Tag: rejection

Studies

Blessed is the Man of God

Rohnel

Rejoice in the Blessings Making us New

Rohnel and Peter, the servants of Jesus Christ, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.

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

Rom 15:6  That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

2Sa 22:47  The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation. 

Keep My Commandments  

Jer 7:23  But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you. 

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

Blessed is the Man

As Christ’s chosen people, we are being blessed with innumerable spiritual blessings that further the Lord’s work in bringing salvation from our sins. As the Israel of God, we are blessed far beyond what we first know. Reminding ourselves of these many blessings is the focus of this study. Blessings are poured out when we are given to know the joyful sound of the Gospel we have heard and which we now strive to walk therein in the light thereof.

Psa 89:15  Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.

We become the blessed of God by receiving many blessings from the hand of the  Lord. The Lord teaches His disciples from the mount by speaking the Commandments of the Father, known as the Gospel of Good News. When we receive these words, we are blessed and chosen to receive a multitude of blessings. Here are some Commandments and fruits of the Spirit that the blessed people of God exhibit.

Mat 5:1  And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 

Mat 5:2  And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, 

Mat 5:3  Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Mat 5:4  Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 

Mat 5:5  Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 

Mat 5:6  Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 

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

Mat 5:8  Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 

Mat 5:9  Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 

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. 

Our flesh, the natural man within us, never appreciates the Lord’s blessings that bring forth a new man in the image of the Commandments. It is through these various blessings that we are being made holy and blameless.

Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

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:

The Living Christ blesses us by making His abode in us and feeding us the Bread of Life, the Commandments, which save us from sin.

Psa 132:13  For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. 

Psa 132:14  This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it. 

Psa 132:15  I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread. 

As Job experienced, the blessed of God encounter miserable, carnally minded comforters within and without, telling us we are anything but blessed because of the seemingly endless trials and afflictions we endure. Walking by faith and not by sight, the Lord’s people ignore the wisdom of the world within and without and rather stand on the Promises of Christ, which is the power of God that is the Commandments. The Lord’s Commandments are wisdom and understanding brought to those chosen to see, hear, and understand the mystery of the Gospel in every age. Solomon, as a type of God’s Elect, is granted wisdom and knowledge to judge the nations [thoughts]. Only the Commandments of Christ bring true riches, wealth, and honour. Think spiritually about every word in the Scriptures. After faith comes, wisdom and understanding are given to us.

1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

1Co 1:19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

2Ch 1:11  And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king: 

2Ch 1:12  Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like. 

The true blessings of God are the experiences that mould and reshape us into a holy and set-apart people, being remade into His likeness. It is always a fiery process that begins when judgment has fallen upon the house of God. As we grow in maturity, we, at times, grow weary and do not feel blessed; thus, we need to be reminded often of what the Lord is working in us through affliction. It is through difficult trials that we learn to walk by faith, leaning on the comfort of our faith and the treasure and power that are the Living Commandments. These words do not read like blessings, but they are the greatest blessings we have ever received.

2Co 4:7  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 

2Co 4:8  We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 

2Co 4:9  Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 

2Co 1:9  But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: 

Maturing on the Lord’s timeline, we learn to be thankful for everything, knowing we are reaping the blessings of God. The faith of Christ, that is to say, the Father’s Commandments, is what keeps us safe and protected from the snares of the devil.

Eph 5:20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

When the Lord has mercy and opens our spiritual eyes and ears to His Gospel, the Commandments, our blessings have only begun.

Mat 13:16  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 

Mat 13:17  For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

The revelation of Christ within us comes when we are given spiritual eyes to hear the Living Christ and thus begin to fulfill the prophecies of the Book. When the Lord comes into our lives and begins to work His work in us, which is to raise us from spiritual death, the time is henceforth at hand, and we are now blessed above all the peoples of the earth as we are being made holy in His image.

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.

Rev 22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

Deu 7:6  For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. 

With eyes now open to see the Commandments, the blessings of God are all about our sanctification, which is God’s will. We are sanctified and blessed when we are cleansed of all things that defile, being washed by the water of the Commandments, which is preparing us to receive the Spirit of Christ into our hearts.

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

It is the Lord’s work to accomplish this, as our hearts are circumcised by the Commandments that are the living Christ. A circumcised heart is a clean heart that has been washed by the Spirit of Christ that dwells in us.

