course and walk the narrow road to the end.  Paul shares the same message.

Rev 1:9  I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 

2Co 6:4  But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 

Moving through life fast, at the world’s pace, without consideration and forethought, brings out the wrath of man and works not the righteousness of Jesus Christ. We are learning to slow down in life, tarry for others, wait on the Lord to lead us, and not be easily provoked in our flesh.

Jas 1:19  Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 

Jas 1:20  For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. 

In our day of judgment, the Lord frustrates our impatience and our attempts to avoid being patient.  We cannot escape the judgment of God and retain our impatience.  When we think we have escaped the lion, a bear then meets us, or a serpent bites us.  The grace of God is not failing to have its way in the whirlwind of our judgment.  The Lord, the Commandments, are passing through us once more to remake all things.

Amo 5:17  And in all vineyards shall be wailing: for I will pass through thee, saith the LORD.

Amo 5:18  Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light.

Amo 5:19  As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God, who accomplishes His will in remaking our heavens and our earth in the appointed time.  All our contention is brought into subjection through much tribulation and anguish.

Rom 2:6  Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 

Rom 2:7  To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: 

Rom 2:8  But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 

Rom 2:9  Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 

We trust the Lord through our faith, knowing all things work together for the greater good.  The example of Job and the blessings that come at the end gives us hope and strength to endure the moment and remain patient, bearing the anguish that is making our spirit of flesh poor.

Jas 5:11  Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. 

We learn to glory in our tribulations, knowing that they are teaching us patience, a key fruit of the Spirit that makes us faithful witnesses to the Lord. Learning patience comes with much experience in trials and builds our hope in the Lord and the promises yet to be revealed in us.

Rom 5:3  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 

Rom 5:4  And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 

We learn contentment in our patience and stop kicking against the pricks.

Jas 1:3  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 

Jas 1:4  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 

Being patient is one of the marks of a true Christian.  As the Lord’s witnesses in this world, we are called to be patient and control our fleshly emotions at all times.

Rom 12:10  Be affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another; 

Rom 12:11  Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 

Rom 12:12  Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 

Patience is long suffering, which requires endurance, which is also a Commandment.  The patient and long-suffering with others define the nature of those marked by Christ.

Eph 4:2  With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 

Eph 4:3  Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

We are being made into His likeness and image. Be patient in all circumstances, as that is the nature of our God.

Rom 15:5  Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 

We are no longer brawlers nor run in the same dissipations as the world, which by nature is impatient and striving with one another.  Shepherds of the sheep are patient and follow the many examples of the Apostles.

1Ti 3:3  Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

Tit 2:2  That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.

2Ti 3:10  But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,

Be patient in the hope of the Lord Jesus Christ and in our dealings with all men. We are lights unto the world and are commanded to run our race with patience.

1Th 5:14  Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

Heb 6:12  That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Entering the Kingdom of God is only done through many tribulations.  These trials require great patience to endure, grow in maturity, and overcome our sin.  We are keeping the Commandment to be patient at the forefront of our thoughts and minds every day as we endure the fiery trials in our day of the Lord.

2Th 1:4  So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:

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

The Lord is our helper in our trials with impatience and all the Commandments.  Seek Him, the Commandments, and we shall live in His sight.

 

Commandments

Go and Learn What This Means

Peter

 

 Mercy and Not Sacrifice

The Lord desires mercy and not sacrifice, and tells us as Pharisees, who focus on our outward works of righteousness, to go and learn what this means.

Mat 9:11  And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?

Mat 9:12  But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

Mat 9:13  But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance

The righteous in God’s eyes are those who are doing righteousness, which means obeying the Father’s Commandments.  Seeing and obeying the Commandments is the desire of the Lord, as they work the work of salvation for which the Father sent Christ to perform.  Mercy opens our eyes to see the Commandments, the Gospel, which then shines a light upon our earth and our walk.  The Lord’s mercy is also called the goodness of God that leads us to take the first step and repent of our sins, which begins the process of being delivered from those sins.  By mercy, we come to see our need for Christ to save us from our sinful nature.  We praise the Lord for His wonderful works, which show us mercy and lead us away from sin into righteousness.

Tit 3:5  not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 

Psa 107:7  And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation. 

Psa 107:8  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness [Mercy], and for his wonderful works to the children of men! 

