Good vs Evil – The Abraham Connection Part 2

Last time we said –
Romans 4:13-16 KJV  “For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
[14] For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
[15] Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
[16] Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,”

HOW?

Romans 4:17 KJV  “(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and called those things which be not as though they were.”

That is exactly what Jesus did when Satan tempted him in the wilderness in Matthew 4 and Luke 4, Jesus said, It is written and then Jesus quoted scripture. What happened? Satan tried three different times to get Jesus off course, to get Jesus to sin, to get Jesus to forfeit his destiny. But Jesus kept saying – It is written and quoted scripture and eventually Satan gave up and quit on Jesus temporarily.

Paul explains Moses is the father of the law, living after the law. But Abraham is the father of living by faith. So if you choose to live under the law for righteousness, then you will be judged by the law, all 6000 or so laws in “the law”. Paul explains this in the book of Romans. But if you, like Abraham, chose to believe on Jesus Christ and what he “says” for your righteousness, and Paul taught, then you are Abraham’s seed, and you live by faith. So will it be Moses and the law for you or Abraham and faith? You get to choose.

Galatians 3:9 KJV  “So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.”

Paul explains it this way –

Galatians 3:10-14 KJV  “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
[11] But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
[12] And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
[13] Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
[14] That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”

Why am I spending so much time explaining Abraham? Because if you look at from the time God called Abraham in Genesis 12 until the bodily death of Abraham in Genesis 25 God teaches us what living by faith is, how to live by faith and the key is what God says, another words, God’s word.

Paul explains in Romans 4 that Abraham based everything on God’s words. Promises God made to Abraham. And Abraham believed God and his promises so much, that Abraham was willing to offer up/kill his son Isaac  because the promises God made Abraham included Isaac being alive. You can read this in Genesis chapter 12 through chapter 22.

Notice when Isaac asked Abraham about the sacrifice?

Genesis 22:7-8 KJV  “And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
[8] And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.”

Question: At this time, had God provided the offering?
NO –
God started making promises to Abraham right after God called Abraham. Genesis 12:1-3. And in Genesis 12:7 God promises Abraham seed. Then God promises Abraham the land and the land to Abraham’s seed.

Then God promises Abraham a son, gender specific – a boy – and the son would not be from those in his house but from his own bowels. Who was Abraham married to? Sarah. Read the account in Genesis 15. Sarah and Abraham get impatient waiting for the promise of God to come to pass so they tie themselves to an Egyptian woman named Hagar, Genesis 16. Hagar had nothing to do with the promises of God to Abraham  or Abraham’s destiny. Hagar was in his house. How many times we get impatient waiting on God’s promises to us that we tie ourselves to people that have nothing to do with our destiny and nothing to do with the promises God made us.

Abraham was 86 years old when Ishmael was born. And when Abraham was 99 years old the Lord appears to Abraham and tells him the time to establish the covenant he made with Abraham has come, Genesis 17:1-8. God had made the promises a long time before this time. But now it was time to make it come to pass. So Isaac was born. Years go by and Isaac is a “lad”, a young child, not a baby. So when God tests Abraham in Genesis 22, Abraham has lots of experience with the Lord keeping his word, his promises.

So when Isaac asks Abraham, where is the offering, Abraham called things he could not see, as though they were.
Romans 4:17 KJV “(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.”

Abraham believed God’s words, promises, so Abraham called the things he could not see ( the offering to offer ) as though it were, Genesis 22:8-9 KJV
” And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
[9] And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.”

Why did Abraham raise the knife to offer Isaac? Because Abraham believed God and his word, his promises. He believed God’s word without seeing proof, without seeing an offering, without religious leaders trying to tell him he was imagining this. Abraham just believed God, spoke what God promised and lived calling God’s promises as though they were.

And how did God respond to Abraham? An angel calls from heaven, not once but twice, Genesis 22:11 and verse 15. 

Genesis 22:11 KJV “And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.”

Genesis 22:15 KJV  “And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,”

Supernatural intervention from heaven. Intervention from an area Abraham could not see, the third heaven.

Paul mentions we are the seed of Abraham, believers in Christ. Think about it. Jesus was on earth 2000 years ago. We  never saw Jesus physically, we didn’t walk with Jesus or the disciples. We base all of our faith on a book, God’s word and the promises of God’s word, just like Abraham did.

And even though Paul explains this and the seed of Abraham  in Romans, the seed is not fully explained until Galatians. And Paul elaborates on being an heir and heirs have inheritance.

Galatians 3:14-16 KJV  “That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
[15] Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.
[16] Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.”

Notice Paul says the we might receive. Paul says Gentiles then says we. Paul was a Jew, not a Gentile. The context of we is believers who are in Christ.

Galatians 3:18 KJV  “For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.”

Galatians 3:24-25 KJV  “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
[25] But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.”

Galatians 3:28-29 KJV  “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
[29] And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Some will ask, what is our inheritance as believers in Christ? We will pick it up from here, Lord willing, next time. Until next time.

Good vs Evil – The Abraham Connection

Last time we said – There is a key in Romans 4 and the key is the word “seed”.  To understand the real “Christian” life, you need to study the word “seed” in the New Testament.

When believers look at the word seed, they know it can mean the word of God but it is also tied to harvests and inheritance, in scripture.

Abraham was not under the law. Actually, Abraham lived before the law was ever given. New Testament believers are connected to Abraham because New Testament believers are saved by grace through faith. Many times in the New Testament Abraham is given as our example. Abraham was made of dirt from the earth, flesh,  and Abraham had a relationship with God.

If we could look at any one from scripture, other than the Godhead  (Father, Son, Holy Ghost), and compare our spiritual life to them, it would be Abraham. Abraham would be our example and that is what Paul explains in the book of Romans and in other areas.

Understanding good vs evil in our present world, as believers, we need to look at how Abraham lived. Paul explains this in detail. Peter and John bring up the promises God made to Abraham and to Moses and the prophets in Acts 3:25 – 26. Peter and John were speaking to Jews in Jerusalem.  Paul includes all believers, Jews and Gentiles in the covenant God made to Abraham (not the promises to Moses and the prophets)  only the covenant to Abraham in Romans 4 and identifies them as seed.

If you can get a handle on how Abraham operated in his world with the promises of God and apply the same principles you can see a change in your life and the power of God work. You can over come evil with good. So here we go.

In Romans 4 Paul says the promise that Abraham should be heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law but through the righteousness of faith.

Romans 4:13-16 KJV  “For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
[14] For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
[15] Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
[16] Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,”

HOW?