Col 2:11  In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 

The Lord promises to hasten His work in us. To hasten means to speed up, to finish, to make short work upon the earth. We are the earth. The Lord rewards those who diligently seek Him. The more we come to the Commandments, the greater blessings we receive from the Lord, and His work in us is hastened.

Isa 60:21  Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified. 

Isa 60:22  A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in his time. 

Rom 9:28  For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. 

When the Lord comes for salvation, we are continually blessed as the Lord is always present with us. The Lord promises never to leave or forsake us. Christ, our able minister and high Priest, is always there to bless us and bring that which is lacking in our faith. The ways of Christ are never changing, even in our latter-day visitation, as the OT shadows declare.

Deu 4:30 When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the Lord thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice;

Deu 4:31 (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.

The Commandments we know and meditate about, and which live in our hearts and minds, is our Helper. We are blessed even as our flesh pines.

Heb 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 

Heb 13:6  So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. 

We are also blessed because the Lord hears and answers our prayers, made according to His will. In the Day of the Lord, we are being taught to pray for anything according to His will, and we shall receive it.

Psa 34:17  The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

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.

Christ blesses us richly as it brings about His will and glorifies God, the Father. We therefore have full assurance that He is providing what we ask for, not asking amiss, but asking rightly according to His will. The Lord deeply cares for us.

2Co 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

Psa 84:4  Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.

1Pe 5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

The blessings of being in Christ and in the Father are the exercising of our faith that, in time, enable us to stand through the trials, to have our faith proven, and see the remaking progress and the new temple of the Living God constructed. When we hearken unto the Lord’s Voice, many blessings are being poured out upon us. Here is the OT shadow of what is being said.

Deu 28:2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.

Deu 28:3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.

Deu 28:4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.

Deu 28:5 Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store. .

Deu 28:6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.

The Lord’s blessings are not what flesh desires. The blessings of God reserved for His chosen people in the Day of the Lord are to make them perfect. It is not about the flesh being profited when the Lord is guiding us towards life aionios, which is God, the Father, and Christ within us. We live by every word of God until all is fulfilled.

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

Mat 5:18  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 

Blessed are we when judgment comes to us by the mercy of God that has opened our eyes to the Gospel, visiting us with salvation. We rejoice and glory in our inheritance in the Spirit of Christ.

Psa 106:3  Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times. 
Psa 106:4  Remember me, O LORD, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation; 
Psa 106:5  That I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance. 

Christ’s purpose in saving us is not to make us comfortable in this world. Instead, He is calling us out of the world, within and without, to become a set-apart people unto Himself. Thus, it is through the faith of Christ given to us that we know the Lord’s plan and are glad. Blessing has come upon the house of God, and this requires enduring the chastening and affliction of our Heavenly Father as we are taught His Commands.

Psa 94:12  Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;

In judgment, the Lord brings temptations and trials and corrects us when we err and rewards us when we obey. In the same way a natural father loves and grows His children, so does our Lord. We come to rejoice and see our chastening and judgment as a blessing.

1Pe 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

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

Thinking of our trials as God, the Father, and Christ views them helps us identify and take captive an ungrateful, complaining spirit within ourselves. Who are the blessed people of God? To know this gives us a different perspective on our trials, which is the work of the Commandments, the rod of God that comforts the new man and destroys the old. The rod of God is the Comforter, the Living Commandments.

Psa 23:4  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 

Isa 40:1  Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.

Isa 40:2  Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD’S hand double for all her sins. 

When the Commandments come, we begin to eat the meat of the Gospel that is our understanding of the Father’s Commandments and ways, with gladness. Our heart is singularly focused on obeying the Lord and pleasing our Heavenly Father.

Act 2:46  And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 

The blessed people of God are the chosen few who come out of the many called in Christ’s name. Anyone blessed by God has become so not because of anything they do but solely because they have been chosen for salvation in this age. Christ causes us to dwell in His courts of judgment. It is in His house where spiritual fruit is being established, and we are being grown into the likeness of Christ.

Psa 65:4 Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.

Joh 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain …

We do not obey the Lord to get a reward; instead, our obedience and the blessing are because the Lord has chosen us to place His Commandments in our hearts and minds. The living Commandments are the cause of our obedience, and they come to us by the election of grace and none of our own works.

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

Rom 11:6  And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace.

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 . But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. 

The Lord puts the desire, the hunger to seek Him, and the zeal for His house into our hearts and minds. This zeal is the Commandments and is the blessing that IS come upon the remnant being saved in every age. The election by grace works to fill us with Christ’s righteousness in due time.