The Commandments wake us up by shining a bright light into our earth, brightening all the dark places.  This is how we are raised from a state of spiritual death and, in time, bring forth the obedience that is salvation and the glory of the Lord.  Christ is come, the day star has arisen.

Isa 60:1  Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. 

The Lord’s will for His people is our sanctification, which begins with open eyes to the true knowledge of God, the Commandments.  Our outward sacrifices mean nothing to the Lord and are vanity that occupy us until the Gospel is heard, and faith is given.  With open eyes and ears to the Commandments, we are drawn to the Lord by the Gospel in Spirit and in Truth.  Our sacrifices to the Lord now come from our heart and a desire to please our maker and love God by obeying Him.

Hos 6:6  For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. 

Joh 4:23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 

Knowledge of the Commandments [mercy] is far more important than our outward forms of righteousness, which are the sacrifices of carnal men to justify themselves before the Lord.  The first great Commandment teaches us that the Lord wants obedience from our whole heart.  The Lord despises us when we honor Him in the letter, meaning with our lips and in outward forms, but remain disobedient to the Commandments.

Through mercy, when we see and hear the Commandments, then judgment has come to our earth, that is, the Temple of the Living God.  The fire of the Commandments, the Word of God,  the Living Christ, is now kindled in our hearts and minds.

Luk 12:49  I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled? 

Christ commands us to go and learn what having mercy, and not sacrifice, means.  Only those chosen for salvation hear the Commandment and are being taught of the Lord and learning the new song.  The grace of God, the Living Commandments, the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, guides us into all Truth and teaches us about mercy and the only sacrifice that pleases the Lord.

Joh 6:45  It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. 

Rev 14:3  And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. 

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

The Lord despises the sacrifices of carnal men who claim His name but are far from Him, meaning the Commandments.  Spiritual Jerusalem, which is Sodom and Egypt, also known as Spiritual Babylon, is where we hear the everlasting Gospel of the Lord and the call to come out and be the set-apart peculiar and holy people of God.  The righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees is not enough to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.  To whom much is given, hearing the Gospel, a much higher attainment of righteousness is required.

Isa 1:10  Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah. 

Isa 1:11  To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. 

Isa 1:13  Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. 

The only sacrifice the Lord desires and demands is a life submitted to His Commandments.

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 

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

When David sinned, he confessed his sin, acknowledging that the only sacrifice the Lord desires is a life laid down to Him in service.  It is a broken spirit, a contrite heart, where we lose the old life, submit ourselves to the Commandments, who is Christ,  and thereby arise to newness of life.

Psa 51:16  For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. 

Psa 51:17  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. 

Pharisees back then and today observe Christ and His disciples doing what is forbidden under their law for the carnally minded. This is a parable, speaking to always doing the Father’s work and ceasing from our carnal reasonings. Pharisees do not recognize Christ nor understand the Commandments, which place the showing of mercy, the [opening eyes to the Commandments], far above the outward sacrifices that are for the pride of man and the esteem of men.  We do not condemn those whom the Lord has blinded.  We show all men mercy by doing and speaking the Commandments in everything.  At the appointed time, the Lord opens eyes and ears who receive our witness.    The coming of Jesus Christ, the Living God of the universe, is the end of the law of Moses/Gentiles to all given to believe.

Mat 12:5  Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? 

Mat 12:6  But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. 

Mat 12:7  But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. 

Mat 12:8  For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

The Lord looks to the heart to see who loves Him with all their heart, mind, and soul.  Most who claim the name Christ do many great works, but do not bring the offerings or sacrifice the Lord desires. They are cast out and the door shut in this age, being saved and coming to Christ in the age to come.

Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 

Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 

In Matthew 9, Christ speaks words previously spoken in a pivotal Old Testament story about the fall of King Saul and his rejection and being cut off by the Lord.  Saul was commanded by the Lord through the Prophet Samuel to utterly slay all the Amalekites and all their possessions, leaving nothing.  There was no room for ambiguity in the Commandments.  We obey all the Lord’s Commandments and do not add to them nor take away from them.  We just do them. The natural man in all of us is led by their carnal mind, the father of lies, and cannot help but corrupt the Lord’s Commandments.  Saul, the rejected king of Israel, is the example of that, and a shadow of the Lord rejecting those who have heard the Gospel, but do not obey the Gospel.

1Sa 15:1  Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD. 

1Sa 15:2  Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt. 

1Sa 15:3  Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. 

