Tag: persecution

Articles

The Joy OF the Lord is Our Strength

Pete

The Joy OF the Lord Is Our Strength

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It is HIS Joy not ours

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Studies

Bearing the Marks of Christ

Pete

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

The Very High Calling of Marriage

Defending the Gospel on Marriage

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Joh 10:15  As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 

Joh 10:16  And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pete & Ronel and the remnant the Lord is saving

Studies

We Esteemed Him Not

Pete

“We Esteemed Him Not”

May 12, 2016

The church of Jesus Christ will not come to Him of their own free will and initiative.  We will all first kill the Lord’s prophets sent to us and refuse to come to Christ.

Luk 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! 

Indeed as we quickly learn when dragged to the Truth, we don’t choose Him, He chooses us (Joh 15:16). Flesh hates the real Jesus Christ and His doctrines.  The Scriptures speak clearly of Christ not being esteemed by men and being a stumbling block and a rock of offense. Those that know Christ and are part of the true Body will have an appreciation for the fiery trials we are enduring simply for standing with Christ. It is a battle and a war we must overcome and endure to the very end.

1Ti 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

To “know” Jesus Christ and His Father is to have ETERNAL LIFE now.

Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

And coming to know the Lord only comes by being dragged out of our worldly and carnal ways of life by living through the great judgments of the Lord.

Exo 6:6 Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:

Exo 6:7 And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

We won’t believe the report (doctrines) of Christ until this arm of the Lord is revealed to us by the chastening and scourging of His grace. This is the “revelation” of Jesus Christ to each of us in our own time and it comes when we can read, hear and keep (i.e. live through) the judgments of the Lord.

Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand

Being persecuted and rejected for the sake of righteousness and standing for the Truth is very painful for our flesh. Being crucified with Christ is this process. We, like our Lord, will endure great sufferings as our flesh and old way of living is taken away from us little by little. What this process has taught me is that nobody esteems the real Jesus and His Christ. The audacity of some people to call themselves the Elect of God is truly a rock of offense to those that are carnally minded.

Isa 8:14 And he shall be for a sanctuary (for the Elect); but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Both the deceived and the deceiver are Christ’s (Job 12:16). Yet that same Word that snares us in darkness will also grind us to powder (be a gin) in the day of the Lord.

Mat 21:44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

To those few the Lord has chosen, the Body is a true sanctuary of peace but to those He has only called, Christ and the Christ “is, was and will be” a stone of stumbling and very offensive for the people that call themselves the people of God. They and all men must first be snared by false doctrines and spend their appointed times in the snare of the harlot separated from knowing Christ.

Isa 28:13 But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

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 few chosen out of these many called are the chosen generation, the true priests of Christ that the Lord is transforming in this age and dragging into His marvelous Light.

1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar (redeemed) people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light

The marvelous light is coming to know Christ and partaking of the wedding feast and drinking the true living waters of eternal life. Jesus was not bemoaning the Jews lack of exercise of free will to choose HIM; because He knew they were blind and could not believe even if they had wanted to believe. The fact we are told they could not believe adds to our understanding that they could not come to Him.

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

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

So we too will believe not, be yet carnal and not know the day of visitation of Christ. Jesus Christ will stand right in front of us and we will recognize Him not and we will despise and reject Him just like the outward Jews (the religious people of every age) do in every age.

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

The Non Attraction of Christ

The Jesus that is attractive to our carnal minds and to our flesh is another jesus. It is the “jesus” invented by carnally minded men to seek gain for their supposed godliness. We all do this in some way shape or form. We are to separate from those that bring this other jesus and learn to be content, knowing Jesus Christ truly does have the whole world in His Hands.

Act 20:30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

2Jn 1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:

The false jesus blesses flesh and brings prosperity or outward comfort of some kind. Who does not want their flesh blessed?  Yet contrary to these Babylonian lies, when Christ comes He is bent on destruction of the flesh as that is how the new man is brought forth.

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

The long haired handsome Jesus of western society is not the true Jesus. We don’t know what He looked like but we are told Christ had no desirable traits to the flesh that we would naturally seek after Him.

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

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

Isa 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

We do not esteem Jesus Christ when we are yet carnal and outside the faith. In our natural carnal state, we despise the real Jesus Christ. The body of Christ, which is “Christ”, is similarly despised by all men and especially those in Babylon that consider themselves spiritual. People will be offended and repulsed at Christ in us and our audacity to call ourselves the sons and daughters of the living God.

The carnally minded will seek to kill the man child that is coming forth from the ashes of our old man. This whole process is set up to make us theater or a real spectacle unto the world. The pride of man will take great offense at Christ in us and will be unable to look past our marred and sinful appearance in these weak vessels of clay.

Isa 52:14 As many were astonished at thee; his (Christ’s) appearance was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:

Who do you think you are, you are just Joseph the carpenter’s son we will hear. But know their rejection of us is actually Christ in us as the Lord tells us what to expect.

Luk 10:16 He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.

The Lord chooses the chief of sinners, oh wretched man that we are to be His Body. He does not choose those who need no repentance and think they are not in need of a physician.