Mat 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Being loved by the world and being spoken well of by men is not a blessing. Following Christ means the world will hate and revile us, as they esteem not the Commandments. Blessed are we when we are spoken evil of and persecuted for righteousness’ sake, which means standing in the Commandments. Our blessing is to have the mind of Christ and the trials that this mind produces. Swift rejection and persecution upon the true sons of God, obeying Christ’s Commandments, who do not follow after the traditions of men, is to be expected. We learn to rejoice in this rejection and to see it as the confirmation of the Lord’s Presence and His Commandments at work in our lives.

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.

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. 

Psa 7:1  O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me: 

Being divided, separated from, and rejected by the carnal world within and without is a necessary blessing to become mature in Christ. This variance with others is to be expected, and we know it is our saving grace to be separated from the world.

Deu 33:16  And for the precious things of the earth and fulness thereof, and for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush: let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren. 

Deu 33:17  His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh. 

Mar 10:29  And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, 

Mar 10:30  But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. 

This isolation is painful at first, yet the sons of God rejoice when their worldly goods are plundered. Spiritually, this means that our so-called spiritual riches, without the Lord’s Commandments, are spoiled. The Lord destroys all when He comes with His Commandments that are the true knowledge of God. All of our knowledge without Christ and the idols of our hearts are spoiled and come to nothing. Read the parable of the rich young ruler in the Gospels.

Jer 2:13  For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. 

Jer 2:14  Is Israel a servant? is he a homeborn slave? why is he spoiled?

Jer 2:15  The young lions roared upon him, and yelled, and they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant. 

Mat 19:20  The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 

Mat 19:21  Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 

Php 3:8  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 

Being separated from the world, the sons of God are no longer partaking in the lusts of the flesh, which is the law of sin in our members. We become dead to these lusts and mortify them through the blessings of God, the Commandments we have received, and seek after. The Lord promises us the kingdom of Heaven, which is Christ in us, the Hope of Glory. “Sell that you have” are spiritual words meaning to seek and hold fast to the incorruptible treasure of God’s Commandments.

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

Luk 12:33  Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. 

The fear of the Lord is a profound blessing that is likened unto a treasure. We learn the fear of the Lord by the favor [grace] of the Lord, which is put upon us. The fear of the Lord is taught us by the Commandments we hearken unto that are judging us.

Psa 34:11  Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 

Where sin abounds, the living grace of God abounds even more. When grace has come, the wonderful work of the Lord to the children of men has come, and we are learning obedience by the things we are given to suffer.

Psa 112:1 Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.

Psa 112:2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.

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:

Fearing God is a blessing as it keeps us in subjection to the Commandments and empowers us to endure and suffer in our flesh until salvation comes.

1Pe 4:1  Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 

1Pe 4:2  That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 

Taught by our many trials and temptations, the fear of the Lord, that is to say, obedience to His Commandments, becomes our treasure. The Commandments and ur striving to keep them become our treasure and the purpose of our lives.

Isa 33:6 Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times, And the strength of salvation; The fear of the LORD is His treasure.

The blessings of God bring the Power of God, the Commandments, into our hearts, which keep the fear of God before us at all times. The result is eternal life IS to know the Father and Christ intimately, becoming one Spirit.

Joh 17:2  As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 

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

Our experience of evil is a blessing, and the Lord uses it to show us our sins and to turn our hearts back to the Commandments for salvation. Despite much suffering, we are trusting in the Lord who promises to bless the latter end with salvation of His people. We learn from Job’s evil experience that the end of the matter is better than the beginning for all of God’s people.

Ecc 1.3 CLV I applied my heart to inquiring and exploring by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens: it is an experience of evil Elohim has given to the sons of humanity to humble them by it.

Job 42:12  So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning:

Those to whom Christ chooses and raises from the dead become His Priests and Ministers who preach the Gospel. The walk of faith brings shame as all our sins are exposed by the light. For all the shame we endure, the Lord blesses us with a double portion, and we inherit the earth and obtain everlasting joy.

Isa 61:6  But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves. 

Isa 61:7  For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.

Isa 61:9  And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the LORD hath blessed.

Following Christ brings the blessing of God. We preach the true Gospel, and it is given back unto us. The man with ten talents was given even more because he was faithful with what he had been given [Matthew 25]. Christ rewards those who diligently seek Him and act upon their given measure of faith. We reap what we sow in obeying the Lord and are given even more of His Spirit.