1Sa 15:5  And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and laid wait in the valley.

Yet Saul did not obey and failed to slay the King of Amalek and kept back the best sheep and oxen so Israel could sacrifice them to the Lord. Saul placed sacrifice above showing mercy and obedience to the Lord, thus corrupting the Commandments by adding to and taking away from them.  In his corruption, which is called rebellion and witchcraft, Saul falsely believed he had obeyed the Commandment when Samuel came.

1Sa 15:13  And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD. 

Samuel rebuked King Saul and pronounced the judgment of God upon him for the witchcraft.  It is better to obey than sacrifice to the Lord, as obedience is the Commandments is the only sacrifice the Lord desires.

1Sa 15:14  And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? 

1Sa 15:22  And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 

1Sa 15:23  For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king. 

Spiritually, the Amalekites are descendants of Esau, the rejected son of Isaac, and are not the seed of Jesus Christ.  Israel is to remain separated from them and always destroy such a spirit in their midst.  Despite confessing his sin, King Saul was cut off from Israel and soon died.  David, a type of Christ, began to reign in his stead.

1Sa 15:26  And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel. 

The Lord wants our obedience in all ways and not feigned works of righteousness that we offer unto the Lord. Corrupting the Commandments, we are robbers and spiritual whores, and Israel within and any who hear us is defiled.  The true disciples of Christ seek to do good at every turn, meaning obeying all the Commandments, which is the sacrifice of praise in which the Lord is well pleased.

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

Heb 13:16  But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. 

The Lord is our helper who now lives in our hearts and minds, quickening us to do righteousness.  We freely sacrifice to Him, meaning we are dead and our life belongs to the Lord.  We desire mercy and are merciful to all, showing them the Gospel, knowing that those who show mercy are given mercy.

Mat 5:7  Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 

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Commandments

The Great Commandment

Peter

 

Loving God With All Your Heart

The Lord has many Commandments, yet He spoke of a great Commandment upon which all others fall under. The greatest Commandment is to love the Lord with all our heart, mind, and strength. Anything else is the making of idols and disobedience.

Mat 22:37  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 

Mat 22:38  This is the first and great commandment. 

The Commandments to be kind, gentle, long-suffering, or even to forgive is not the greatest Commandment.  These are important, as is every Commandment of the Lord.  Many err by elevating some Commandments while ignoring others, which is idolatry. The great Commandment is putting God’s Commandments first in everything we do. We love Him above everyone and everything, which means we obey Him with all our heart, mind, and soul.

Mar 12:29  And Jesus answered him, The first of all the  commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 

Mar 12:30  And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 

Mar 12:31  And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. 

Anything we put above any Commandment is an idol, which is a false god and angers the Lord, who is jealous over us with a godly jealousy. The first Commandment given to Moses was the same as Jesus answered, for the Lord changes not.

Exo 20:3  Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 

When Moses returned the second time to receive the Commandments, the Lord added some perspective to the first Commandment. We are acting by taking all contrary thoughts and carnal reasonings captive to the obedience of the greatest Commandment.  Standing in the Commandments destroys the altars, images, and groves [gatherings] of these false gods that are a corruption of the one true God.

Exo 34:12  Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee: 

Exo 34:13  But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves: 

Exo 34:14  For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God: 

Exo 34:15  Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a whoring after their gods, and do sacrifice unto their gods, and one call thee, and thou eat of his sacrifice;

Exo 34:16  And thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go a whoring after their gods, and make thy sons go a whoring after their gods.

Exo 34:17  Thou shalt make thee no molten gods.

The Lord commands us to diligently teach all the Commandments to one another and to bind them on our hands [our works] and keep our eyes always looking to the Commandments.

Deu 6:5  And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

Deu 6:6  And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

Deu 6:7  And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

Deu 6:8  And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.

Deu 6:9  And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

Inheriting eternal life is the result of loving the Lord with all our heart, soul, and strength. If we do this, by extension, we obey all the Commandments, holding nothing back, having no idols, and the promise of salvation is made manifest. Anyone not obeying the great Commandment remains dead in their graves, no matter the outward forms of godliness.  To find eternal life, we are obeying the great Commandment.

Luk 10:25  And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

Luk 10:26  He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

Luk 10:27  And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

Luk 10:28  And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

If we obey the first and great Commandment, we are obeying all the other Commandments. Loving God with our whole heart is obeying God in every possible way.