Luk 5:30 But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?

Luk 5:31 And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.

Luk 5:32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Those in Christ will be falsely accused of teaching it is okay to sin for sharing these truths of God’s plans for the ages. We by no means go slack on our sins but one has to realize anyone who truly is in Christ will have come to know what they are in the flesh as Paul wrote.  The strange ways of the Lord is to use our own wickedness to correct us (Jer 2:19).

1Ti 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

It is those who think they need no repentance and already know God who will reject Christ in us. The Lord does not call the noble to His wedding feast in the Body, here is who He calls.

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

The true gospel and what we can expect in coming to Christ is the opposite of the false peace and safety message. That lie is shattered when Christ appears to us suddenly in the darkness of our strong delusion. He comes with a sword to make war and bring division by cutting off our old way of life. This is again why we are dragged there and none of us would ever willingly choose Christ.

Mat 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

Heb 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 

We would never ever willingly come to and walk into a furnace of affliction!!!!

Isa 48:10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. 

Thankfully the Lord does indeed drag us; He makes us lie down in green pastures and leads us to still waters and in rest. The Lord is perfectly capable of fishing for men to build His Body. It is not big deal for Him to turn the hearts of men, mere pieces of clay in His hands.

Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me drag him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Pro 21:1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will

The little flock of Christ is made to be a spectacle, theater, to those in the world within and without. That is the fire that tries us, the furnace of affliction given to the sons of God. Christ and His Body, THE CHRIST indeed look like fools to the carnal minded.

1Co 4:9 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.

1Co 4:10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.

The verses which speak of Christ speak not only of Jesus Christ THE LORD but they also apply to Christ which is His Elect, the little flock HE has chosen. Jesus builds His church, HE CHOOSES who is His Body and who is not. God’s Elect is “The Christ” and all of these prophecies apply to us in due season. The apostate churches men are very appealing to the carnal eye and our lusts and carnal way of life.

Pro 7:10 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.

Rev 17:4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:

The many good works that get done and the outward changes in many people’s lives are real wonderful things. Yet these are also known as lying signs and wonders (2 The 2:9) because they hide the Truth from us and keep the beast comfortably sitting on the throne of our hearts while we await our day of judgment.

 The Foolishness of God is Wiser Than Men

Who the LORD chooses and puts into His Body is those the world would never believe He would pick. God’s wisdom confounds the wisdom of the wise in the flesh.

1Co 1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

1Co 1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

1Co 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

1Co 1:28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

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

And the Lord picks a few from every nation, tongue and tribe each bringing a part of what is needed to the Christ. Uniquely we fit together to make a BODY which is complete and has all it needs.

1Co 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is (the) Christ.

I had someone once tell me “those people are weird just look at them” when looking down upon God’s Elect, the little flock, that is the Body of Christ. Those that know the other jesus do not believe that Jesus Christ could be rejected and hated of all men, but that is exactly what must be. These prophecies are about CHRIST, both the head and the body. The Body of Christ is also Christ and will like our Lord be crucified and rise again on the third day.

Mar 8:31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again

The longer we abide in the fire of Truth, we should come to appreciate what being a living sacrifice means (Rom 12:1, Col 1:24). It is a whole lot more than cleaning up the outside of our cups and stopping our drinking, cussing and smoking. The Lord does not generally choose the noble, the esteemed, the great orators or anyone that is looked up to in this world and esteemed of men. He picks people like Moses, a man who stuttered, got angry and killed someone. He picks David, the least likely of Jessie’s sons as Samuel the prophet thought. This story tells us a lot of how the Lord chooses those that confounds our carnal way of thinking.  Samuel was thinking carnally and thought for sure the Lord would choose the grown sons who were outwardly strong and had good looks. But that is not the Lord’s way at all.

1Sa 16:6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD’S anointed is before him.

1Sa 16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

Flesh does not inherit the kingdom of God, only the new man does. And in great symbolism, all seven of Jesse’s older sons were rejected.

1Sa 16:10 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, the LORD hath not chosen these.

Only the eighth, the new man, will be the Lord’s anointed. That was David in type and shadow. The Lord does not choose whom we think He chooses to be His Elect. And there are a lot fewer chosen than anyone would even imagine as many are called but few are chosen is the hidden message in all the parables of Jesus Christ. Even fewer are to be found faithful.

Even Saul of Tarsus’s story shows us who God chooses. The Lord chooses those who at first think they serve the Lord in their zeal but do not even yet know Him. He chooses the very ones who will first persecute the Church of Christ and oppose His doctrines (Act 22:7-8). Paul like David was not esteemed in the outward appearance when compared to the noble ones the world esteems.

2Co 10:1 Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:

2Co 10:10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.

The Lord hides His Truths and does things His ways which are far different than the ways of this world and the carnally minded (Isa 55:8-9). Paul, like all of God’s Elect, ARE chosen vessels that will bear the name Christ and suffer for His Name.