Mat 25:29  For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 

Luk 6:38  Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. 

As our faith grows and overcoming increases, lasting spiritual fruit comes. We are learning patience and endurance, trusting in the Promises that are not yet manifest in our walk. Here is the due reward of the Lord’s blessings in the OT shadow:

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

The Holy Spirit that is the Living Christ is the blessing of living waters coming out of our bellies in our speech and our deeds.

Joh 7:38  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 

Joh 7:39  But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Spirit was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.

The blessing of God, the Spirit of Christ, and the Living Commandments are the pure river of water that brings life.  Now dwelling in us, His Temple, we shall always be yielding fruit when the Lord finishes the work in His chosen people.

Rev 22:1  And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 
Rev 22:2  In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

The blessed sons of God have their sins forgiven. Those of the spiritual household of faith grow in maturity to know that their sins are being forgiven. Those sins are part of His good work that is, was, and will be perfecting us in the latter times.

Jer 31:34  And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. 

Rom 4:7 Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

Rom 4:8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

Thus, the promises of the New Covenant are being fulfilled in our lives.

Heb 8:10  For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: 

Heb 8:12  For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. 

By orchestrating our mistakes and sins, the Lord is humbling us, turning our hearts to Him and teaching us to forgive others and to extend mercy to those who do us wrong, rather than wrath. The Lord teaches us to be merciful by showing us just how much mercy we ourselves need. To have mercy is to open blind eyes and deaf ears. Think spiritually.

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

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

Pursuers of peace are the blessed of God. We learn through the Commandments of Christ to become angels of peace, entering into the true Sabbath’s rest. When we do His Commandments, we pursue peace with all men and do not judge another man’s servant. Violence, the carnal reasoning of the accusing and excusing mindset, is no longer heard in the land. The Prince of Peace now rules, the Commandments IS our government and authority. Think spiritually.

Isa 60:18  Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise. 

Heb 12:14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:

The poor in Spirit are blessed, coming in the Lord’s Name. Through the trials of faith, the Lord mars us, destroying the old and bringing forth the new. We are poor in spirit, having forsaken all to follow the Commandments in full assurance of faith. As our man of sin is cast out, we become poor in spirit, which makes us rich in the heavenly realm as Christ within us is strong and IS overcome the world. As the blessed of God, His Christ, we now hold the keys of death and hell, which are the Living Commandments. What doors we shut, no man can open, and what doors we open, no man can shut. As He is, so are we.

Mat 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Rev 3:7  And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; 

Rev 3:8  I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. 

Christ, the Commandments are leading us in all things, and we come in the Lord’s Name. We are now the blessed sons of God being led by the Spirit of God, that is to say, His Commandments. We come now in His Name, having been redeemed.

Mat 23:39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

The true sons of God are promised a most wonderful blessing of the true tithe that comes with a Promise of blessing. The true tithe is the Gospel of Christ Jesus that we preach and obey. We live off the Gospel, the Commandments, and are abundantly blessed with the many things the Lord provides.

Mal 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Zec 14:8  And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.

Zec 14:9  And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one. 

When we see ourselves living by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God, the Word, the Commandments, become alive. Judgment has come to our house, and we are now the blessed sons of God who can hear the Word and are led by the Spirit. The Living Christ in us is exalted, and the love of God is being spread abroad in our hearts as we are being taught of God.

Isa 33:5 The LORD is exalted; for he dwelleth on high: he hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness.

Luk 11:28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

Salvation from all of our sins is the ultimate blessing and is finished when we are perfected by the hand of the Living Christ that dwells in us.

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. 

Our chastening by the Lord brings these many blessings upon us. Our chastening is a spiritual blessing because it is the salvation of our souls. It is the end of our faith, entering into our rest on the true Sabbath.

Psa 94:12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;

Heb 4:9  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 

Heb 4:10  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

The Promise comes to those given the faith of Christ, and thus the Spirit of Grace is brought to us, and the result is blessing and the appearing of Christ in our deeds.

Tit 2:11  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 

Tit 2:12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 

Tit 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ

The trials of our faith are transforming us by exercising our spiritual senses as we grow into mature children of God. We are made accepted in the Beloved.

Jas 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

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

Eph 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 

The Lord’s chastening tames our beastly nature, and we are learning to submit to the Lord. Gaining dominion over sin, little by little, we are inheriting the earth and standing upon the sea that represents our flesh and its many temptations.

