Tag: Predestination

Studies

All Things Are For Your Sakes

Pete

All Things For Your Sakes 

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

It is a real blessing when we come to realize that all things we have and do and experience in life; with no exceptions, are the work of the Lord.  We really begin to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord when we are given to understand and to trust in that immutable fact.  This is the hidden wisdom the world cannot see or hear.

1Co 2:6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
1Co 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

What a mind boggling concept this is to the natural man.  Everything that happens in your life, everyone you meet, every word spoken, every response given, whether good or bad or indifferent is for YOUR SAKE.  Only fools would believe such a doctrine and that is exactly what we must be to become wise in the ways of the Lord.

1Co 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

1Co 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

This truth is shown in scores of powerful verses those without ears to hear and eyes to see cannot see much less apply in their walk.  We that have such capacity are indeed a blessed little flock.  Here is the extent of the working of the Lord in the affairs of every man.

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

Coming to see the sovereignty of God in ALL THINGS is essential for us to grow and mature in the faith.  This understanding to me is what maturing is really all about.  Until we get the knowledge of this doctrine into our walk (our actions) we will struggle in bringing forth the fruit of the Spirit.

Gal 5:22 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.

Love is mentioned first in the list of the FRUIT of the Spirit in Galatians 5 and for very good reason.  Lest we confuse what love truly is we are told point blank what the love of God is that represents this fruit of the Spirit.

2Jn 1:5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.

We most often seem to cite 1 Joh 5:3 but here is a second black and white witness to what the definition of AGAPE or love is.

2Jn 1:6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.

As we hopefully are learning as we abide now with Christ; living with true doctrine is not enough.  We must become doers of the Word to walk in the Spirit (Jam 1:22-23).  It is when we show respect of persons and judge things in the flesh that we are not living by the truth that all things are for our sakes.  When we are not content with what the Lord is doing, we are walking in the flesh and acting double minded.  When we whine, complain, criticize, stay angry, look down upon others and have any other reaction than THANK YOU LORD, we are judging in the flesh.

We must come to know and trust in the Lord and His promises that He is working all things for the greater good.  That is how the scourging grace of the Lord, the very thing that saves us by transforming us rebounds with thanksgiving to the glory of the Lord.

Eph 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

How often have we failed at doing this?  Many times we will fall down before we learn.  It is beyond this study to cover “judging righteous judgment” but we had best learn to make judgments but to make them according to the Word of God and not the logic of this world or the carnal mind.

Joh 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

1Co 2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

There are many witnesses of the old and new to judging the right way vs the wrong way.  I used to think of respecting persons as simply respecting their worldly economic standing but it has a much wider meaning.  Respect for persons is judging them in the flesh and not attributing what they do to the Lord and His absolute sovereignty.  Doing so is the opposite of faith.  When we put the cause and the blame on any individual, even ourselves, we are having respect of persons and judging in the flesh.  We are commanded to do no such thing.

Deu 1:17 Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God’s: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.

Pro 24:23 These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

Rom 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.

Jas 2:9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

1Pe 1:17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

The Elect of God are in training now for our roles in the ages to come (1 Cor 6:2, Mat 19:28).  Those roles are to rule with Christ in the Millennium and to be the judges through which all men shall be saved in the end.  We best learn how to judge righteous judgment and get past having respect of persons now. When we judge people in the flesh we are forgetting that ALL THINGS are for our sakes and were caused of the Lord.

Once we come to understand what the grace of God is and realize it is that grace that chastens us then we begin to mature.  We mature when we accept the things the Lord is causing (working in our lives) without bitterness and receive it all with joy trusting in what the Lord is doing in our remaking process.  It is so easy to be led astray by the deceitfulness of sin and the pulls of this carnal world.  Peter warned the church and warns us to beware lest we ourselves fall.

2Pe 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.

The fail safe way of not falling is to learn to apply this principle in our walk and in all of our judgments of people, actions, events and situations.

1Co 4:6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think [of men] above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

When we think above what is written we will get puffed up and will soon find ourselves doing what the adversary does which is being an accuser of the brethren.

As we grow, we learn to apply all things being for our sakes.  We may not outwardly receive the chastening with joy but our inward man will receive it and we will grow in our ability to endure the trials the Lord has put before us in this age.

Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

Heb 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

Mal 3:3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

The new man “Christ in us” will be called out of the darkness that is the old man.  Look at this verse again and notice why all things are for our sakes as God’s Elect and where are eyes are to be focused.

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

2Co 4:16  For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

2Co 4:17  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

2Co 4:18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

The grace of God that is poured out upon His Elect comes back to God with thanksgiving and praises to the Lord.  This is what occurs as we become mature men and the will of the Lord is being accomplished in our life more and more.  This is the will of God for all men….

1Th 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

1Th 4:4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;

1Th 4:5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:

When these things happen, the Lord will get all the glory and we will learn to rejoice in our trials knowing they are what is working the fruit of righteousness in us and accomplishing the Lord’s will in our lives.  We must learn to be patient and to wait on the Lord to bring it to pass.

