Mankind was created by God and for God, and was created to depend upon and need God. He offers us a place in His Bride through Jesus Christ, to be born again as His Children, and to truly live for God as we were originally intended. There are countless promises in God’s Word, which can cause the Body of Christ to inherit blessings, wealth and a new life in the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4) However, so many of us who have come to confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior know that there are many potential pitfalls on the path that leads to life and glory. As soon as a believer is drawn by the Holy Spirit, and becomes born again by believing in their heart and confessing Jesus as the Christ and Savior, they have also, spiritually speaking, left the sinful bondage of Egypt and are now on a new journey of life, as a newly liberated creature, across the wilderness of trials and spiritual growth, and looking for the Promised Land called Canaan, the glory of lands, which in biblical language, is figurative of heavenly places. They have died with Christ, our Passover Lamb, unto sin, and are now risen again with Christ by the power of the Spirit: this is called being baptized into Christ (see Romans 6). There is the joy of first knowing Jesus' great love, His glorious life indwelling us, His resurrection from the dead; all of these are free gifts of common salvation and grace, praise God! But there is another realization; a trek through the wilderness where we encounter indwelling sin and a need for spiritual conquest; the battleground for the soul and pursuit of His Promised Land. This is a path that through patient endurance, faith, prayer, and daily meditation and renewal by feeding on God’s Word, leads to a Promised Land of Life, Abundance, Immortality and Glorious Freedom and full Joy in God’s Presence (see Psalm 16:11, Romans 2:7). Jesus said, “Labor not for the meat that perisheth, but for the meat that endureth unto everlasting life.”(John 6:27)
For hundreds, even thousands of years, churches of this world have often been dull of hearing, and full of disputes and divisions, which as Paul warned the Corinthian Church, they are carnal and disobedient in the eyes of Jehovah, and thus disqualified for any land of promise (see 1 Corinthians 3:1). Many pastors are doing their job for hire and are by no means the faithful shepherds that God would have them be, such as He found with David, who loved the sheep of his pasture, even risking his life to kill a bear and a lion to save them (see 1 Samuel 17:34-37). O, How God loved David! He would desire all lowly men to be as David, and they will be like David, even as God Himself (see Zechariah 12:8 ). But as for now the doctrines of men rule many of the places of worship and many hearts seem to pursue their own gain, taking the name of the Lord in vain, because of their abundance of sins and merchandising. I have wrestled with Scriptures at times in my life, trying to understand certain passages, but it is only by the grace of God and His Spirit who gives wisdom and revelation to all who but ask (see James 1:5). The Holy Bible can seem like a daunting journey for a new believer, though it is truly the inspired Word of God concerning man's salvation, but it has many deep and spiritual statements that need the Holy Ghost to give understanding to the mind and heart. There needs to be a waiting upon the Lord and sitting at His feet, learning the gentle ways of Jesus Christ, and letting the eyes of our understanding be opened by the Holy Ghost. Many, such as some churches and also the Jewish people, were brought to confusion in their misunderstanding the Scriptures, because as Jesus said unto them, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” (John 5:39-42 ). Jesus is stating that Scriptural truth (the written letter) is not enough of itself, the holy Scripture must be mixed with faith, obedience, prayer, spiritual understanding, and there must be holy love abounding in us, from God and Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. The Jewish leaders, and many Christians throughout history, have had knowledge, which is good, but Paul often contrasted knowledge with love, saying, "the love of Christ, which surpasses knowledge" (Ephesians 3:19). As Peter wrote concerning Paul's wisdom, that many do not understand his writings, and they struggle, but as Paul wrote, “we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom which was fore-ordained for our glory.” (1 Corinthians 2:7). Among some of these people are Nicolaitans, who set up their carnal doctrines and religious traditions over God's spiritual doctrines and faith, and their own carnal interpretation is being upheld among their followers. They seek to serve God according to oldness of the letter of the law, but fail to understand the newness of the Spirit which gives life (see Romans 7:6). As the poet Frances J. Roberts prophesied, in essence, this message, “The letter does serve a purpose for us, in that it convinces people of sin and causes death to our old carnal nature”. However, the glorious truth is that the Holy Spirit brings new life from the dead to make us partakers of the Divine Nature that is in Christ (see 2 Peter 1:4). The fact though, is that God is Love and He desires all men to repent, to receive Jesus Christ His Son by faith, and also receive the Holy Spirit as a Teacher and Revealer of all Truth (see John 16:13). He desires all His children to know Him face-to-face, and to be their dearest Friend and Savior. He desires to speak plainly to you concerning Himself and His Son, and His eternal purpose with His Bride. As a servant of Christ, I desire to expound many mysteries of Christ and make plain this doctrine of Christ for those that have a hunger and thirst for truth. Jesus and Paul did speak in many proverbs and mysteries, yet Jesus said near the end of His earthly life, “…I will soon show to you plainly of the Father" (John 16:25). This collection of writings will be my journal of meditations upon the Divine Truth; the deep and glorious truth spoken in plain language. Meditation, prayer, and diligence in the Word are what each Child of God must do continually to unravel the mystery of Christ by the spirit of revelation, and ultimately grow into the full stature of Christ on earth. Comments are closed.
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Gospel Archives
February 2021
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