Romans 4:17 KJV  “(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and called those things which be not as though they were.”

That is exactly what Jesus did when Satan tempted him in the wilderness in Matthew 4 and Luke 4, Jesus said, It is written and then Jesus quoted scripture. What happened? Satan tried three different times to get Jesus off course, to get Jesus to sin, to get Jesus to forfeit his destiny. But Jesus kept saying – It is written and quoted scripture and eventually Satan gave up and quit on Jesus temporarily.

Abraham believed God’s word. He believed the promises God made him. Do you? Do you know what the promises are God has made to the church? To you?  If you know the promises, do you believe them? Abraham believed God’s word, his promises, even though Abraham did not physically see with his eyes the promises coming to fruition. Why?

Romans 4:18-21 KJV. “Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
[19] And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb:
[20] He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
[21] And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.”

So let’s review. God calls Abraham in Genesis 12 and God makes some promises to Abraham, Genesis 12:2,3. [ God calls us unto salvation and makes promises to us] So Abraham believes God and does as God instructs him.

Then Abraham goes through some trials and tribulations of life and makes some wrong decisions. Abraham goes to Egypt, lies about his wife Sarai to Pharaoh, has strife with his nephew’s people so Abraham’s people and Lot’s people separate. Then the Lord makes Abraham more promises in Genesis 13:14. Notice all the promises from God did not come all at once? This is a key.

Then Lot is captured by enemies and Abraham and his people arm themselves  and they go get Lot out of captivity, Genesis 14.

Then we read of Melchizedek and how Abraham tithes to him before any laws of tithing were given. Abraham makes a decision to tithe to him. And notice right after that, in Genesis 15 – the word of the Lord comes to Abraham in a vision and Abraham asks the Lord about a seed, an heir Genesis 15:1 – 6.

God promises Abraham not only a son but God takes Abraham, moves Abraham, abroad in verse 5. Abraham’s body, his flesh was physically in one spot and God carries Abraham to a different spot. This will mess with some denominational teachings. And Abraham chose to believe God, verse 6, and God counted Abraham’s faith or belief in God’s words spoken to him,  God counted it to Abraham for righteousness.

Then notice in Genesis 15:12 a deep sleep comes on Abraham and notice future events are told to Abraham. And God shows Abraham the boundaries of the future land of Israel, Genesis 15:12-21.  And we will pick it up from here next time, Lord willing. We will look at how Paul explains these events with Abraham and ties them into our walk with the Lord. Until next time

Good vs Evil – Paul Explains Life

We explained in our post Good vs Evil – Paul Explains there are three heavens according to the Scriptures / Bible and we provided some scripture. We did not provide all the verses in scripture but a few.

Then in our post Good vs Evil – Paul Explains Flesh we pointed out how Paul was explaining there are different types of flesh. Not only was Paul explaining the types of flesh on earth, but Paul explains there is a different type of flesh for heaven’s people and “creatures”, to include angels. Question: What do these “creatures” do all day and all night?

Remember, we said the Old Testament and the four gospels point to the coming Messiah. And the gospels show the Messiah came, read our post  Good vs Evil – Paul Explains. Acts is the transition from the disciples to Saul called Paul, getting saved and chronicles Paul’s journey.

When you read through Acts you see verses like Paul stayed here for 2 years then Paul went to another place. When you study Acts you find it covers many years – Paul’s life. During Paul’s journey through life, God used Paul to explain “spirit” matters. Paul explains 3rd Heaven “stuff” and the spiritual realm.

Jesus and the disciples preached the Kingdom of Heaven, when God would reign on earth physically. Jesus did teach about the Kingdom of God briefly but he focused on the Kingdom of Heaven. Paul never preached or taught the Kingdom of Heaven, he preached and taught the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is inside all believers. You can not see the Kingdom of God with your eyes.

Remember,  Jesus said after his resurrection he had to leave so the Holy Ghost would come. After God poured out the Holy Ghost / Holy Spirit we see in Acts 8 Philip is preaching, not the Kingdom of Heaven but the Kingdom of God. The Saul gets saved, his name is changed to Paul in Acts 13:9,  and notice it is the Lord who separates Paul from the disciples.  Acts 13:1-2 KJV  “Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
[2] As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.”

And Paul in Acts 13:44-52 explains, he is going to the Gentiles. Then Paul starts his journey. We know Paul had been saved about 3 – 5 years before he started his journey, from scripture. And what is Paul preaching? The Kingdom of God. Jesus said the Kingdom of God is inside believers in Luke 17:20,21. The rest of the book of Acts is like a synopsis of Paul’s journeys and they cover about 25+ years.

During Paul’s journeys he received letters from believers asking him questions. Paul wrote back and addressed the believer’s questions and expounded on their questions and that is what the letters to the churches are.

The book of Romans lays the ground work for how to be saved and Paul explains the “spirit” realm briefly in Romans 8. The book of Romans starts with God creating everything, how sin comes into the picture and how no matter how good or bad someone is, they can be saved if they turn to Christ. These subjects are covered in Romans chapters 1 – 7. Romans 8 explains the spirit man. No one else explained the spirit man  before Paul (except Jesus).

Romans 8 tells believers they are to be led by the Holy Spirit Romans 8:11-17 KJV  “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
[12] Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
[13] For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
[14] For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
[15] For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
[16] The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
[17] And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him , that we may be also glorified together.”

Notice the word heirs? And notice Romans 8:26 KJV  “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

God wants believers conformed to the image of his Son. Romans 8:28-29 KJV
  “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.
[29] For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

And God freely gives us all things, Romans 8:31-32 KJV  “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
[32] He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”

You say, but God has not given me everything I asked him for. We will cover that in this series.  But notice what Paul is saying, especially in verses 38 and 39.   Romans 8:38-39 KJV  “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
[39] Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Paul is talking about God’s love for true believers yes, but Paul also says there are angels, principalities and powers out there which introduces believers to a ” force outside of their sight” – angels, principalities and powers.

Then Paul explains true salvation in Romans 10 and although you are in the flesh physically and you need to bring your fleshly body under control in Romans 11, 12, and chapter 13, the real issue is the Kingdom if God. Romans 14:17 KJV. “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”

And Paul brings Satan into the picture in Romans chapter 16. Now I want to point out Romans 4. There is a key in Romans 4 and the key is the word “seed“.  To understand the real “Christian” life, you need to study the word “seed” in the New Testament.