1Jn 5:2  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

1Jn 5:3  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

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

The great Commandment is readily corrupted when carnal men, not given the Spirit, add to or take away from the Commandments, making an idol, a false god, out of their own reasoning. We are careful and keep ourselves from idols and do not eat or take to heart strange meat that is not the true Gospel.

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.

1Jn 5:21  Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

Do not make an idol out of one Commandment and thereby disobey another. Such disobedience does not honour God and is the righteousness of the Pharisees, which is not enough to enter the kingdom of God. Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, Scribes, and Sadducees, the rulers in the houses of Israel, even today, which is their hypocrisy. They claim to love God, yet their hearts are far from the Commandments; it is all for a show, an outward form of godliness.

Mat 15:7  Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,

Mat 15:8  This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

Mat 15:9  But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Flesh loves to hear smooth things, and thus the hard things of God to obey, such as cutting off those the Lord rejects in obedience, are reasoned away, saying it is not loving or saying we forgive all sins and do not retain them as Commanded.  Here are witnesses from the new and the old.

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.

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:

Loving God with all our heart includes obeying Commandments to sever, to cut off, those in our lives who are fornicating and thus defile us.  As the Lord’s people, we are set apart and holy and touch not the unclean things.  These Commandments are not love to the flesh but they are in God’s eyes and we are doing them when required.

1Co 5:9  I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: 

1Co 5:13  But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. 

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? 
2Co 6:15  And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 
2Co 6:16  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 
2Co 6:17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 

Many cease following Christ and are turned away into deception over these Commandments.  False prophets and deceivers deceive many because they have a form of godliness, yet they corrupt the Commandments in seeking fleshly rewards and the esteem of men. Do not be deceived and run from such corruption, as it can only be a snare that can take away your crown. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of the wisdom of God. Beware any teaching that takes away from the greatest Commandment to love God with all your heart, mind, and soul.

Jud 1:10  But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

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.

The second Commandment is likened unto the first Commandment, and we plan to address it in its own short study.

Mar 12:31  And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is no other commandment greater than these.

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Letters

Overcoming Fear and Remaining Vigilant

Rohnel

Fiery Trials Test Our Obedience to the Commandments

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

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. 

Psa 22:22  I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.

Keep My Commandments  

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

1Jn 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 

Overcoming Fear, remaining Vigilant

In the letter below, we look and learn of Christ’s ways in creating us anew. Please refer to the multiple studies on the truthinscripture.com website for insight and to get the Sum of God’s Word, which is Truth.

Christ, the First and the Last, the Alpha and Omega, has a plan with His creation from before the foundation of the world.

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

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

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

Christ is the Wisdom of God, the Father, and His plan for us is to overcome the fear of death by giving us His mind, that is to say, Christ in us, the Hope of Glory. The mind of Christ is His Commandments.

Luk 11:49  Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute: 

Col 1:26  Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 

Col 1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 

Christ makes us vigilant by giving us His Spirit of Grace, which is to say, the trials necessary to purify and perfect us, teaching us to be obedient to His Commandments. Christ is the Word of Grace, and He is the gift of righteousness to all who believe now and in time to come.

Zec 12:10  And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. 

Act 14:3  Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace [Christ], and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 

Rom 5:17  For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.

All this is accomplished through the two Baptisms, namely the Baptism of John and the Baptism of Fire. Christ kicks Satan out of our heavens, which is called the Baptism of John. The Baptism of John is the Baptism of water unto repentance. It is hearing the Commandments of Christ with spiritual senses.

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

Luk 10:18  And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 

Luk 7:22  Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the Gospel is preached. 

Christ destroys spiritual Babylon, the mother of harlots, within each of us, chosen by God, which is the Baptism of Fire. Do not think outward, but think within you. The Baptism of Fire is when Christ comes to us a second time. It is the fiery trials that perfect us in our Day of the Lord. The sons of God endure many tribulations, as did the Thessalonians. Please refer to the studies on the website to learn and understand these two Baptisms:  The Two Baptisms

Heb 9:27  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 

Heb 9:28  So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. 

2Th 1:3  We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; 

2Th 1:4  So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: 

We are being created anew and need these two Baptisms to be born again. We are clay in the Hand of the Potter and being made over, created anew.