Psa 73:22  So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. 

Mat 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Rev 15:2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

Those attentive to the things of the Lord are the blessed ones. Like building muscle, our faith grows as we exercise it and endure and overcome the trials the Lord brings. We go from glory to glory and see Christ as He is. Watching and guarding our gates, taking all things captive contrary to the Lord’s Commandments, is what we are striving to do every day of our lives. These words are applicable as we are reading them today. Blessed are those who watch.

Mat 26:41  Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. 

Pro 8:34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

Rev 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

Being watchful is a daily battle in which we rest from our carnal works but always work the work of God, which is the faith of Christ. As we are being sanctified, we see the Lord in us appearing more and more in due time. When we keep Christ’s Commandments, the Father loves us and makes His abode in us, and Christ [the Commandments] appear in our walk. Our hearts are being purified and made holy, which is the manifestation of God in our lives.

1Ti 6:14  that you keep commandments without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, 

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

Mat 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Blessed are those who mourn because they are comforted. Our chastening involves much tribulation and anguish over which we mourn and lament. We suffer many losses in the flesh, and the emotional pain we are appointed to experience is a necessary part of the Lord’s plan. Eventually, we mature to look behind ourselves and rejoice in those sufferings. Being weak in the flesh, we mourn and lament for a season. Yet this blessing promises that we are being comforted, and a great joy, the joy of the Lord returns.

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. 

Psa 30:5 For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.

Mat 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Patience is required, as none of us know the future or the Lord’s timeline for finishing His work in us. We strive daily to endure and overcome, knowing that we are the Lord’s workmanship. Those blessed of the Lord know there is always more work to be done in the kingdom of God and heed the admonishments of Paul.

Php 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

Php 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Like a farmer, we do all we can to stand, striving to be perfect. Yet we are at the mercy of the Lord to bring the necessary rain to grow the spiritual crop He plants within us. We learn to be patient as we wait on the Lord. Christ tells us it takes patience to bring home the crop.

Luk 8:15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

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

Jas 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

Jas 5:8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

Blessed are those who receive the fiery trials and their faith of Christ from the Lord’s Hand. As the Lord’s people, we are the blessed ones who can know it; who will believe our report? Only those shown mercy by the Lord hear us, and those precious few have the Lord’s Name, that is to say, His Commandments written in their forehead.

Psa 33:12  Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. 

Those blessed and made holy have been resurrected from the spiritually dead, and henceforth we never taste of death even when we depart these clay vessels. We shall forever be with the Lord.

Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. 

The blessed of God in this age are the true sons of God who get their reward in down payment form now, as the Living Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Promise of Eternal Life has taken root in the kingdom of God within us.

Mat 16:28  Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom. 

We are strong in the Lord and endure. The required suffering and chastening are only for a season. The Lord’s ways are higher than ours, and we who now suffer have been counted worthy to receive the blessings of God.

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. 

Blessed are we to have the mind of Christ. Go to the truthinscripture.com website and look up Commandments in the top menu. We do not forget the Lord, else He denies us also. The Lord forgave us in times past, but the time of ignorance is over, having heard the true Gospel.

Jer 2:32  Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number. 

Act 17:30  And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent.

We hope the Lord blesses all the Lord brought here to read and that He grants you understanding of His ways and purposes.

Receive ye the Gospel, receive ye the Holy Spirit.

Studies

The Cost of Following Christ

Peter

Bearing Our Cross as Christ’s Disciples

Peter and Rohnel, servants of God to the scattered saints and pilgrims, elected of God, now being sanctified by the Gospel through faith, grace, and peace in the name of our Father and Lord Jesus Christ.

A disciple follows, and as chosen disciples of Jesus Christ, we are following the Lord. To say we are following the Lord means we are striving to obey all His commandments, because Christ is the Word. The costs required are very high, in terms of the loss to our flesh and carnal way of life. Understanding and being often reminded of these costs helps us prepare for the journey and be ready for the promised trials that test our discipleship.

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: 

1Pe 4:13  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. 

The Lord tells us about the costs we bear. To follow the Lord and stay the course requires us to willingly embrace the suffering, affliction, and persecution that come with standing on the Commandments.

Luk 14:26  If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 

Luk 14:27  And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 

We hate nobody in our hearts; we love all men by doing the Commandments.  One way to understand it is to think of hating them as loving them less than Christ. We always put the Lord, the Commandments, first in everything we do and bear the consequences and reactions from a carnal world, including families that have been made deaf and spiritually blind by the hand of the Lord.

