Sunday, December 28, 2014

Knowing who I am in Christ

By Tony Padilla

Not sure who you really are?


Read this list of Biblical truths that reveal who God made you to be.

I am complete in Him Who is the Head of all principality and power (Colossians 2:10).

I am alive with Christ (Ephesians 2:5).

I am free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2).

I am far from oppression, and fear does not come near me (Isaiah 54:14).

I am born of God, and the evil one does not touch me (1 John 5:18).

I am holy and without blame before Him in love (Ephesians 1:4; 1 Peter 1:16).

I have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16; Philippians 2:5).

I have the peace of God that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7).

I have the Greater One living in me; greater is He Who is in me than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).

I have received the gift of righteousness and reign as a king in life by Christ (Romans 5:17).

I have received the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ, the eyes of my understanding being enlightened (Ephesians 1:17-18).

I have received the power of the Holy Spirit to lay hands on the sick and see them recover, to cast out demons, to speak with new tongues. I have power over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means harm me (Mark 16:17-18; Luke 10:17-19).

I have put off the old man and have put on the new man, which is renewed in the knowledge after the image of Him Who created me (Colossians 3:9-10).

I have given, and it is given to me; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, men give into my bosom (Luke 6:38).

I have no lack for my God supplies all of my need according to His riches in glory by Christ (Philippians 4:19).

I can quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one with my shield of faith (Ephesians 6:16).

I can do all things through Christ (Philippians 4:13).

I show forth the praises of God Who has called me out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9).

I am God’s child for I am born again of the incorruptible seed of the Word of God, which lives and abides forever (1 Peter 1:23).

I am God’s workmanship, created in Christ unto good works (Ephesians 2:10).

I am a new creature in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

I am a spirit being alive to God (Romans 6:11;1 Thessalonians 5:23).

I am a believer, and the light of the Gospel shines in my mind (2 Corinthians 4:4).

I am a doer of the Word and blessed in my actions (James 1:22,25).

I am a joint-heir with Christ (Romans 8:17).

I am more than a conqueror through Him Who loves me (Romans 8:37).

I am an overcomer by the blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony (Revelation 12:11).

I am a partaker of His divine nature (2 Peter 1:3-4).

I am an ambassador for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20).

I am part of a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people (1 Peter 2:9).

I am the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21).

I am the temple of the Holy Spirit; I am not my own (1 Corinthians 6:19).

I am the head and not the tail; I am above only and not beneath (Deuteronomy 28:13).

I am the light of the world (Matthew 5:14).

I am His elect, full of mercy, kindness, humility, and longsuffering (Romans 8:33; Colossians 3:12).

I am forgiven of all my sins and washed in the Blood (Ephesians 1:7).

I am delivered from the power of darkness and translated into God’s kingdom (Colossians 1:13).

I am redeemed from the curse of sin, sickness, and poverty (Deuteronomy 28:15-68; Galatians 3:13).

I am firmly rooted, built up, established in my faith and overflowing with gratitude (Colossians 2:7).

I am called of God to be the voice of His praise (Psalm 66:8; 2 Timothy 1:9).

I am healed by the stripes of YaHshua (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24).

I am raised up with Christ and seated in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6; Colossians 2:12).

I am greatly loved by God (Romans 1:7; Ephesians 2:4; Colossians 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 1:4).

I am strengthened with all might according to His glorious power (Colossians 1:11).

I am submitted to God, and the devil flees from me because I resist him in the Name of Christ (James 4:7).

I press on toward the goal to win the prize to which God in Christ is calling us upward (Philippians 3:14).

For God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).

It is not I who live, but Christ lives in me (Galatians 2:20).

Saturday, December 27, 2014

Our God is a Triune God



“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” (Genesis 1:26).





The God we worship is one God, existing in three persons; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The term “Godhead” is mentioned in the Bible three times:


“Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.” (Acts 17:29).


“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20).