Heb 12:11 Now no chastening (Grace) for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Relatively speaking our trials are considered a light affliction considering the honor we are being prepared in service to our Lord, if we endure.

Isa 54:7 For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.
Isa 54:8 In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.

 In the same way Jesus Christ in the flesh cried out to God and His Father while on the cross, we too if we God’s Elect feel the same at times.  And this is why we must be connected to the Body and be ministered to and strengthened by the angels of the Lord through our trials.

We can’t be reminded often enough of the sovereignty of the Lord and the endless extent to which it applies.  It takes many repetitions to drill this truth into the fiber of our every thought and action.  The sermon on Mars Hill defined the limitless boundaries of the Lord in the affairs of mankind.

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

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

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

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

All things that happen in our lives, ALL THINGS, are the direct work of the Lord.    Those things, be they good or evil have already been determined by God and He has already declared what shall be from the very beginning.  We know but forget to apply these powerful Scriptures in a carnal and immature way. The sooner we get them into our walk and not just head knowledge the quicker the fruit will come.

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

Isa 64:8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

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

Our natural mind only wants to give the Lord credit (and the glory) for the good things that happen.  Even knowing the truth of His sovereignty our carnal mind will want to blame ourselves and others for their actions.  While we certainly have to learn from our mistakes the fact is the Lord is working all things, even the dark things when they happen.

Psa 139:12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee

Lam 3:37 Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?

Lam 3:38 Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?

No man can enter into Christ (the temple) until they live through the judgments of the Lord against their flesh and carnal mind.  Contrary to the doctrines of man’s religion there is no other way in.  The redemption of the Lord’s people is with judgment.

Rev 15:8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

Isa 1:27 Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness.

Nobody’s unrighteousness is going to get a pass, there is no respect of persons with the Lord either.

Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

 So we learn the truth and are given the garment of salvation by experiencing that judgment.

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

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.

 Judgment is us being crucified, a living sacrifice and losing our life through the death of the old man.  Yes it hurts, it is very painful to be crucified with Christ.  Yet if we are given faith to believe we can say this about the judgment of God.

Psa 19:9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

Psa 19:10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

The new man is being saved by the destruction of the old man within us.  Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God and was never intended to (1 Cor 15:50).  The Lord is merciful in that He only gives us to understand things when we are also given to bear them (Joh 14:12, 1 Co 10:13).  It is only as we mature that the Lord will give us greater understanding of His processes and truths.  With that understanding comes a greater expectation.

Luk 12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

The grace of God will be dialed up perfectly for us to bring the trials and tribulations preordained for each of us to enter into the kingdom of God and be in that first resurrection Lord willing.  Here is just a small sampling of treasures from the old and the new that confirm this wonderful work of trials and suffering in our lives. This is also known as the wonderful works of the Lord to the children of men.

Act 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and thatwe must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom 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;

1Pe 4:12-13  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

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

Jas 1:2-4  My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

The Lord is going to work all things in your life to bring about the tribulation, suffering, fiery trials and heat that furnace of affliction to the perfect temperature.  I hope all of us will grow in the knowledge of the Lord’s grace and move on to maturity.  This comes about by experiencing good and evil and learning the lesson and true righteousness of the Lord through that process.  I hope this study has reminded us all to stand on our faith and the word of God in discerning the truth of any situation and that the Lord has caused that situation for your very sake.  How we respond to these situation and circumstances is the best measure of our maturity rather than our head knowledge of Scriptures.

Rom 2:13 For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

What should our response to be to these “works of the Lord” in our lives?  We could write pages to answer that, but let me just share Paul’s words to the Philippians to summarize it.

Php 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

Php 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

Php 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Comments and sincere questions are welcome.  You can also email me at peterjwilson56@gmail.com

Articles

The First and Last: The Alpha and the Omega

Pete

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

All things are of God is a most important spiritual pillar that is so often spoken about on this blog and believed by so precious few.  This includes everything, the good, the bad, the dark, the light, even our very sins without any exceptions.

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

So few are given to know this and brought into this inheritance in this life in these clay vessels.  But it does not change the immutable truth of who the Lord is and what He is doing in the lives of men.

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

Jesus is the beginning and the end.  Sure He created all things thru the power God gave to Him and it is Him who hold all things together.  These verses cannot be shown enough, if only people could believe them.

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.

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

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.

Yet these profound words of Scripture about “ALL THINGS” and the  Lord being the Alpha and Omega are far larger and profound than anyone yet carnal can comprehend, until their eyes are opened to see.

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

What this verse and many others like it say for those who can believe, is that all things that happen and that anyone does are from the Lord.  Jesus Christ is the first and the last, the beginning and the end.  But do you know that all men are first Adam and then the Lord from heaven?  Did you know that first comes the man of sinful flesh thru Christ and then comes the new man thru Christ? Don’t you know that flesh and blood was never intended to inherit the kingdom of God and cannot?