Remember when Jesus told Nicodemus how someone is “born again”? Water and the word, right? According to John 1, Jesus is the Word made flesh, right? We know Jesus was sinless and according to Peter the word of God is incorruptible “seed“. 1 Peter 1:22-25 KJV  “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
[23] Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
[24] For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
[25] But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”

When believers look at the word seed, they know it can mean the word of God but it is also tied to harvests and inheritance, in scripture. In Romans 4, Paul is laying the groundwork for the word seed and how it is tied to inheritance. Why is this important?  Because you can understand the spiritual warfare more clearly when you know who you are and the power God gives all true believers and our inheritance.

Paul does not elaborate on the spirit realm in the book of Romans, he introduces us to the spirit realm by teaching us about angels, different types of flesh, distinguishing between our spirit, soul and body and by mentioning Satan. He lays groundwork about seed and heirs and joint heirs. Clearly, Paul is showing us in Romans the separation of man and how man has a spirit, soul and body.

And even though man walks on this earth in a body made from the earth, man has a spirit and soul that is not part of this earth. The believer is to focus on spiritual things. When you get saved you do not just get a ticket to heaven, God changes everything about you. Scripture calls it a new creature in Christ. Your family is changed to the family of God meaning, your bloodline changes.

You become a citizen of another country. You use to live in the earth in a country but now you are a citizen of heaven living on the earth temporarily, in the flesh. But now you represent heaven. You are an ambassador for Christ. God changed your identity. God changed your bloodline. God changed your family. God changed your country. God broke all curses and holds the devil had over you and set you free. And God seated you in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

Jesus has given you his name. He has inscribed you on the palms of his hands and has the scars to prove he paid for you with his own blood. He has the hairs on your head numbered. And he has recorded your name in heaven in the Lamb’s Book Of Life. And you are an heir and joint heir with Christ.

If you as a believer believe you just have a ticket to heaven and you do not understand who you are now that you are saved, the devil is content to leave you alone, for now. Why? Luke 8:13-14 KJV
” They on the rock are they , which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
[14] And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.”

But God has a destiny for all believers, a calling and God has gifted each of us with different gifts. Paul explains this in Romans 12. And God’s plan is to conform believers to his Son, Jesus, Romans 8:29. So we see believers who have their ticket to heaven but do not understand why they have problems like the unsaved and they do not know how to handle their problems. And when you try to teach them, they can not sit still long enough to learn. Then you have the believers who look for answers from God and godly teachers. We are going to focus on those looking for answers.

When someone gets saved, as we said, God changes everything including our bloodline and family. The problem is, we continue making decisions and doing things the way we were taught by our old family, our old country. We start reading and studying God’s word and sit under teachers to teach us God’s word.

But how do you learn if the churches are entertaining or taking Old Testament teachings and rarely teach Paul’s teachings to the churches? Then we see believers going through the same issues as unbelievers with the same results.

When we find a church or teacher that teaches God’s word, believers often reject teachings because they are looking at the teaching from their own point of view and not the new creature in Christ. So when difficult subjects like angels, demons and attacks from Satan are taught, many believers tune out. But Paul and all the Scriptures teach these things. So I refer you to Paul’s letters to the churches as my references.

There are 3 heavens and you are on earth and can see the first heaven but not the second and third heaven. Your body, as a believer, is on earth but you sit in heavenly places in Christ. Why? Because you are a believer, your bloodline has changed and you are an heir. As a believer, you live, walk and are led by the Holy Spirit ( Galatians 5). Satan can not attack your spirit. Satan can attack your body and your soul ( your mind, will and emotions). As an heir within God’s family, we fight back with the word of God just as Jesus taught us in Matthew 4 and Luke 4.

Paul teaches us that we are involved in spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6. What is spiritual warfare? Is spiritual warfare confined to the earth or is it in the air? We do not physically see with our eyes on earth this spiritual warfare. And just like Michael fought with Satan in the firmament as Daniel 10 tells us, God’s angels fight for us in the firmament. Why? Because we are going about our Lord’s business on earth.

Believers are given promises from God, an inheritance, weapons to fight with, and a clear explanation what is going on and how we are to handle things as an Ambassador for Christ. If we could look at things from a different perspective we would see things differently. Just like going up in an airplane and looking out the window down at earth, we see things differently. Look at life with a perspective of 3 heavens.

3 Heavens

This photo we borrowed to show a good example of the 3 heavens. Lord willing, we will pick it up from here next time. Until next time.

Good vs Evil – Paul Explains Flesh

A quick review from our post Good vs Evil – Paul Reveals

Paul’s message is quite different from the Old Testament and the four gospels. Paul is teaching believers they are in this world but not a part of this world. Paul shows us the battle in the second heaven and how believers are to fight. Paul also explains the bodies of different “beings”.

Our job is not to defeat the enemy, Jesus already defeated him. Our job is to occupy until the Lord comes. This is about kingdoms and all those parables liking the kingdom of heaven to, is because the kingdom of heaven is a literal area where heaven rules. And the kingdom of God is within / inside believers.

The apostles and Old Testament saints were looking for this kingdom of heaven, on earth. But Jesus was crucified instead. They didn’t understand. Then Paul comes along, gets saved  and starts teaching something deeper, things we can not see, 2nd and 3rd heaven “stuff”. The Old Testament and gospels were teaching 1st heaven “stuff”. See our post Good vs Evil – Paul Reveals.

The Old Testament and the four gospels were pointing to the Kingdom of Heaven coming. The literal, physical reign on earth, of the Messiah. But because Jesus is God manifest or made known in the flesh (1 John 5:7 and 1 Timothy 3:16) and explained, he would be killed and raise from the dead, and he did, the disciples and other believers did not understand. Where would Jesus be killed? On earth. Did angels witness this? Yes. Where were the angels? In the firmament aka 2nd heaven. Paul is telling Timothy this in 1 Timothy 3:16.

1 Timothy 3:16 KJV  “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”

What is the word testament? It is a covenant but also think about someone’s Last Will And Testament. Just like people change their will, God changed his will / testament. Why? Because Jesus came not to destroy the law, but to fulfill Matthew 5:17 KJV
  “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”

So when Paul gets saved, Jesus was gone. Jesus went back to the Father in the third heaven. But the Father sends the Holy Spirit to all believers, Jews and Gentiles. Unlike all the people before Paul who were focused on the Messiah coming and ruling and reigning physically on earth, Paul’s message was different.