Act 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

Act 9:16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

We will live by every word in our appointed times. I have been Saul of Tarsus and now I am Paul being persecuted for the cross of Christ, being called a fool and made a spectacle unto the world.

The little flock of Jesus Christ (Luk 12:32) is a sect that has always been spoken evil about.

Act 28:22 But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that everywhere it is spoken against.

2Pe 2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

Being Crucified With Christ

The preaching of the cross and the need for us to go to the cross and die is indeed foolishness to the carnal mind. But to those given the precious gift of faith, it is the power of God unto salvation.

1Co 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Despite the sufferings we must endure, the Disciples of Christ are blessed beyond imagination in the spirit. We are the firstfruits unto salvation, the very first ones the Lord has appeared to in order to bring judgment now in this age (1 Pe 4:17, 1 Cor 11:31). We are truly blessed when we are persecuted for standing with Christ and for His doctrines.

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

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

As the prophets of the Lord we are given honor but not in our own house and kin. As Jesus’s family did not receive him at first so shall it be with The Christ.

Mar 6:4 But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.

Mat 10:36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.

If we are not willing (made willing) to take up this cross and give up our life and stand for the doctrines of Jesus Christ; we will have no part in ruling and reigning with Him in the ages to come. We must make our calling and election sure (1 Pe 1:10). These verses tell us of the price we will be required to pay.

Mat 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

Mat 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

To be found worthy, we have to lose our old carnal and worldly way of life. Being “In Christ” will have you rejected and hated of all men and your enemies will be of your own household. Yet this is the Lord’s way of preparing us to be merciful rulers and judges by having lots of practice in forgiving others and being forgiven ourselves. All we have to do is claim to be a son of God and not keep their days, times, and seasons like Jesus did not and the professing church and world at large will turn hard against us. As it happened to Jesus, so shall it happen to His Body.

Joh 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

As Christ is formed in each of us, we in turn will suffer and be rejected of all men just like our Lord. Jesus Christ never will be attractive to the flesh and its lustful ways. The enmity of the flesh vs the spirit will ensure offense is taken for the growing Christ within us. Jesus Christ smells of death to those that walk after the flesh but to us being saved, He is the savor of life.

2Co 2:15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:

2Co 2:16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life….

We will be mocked and spit upon and told if we are the son of God to come down off this cross. Yet we know what the Lord is doing and that to every son He chooses, He scourges as the way of remaking us into His image. Lord willing, we will endure it.

Mar 15:30 save Yourself, and come down from the cross!”

Mar 15:31 Likewise the chief priests also, mocking among themselves with the scribes, said, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save.

But our Lord knew what He was doing and so will we as His Christ. We will stay on our cross knowing that we must die to be raised into newness of life. We must look to that living sacrifice to be saved (Joh 3:14).

Num 21:9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass (copper, i.e. flesh) , he lived

The pain and affliction is greater than we can bear in the flesh with the supernatural strengthening of the Lord and the comfort of Christ. The angels of the Lord, the Body of Christ, will be there to hold us up and give strength and pray in agreement with the prayer of Jesus Christ.

Luk 22:42 saying, Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.

The true Elect of God are in training now for our roles as kings and priest in the future. We will be the instrument of rule and of salvation to all men in the Millennium and the Lake of Fire through which all of mankind will be saved.

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.

We are being made into sons of God and are learning the longsuffering and merciful ways of our Father in heaven. This way we can be the instruments of mercy as it is thru us the Lord does His work.

Isa 60:14 The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

Rom 11:30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

Rom 11:31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

Like our Lord, when speaking Truth to the carnally minded, we will be rejected and falsely accused of exalting ourselves. We must learn to be like our Lord when responding to the inevitable rejection and hatred of all men for simply claiming we are Sons of God and part of the Body of Christ. As He is so are we in this world (1 Joh 4:17) applies to us being rejected and hated of all men and bearing the same reproach our Lord endured (Herb 13:13).

1Pe 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

The gift of faith and the accompanying ears to hear comes with suffering.

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

We have a great calling and we have been appointed to suffer and we must finish the race set before us. We are to be not conformed to this world and its lustful and sinful ways.  Ambassadors of Christ do not engage in the affairs of the land they are sent to be an ambassador.

Joh 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

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.

It is a narrow way and I hope if anything this study has reminded you of our unique calling and that it comes with a high price of being rejected and us called to suffer. The true communion of Jesus Christ is to be in the fellowship of believers. This is where we eat and drink at the altar of the Lord.

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.

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

We once did not esteem the true Jesus Christ and yet the Lord forgave us and showed us mercy.  We will also weep like Christ wept when we are rejected in our attempts to share the truth of God’s Word with those blinded, some of our same household. Those who reject us will not know the time of His visitation and like us before them will not be able to discern the sign of the times.  Lord willing, we will have the same response to our persecution and rejection as Jesus Christ.  We will bear this burden and will forgive them for their ignorance.

Luk 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do

1Pe 2:10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Questions and comments are welcome. You can also email me directly at peterjwilson56@gmail.com and I will respond to all sincere inquiries.

Your Brother in Christ,   PETE