“For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” (Colossians 2:9).

the Hebrew alef-beis


Joshua Adams
December 24 at 4:12pm ·



For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2 Cor 4:6-7

This year, the Temple Institute has produced pure olive oil fit for use in the Menorah of the Temple for what it says is the first time in two thousand years.The earthenware flasks made to contain the oil were produced by an artisan from the settlement of Ofra (fawn), in the west bank. In ofra, is an organic olive grove where the olives were harvested and processed without the use of metal, and the oil stored inside them was sealed with a silicone plug which will maintain the oil’s pure status.

There is a symmetry in the Menorah, the light in the temple of God, with its central lampstand “And six branches shall come out of its sides: three branches of the lampstand out of one side, and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side (Ex. 25:32). Zechariah speaks of a similar Lampstand, with a bowl on top of it and two olive trees beside it. In the temple, the lamps were fueled by pure, specially prepared olive oil. The lampstand Zechariah saw in his vision was fed straight from the two trees.

Zechariah asked for an explanation of the vision:So I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, "What are these, my lord?" Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, "Do you not know what these are?" And I said, "No, my lord." So he answered and said to me: "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts. Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of "Grace, grace to it! Zech.4

In Zechariah Chpter 3 the Lord spoke of the importance of purity to Zechariah. Now Zerubbabel was a leader of the first ones who came out of Babylon to build the temple of the Lord, at the time when Cyrus came in. Purity in itself is not enough to accomplish the work of the Lord. When we trust in our own resources - whether they be small or great in the eyes of man - then we don't enjoy the full supply of the Spirit. "Oh! May God send us poverty; may God send us lack of means, and take away our power of speech if it must be, and help us only to stammer, if we may only thus get the blessing. Oh! I rave to be useful to souls, and all the rest may go where it will." (Spurgeon).

Everything is by the very spirit of God that lives in the hearts of all believers,and He speak of His own but brings to us the things of Christ,even telling us of the things to come. He declares the end from the beginning. As the scripture says, until one comes to Christ, the scriptures are veiled, but when one comes to Christ, the veil is taken away.

Saints, a very dear one to me, related a dream of the other night, in which everywhere she looked was the word Tau. it was on the buildings and all the billboards, and Tau has no real meaning to her. Tau is the 22nd letter of the Hebrew alef-beis. The Jewish people believe that, as a carpenter employs tools to build a home, so G-d utilized the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew Alphabet, the alef-beis, to form heaven and earth. They call the alef-beis the letters of light.

Genesis 22, is the account of Abraham taking Isaac to Mount Moriah to offer as a sacrifice. Psalms 22, is a prophetic account of the crucifiction of Christ. Many have heard that YHWH,or Yahweh, Yud Hei Vav Hei literally means behold the hand, behold the nail (vav, or wav); The Name of God all rolled up in the hand and the nail. Isa.22:22 And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.(Vs,22)And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father's house. And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father's house, the offspring and the issue, all vessels of small quantity, from the vessels of cups, even to all the vessels of flagons. Isa 22:23-24. Rev. 22, the last chapter. vs.7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. vs. 12-14, And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 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.

After the first three letters, the fourth letter of the Hebrew alef-beis is Dalet. Dalet has the meaning the poor man, receives charity from the rich man, the gimel. The word dalet means “door.” The door stands in the opening of the house, the beit. Even its form is of a man bending over to touch a man. Jewish Sages teach: “If not for God’s help he [man] would not have been able to overcome it [the evil inclination].” The Talmud describes a situation where one man is carrying a heavy object and another man appears to be helping him by placing his hands under the object, when in truth the first man is carrying all the weight. The second man is referred to as “a merely apparent helper.” So are we, explains the Ba’al Shem Tov, in relation to God. Ultimately, all one’s strength comes from Above. Free choice is no more than the expression of one’s will to participate, as it were, in the Divine act. One merely places one’s hands under the weight carried exclusively by God. After two more letters, the seventh letter, is Zayin,and it signifies a woman of Valor, and she is her husbands crown.“Who is a good woman? She who does her husband’s will.” The seventh letter, She is the "Shabbat Queen", the bride of Christ. She has oil for her lamp. It is best for us to put ourselves in the right hand of God, Jesus Christ. Even the alphabet of the word speaks of the word of God, Jesus Christ who came in the flesh, the Son of God, the light of the world, and our only hope. What a glorious and a blessed hope He is. Praise You, Lord and God.