Joh 3:5  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 

Joh 3:6  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 

Joh 3:7  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 

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

Let us now ask how Christ Jesus accomplishes His plan and purpose in the lives of those He has chosen to receive this blessing in vessels of clay in this age and in every generation. Keep in mind that all of humanity will receive this blessing in their appointed times because there is an order and a time and place for everything under the sun.

1Co 15:22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 

1Co 15:23  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 

1Co 15:24  Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 

Ecc 3:1  To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 

The Fear of Death

We are created with the fear of death. What is the fear of death? The fear of death is the carnal mindset of the natural man, which is called the law of the Gentiles. Being carnally minded is being under the law for the lawless. We are in bondage to this spirit until Christ sets us free and deals with Satan accordingly. Satan is the power of the prince of the air.

Heb 2:14  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 

Heb 2:15  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 

Rom 6:18  Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 

The fear of death is an accusing and excusing mindset within ourselves, whereby we gain worldly or spiritual knowledge, making many lies and idols of the heart, the work of our own hands. When Christ comes with His Commandments, He destroys all of our idols and all of our carnality with the brightness of His coming. Think spiritually, think within.

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

Eze 6:6  In all your dwellingplaces the cities shall be laid waste, and the high places shall be desolate; that your altars may be laid waste and made desolate, and your idols may be broken and cease, and your images may be cut down, and your works may be abolished. 

1Jn 5:21  Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. 

Being carnal, which is the state of all humanity, brings us knowledge. This knowledge does not save our souls; it is the law of unrighteousness. It has its place, but it is not the law of a godly man. Such knowledge is the power of spiritual wickedness in high places. It is not the knowledge of Christ’s Law which are His Commandments. The Lord destroys these high places within our hearts and minds in His Day of wrath, when He makes us anew.

Hos 4:6  My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. 

Jer 12:12  The spoilers are come upon all high places through the wilderness: for the sword of the LORD shall devour from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land: no flesh shall have peace. 

1Ti 1:8  But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; 

1Ti 1:9  Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 

1Ti 1:10  For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; 

1Ti 1:11  According to the glorious Gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. 

It is these inward enemies that are the carnal thoughts and lies that ensnare us into unbelief, keeping us in bondage and fear of death until the Day of Christ, and it causes the little sins within that so easily beset us.

Son 2:14  O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely. 

Son 2:15  Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes. 

Heb 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 

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. 

To those whom Christ is working with in every age, there comes a day when we hear the true Gospel preached to us. Thus begins the acceptable year of the Lord.

Luk 4:18  The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 

Luk 4:19  To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 

Heb 3:7  Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, 

Heb 3:8  Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 

Act 28:28  Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. 

The true Gospel of Christ is His words of Spirit and life, and most importantly, His Commandments, which Christ received from God, the Father, to give to us. We take heed of how and what we hear.

Joh 14:23  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 

Joh 14:24  He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me. 

Luk 8:17  For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. 

Luk 8:18  Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have. 

Having the true Gospel of Christ, is the blessing uttermost, it is the dew that drops down from heaven on us, the little children, the tender herbs. Only the little children hear the Lord’s speech, His doctrine, His Commandments.

Deu 32:1  Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. 

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

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

Deu 32:4  He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. 

Joh 8:43  Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 

Believing in our hearts and confessing with our lips that only His Commandments save us from our state of spiritual death is acknowledging that Christ is the Son of God. The unclean in us worship Christ as the Son of God when Christ cast these spirits out to give us His mind. Christ IS conquered death on our behalf. Remember, spiritual death is being carnally minded.

Rom 6:8  Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 

Rom 6:9  Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 

Rom 6:10  For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 

Rom 6:11  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Mar 3:10  For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues. 

Mar 3:11  And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God. 

Having the Baptism of John is a great blessing that shatters our enemies within, giving us the mind of Christ and His Commandments. It is a sober mind that replaces the fear of death, that is to say, that accusing and excusing mindset within ourselves.

2Ti 1:7  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 

Tit 2:1  But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: 

It is the simplicity of Christ’s doctrine that wins the war. The Commandments are the least esteemed in the religious worlds of lies and idols of the heart. This is a parable to be read with spiritual understanding.

1Co 6:4  If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. 

It is the smallest remnant that carries away the mighty. Think spiritually.

Jer 50:45  Therefore hear ye the counsel of the LORD, that he hath taken against Babylon; and his purposes, that he hath purposed against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely he shall make their habitation desolate with them. 

Jer 50:46  At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth is moved, and the cry is heard among the nations. 