Paul’s message focused on the Kingdom of God. It was no longer about trying to keep a bunch of laws, rules and regulations to be able to get into God’s kingdom or to be able to stay in God’s kingdom. Now, to get into God’s kingdom,  it is by grace through faith, not if you are good or bad.  The Old will and testament judged on works to get into God’s kingdom. The New Will and Testament says I can get into God’s kingdom by believing on Jesus Christ and his shedding of his blood to pay for all my sin. And by believing and receiving Jesus Christ  into my heart and confessing him with my mouth, I am saved. I am in God’s kingdom. I am in God’s kingdom on my good days and my bad days. And because I am in God’s kingdom now, I have certain rights. I am an “heir” of salvation.

I changed kingdoms. Kingdoms have laws, rules and methods of operation. So does God’s kingdom. And as a believer I am an heir and joint-heir with Christ Romans 8:17,18.  So even though my body is on earth, earth is not my home. I am an ambassador for Christ  and his kingdom and, I have an inheritance. And part of my inheritance is the Holy Spirit, Ephesians 1. But we are going to look at the importance of the kingdom change right now.

When Jesus told Peter Jesus was giving him the keys to the kingdom, what kingdom? Jesus was giving Peter the keys to what kingdom? What do keys do? Keys unlock things. So Jesus said he was giving Peter keys to the kingdom of heaven meaning these keys would unlock the kingdom of heaven. And what ever thou bind on earth will be bound in heaven.

Matthew 16:17-20 KJV  “And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
[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.
[19] And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
[20] Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.”

But Paul never mentions the kingdom of heaven. Paul mentions the kingdom of God. And, Paul mentions the kingdom of Christ. Ephesians 5:5 KJV  “For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.”

Clearly the kingdom Jesus gave the keys to is different than the kingdom of God Paul preaches. And who can get into the kingdom of God? All those who believe on and receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour in their heart,  Jews and Gentiles, good or bad, rich or poor.

True believers have chosen to believe on and receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour.  We use God’s word not to keep laws and rules to stay in God’s kingdom, Jesus paid our way in to the kingdom of God with his own blood.  God’s word is our instruction manual. And God chose Paul to explain how to use his instruction manual. Paul’s teachings teach us what is going on and what we are suppose to do until Jesus comes back to get us. As we said last time, That is the meaning of the parable in Luke when we are told to occupy until the the come.  Luke 19:12-27.

Believers are here on earth occupying until the Lord comes to get us. Paul describes how believers are to occupy. But Paul’s letters go deeper. Paul explains the battle in the firmament. And Paul tells us how to fight. But sadly, many sermons review over and over again Old Testament “stories” and examples and rarely, if ever, teach or explain the kingdom of God within believers. Where is the instruction to the believers on the battle and spiritual warfare going on and how to fight back, how to occupy until Jesus comes to take us home to our new home?

Not only do we have Paul’s letters telling us how to fight, we have Jesus as an example when Satan came against him. Jesus was physically, in the flesh, on earth. And someone we could not see with our physical eyes,  attacks Jesus. Where was Satan? In the firmament and he came to Jesus.

Sadly, many “churches” are more concerned with attendance numbers and how to increase numbers. Churches are turning into social clubs, coffee shops, entertainment venues and teachers focused on Old Testament and the four gospels which point to the coming Messiah. HELLO – the Messiah came. And he sent us the Holy Spirit and saved Saul, changed his name to Paul and sent Paul to teach believers how to occupy until the Lord comes back.

And many believers have focused on the “gifts” of the Spirit and not occupying until Jesus comes back. And many have twisted the “gifts” of the Spirit to line up with what their denomination teaches. Friends, these things ought not to be so.

Now that the ground work is laid, we are ready to look at Paul’s message to believers. When believers are going through divorce, abandonment, kids on drugs, loss of jobs, sickness and the same issues as unbelievers and all the church can say is come to our church, we have a great music program or we have a coffee shop, there is a problem.

Look at your own life. If an unbeliever  looked at your life, would they want to be saved? 1 Corinthians chapter 15 is Paul presenting the gospel of salvation. Paul explains –

1 Corinthians 15:39-49 KJV  “All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.
[40] There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
[41] There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
[42] So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
[43] It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
[44] It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
[45] And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
[46] Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
[47] The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
[48] As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
[49] And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.”

Paul is explaining spirit “things” and second and third heaven “stuff”. When was the last time you heard this taught in your local church? And sadly, many believers are more interested in getting a better job, buying things and the cares of this world and not who they are in Christ and how they should occupy until the Lord comes.

So we are going to try to shed some light on the real life as a believer in Christ and how we are to occupy until Jesus comes to get us. How the second and third heaven play a role in our life. Until next time.

Good vs Evil – Paul Reveals

People bring Old Testament verses in to New Testament living and can’t figure out why their life does not match up with the scriptures. Or people will look at the four gospels and put those verses in to the church age and then they get all confused.

The way believers have tried to explain how God works with man is by teaching dispensations. Another words, God dispenses understanding and revelation to man at different times throughout history. Scripture does support the teaching of dispensations as this scripture makes clear.

John 20:9 says, ” For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.”

When we look at the differences of the Old Testament teachings coupled with the four gospels when Messiah came to fulfill the Old Testament, and compare Paul’s teachings – there is a huge difference. The gospels and the Old Testament focus on Israel and leave out Gentiles who believe. The gospels and the Old Testament are rooted in man keeping lists of rules and regulations to obtain favor with God and stay saved. We see examples in the Old Testament of people who tried to keep these rules and every one of them failed.

Even many believers struggle with some of Paul’s teachings. I started by posting The Disciples, Paul & Divisions and the Lord showed me, I need to retitle this series. So I am going to do as God said.
So to try to help explain this I am going to post a series titled Good vs Evil and try to lay out how God’s word is just perfect in explaining everything. Man has been looking at things with his earthly eyes trying to understand the  spiritual. So here we go.

Scripture makes it very clear, there are three heavens:

1 – Earth’s Atmosphere – that is what we see when we look up towards heaven.

2 – The Firmament – this is above the first heaven and there is water up there. Genesis 1:7-8 KJV  “And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.
[8] And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.”

3 – God’s Dwelling – 2 Corinthians 12:1-4 KJV  “It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
[2] I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
[3] And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
[4] How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.”

Where are you? On earth and you can look up and see the first heaven but you can not see the second or third heaven, right? We would call the second heaven, space. That is where the planets, stars and solar system is located. Then above that is the third heaven, God’s abode.