The last letter or seal of the word emet, “truth,” itself – the seal of God’s seal – is the letter tau, simple faith, the conclusion and culmination of all twenty-two forces – letters – active in Creation. Tau represents Covenant or seal. In him (Christ) you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, which is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. Saints, God is working in you to will and to do according to His good pleasure, by His Spirit, through His letters of light. Alef, the very first letter of the Hebrew alphabet is a Yod above connected by a diagonal Vav to aYod below. Vav is the connection, it is the light that came down, it is the nail.

A Hebrew perspective: In Biblical Hebrew, the letter vav possesses the function of inverting the apparent tense of a verb to its opposite from past to future or from future to past (vav hahipuch). The first appearance of this type of vav in the Torah is the letter vav” which begins the ((twenty-second word)) of the account of Creation, “And God said….” This is the first explicit saying of the ten sayings of Creation: “And G d said [the verb ‘said’ being inverted from the future to the past tense by the vav at the beginning of the word–‘And’( He declares the end from the beginning)]: ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” The phenomenon of light breaking through the darkness of the tzimtzum, creation itself, is itself the secret of time (future becoming past) which permeates space.

In the Divine service of a Jew, the power to draw from the future into the past is the secret of teshuvah (“repentance” and “returning to God”) from love. Through teshuvah from fear, one’s deliberate transgressions become like errors; the severity of one’s past transgressions becomes partially sweetened, but not completely changed. However, when a Jew returns in love, his deliberate transgressions become like actual merits, for the very consciousness of distance from God resulting from one’s transgressions becomes the motivating force to return to God with passion even greater than that of one who had never sinned.

Because of Love, God sent His only Son, His right hand, the light of the world, the only One who never sinned, to be His Lamb, Our blood sacrifice, who took the nail which joins us to Him,by the Spirit of God, Because No one can say Jesus is Lord but By the Spirit. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2 Cor 4:6-7

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL.


For those watching. Ancient phoenicia also had an alphabet with 22 letters,and its 22nd letter was also the letter Tau. Make sure your faith and your Holy Spirit is leading you into the things of Christ, the word of God made flesh. Listen to Him. Jesus Christ, the Alpha and the Omega,the beginning and the end, the one who was who is and is to come. This babe, whose birth we SHOULD celebrate, every day, Is the beginning and the end and came in the center of time. He is the lampstand before the Most Holy place, that was unveiled by His blood, and the nail, that connects. And He is the bowl at the center from whom we receive life and go from Glory to Glory, by the very Spirit of God. Praise Him, Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

For those who incessantly send me sites to teach me the right name to call Him, I Call Him, My Heavenly Father, because He told me to, and His spirit is my witness. Abba, Father, who purchased us from among men as Children and as His Bride. I receive your condemnation and forgive you. Only by the blood and the nail and His grace is our blessed Hope sure. It was declared from the beginning.

In a recent poll, Pope Francis, leader of the world’s nearly 1.1 billion Catholics, enjoys broad support across much of the world. Francis’ strongest support comes from Europe, where a median of 84% offer a favorable rating. Prophecy is being fulfilled and soon we will be with Him.

God Will Make A Way

2014 dec.


Don’t See How? God Will Make A Way

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV)

You may be facing a dead end right now — financial, emotional, or relational — but if you will trust God and keep on moving in faith, even when you don’t see a way, he will make a way.


It will become more understandable as you head down the path he sets before you, but understanding is not a requirement for you to start down the path. Proverbs 4:18 says, “The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day” (NIV). One day you will stand in the full light of eternity and view the big picture. You’ll see God’s purpose behind the path he specifically chose for you.

In the meantime, do what Proverbs 3 says: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Be patient. God knows what he’s doing. God knows what is best for you. He can see the end result. You can’t. All those problems, heartaches, difficulties and delays — all the things that make you ask “why” — will one day be clear in the light of God’s love.

But for now, we’re learning to trust God.
HE WILL MAKE YOUR CROOKED PLACES STRAIGHT!!! NEVER UNDER ESTIMATE OR LIMIT GOD ALMIGHTY!! AMEN, GLORY TO THE LAMB OF GOD!! HALLELUJAH!!!