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

We love our families and all men, and we do this by obeying the Lord. We hate the spiritual clothing of those who walk in the flesh, symbolizing their carnal works and bondage to spiritual death. Disciples take great care to remain separate and not run in the same excesses of riot and dissipation as the world. We save some from the fires of Gehenna, better known as hell, the inner torment of the carnal mind. We save them by obeying God, which is loving them in obedience, including teaching them the Gospel.

Jud 1:21  Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 

Jud 1:22  And of some have compassion, making a difference: 

Jud 1:23  And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. 

Christ’s disciples carry their cross all the way to death, believing that new life only comes from the death of the old. Our flesh does not profit.

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

As we follow Christ, walking with Him, we strive to obey the commandments, which is the Gospel being preached to us. Hearing the Gospel is the baptism by water that precedes our baptism of fire when the Promise comes in the appointed hour. Being washed by the commandments takes time and occurs when one stands for Christ and willingly bears others’ reproach, rejection, and persecution. True disciples are given strength to embrace these losses and endure the suffering to be counted worthy of His Name. It is a long journey, the remainder of our physical lives that we who believe in Him pursue at a significant cost.

Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 

Joh 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free

Christ is to have the preeminence above all things, meaning that doing the commandments and loving God becomes our life’s purpose. Obeying God is loving the Lord with all your heart, mind, and soul. By keeping the commandments, we, by definition, love our neighbors and our families in Spirit. We as Christ have no respect of persons, treating and reacting to all men in the Spirit of Christ, the commandments. We no longer know any man after the flesh but only through the prism of the Gospel.

2Co 5:16  Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.

Obeying Christ and loving Him is not just our top priority; it becomes our only priority. We are sent in the same manner that the Father sent Christ.

Joh 8:28  Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. 

Joh 8:29  And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. 

In the world, we are promised many tribulations as the flesh hates Christ. Our peace is the inward peace of Christ when we rest in the commandments and cease from our carnal works and thoughts. Obeying the commandments in the carnal world brings tribulation upon us. We gladly bear the reproach and rejection.

Joh 16:33  These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. 

Obeying the commandments costs us everything in the end. All is given up in obedience, and nothing is held back. We do not overcome the inward enemy, our sins, by making peace with them; they are destroyed at a great cost. As the Lord’s people, we are given the faith to lose everything we have, trusting in God’s power to finish the work in us and deliver us from all our enemies. Christ does not bring shame to His Name, and failure is not an option for those elected of God. All is to be forsaken.

Luk 14:28  For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 

Luk 14:29  Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 

Luk 14:30  Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 

Luk 14:31  Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? 

Luk 14:32  Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. 

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

The Word of God living in us shall not fail. The Word finishes the work and prospers to whomever the Father sends it. The further we walk with the Lord in His Faith, the seed of Christ grows like the mustard tree. We grow in Christ and obtain great confidence to continue the journey, making war against our sins, even as the costs to our flesh continue to mount.

Heb 10:32  But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; 

Heb 10:33  Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. 

Heb 10:34  For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. 

What are the costs of discipleship? When we begin our walk of faith, we have a limited view of the costs. We need to grow up in the knowledge and grace of God and mature into sons of God.  It is easy to follow the other Jesus of orthodoxy, except in some countries that are aggressively anti-Christ, as there is little cost to be borne. Many become renowned and reap profit to the flesh, being well spoken of by many, and suffering is not in view. We all begin the walk seeking gains for our flesh, be it the esteem of man, acceptance, money, and other things that stoke the pride of life.

Mat 23:5  But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, 

Luk 6:26  Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you!

Our teacher, the Living Christ, comes, and then the true costs begin to be revealed when we receive the Gospel and ultimately the indwelling Spirit of Christ and the Father. We learn of these costs as we carry and ultimately die on our cross. Wisdom is found through the death of our flesh.

Job 28:12  But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding? 

Job 28:13  Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living. 

The flesh gets no reward as we now belong to God, and our sacrificed lives become our reasonable service. There is no reward except that which we have received, that is, the pearl of great price.

Isa 45:13  I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts. 

Luk 17:10  So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. 

Those marked to endure to the end keep the covenant and are counted faithful. Some who hear the Gospel and begin walking are unwilling to pay the full price to follow the Lord. When we hold back and lie to the Spirit, we are cut off from the living, as the Acts 5 parable of Ananias shows. All is to be given up as the Lord is jealous for us, demanding all of our hearts.