Remember in Daniel chapter 10 when Daniel sees something, a vision? We know Gabriel, an arch angel of God’s, comes to Daniel and explains things. And in Daniel 10: 12,13 we see the arch angel Michael is fighting with someone. Could the people on earth see this? No. Where was this battle taking place? In the second heaven called The Firmament.

There is a battle going on between good verses evil, God verses Satan, God’s angels verses Satan’s demons. Old Testament people knew this and it is recorded in scripture with Jacob’s ladder, Ezekiel’s visions, Job and many others. This battle happens in the firmament, or 2nd heaven. What are they fighting for? The souls of man and  kingdoms. Remember, your soul is your mind, your will and your emotions.

God has his kingdom and Satan, for now, has a kingdom, the prince and power of “the air”. So God calls out Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, establishes Israel as a nation set aside for God. Satan prods and pushes and nips at Israel trying to get them to turn away from God. God sets up Moses and a bunch of laws and ordinances (about 6000 of them) to show them the path to take, with the promise of a coming Messiah who will straighten everything out.

So the Old Testament is a record of those laws and ordinances and much more to include prophecy, mistakes people made, sin, and victories. The Old Testament points to the coming Messiah, a time when God would set up his kingdom on earth. During these hundreds and thousands of years, battles in the firmament are still going on. Then Jesus / Yeshua comes and presents himself to Israel as their Messiah and the religious leaders reject him. Yeshua is crucified, buried and rises from the dead and seen by many, many people, alive.

Then notice Luke 24:50-53 KJV  “And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
[51] And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
[52] And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:
[53] And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.”

The people watched Yeshua / Jesus go up into heaven. What heaven? #1, #2 or #3? They could only see him going up into number one. But when Jesus said on the cross, ” It is finished”, Jesus settled everything – EVERYTHING. That means, the conflict is not about me. The conflict is not about me winning because Jesus won, he beat the devil. Jesus conquered death, hell and the grave. The enemy is defeated. Jesus defeated him.

Our job is not to defeat the enemy, Jesus already defeated him. Our job is to occupy until the Lord comes. This is about kingdoms and all those parables liking the kingdom of heaven to, is because the kingdom of heaven is a literal area where heaven rules. And the kingdom of God is within believers.

The apostles and Old Testament saints were looking for this kingdom of heaven, on earth. But Jesus was crucified instead. They didn’t understand. Then Paul comes along, gets saved  and starts teaching something deeper, things we can not see, 2nd and 3rd heaven “stuff”. The Old Testament and gospels were teaching 1st heaven “stuff”.

The Bible is not a book of commandments and rules I have to keep and if I am good enough or do good deeds, then I can be saved or stay saved. If you wanted to go to a foreign country, you check the laws, rules, the lifestyle, the weather, crime, cleanliness and so forth. You decide if you want to go to that country or not. Just like you get to choose if you want Jesus and God’s kingdom or not.

True believers have chosen to believe on and receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour.  We use God’s word not to keep laws and rules to stay in God’s kingdom, Jesus paid our way in to the kingdom of God. God’s word is our instruction manual. And God chose Paul to explain how to use his instruction manual. Paul’s teachings teach us what is going on and what we are suppose to do until Jesus comes back to get us. That is the meaning of the parable in Luke.

Luke 19:12-27 KJV  “He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
[13] And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
[14] But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.
[15] And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
[16] Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.
[17] And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
[18] And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.
[19] And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.
[20] And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:
[21] For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.
[22] And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:
[23] Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?
[24] And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.
[25] (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)
[26] For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.
[27] But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.”

And our instruction manual tells us there is a battle going on in the second heaven, the firmament.

Our instruction manual tells us God has angels, not to minister to us but God’s angels minister FOR us , those who are “heirs” of salvation. Hebrews 1:13-14 KJV  “But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
[14] Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”

Paul’s message is quite different from the Old Testament and the four gospels. Paul is teaching believers they are in this world but not a part of this world. Paul shows us the battle in the second heaven and how believers are to fight. We will look at this more next time, Lord willing. Until next time.

The Disciples, Paul & Divisions Part 2

We have learned the apostles walking with Jesus were living under the law, the Old Testament law. After the resurrection of Jesus, were the apostles still living under the Old Testament law? Yes. Remember we pointed out last time –

But notice John 20:9 says, ” For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.” Notice the word “scripture”.

We see from scripture now, things the apostles did not know or see right away because we have all of the scriptures now. And we see the book of Acts shows us transition. What happened?

Just as Jesus said, God sent the Holy Spirit. We see Peter and John are put in prison for speaking and teaching Jesus, Acts 4. Stephen is stoned to death, Acts 7 after giving a recap of Jewish history and preaching Jesus, the ( Just One verse 52). God sends Philip to preach to an Ethiopian eunuch who gets saved and baptized and then God miraculously transports Philip to Azotus, Acts 8.

In each of these situations we see these believers are using Old Testament scripture to explain to the people Jesus is the one those scriptures speak of. They explain by going back to Abraham and Moses. But remember,  now the Holy Ghost is inside them and we see they are doing great wonders and miracles and preaching Jesus. Then Saul gets saved and meets Ananias, a disciple in Damascus  (Syria), Acts 9.

Notice when Saul/Paul gets saved in Acts 9, who is speaking to Saul? Here you have this religious Jew who lives by the Old Testament law, who knows the scriptures, who knows God is One. He knows of Jesus but Saul is an Old Testament guy, a religious Old Testament guy. And on his way to Damascus, Syria to kill believers, God gets a hold of Saul/Paul. Notice Saul says, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ” I am Jesus….” Acts 9:5. Then they talk and Jesus tells Saul what he is to do. Saul knew Jesus was crucified and buried in a tomb. Saul knew believers said Jesus rose from the dead and Saul/Paul was killing believers to stop them from preaching Jesus.

Do you think Saul was running through Old Testament protocols in his mind when Jesus spoke to him? No way and I do not mean that disrespectful either. Do you think Saul was thinking, wait a minute, I am from the tribe of Benjamin? No. Scripture tells us, Saul was trembling and astonished. Wouldn’t you be trembling and astonished? Jesus tells Saul go into the city and it will be told thee what thou must do. Sound familiar?

God told Moses where to bring Isreal, to the mountain of God,  but Abraham, God told him to leave and God would guide him where he was to go. Abraham had to move by faith. Moses was told what to do, each step.