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

First the natural than the spiritual.  But all things in between, THE ALPHA and the OMEGA, are still all IN CHRIST. 

Paul’s words describe this macro truth and giant pillar that if you are given too see it and believe it will open up giant doors in your heaven to receive the truth and grow in knowledge of the Lord.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So all men will go thru this process, it only matters the times appointed before hand.  You see all things have been written in our books of life before there were any such days.  That is simply how powerful God Almighty is and the carnal mind just cannot accept these truths.  But God’s Elect will simply stick with the Scriptures that sayeth this:

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

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

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

And yes this includes our initial marred in the flesh, rebellious and sinful state.  There are no exclusions to God’s sovereignty despite what our carnal minds might want to believe.

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

Here is the vision of what God the potter is making and the process He has ordained for it. Contrary to Babylon folklore, man did not fall in the garden, but instead was created in bodies of sinful flesh on purpose.  And this is how ALL ISRAEL shall be saved in the end!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

The New testament says the same thing, God’s plan never changed.  So much for the lie about the fall of mankind, it sure seems to say we were created marred ON PURPOSE!!!!!  That is Christ’s work in us.

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

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

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

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

Nobody has arrived in these clay vessels.  We all wait but God’s Elect, the firstfruits will understand these things and earnestly be praying for the hastening of the Lord’s work in us.  A down payment or earnest of the Spirit is awesome but we wait for the fullness of the purchased possession in our new spiritual bodies.

Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

God first gives us this experience of evil on purpose.  We have to learn good and evil and recent posts such as Who Is The Author of Evil  and I Make All Things New have spoken on those topics at length.

In God’s higher ways, our own wickedness is used to correct us in due time.  But make no mistake, this is all HIS work in us, we have nothing to do with it.  He is the alpha and the omega in our lives and the lives of every human being that has or will ever exists.

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

Via the process of judgment we will learn good and evil and be taught the righteousness that is only found in Christ.

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

And here is a great verse rarely seen or believed by the carnal minds of those in Babylon who cling to their strong delusion of eternal torment and free will of men.

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

The fact is that everything we do is IN CHRIST.  He is the first and the last, the beginning and the end; he is the alpha and the omega.  Even the bad stuff that is cut off is IN CHRIST.  Still don’t believe?  What sayeth the Lord?

Joh 15:2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

Joh 15:5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Paul tells us this also, in this very profound and enlightening Scripture. The Lord is not coming in behind us cleaning up our messes, He is working all things for the counsel of His will.

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.

Knowing that all things that happen are not some coincidence or strange happenstance but are for the sakes of God’s very Elect is a mind blowing truth.  As we grow we can begin to look behind in our walk and see how the Lord has done these things to us.  I have suffered much of late, been stripped of many things but all those things were done for the sake of the new Peter and Christ in me to grow and for the old man Pete to die.  Even the suffering, especially the trials and the suffering.

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

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

As we begin to grow in the truth, we will finally come to understand this truth and why we should work out our own salvation with fear and not be murmuring and disputing with the carnally minded.

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 (NOT YOUR FREE WILL) which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Php 2:14  Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

It is coming to believe and not doubt this truth  — that Christ is the first and the last and all points in between that is spiritual maturity.  We have to be brought to our wits end with our sins and be taught that of our own striving we cannot and will not conquer anything.  We are all first fools and incapable of stopping our sinning despite the outwardly clean cups we remain full of death with uncircumcised hearts.  But then the Lord comes to bring judgment and destroy that beast within us all.

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

Psa 107:18  Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat (true doctrines) ; and they draw near unto the gates of death (believing false doctrines and lies such as eternal torment and free will)

Psa 107:19  Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses (when they come to see they are truly a beast and nothing good dwells in their flesh, etc)

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

This process begins IN CHRIST when we see and when we as the reader understand who and what is the abomination of desolation.

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

Once that happens then the victory will come little by little.  This is the Lord’s work in us to bring salvation and give us deliverance.  It will only take place if we are brought to Mt. Zion with spiritually speaking means into His Body.  We all will live the experience of thinking this is all up to us yet we will miserably fail. This is part of what living by every word of the Lord means.  Yet in our day of judgment, if that day has come in this age, we will learn otherwise.

Psa 107:23  They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters (CARNAL WORKS, FLESH)

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

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

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

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

Psa 107:28  Then (when they see they are the beast, the abomination, in need of repentance, need a physician……THEN) they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.

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

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

We all must be dragged to Christ.  He brings us into the desired haven, we would never make such a free will decision of our own choosing.  The real Jesus is a rock of offense and a stumbling block and we will esteem HIM NOT when we are yet carnal and devoid of ears to hear and eyes to see.

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.