All things are being made new when we follow Christ, who is now leading us into all righteousness and judgment. We are being separated as a holy people unto the Lord, and all things we think, do, and say, even our interests, are being taken away and changed. To be made anew, we give up relations with family, friends we know and esteem in the clay. We forsake all things needed to follow the Lord. We do not allow anything to impede our walk in following Christ. Many fiery trials come to set us apart and disconnect us, and no longer engage in the affairs of the world.

1Pe 4:3  For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: 

1Pe 4:4  Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: 

When Christ comes into our lives, division is the result. We are letting go of what the Lord is cutting off. The church Christ builds is separated, called out, and set apart from those who remain worldly and without the Gospel.

Luk 12:51  Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: 

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

To those being saved by the Commandments, Christ is precious, but to those who do not believe or obey the Gospel, Christ is a rock of offense and a stumbling stone which separates and brings reproach.

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. 

Giving up the keeping of days, times, months, and years that all the world partakes in is a significant early step of our obedience. Yet the costs are much higher as we learn. The Lord demands our whole heart and mind, not just a portion. We have been redeemed, we now belong to Christ, and anything that is not of faith is required to be taken. Worldly interests, sports, hobbies, political discourse, carnal relationships, and anything that keeps us engaged in the world, pursuing its idols and interests, are removed in time.

1Jn 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 

The Lord raises His elect up for the purpose of putting them into the ministry and sending them forth to preach the Gospel and do the greater works. There is little time, and we cannot serve two masters. The Lord brings trials and earthquakes into our lives to remove whatever is not of faith.

Mat 6:24  No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 

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.

As we follow Christ, those outside the faith no longer know us. We are not the same person; we have been transfigured, remade into a new vessel, with a new mindset and identity, having been transformed into sons of God. Rejoice and be thankful for the privilege and honor of being chosen to pay these costs now. We are the beloved sons of God, being remade.

1Jn 3:1  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 

The Lord does not demand the full price until we are made ready and able to pay it, as we are clay in His hands. There is a process of growing in the faith and grace of God that matures us in Christ on His timeline. The Lord gives us the macro picture of expecting great tribulation but leaves out the details, which are unique to each person. Losing our old life and stepping into a new one is the hardest thing we are asked to endure. We endure many deceptions, false christs, but the elect are brought through all hardships, and He shortens the days for our sakes.

Mat 24:21  For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 

Mat 24:22  And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened. 

Mat 24:24  For false christs and false prophets [Christ without the Gospel of Commandments] will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 

Mat 24:25  See, I have told you beforehand. 

The Living Word of God is only revealed to us and in us as we can bear it according to our measure of faith and maturity. Once the Spirit of Truth comes, then our understanding of the totality of the costs required becomes clearer, and we are led further into the Kingdom as we are made able.

Joh 16:12  I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 

Joh 16:13  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 

When we seek the Lord, He is faithful to reveal to us what we need to know before the trials and hardships come. If we lack wisdom, seek Him and ask.

Isa 42:9  Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.

One of the hardest costs to understand and pay is separating from brethren we have walked with for a long time. This separation comes at the time of the harvest, that is, the “last days” after the Gospel has been preached and received. It is then that the separation of the wheat from the tares and/or the sheep from the goats is being done. The Lord winnows the flock, so only those ordained to be faithful to the end remain.

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

As painful as paying these costs may be, they are the way to eternal life and coming to know Christ and the Father in Spirit and in Truth.

Mat 19:29  And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. 

There is no turning back for those chosen for salvation in this age. Remember Lot’s wife, who ceased following the angels of the Lord as she turned to look at Sodom. No man who begins working for the Lord and looks back is fit for the Kingdom of God. When Christ brings great tribulation upon us after we see our man of sin, we are commanded not to look or go back or bring any abominable thing with us on the journey.

Mat 24:17  Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: 

Mat 24:18  Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. 

Isa 35:8  And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it

Separating from the unclean includes separating from those outside of the faith who bring us into bondage of their carnal reasonings.  We are to remain separated and not be defiled and let anyone man steal our peace.  Coming out of Babylon is separating ourselves within and without, from the unclean and the fornication, covetousness, and idolatry that is the world

Being Made Willing:

The Lord makes us willing to pay the costs, and that comes by the gift of His faith in God the Father. Only a chosen remnant escapes and is given the faith and zeal to continue to follow the Lord’s commandments and lose their old life. Eating Christ’s body and drinking His blood is about losing your flesh and carnal way of life to gain it by the resurrection of Jesus Christ within you.