Mat 22:14  “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Luk 12:32  Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

The spiritual battle against the nations within is a type and shadow of this end-time battle, as Christ is revealed and formed in us.

Rev 19:11  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

Rev 19:13  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

Rev 19:14  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

It is Christ’s Commandments within God’s people in earnest that judge and rule with Christ in the holy and blessed resurrection within. Christ is the Saviour and Deliverer and works through His people, who are the instruments of mercy through which He works His greater works.

Oba 1:21  And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S. 

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. 

1Co 1:29  That no flesh should glory in his presence.

The Baptism of John, hearing and believing and understanding the Commandments of Christ, is what gives us His mind. When we hear the true Gospel preached to us, that is to say, when we hear His Commandments, it is only the faithful that remain. The fearful, that which is not love, the excusing and accusing mindset within has to go. It is the big event spoken about in Peter. It is the Faith of Christ given to us; it is the mind of Christ.

2Pe 3:8  But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 

2Pe 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 

2Pe 3:10  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 

Those not given the gift of Faith in a vessel of clay continue to have the fear of death and are not in God’s presence, as they cannot be used of the Lord. They are still married to Satan, the spirit that drives the carnal mind.

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

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. 

Having the mind of Christ is how we overcome all our inner enemies. We now walk by the Faith of Christ, seeing that the Spirit of God is within us and the Father and Christ live in us.

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

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

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

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

2Co 10:6  And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. 

Remaining Vigilant

The Scriptures teach us to understand the Lord’s plan, keeping us vigilant in His Commandments. All forsake the Lord first, so for us to remain vigilant to the Commandments of Christ, He comes a second time to purge His threshing floor, and this is our Baptism of Fire. John tells us the axe is laid unto the root of the trees.

Mat 3:10  And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 

Mat 3:11  I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: 

Mat 3:12  Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. 

All Faith is tried or proven; thus, we need the Baptism of Fire to perfect us in our latter end. This inheritance is obtained through pain and suffering. The Baptism of Fire is the Lake of Fire where we dwell every day. Obeying the Commandments of Christ brings trials and tribulations.

Rom 5:1  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 

Rom 5:2  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 

Rom 5:3  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

It is an inheritance slowly obtained in our latter end.

Pro 20:21  An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.

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.

We need the process of perfection that tests our faith in the fire of the Commandments.

2Co 5:7  For we walk by faith, not by sight [our physical eyes or senses]:

1Pe 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 

Before the Lord comes a second time, we are first shown how weak and sinful we remain in these marred vessels of clay. The abomination of desolation, the man of sin, driven by Satan, is sitting in God’s stead in the holy place within that is to say within our hearts and minds.

2Th 2:1  Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 

2Th 2:2  That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 

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

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

The Lord shows us the man of sin, and, judging ourselves against the Commandments, we do not measure up. It is only when we have no hope in ourselves that we give up our spirit; so, the Lord’s Spirit takes over, giving us the trials needed to stay vigilant to His fiery Commandments. We have the mind of Christ, and the Lord now fights for us.

Exo 14:14  The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

Psa 56:2  My enemies would hound me all day, For there are many who fight against me, O Most High.

Psa 56:3  Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.

Psa 56:4  In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?

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

Our mourning knowing the Truth, that is to say, having the mind of Christ, but unable to obey, is turned into joy when His glory is revealed in us through His fiery Grace. We need the Spirit of Grace, which is Christ’s Commandments and the trials that accompany them. It takes the Words of Spirit and Life, the Truth of Christ, [God’s rain] falling from the clouds and the heavens to bring judgment. The Lord’s chosen are His clouds and heavenly things within and without. The Commandments of Christ are what curse the natural man and bring the blessing to the new man by way of judgment.

Joe 2:23  Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.

Heb 6:7  For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:

The Grace or fiery discipline that the Commandments bring is what saves us. The valleys within are now being filled with spiritual blessings, which is the judgment of the old carnal mindset, the fear of death. We are being saved through the Spirit of Grace, that is to say, the Commandments that we walk out every day, dwelling in the fire.

Luk 3:5  Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;

Luk 3:6  And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

Rev 20:15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. 

In our immaturity, without trials, we, at times, are still afraid of the fight ahead, only knowing the Baptism of John. Christ becomes unattractive quickly when we realize there is more to it than knowing doctrine; we are to become a doer of His doctrine.