Revealing the antiChrist

We are all antiChrist’s when we go around believing and denying that the Lord is working all things for the counsel of His will.  We deny Jesus Christ with such carnal blasphemies.  It is the spirit of self righteousness, lying spirits that all seduce us at first.  These are the lies and false doctrines taught and believed by billions in orthodox Christianity.  Lord willing we will learn to try those spirits and our own thoughts against what the WORD says to sort out the truth from the lies.

 1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

The spirit that says Jesus Christ was not first and is not the very beginning of our lives and all points in between, the good, the bad, the sins, the stumbling, the falling into lusts and pride, etc………… IS THE LIAR.  Such a spirit denies Jesus Christ, is not from God, and will keep us in bondage and spiritually blind.  This spirit will claim God has nothing to do with our sins and those are free will decisions we ourselves make.  Those spirits, thoughts and doctrines are not from God, they are from the enemy (tares of the field) that the Lord has put there to guard the way to the tree of life.

 1Jn 4:2  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

This verse has nothing to do with anyone speaking physically that Jesus Christ came 2,000 years ago in the flesh.  It has a much greater spiritual depth and intended meaning and is speaking about Jesus Christ HIS BODY that lives in each generation and is His Elect.

Eph 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

It is only when we are given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God (the land within us) that we will be able to bow before the Lord knowing He is working all things after the counsel of His will.  Then we will come to understand what working out our own salvation with fear and trembling means, knowing it is GOD and not us that works in us to will and to way according to His good pleasure (not our delusion of free will).  And here ladies and gentlemen is an easy way to spot the deceiver in ourselves and in those that claim to know the Lord but do not.

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

Those that are truly of God will have been given ears to hear this truth and eyes to see it in the Scriptures.  It is everywhere when your eyes are opened.  Here is how we will know who is in the truth and who is not in the truth and that is whether or not our words as God’s Elect are received by those who hear us.

1Jn 4:6  We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

The Lord is the one who first makes our paths crooked and then in due time comes to straighten them out.  He is doing it all, the first and the last and all points in between in our lives in these vessels of clay.  If you are so blessed to be His anointed, to be His Very Elect then these words apply to you.

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

See that it is the Lord doing it all.  He holds our right hand (we are His workmanship, mere clay), He subdues kings (sins in our lives, false doctrines we believe), He opens the doors and gates into His Body and in our heaven and gives us ears to hear and eyes to see as His Two Witnesses.  And no delusion of free will or anything else is going to change that, the gates shall not be shut, His word will not fail to accomplish what is has been sent to do.

If we are Cyrus in this age, then the Lord will go before us to make our formerly crooked paths straight.  He will break all the flesh gates and carnal thoughts that have held us back and kept us in bondage in Babylon.

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

We will come to know He is the Lord when He brings judgment upon us and pours out His wrath on our carnal lusts and desires of the old man.  All things in our lives will be brought into this marvelous light.

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

We will be dragged to Christ and His name will be written on our mind (forehead).  He is doing this to His Elect only in this age, the true Israel of God that Christ has chosen before the world was even formed.

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

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

We will learn by abiding in this fire that is Christ, that there is nothing that happens that is not the Lord doing it.  He truly is the alpha and the omega and we will come to know this with every fiber of our being in due time as we mature in the true faith of God.  We will learn a new appreciation for what Lord means and the completeness of what sovereignty really means.  Apart from Him doing it, we ourselves can do nothing and are in fact clay in the Potter’s hands.

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

We will be able to speak and show others that it was not them, but the Lord who caused all those pains and evils in their lives and they will see and believe verses such as this.

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

And when a door to our inner heavens is opened to these truths, then the pure doctrine will fall from the sky and come to our earth and the crops and fruit of the Lord will begin to blossom within us which is the righteousness of the saints.

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

When we continue to strive and not cease from our own carnal works, we will be judged.  That pothsherd (carnal mind) will be destroyed in time and we will no longer believe in any way shape or form the lie of free will that so deludes the masses of mankind.

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

Jesus is the first and the last.  He is both darkness and light.  He is everything.

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

The salvation of all men is to come.  It only awaits the timing God has already determined.  All things are of the Lord.  I trust this has given some some issues to ponder about the deep meanings of the word of God.

1Co 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him (His Elect).
1Co 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

Questions or comments can be made here or sent to me via email at peterjwilson56@gmail.com

Your brother in Christ,

Pete

Articles

Feeling Unworthy of God’s Choosing

Pete

I received a question from someone God is working with and opening ears to hear the truth.  This man asked a very good question which I repeat here along with my answer to him.  I hope this will edify others as this is a very common question, one I myself asked for a long time as I was slowly dragged into the truth.

QUESTION:  I just do not feel worthy or that I can be God’s Elect.  I am still struggling with some sin and I can’t seem to overcome it.  Why would God choose me to be His witness and representative here on the earth when I have not overcome these sins.