Then the Lord speaks to Ananias about Saul and we see the Lord tells Ananias he has chosen Saul to bear his name to Gentiles, kings and Israel, Acts 9:15. Clearly we see a shift here. Unlike the Old Testament where God was focused on Israel. Yes we see God dealing with Gentiles in the Old Testament, we see prophecy and major events, but the focus is Israel, the law and the prophets. Unlike the four gospels where the focus is still Israel, the law and the prophets and now the Messiah had come and was crucified, just as the prophets said in the Old Testament. Now, God was telling Ananias he was going to use this man Saul, a Jew who knows the Old Testament and lives by the law of the Old Testament, to reach Gentiles? And kings? And Israel?

Question: Where are the disciples? What are they doing? After they were released from prison, they were preaching and teaching Jesus Christ. Where?  In the temple. To Jews. Acts 5:41-42 KJV  “And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
[42] And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.”

Last time we asked if Saul/Paul was baptized. Acts 9:13-18 KJV
” Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
[14] And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
[15] But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
[16] For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.
[17] And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
[18] And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.”

Where does Saul go first to preach? Acts 9:20 KJV  “And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.” He goes to Jews in the synagogue. The Jews took counsel to kill Saul.

Then the Lord gets Peter’s attention in Acts 9 and 10. The Lord reveals to Peter, Gentiles are going to be saved. Then Peter witnesses Gentiles being saved and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 10:44-45 KJV  “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
[45] And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

An interesting thing is in Acts 11:13,14 Peter recounts what happened with Cornelius in Acts 10:1-8 and Acts 10:19-23 but notice Peter says in Acts 11:14 he was telling Cornelius words whereby Cornelius and his house would be saved. What words did Peter say? Starting in Acts 10: 25 Peter reminds them of the law prohibits Jews from keeping company with Gentiles but God showed him things changed.

What were the words of salvation Peter preached?
Acts 10:38-48 KJV  “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
[39] And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
[40] Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
[41] Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
[42] And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
[43] To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
[44] While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
[45] And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
[46] For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
[47] Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
[48] And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.”

Question: Who was present when Peter was speaking? Jews and Gentiles. And we see Saul’s name is changed to Paul and he preaches at Antioch in Acts 13. And notice when Paul stands up to preach he addresses Israel and ye that fear God in Acts 13:16. Was Paul’s message different than Peter’s message? We will pick it up from here next time, Lord willing.

The Disciples, Paul & Divisions

We said last time, The New Testament has 27 books and starts with the four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. When we look at an overall picture of the four gospels, we see Jesus is a Jew from the genealogy line of David. The 39 Old Testament books told the Jews the Messiah was coming. Scripture explained how the Jews could confirm the real Messiah. So throughout the Old Testament we see clues God gives – he would be born in Bethlehem, he would come from David’s line (Isaiah 11) he would be crucified  (Isaiah 53) and many other verses.

Then the time comes for Jesus to come. And when Jesus, in the flesh, is about 30 years old, he starts his ministry. Another words, he starts revealing who he is and he performs miracles, raises people from the dead and explains things from scripture. He even tells people he is the long awaited Messiah.  Jesus presents himself as their long awaited Messiah that was to come. John 4:25-26 KJV
“The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
[26] Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.”

It is not surprising how some rejected Jesus. Remember when God called Moses to deliver Israel after 430 years in bondage? The people didn’t want Moses “ruling” over them. Do you think Jesus knew they were going to reject him and crucify him? John chapter 17 is Jesus’ prayer and Jesus tells us he knew what had to happen. And that is why Jesus said, It is finished in John 19:30.

But notice John 20:9 says, ” For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.” Notice the word “scripture”.

Up until this point the Jews, including the disciples, were living under the law and Old Testament teachings. And what the disciples knew and understood up to this point was only Old Testament teachings. Jesus told his disciples many times he was going to be killed but he would raise the third day. Matthew 16:21 KJV  “From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.”

The religious crowd knew Jesus said he would rise from the dead the third day, Matthew 27:63 KJV  “Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.”

After the crucifixion the disciples knew Jesus said he would rise but  John 20:9 KJV  “For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.”

The disciples were going on what they knew Jesus told them. And one thing Jesus told them was after he left this earth, he would send the Holy Ghost / Holy Spirit to live inside all true believers. Now put yourself in the disciples shoes. What would you think of that? We look back at those times because we have “scripture”.

John 20:9 KJV  “For as yet they knew not the scripture…. .”

We can understand some of the words and teachings of Jesus  because we have the scriptures. And up until this time, there was no New Testament. And the four gospels show us the Messiah came to Israel. Israel’s religious leaders rejected the Messiah. Some from Israel believed, like Nicodemus. Jesus is crucified and then rises from the dead and the Holy Spirit comes to dwell inside believers. Jesus goes back to heaven and the Holy Spirit works with us and through us.

Everything is going along just fine and this religious guy named Saul gets saved. God changes his name to Paul and sends Paul to?  Acts 9:15-16 KJV
  “But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
[16] For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.”

Now things were going to change. Why? Because God was telling Jews he was going to extend salvation to Gentiles. God prepared his apostles for this “new” thing when the Lord showed Peter in Acts 10.  Notice God called Saul / Paul first, then God deals with telling Peter?  God tells Peter in Acts 10 but Paul was called first in Acts 9.

Sometimes believers don’t see what God is doing. Peter and others knew of Saul and that Saul was killing and persecuting believers. But God called and saved Saul before Peter knew anything about it. There is a lesson in this for all of us.

God starts something “new”, extending salvation to Gentiles. Surely Jews who have Old Testament teachings embedded in them find it difficult to understand Gentiles believing on their God. But some accepted the Gentiles and tried to get Gentiles to keep their Old Testament laws. God had an answer for this and he uses Saul called Paul to explain to Gentiles and Jews. And God uses Peter to explain to Jews too. We will pick it up from here next time, Lord willing. Until next time.

The Disciples & Paul

When Jesus physically walked on earth, he chose his disciples. So let us ask a few questions.

Question: Was Jesus and his disciples under the law?
Did they keep the Old Testament law?
Did Jesus receive the Holy Ghost during his physical ministry on earth? If yes, when?
Did the disciples of Jesus receive the Holy Ghost / Holy Spirit when they were walking with Jesus on earth?
When did the disciples receive the Holy Ghost?
How did the disciples receive the Holy Ghost?
When did the disciples of Jesus get “saved”?
What about Paul, when did Paul get saved?
When did Paul receive the Holy Ghost?
Was Paul baptized?

When you look at scripture you see all the disciples, Jesus and Paul were all Jews. Jesus and the disciples were teaching and preaching to Jews and basically,  they kept the Jewish laws. Paul, was a very religious Jew who claimed to keep the Old Testament law.