Luk 14:33  So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

Joh 6:66  From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 

Joh 6:67  Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 

We are commanded to faint not when the trials come and be willing to lose everything to be used of the Lord in judgment of the nations within and without.

Luk 17:32  Remember Lot’s wife.

Luk 17:33  Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.

Rev 17:14  These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Knowing the purpose of trials is how we are to be thankful for all things. Without the trials, we are not saved. We need both Faith and works, our deeds tried by the commandments. Read the Epistles of James.

1Th 5:18  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 

1Co 3:21  Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; 

1Co 3:22  Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; 

1Co 3:23  And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s. 

The lapping of water, like a dog or a leopard, in Gideon’s story in the Book of Judges, is a metaphor for what the Lord wants His army to do: always keep guard and watch, so as not to be overcome by carnal reasoning. There are many warnings by Christ Himself to watch and pray.

1Pe 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Mat 26:41  Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Luk 12:35  “Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning;

Vigilance differs from a similar word, “diligence,” primarily in its emphasis on constant attention and observation. Both denote the act of being careful and being conscientious. The vigilant keep watch so they are not overcome and snared by their inward enemies. We are commanded to be sober in the Day of the Lord. The Day of the Lord is our latter end and time of salvation.

Rev 3:3  Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

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.

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.

Our failures at first to be vigilant require a repeat of the fiery grace that IS COME to us in the Day of the Lord. These trials are needed to keep us alive and to save our souls.

Rom 5:20  Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 

Rom 5:21  That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. 

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

Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast. 

Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 

We are not appointed to wrath, but we are appointed to salvation.

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

1Th 5:10  Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 

1Th 5:11  Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. 

Sharing our testimony is what the Lord’s faithful royal priests do in the breaking of Bread and in reminding ourselves and others that the victory is already won. The works are finished from the foundation of the world. It is a done deal; the Lord loses none of His. He sets us free on the true Sabbath Day, which is the Day of the Lord and leads us to the Living Waters of His Commandments, which cleanse and perfect us. The following parable describes this.

Luk 13:14  And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day. 

Luk 13:15  The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? 

Luk 13:16  And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day? 

Luk 13:17  And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him. 

Christ’s true sons within and without are mighty men of valor that are the instruments of judgment and salvation to all of spiritual Israel.

Pro 24:5  A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.

Pro 24:6  For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.

1Ti 4:10  For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

1Ti 4:11  These things command and teach.

Angels of the Lord are there to lead and guide the young and tender through the tough times with comfort, encouragement, and exhortation, which is the Spirit of prophecy. Even our Lord needed strengthening when He was in a body of weak flesh.

Luk 22:42  Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

Luk 22:43  And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. 

Psa 34:7  The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. 

We are friends of the Lord and true friends of one another when we obey God, which is how we love God and one another. In times of need, we rely on one another to make it through the night.

1Jn 5:3  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 

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

1Jn 5:5  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

Joh 15:14  Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 

Christ’s Word fitly spoken by His angels, strengthens those who are obtaining salvation through the many trials of life.

Rev 19:10  And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

2Ch 20:15  And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.

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

Through the laying down of our lives as a living sacrifice is how we overcome the inward enemies and make it through the Lord’s fiery discipline of Grace. We learn to walk by the Faith of Christ, not by sight. More and more, as we first see through a glass darkly, we come to see Christ as He is. We eat His flesh and drink His Blood, a parable to humanity, but for those with eyes to see and ears to hear, we live and keep Christ’s Commandments. It is the New Testament in His Blood.

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.

We conclude this letter with a reminder of who we are battling as God’s people and how we are to be prepared to fight and stand firm in the Faith of Christ, that is, in His Commandments, wearing all the armor of God.

Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Eph 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Everything comes back to the Lord’s Commandments. The Lord is His Commandments. We are the Commandments of the Lord in earnest. Embracing the trials and counting them as joy is how we persevere through the trials. They are a blessing and a sign we are marked for salvation. Through these trials, we receive Christ’s mind to overcome the fear of death and to remain vigilant for the rest of our lives in these vessels of clay. The Commandments purify and prepare us to stand before the Lord when He comes to those waiting for Him, is, was, and will be. Let us be glad and rejoice because we have made ourselves ready for the Bridegroom.

Heb 9:27  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 

Heb 9:28  So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. 

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. 

Receive ye the Gospel. Receive ye the Holy Spirit. Amen.