ANSWER:  Thank you for this question.   This is a logical thought we all will ask ourselves as we are dragged to Christ.   Having the breadth and depth of our sinful nature shown to us, is part of the process God has ordained that brings salvation in due time.  I hope I can show some of that to you here in my reply.  Let’s start out by remembering that all flesh is sin and that all of us come into this world in a marred vessel of clay and that vessel will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Mar 10:18And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

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

Not even Christ said He was good in a body of sinful flesh.  The fact is there is  no one who is good, no one not even one!!!!

Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
Rom 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Being chosen of God means we will be the first to be judged.  Judgment begins at the House of God, the very Elect and this is bad news for the old man but good news for the new man.  This process of judgment requires that our  sinful nature and totally wretched being as carnal men walking in marred vessels of clay be exposed to us.  God has a unique way of using evil for good and using our sinful nature to draw us close to Him.

Pro 24:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

The Elect of God will always question their worthiness to be God’s elect.  The very sins that have beset us will cause us to think we are not worthy and this is true, we are not worthy.  Yet being God’s elect has nothing to do with our own righteousness and none of it is based on merit of any kind.  Being God’s Elect is solely based on God’s choosing us before the world was made.  Being God’s Elect is based on the will of God and what He declared from the very beginning.   God is not counting on or depending upon anything from any man.

Isa 46:9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,
Isa 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

A second major point is to remember that no man is justified by our own works, or by our obedience.  All is of faith and that too is a gift from God that we can do nothing to earn or merit.

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.

Justified By Faith Not Works

And we have clear Scriptures that tell us it is not about us, it is all the work of God in us by this gift of faith.  Yet few really believe.

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

Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Rom 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
Rom 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

The righteous shall walk by faith and not by sight.  The only way anyone is going to be righteous in a sinful body of flesh is by them being implanted the precious gift of faith of Christ.  This is given only to the very Elect that were chosen before the world was formed.

Isa 49:1 Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.

So nobody anywhere is going to be justified by their obedience and outward appearance of holiness. Yet we see multitudes preaching a holiness message that don’t have one iota of truth in them.  They know not even what salvation means much less what faith and grace are and therefore know another jesus and have a different gospel.

We Are Clay In The Potter’s Hands

All of those called by God thru Christ and chosen to be servants and prophet or disciples did not feel worthy.  We could recount numerous stories here that impart of this message but I will show two that reaffirm the thoughts you have shared of feeling unworthy to be God’s Elect are simply words we as His Elect will live by.  Isaiah when brought into the throne room immediately felt unworthy.

Isa 6:5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
Isa 6:6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:
Isa 6:7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.

But you see, the fire of God’s word, which we hear by faith and believe by faith is what purges us of all sin.  Moses also when called and given his commission was not worthy in his mind.

Exo 4:10  And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.

And the Lord answered telling us that He is working all things as the Potter.  He has made us who we are.

Exo 4:11  And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?

And the Scriptures declare that God’s ways are not our ways (ISA 55) and that those He chooses confounds the wisdom of the wise men who walk after the flesh.  God is not going to pick witnesses and servants that conform to the wisdom of this world.  He picked me which is just as dumb to the world’s view and God picking a man like Moses or a wicked man like Saul of Tarsus.  But pick me He did which simply confounds the wisdom of the world and the carnal mind.

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:

and why is that V______________?  Here is why.

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

Being chosen of God and being given ears to hear the true gospel is not based on merit.  It is based as you know on God’s choosing, Him having predestinated a chosen few to know the truth in this life in the flesh.

Eph 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Eph 1:5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

God is Working Even the bad things

The battle we all have against sin is a battle that is given to us by God.  He has worked those sins and trials and temptations into our lives.  He is the Potter, we are the clay.  Of course we are not to take the truth of God’s sovereignty and turn it into a license to sin.   But also you must come to understand and to believe that God is working all things in your life, even the bad things, even the wicked things.

Pro 16:4  The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

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

Lam 3:37-38   Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not? Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?

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

So knowing this, I hope God will give you the ability to apply these words inwardly.  The evil in the city is not just the evil out there in the world,  it is the evil in there, in the cities and nations that make up the kingdom of God within you and me.

We don’t harden our own hearts based on our own initiative.  God does!!!  We of ourselves like Christ can do nothing on our own initiative and that includes both good and evil things.  The Potter works us the clay.

Rom 9:15  For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

Rom 9:16  So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

Rom 9:17  For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

Rom 9:18  Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

Yet salvation is a process.  Many are called and only a very few are even given to be judged in this life and to have salvation come to them now while still in these marred vessels of clay.  Salvation comes to us only by the process of judgment against our old man and carnal nature.  It is good news for the new man but affliction and great sorrow to the old man, but it is the way of the Lord.

1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

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

Rev 15:8  And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

There is a time and season for everything in our lives as God teaches us and molds us via HIS process.