Why did these people keep the Old Testament law? Scholars say there are about 6000 laws in the Old Testament so why would people try to keep all these laws? Clearly at the end of the 6000 laws, God promises blessings for keeping the laws. But are the Old Testament people promised salvation, or heaven by keeping these laws? Or are they promised earthly blessings for keeping the 6000 or so laws?

Who gave these 6000 or so laws to the people? Where did the laws come from? Who were the laws given to? What was the purpose of giving these people all these laws? And what about Jesus, what did he have to say about all these laws? What about Paul, what did he say about all these laws?

When we look at scripture as a whole book made up of 66 different books, 39 Old Testament books and 27 New Testament books, it makes perfect sense. Just looking at the words ” Old” and “New” we see God divided his word. The word old means one thing and the word new means something different or new.

It is not that the “old” is not worth reading or studying because God has put into the old, prophecy – the foretelling of future events. God has shown us his personality in the Old Testament. God shows us how he handles situations, people, sin, fear, joy, anger and that God has emotions.

And the word new means what? The New Testament is not called the revised old testament, it is called new. New means you did not have it before, it is new.

So picture this. You have 12 disciples who lived by the Old Testament. Then you have this guy named Jesus who says he is God in the flesh. John 10:30 KJV  “I and my Father are one.”

We see a shift in the New Testament. The New Testament has 27 books and starts with the four gospels, Marthew, Mark, Luke and John. When we look at an overall picture of the four gospels, we see Jesus is a Jew from the genealogy line of David. Jesus presents himself as their long awaited Messiah that was to come. John 4:25-26 KJV
“The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
[26] Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.”

So the New Testament starts with the long awaited Messiah comes. Everyone in the four gospels was under the law still, practicing the law. We know the religious leaders of the Jews, rejected Jesus as the Messiah and ordered he be crucified. We know the crucifixion of Jesus was all part of God’s plan from the Old Testament. There are many, many references to the crucifixion of Jesus in the Old Testament but two of the most popular are Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53.

We see, even the Ethiopian eunuch was reading Isaiah/Esaias the Old Testament prophet’s writings when Philip was told, by God, to explain the writing to the eunuch in Acts 8:26-40.

So the first four books of the New Testament are presenting the Messiah, who is under the law, to Israel, Jews. There are 27 books in the New Testament, less the 4 gospels, means 23 books deal with the times after the resurrection of Jesus. We will pick it up from here next time, Lord willing. Until next time.

Something New

Something To Watch

People are watching the world stage. Not only people in America, but people around the world are paying attention to world events. We have seen the rise of nuclear threats, Ishmael’s lineage decappitating believers in Yeshua / Jesus, and wars in Syria.

When the recent blood moons occurred, people were looking at scripture. Many wrote books on the blood moons and solar eclipses. When “nothing” happened after the blood moons, most people chalked up the events as “scare tactics “. But the blood moons always impact Israel and solar eclipses the  nations. We have a full solar eclipse August 2017.

And look at Syria. Scripture tells us from thousands of years ago, Damascus is the “head” or capital of Syria.
Isaiah 7:8-9 KJV  “For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin; and within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people.
[9] And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah’s son. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.”

Today, we see war in Syria among their own people. Believers know Damascus is going to be destroyed by God. Isaiah 17:1 KJV  “The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.”

And we see people fleeing Syria, just as scripture says.

Isaiah 17:13 KJV  “The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind.”

And Paul tells us in Galatians 1, when he was questioning why believers were believing false doctrines, that he went to the “heathen”. Where? Arabia and Damascus.

Galatians 1:15-18 KJV  “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,
[16] To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
[17] Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
[18] Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.”

Believers know Damascus is going to be destroyed no matter how much money, relief efforts or help nations give to Damascus. Why mention this?

We are in Jubilee. And Jubilee is happening for Israel this year and next. There is a “year” of jubilee this year. But there is also a jubilee for events. You see, in May 1948 Israel was reborn as a nation. Add 50 years and 1998 would have been a jubilee year. But we also know scripture talks of 70 years for living and preadventure 80 years for man. And 1948 + 70 years = 2018. Is something going to happen with Israel that only God can save her? Eventually, yes.

Not only that, in 1967 there were four main countries fighting against Israel in the 6 Day War from 6/5/1967 through 6/10/1967. The four countries were Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Iraq.

Israel was fighting for her city Jerusalem where King David reigned and where Abraham was. We know God gave Israel the victory and Israel recaptured Jerusalem. Israel would own the land where the temple mount is but let Jordan administer the mosque that was on Israel’s land. And June 10, 2017 is the Jubilee of Jerusalem – 50 years in Israel’s possession as a reborn nation.

Why mention this? There are many reasons including the tour of President Trump in the Middle East, current events to watch and compare them with scripture, and we are in the counting of the Omer. The counting of the Omer is part of the feasts of the Lord as laid out in Leviticus 23:15 – 17.

The world has their “holidays”  and God has his holy days aka holidays. Do you want the world’s or God’s? We have Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits the starting of the Counting the Omer which ends with the Feast of Weeks / Pentecost. Then we have the rest of the feasts. But the Counting of the Omer is 50 days. Omer is a grain of wheat. Believers are likened unto wheat in scripture. Jesus says he separates the wheat from the tares.

In scripture, the people would gather the wheat from the fields, bundle the wheat and tie them. Then grind two loaves of bread from the wheat. In Ephesians 2, Paul explains the two loaves represent Israel and Gentiles.
Ephesians 2:15 KJV  “Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;”

The time of counting the Omer is a time to examine ourselves. It is a time to get “right” with God. Revelation 3 said Behold, Jesus was standing at the door and knocking. Jesus was not speaking to unbelievers here even though people use that verse for unbelievers. Jesus was speaking to the church, the last days church, the Laodiceans. Truly, the last days church is more concerned with money, wealth, numbers more so than the gospel of salvation, hell or sin.

Friends, the Counting of the Omer ends June 3rd and 4th with the Feast of Weeks, aka Pentecost. Why the 3rd and 4th? Because the day starts at sundown on God’s calendar. Remember the evening and the morning in Genesis?

Use the time of Counting the Omer to examine yourself, your relationship with the Lord and clean out any sin from your flesh. Bring your mind and body into subjection to the Lord God. And on June 3rd and 4th, celebrate Pentecost / the Feast of Weeks. Because now all true believers have the Holy Spirit inside them.