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. 

The Gospel of commandments brings judgment and correction, and remakes us into sons of God, and is the true bread from heaven called the Bread of Life. We eat this bread every day in seeking the Kingdom of God within us to grow unto maturity. Christ is the bread of life that works righteousness and changes hearts and minds. Eating Christ’s bread is how we live, and eternal life is made manifest.

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

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

Those who fall away, all by the design of God, are not made willing to pay the costs in this age.  No man embraces Christ, the Commandments, except it is given of God the Father. Many disciples leave the narrow way and cease following the Lord, but disciples indeed continue in His Word.

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. 

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

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

Joh 6:68  Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 

The Lord puts a zeal for His house and His Spirit in us, making us willing to pay the cost, sell all we own, and follow after Him. Pay the cost, buy the Truth that is the living Christ dwelling in you. It comes with wisdom, instruction, and understanding unto righteousness.

Pro 23:23  Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. 

The Lord spoke two short parables about those who, by the mercy of God, find Him and receive the Gospel and sell everything to buy it.

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. 

Mat 13:45  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 

Mat 13:46  Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. 

Few are given the faith to make the sale and sell/forsake all for Christ. The parable of the Rich Young Ruler shows the refusal of the carnal mind to pay the full price to follow the Lord by treasuring one’s possessions, our knowledge over the Living Commandments. To be made perfect, all is let go, or else we cannot follow Christ and be His disciple.

Mat 19:21  Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 

Mat 19:22  But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. 

Mat 19:23  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. 

All things are possible if the Lord chooses, and even a rich man can enter into the Kingdom, being made willing to forsake all and pay the costs.

Mat 19:25  When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? 

Mat 19:26  But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. 

Without paying the full price and giving up our lives, we are not saved from our sins. Without shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin. We are saved when we suffer in the flesh and strive against sin and pay these high costs to obey the Lord.

Heb 12:4  Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 

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

Heb 9:22  And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. 

The resulting chastening and scourging of our heavenly Father is not joyous in the moment, but it works the peaceable fruit of righteousness in our lives. We are made partakers of His holiness by following the Lord’s example, bearing the chastening of God.

New Life in Spirit Comes by Death on the Cross

It pleases our heavenly Father to bruise us and make our lives an offering for sin. We fill up in the afflictions in our bodies and lives for the sake of the entire church of Jesus Christ. We follow Christ to our death as His Christ.

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

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

Isa 53:12  Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death:  

We are asked to let go of everything by turning our lives over to Christ to enter into the kingdom. Giving up the ghost [spirit] is the ultimate price we pay, and we stay on the cross until everything is accomplished. As He is, so are we, His Christ, in the world. We submit our spirit unto the Lord, trusting Him in all things, enduring all things in faith.

Luk 23:46  And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. 

Joh 19:30  When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. 

Walking in the Spirit is walking in the Commandments and is how we follow Christ. Those doing it are on the cross, and their flesh and all its lusts are being crucified.

Gal 5:24  And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 

Gal 5:25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 

The only way we find eternal life is by the resurrection from the dead. To get there, we go to the cross, suffer, and die, just as our Lord set the example.

Rom 6:5  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 

Rom 6:6  Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 

Rom 6:7  For he that is dead is freed from sin. 

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

To be freed from sin, we reckon ourselves dead to the flesh. An astronomical price we pay by the mercy and grace of the Lord.  We trust in the Lord, we keep the faith of what we do not yet see.

Col 3:3  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 

Col 3:4  When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. 

The salvation journey ends when we depart these clay vessels. That is the end of our race. We walk the walk and fight the fight of faith all the way to the end. Our lives belong to Christ, and we follow Him to the end, never ceasing to carry our cross and willingly lose our carnal life in obedience.

Mat 16:24  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 

Mat 16:25  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 

Pray for the zeal and strength to stand in the face of the fiery trials that lie ahead on the journey to the mountain of Christ. The Spirit is willing, but our flesh remains weak even with a deposit of the Spirit. Paul followed the Lord to the end, serving as an example for us all.

2Ti 4:7  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 

2Ti 4:8  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 

To the carnally minded, these Truths are foolishness. What an honor and a blessing to be counted worthy to suffer for His Name and pay this price, giving all of ourselves to the Lord.

1Co 1:18  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.