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

Ecc 3:2  A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

Ecc 3:3  A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

Ecc 3:4  A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

Ecc 3:5  A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

Ecc 3:6  A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

Ecc 3:7  A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

Ecc 3:8  A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

These various times and seasons include us being overcome and snared into deep besetting sins.  This is part of God’s way of humbling us and showing us that of ourselves we can do no good thing.   The storms and trials of live are raised up by God and also calmed by God.  He must bring us to our wits end, where we will give up on the flesh to save ourselves and have no place to go but to cry out to Him.

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

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

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

Psa 107:28  Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.

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

So please do not abuse the truth and sit back and relax and accept your sin.  But know that it is the Lord doing it all.

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

Isa 64:8  But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

Salvation is a two step process. Flesh and blood was never intended to enter the kingdom of God.  The old sinful man, God created on purpose will be destroyed in His time and that is how the new man will come forth.

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

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

Being Aware of Our Sin is a BLESSING!!!

The fact that you feel unworthy and are aware of your sin is a very good thing V______.  That is truly a work of grace in your life and you are very blessed.  Consider here who is marked for God.

Eze 9:4  And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.

Eze 9:5  And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:

Eze 9:6  Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.

Eze 9:7  And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city.

When we are made aware of our sins and made to feel horrible about them, this too is all the work of God.  He is bringing us to our wits end as we saw in Psalm 107 above.  He must bring us to a place where we will have NO CONFIDENCE in our flesh and will have to be 100% reliant upon God for our salvation.  That is the way it works V___________.  But please do not make the mistake others make that get this truth, and they in turn turn the grace of God into lasciviousness.   We must make every effort and attempt to depart from inequity.

2Ti 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

The old man will be slain by the judgment of God and the new man will be spared and raised up in power.  That is the good news, the process of God bringing salvation to us.  Christ spoke about this often and a key milestone of the process of salvation is the Lord revealing to us that we (the beast, the carnal man) is the abomination that is causing desolation in the temple of God.  God has to first show us this…..WHEN YOU SEE said Christ, oh what a blessing your new man is in for.

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

Mat 24:16  Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:

This is the same thing Paul wrote about here.  Salvation does not come until first we fall away from our first love (get ensnared into sin) and then the man of sin (you and me, all men) is revealed to us.

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; (YOU AND ME,  all men are that man of sin)

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.

2Th 2:5  Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

The Scriptures tell us that we are both the old man and the new man.  We are raised first in sinful bodies (marred in the hands of the potter) and then if we are so blessed in this life as God’s Elect, then the Lord begins destroying that old sinful man by opening our ears to hear His words.  It is hearing those words that brings judgment and which over time destroys the old man.  Remember it is a process.

1Co 15:42  So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

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

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

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

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

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

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

1Co 15:49  And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

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

Getting Giants Off the Land

I mentioned to you in our chat that God does not deliver us of our sins all at once.  It is a process.  Getting the giants off the land takes time.  God delivers us little by little as we grow in faith and knowledge of Christ and His grace.

Exo 23:27  I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee.

Exo 23:28  And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee.

Exo 23:29  I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee.

Exo 23:30  By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land.

Again we see this in Deuteronomy:

Deu 7:19  The great temptations which thine eyes saw, and the signs, and the wonders, and the mighty hand, and the stretched out arm, whereby the LORD thy God brought thee out: so shall the LORD thy God do unto all the people of whom thou art afraid.

Deu 7:20  Moreover the LORD thy God will send the hornet among them, until they that are left, and hide themselves from thee, be destroyed.

Deu 7:21  Thou shalt not be affrighted at them: for the LORD thy God is among you, a mighty God and terrible.

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

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

All men will be saved by fire in our appointed times.  That fire is the word of God which will work its purposes in our lives.

1Co 3:15  If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Overcoming the law of Sin God put into us

All men will struggle in overcoming the flesh. It can only be done by the power of God.  And it will be done in the times appointed us by God.  Listen to Paul and heed these words.  Twice Paul tells us what is causing us to sin.

Rom 7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
Rom 7:16  If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that [it is] good.
Rom 7:17  Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

Rom 7:18  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not.
Rom 7:19  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Rom 7:20  Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:21  I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

Who put that law of sin and death in us?  God did.  there is only one lawgiver says James.   It is God who has made us subject to the law that causes us to sin when we would do otherwise. The fact that we have no free will is as applicable to our sins as it is to our righteousness. Both are the work of God in and through us.

Yes, we must repent of our sins, but ‘repent’ means ‘to change,’ and we are not repenting of doing things of ourselves. Even our repentance is the work of God in our lives. We simply change from doing the wrong thing to doing the right thing, and both are all of God. The apostle Paul actually separates himself from the law of sin and death, and acknowledges God’s sovereignty in all things. “All things” certainly includes our sins.

Be patient V_______,  Trust in the Lord.  So now you should have a much better understanding of the depth of this verse:

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

So be sober, and be vigilant, but also be patient. You are being delivered from the sin in your life, but it is taking place on God’s schedule.