As we watch God line up events for the end, pray for Israel and America for repentance and protection. Pray for your country to repent and turn back to God. And most important, pray for yourself to be saved if you are not. If you want to be saved, select How To Get Saved from our menu above. Remember, it is not a prayer that saves you, it is a heart change and heart belief in Jesus / Yeshua and what he did on the cross for you and me. Until next time.

W – O – R – D

W – what God says
O – what others say
R – what we read
D – what we do

When you say the word of God a lot of people tune you out. Even believers. Scripture tells us, God’s word is established in heaven forever.
Psalm 119:89 KJV  “For ever, O Lord , thy word is settled in heaven.”

God does not have 54 versions of his word in heaven. He has one and we know this because word is singular, not plural. But I digress.

To get a good understanding of the importance of God’s word without reading the whole book right away, one needs to read and study only one chapter as a starting point. Psalm 119 has a main focus on God’s word. Now stick with me on this. I will show you something that will open your eyes of understanding.

Believers know when God mentions something, more than once, God is emphasizing something. When we look at Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the scriptures, we notice the Psalm is broken up into 22 sections and each section is titled. It is no coincidence that the 22 titled sections make up the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

But we also discover that God repeats a few words in this one Psalm. I want to look at two of the words God repeats and then show you how this applies to you and me today. The first word I want to point out is the word, “word”. God mentions his word, 42 times in this one chapter. Notice word is singular, not plural. We also see 4 + 2 = 6, six is the number of man. But I am not going into Bible numbers today.

Psalm 119 has 176 verses. That means about 25% of that one chapter, tells us something about God’s word. Yes, all 176 verses are God’s word but, God is telling us about his word, the power of his word, what his word will do. Forty two times God tells us what his word will do, and do for you and to you. That means about 25% of that chapter, God is telling you and me what his word will do. That averages out to about 1 in 4 verses or 25%.

The second word I want to point out is the word heart. This refers to man’s heart. And the word heart appears 15 times in this chapter. So the best thing for me to do now is provide the chapter to you and have you search out these two words – word and heart. I want to see if you see some keys God is revealing to us. And in our next post, we will explore the keys.

I have broken Psalm 119 into groups of 50 verse sections to make this easier to study and find these two words, word and heart. The last section is verses 151 through 176.

Psalm 119:1-50 KJV
Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord .
[2] Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
[3] They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.
[4] Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.
[5] O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!
[6] Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.
[7] I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.
[8] I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.
[9] Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
[10] With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
[11] Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
[12] Blessed art thou, O Lord : teach me thy statutes.
[13] With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
[14] I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.
[15] I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
[16] I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
[17] Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.
[18] Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.
[19] I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.
[20] My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.
[21] Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments.
[22] Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies.
[23] Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.
[24] Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.
[25] My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.
[26] I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes.
[27] Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.
[28] My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.
[29] Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.
[30] I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me .
[31] I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O Lord , put me not to shame.
[32] I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.
[33] Teach me, O Lord , the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.
[34] Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
[35] Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.
[36] Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.
[37] Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.
[38] Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.
[39] Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good.
[40] Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.
[41] Let thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord , even thy salvation, according to thy word.
[42] So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word.
[43] And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.
[44] So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.
[45] And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.
[46] I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.
[47] And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.
[48] My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.
[49] Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.
[50] This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.

Psalm 119:51-100 KJV
The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law.
[52] I remembered thy judgments of old, O Lord ; and have comforted myself.
[53] Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law.
[54] Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.
[55] I have remembered thy name, O Lord , in the night, and have kept thy law.
[56] This I had, because I kept thy precepts.
[57] Thou art my portion, O Lord : I have said that I would keep thy words.
[58] I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.
[59] I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.
[60] I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.
[61] The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.
[62] At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.
[63] I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.
[64] The earth, O Lord , is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.
[65] Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O Lord , according unto thy word.
[66] Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.
[67] Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.
[68] Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.
[69] The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.
[70] Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.
[71] It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
[72] The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.
[73] Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.
[74] They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.
[75] I know, O Lord , that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.
[76] Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.
[77] Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.
[78] Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.
[79] Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies.
[80] Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.
[81] My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.
[82] Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?
[83] For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes.
[84] How many are the days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?
[85] The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law.
[86] All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.
[87] They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts.
[88] Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.
[89] For ever, O Lord , thy word is settled in heaven.
[90] Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.
[91] They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants.
[92] Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.
[93] I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.
[94] I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts.
[95] The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies.
[96] I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad.
[97] O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
[98] Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.
[99] I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.
[100] I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.

Psalm 119:101-150 KJV
I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.
[102] I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.
[103] How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
[104] Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.
[105] Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
[106] I have sworn, and I will perform it , that I will keep thy righteous judgments.
[107] I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O Lord , according unto thy word.
[108] Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord , and teach me thy judgments.
[109] My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law.
[110] The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts.
[111] Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.
[112] I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end.
[113] I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love.
[114] Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.
[115] Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.
[116] Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.
[117] Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.
[118] Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes: for their deceit is falsehood.
[119] Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: therefore I love thy testimonies.
[120] My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.
[121] I have done judgment and justice: leave me not to mine oppressors.
[122] Be surety for thy servant for good: let not the proud oppress me.
[123] Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness.
[124] Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes.
[125] I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies.
[126] It is time for thee , Lord , to work: for they have made void thy law.
[127] Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.
[128] Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.
[129] Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them.
[130] The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
[131] I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.
[132] Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name.
[133] Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
[134] Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts.
[135] Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes.
[136] Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.
[137] Righteous art thou, O Lord , and upright are thy judgments.
[138] Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful.
[139] My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words.
[140] Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.
[141] I am small and despised: yet do not I forget thy precepts.
[142] Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.
[143] Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights.
[144] The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live.
[145] I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O Lord : I will keep thy statutes.
[146] I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies.
[147] I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word.
[148] Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.
[149] Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: O Lord , quicken me according to thy judgment.
[150] They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law.

Psalm 119:151-176 KJV
Thou art near, O Lord ; and all thy commandments are truth.
[152] Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.
[153] Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law.
[154] Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word.
[155] Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.
[156] Great are thy tender mercies, O Lord : quicken me according to thy judgments.
[157] Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies.
[158] I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.
[159] Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O Lord , according to thy lovingkindness.
[160] Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
[161] Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.
[162] I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.
[163] I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love.
[164] Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.
[165] Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
[166] Lord , I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments.
[167] My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly.
[168] I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee.
[169] Let my cry come near before thee, O Lord : give me understanding according to thy word.
[170] Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me according to thy word.
[171] My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes.
[172] My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.
[173] Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts.
[174] I have longed for thy salvation, O Lord ; and thy law is my delight.
[175] Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me.
[176] I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.

Until next time.