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

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

We shall be delivered by the Lord in the appointed times.  BELIEVE this gospel!  Believe in the report of Isaiah and the salvation of all men.

Your brother who is dealing with the same issues in being molded into the image of Christ,

PETE

Articles

Christ Builds His Church

Pete

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

If we are God’s Elect, we are the temple of God and collectively as the body of Christ represent a spiritual house that performs the work of the Lord.  The building of the house of God is serious business and one we have many examples in type and shadow throughout the Old Testament.  Those examples contain some profound wisdom for God’s Elect who have ears to hear the truth of this word.

A common error the ministers in Babylon have a hard time getting beyond, is coming to the understanding that the Lord Himself builds His House and He does not need man to build it for Him.  Jesus Christ is not only the foundation of the House but He is also the builder. This carnal misunderstanding leads all of us while we are in Babylon to go along with false doctrine of man having free will. We will believe and some rather passionately that that it is up to those called of God to go warn others that the only way to avoid “eternity in hell” is for them to choose Christ and then using their free will to stop sinning.   That basic lie is gigantic in its error and permeates all of orthodox Christianity.

Mat 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Virtually everyone has heard the above Scripture, that Jesus will build His church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.    Yet the belief that man has free will and it is up to them to choose Christ directly contradicts these words and are a stumbling block that very few are given to get beyond.  The principle that the sum of God’s word is truth, if we can apply it, will keep us in the truth which is determined by the whole counsel of God.  Christ does build the church by appearing a second time for salvation without sin within the hearts and minds of His Elect.

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.

The Elect, the bride of Christ are given to Him by the Father.  They were chosen before the world began and in the appointed times, the church is built by the process of the Elect being dragged to Christ.  It must be given to us even to understand this simple truth.

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

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

NO MAN means NO MAN, there is no room for debate.  If anyone comes to Jesus Christ, it was 100% an act of God and man had absolutely nothing to do with it.  I had a local minister of Babylon send me an article that depicted his personal beliefs about faith and salvation. The title of the article was “God’s role and Man’s role in Salvation”.  Stop right there!   The title alone gives this away instantly as another jesus and a false gospel because the clear truth is this:

Jon 2:9  Salvation is of the LORD.

Yet the details of this article profane the name of the Lord and pervert His truth with carnal doctrines.  It is truly amazing to see the extent and completeness of the apostasy.  Here is an excerpt that denies the Lord which is what we all will do when we are blind but claim we see.  Lies are all over this little paragraph, there is zero truth in any sentence yet this is what billions of people believe.

Repentance and faith are not vicarious but are the free acts of men.  Men, with their own mind, heart, and will must renounce sin and receive Christ.  God doesn’t repent and believe for us~we repent and believe.  Turning from sin and reaching out in faith to Christ are the acts of man, and every man who so responds to the gospel call does so because he honestly desires to do so.  He wants to be forgiven and he can only be forgiven by repenting and believing.  No one, including God, can turn from sin for us, we must do it.  No one can trust Christ “in our place,” we must personally, knowingly, and willingly trust Him in order to be saved.

Wow, amazing what the delusion of free will can do to the truth!  We have to save ourselves they believe or else we will burn in eternal hell.  What a puny pathetic, not all powerful God this man serves.  This God is at the whim of a piece of clay to save himself.  What a bunch of lies these words represent.  This may sound right to the flesh but it is another jesus.  We can’t decide to believe on our own, FAITH IS A GIFT.  We don’t decide of our free will, Repentance must be granted/given to God’s Elect (Israel).  Any obedience is all the work of the Lord, HE CAUSES it, it has nothing to do with the carnal mind’s delusion of free will.

Act 5:31 Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, TO GIVE repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

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

Eze 36:27  And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

Rom 9:15-16 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.  So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

The immutable truth of the matter is that Christ builds the church on the Father’s timeline.  He will not fail and He will lose none.

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

Joh 6:39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

Babylonian doctrine greatly diminishes the Lord and puts themselves and the flesh of men in the position of saving themselves.  In their doctrine, Christ loses very many and most people will burn in eternal punishment.  So utterly silly to see the things we used to believe after the Lord has mercy and opens our eyes to see the truth.  Oh thank God for the wonderful works of God to the children of men!

Old Testament References

The truth of God’s plan is shown throughout Scriptures.  We can bring out the treasure from both the old and the new.  We can see that in every case of Israel going to build the house for the Lord, the prerequisite in all cases was the Lord stirring up their spirits.

Hag 1:14  So the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God,

There is no room for free will in any of this.  It is the Lord’s work.  He stirs up our spirits and that is what leads us to Him and to work in building His House.  The story is consistent, the truth changes not.  Here we have the Israelite s (type for God’s Elect) being stirred up and being MADE WILLING to build the House for God.

Exo 35:21  And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the LORD’S offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments.

There are very many witnesses to this immutable truth that the LORD raises people’s spirits to go to work to build His true house.  Here we see who left Babylon to go back to build the Temple, this of course being type and shadow for God calling His Elect out of Babylon today.

Ezr 1:5  Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all them whose spirit God had raised, to go up to build the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem.

Jesus Christ builds His church.  Flesh shall have nothing to do with building the house of God.  These verses are never the subject of any sermon or if they are, they truth is overlooked and the flocks are mislead with the inference of free will. The truth is simply that, that the Lord will build His house.  I heard a sermon last week where the minister read the Haggai verses then went on to falsely state, contrary to the Scriptures, that these people decided themselves to begin obeying God and because of their decision, then the Lord began to use them to build His house.  There is no truth in that theology, it is a lie plain and simple.  Jesus Christ builds His church just as He said.  The potter does not wait for the piece of clay to choose God.  Christ said YOU DID NOT CHOOSE ME, I chose you.

Joh 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you

And so it is with how the house of God is built. The living stones are made and sent forth ALL, 100% by the working of the Lord.  It depends not on anything a man does.  Christ is not counting on us for anything, HE IS WORKING ALL THINGS!!!

Men Toil In Vain in Babylon

Psa 127:1   Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain.

There is an awful lot of labor in vain going on in the name of Jesus Christ.  The strong delusion is the belief that men have free will.  They have no such thing and it is carnal minded men, that walk in the flesh that will continue to pick and choose verse to support their false doctrines.  This of course is all of us, you, me, them, all men as the Lord brings us all into this world spiritually blind and only for the few does He have mercy and open their eyes.  So those God has blinded He has blinded and it is thru no fault of anyone, it is simply the Lord’s will.

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

If only we could be learned to apply the sum of God’s word is truth, we would see the truth of the Lord building His church everywhere.  FLESH SHALL HAVE NO PART IN IT says the Scripture:

Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Joh 1:13  Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Which is the same message as this from the Old Testament.

Exo 20:25  And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.

Man has polluted it by raising up its hands and its desires of its own choosing, not of the Lord to build His house.  This is the toil that will be in vain and those works shall be burned up in the end.  To restate, the words of Christ make it perfectly clear who builds the church and that no man has any ability to come to Him on their own initiative.  It is everywhere once your eyes are opened to it.  Apart from Christ we can nothing includes coming to Him.  Man does not choose God.

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

Joh 15:5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. (including making a decision to come to Christ or to follow Him).

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

Paul said the same thing too, the bible is totally consistent.

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

Php 2:13 For it is God (NOT YOU OR ME) which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Rom 9:16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

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

We are even told, the OLD TESTAMENT and ALL THOSE STORIES were not even written for the flesh jews, they were written for God’s very Elect.  They are not history lessons, they are spiritual lessons that each of us will live in our appointed times.  We will live by every word God spoke and He spoke those words too.

1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

1Pe 1:12  Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

So Christ has been building the church since Pentecost.  It is only a very small remnant in each generation that are being dragged to Christ.  These are the few chosen out of the many called.  The rock that is Christ will fall upon them and their old man and carnal mind will be grinded to powder.

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.

That is the way of salvation, coming thru the righteous judgment of God against our old man.  This is a gigantic verse if one is given the ability to truly understand it.

Rev 15:8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

So the living stones that make up the church of Jesus Christ have all been chosen since before the world began.

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

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

We are precious and quite few, the apple of the Lord’s eye.  The church of Jesus Christ means ekklessia or called out ones.  We are truly aliens and strangers in a foreign land and will not fit in with this world because we have been chosen out of it.  This is all the work of the Lord and we had nothing to do with it.

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

The Body of Christ in Operation

Jesus Christ build the church through HIS Christ, His body.  God’s Elect, the few in number will speak His words to those other few that the Lord has prepared their heart and opened their ears.  When the words of eternal life are heard with spiritual ears, the house of the Lord begins to be constructed within.  Here are some verses that speak of the Lord building His church be sending forth His Body,  His disciples to speak His word to hearts He has prepared to hear.

Psa 10:17  LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear

Jer 5:14 Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.

Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

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

This article has conveyed the truth of God’s word and shown that GOD and not man is the one who works all matters of salvation.  There is NO EXCEPTION.  Faith, repentance, all of it is given to men from the Father of Spirits.  Anyone who is building the house of the Lord was stirred up in advance to do so by the Master Potter.  The Lord gives us our very desires of our hearts.  He is in control of that, not us.

God needs nothing from man, He is not cleaning up after man, He is causing all things that happen.  His will is being done in everyone’s life every single day.  That is a truth that the carnal mind cannot accept yet it is foretold throughout the Scriptures for those with ears to hear.  I hope you have ears and can receive this truth and if you are in Babylon, will hear the voice to come out of her my people.

Mat 13:9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Mat 13:10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
Mat 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

Sincere comments or questions can be emailed to me at peterjwilson56@gmail.com

Your brother in the Christ sharing the truth with joy,

Pete