Friday, December 19, 2014

Teaching by the teacher appointed by God

Three Biblical Judgements 




It is fairly well known that scripture mentions three judgments in connection with the body of Christ.

The first judgment is past tense , and has already happened once for all believers.

This first judgment is concerning the sins of a believer which were judged approximately 2000 years ago in Christ upon the Cross.

" Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me HAS everlasting life, and shall NOT COME into judgment, but has passed from death into life ".

John 5 v 24.

Notice the first part of the verse here , that due to faith in Christ , the believer HAS everlasting life NOW , therefore he will NOT come into judgment at any time in the future.

The second part of the verse is clear , the believer has passed from death to LIFE.

As believers we are ESTABLISHED in the life of Christ.

" Who Himself BORE OUR SINS in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed ".

1 Peter 2 v 24.

The sins of a believer having been borne by Christ on the cross , are , as far as God is concerned , no longer in existence.

Put another way -

" To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood ".

Revelation 1 v 5b.

The sins of believers have been literally washed away by the blood of Christ.

Talking about God's will , the writer to the Hebrews says -

" By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE for all.

Hebrews 10 v 10.

Christ's sacrifice was perfect , and will never be repeated , He offered Himself ONCE for all.

" For by one offering He has PERFECTED FOREVER those who are being sanctified ".

Hebrews 10 v 14.

" God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, NOT IMPUTING their trespasses to them ".

2 Corinthians 5 v 19.

In Christ the believers trespasses will never be imputed to them , because they were judged and removed 2000 years ago.


" For He made Him who knew no sin , to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

2 Corinthians 5 v 21.

Today in Christ , the believer stands before God with no fear of any future judgment for sins , for they were all laid upon Christ , our Scapegoat , and he was judged in our place , approximately 2000 years ago.

The second judgment is present tense , and is the chastisement of the Lord , which is being experienced now by ALL believers while we sojourn here below.

The scripture says -

" For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged ".

1 Corinthians 11 v 31.

In other words , during our walk with the Lord there are occasions when we sin , but if we judge ourselves and confess the sin to the Lord , the scripture says -

" If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness ".

1 John 1 v 9.

But there are occasions when a believer will not confess his sins to the Lord.

In which case we come under the Lord's judgment.

"But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may NOT be condemned with the
world ".

Notice here that judgment ONLY occurs when we fail to confess our sins.

The good news is that as believers , when we are judged by the Lord , we are chastened by him , so that we may NOT be condemned with the world.

For example if a believer is in a situation where they are treating others disrespectfully despite being convicted by the Holy Spirit , and they continue to harden their heart and carry on behaving badly , then the Lord will put them in a situation where someone else treats them in the same way that they treat others.

Speaking specifially to Christians the apostle Paul said -

" Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap ".

Galatians 6 v 7.

Yet as believers we should never be discouraged when we fall under the chastisement of the Lord.

For his chastisement is a practical demonstration of his love for us.

“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
For whom the Lord loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives ".

Hebrews 12 v 5b - 6.

The Lord's chastisement is proof positive that we are his true children.

" But if you are without chastening, of which ALL have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons ".

Hebrews 12 v 8.

Scripture also makes it clear that the Lord's chastisement is for own benefit and growth.

" For our natural parents indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but he FOR OUR PROFIT , that we may be partakers of His holiness ".

Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Hebrews 12 v 10 - 11.



Finally there is a third judgment that concerns the body of Christ.

This is yet future , and concerns the WORKS of all believers , which shall be tried to determine their quality , and as a result our rewards.

Speaking to Christians only the apostle Paul says -

" For we must all appear before the judgment seat ( bema ) of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad ".

2 Corinthians 5 v 10

The phrase " Judgment seat " in Greek is one word " Bema ".

Originally this was a raised platform at the Greek games where the judges would place a victor's crown ( stephanos ) upon the head of those who were victorious in the various athletic events.

In other words it was a place where an overcomer would receive a reward.

And this is how Paul uses it in the verses we are looking at in this little study.

The victor's crown or stephanos was a wreath made out of things like wild olive , laurel , parsley and pine.

When we appear before Christ's bema we will be standing secure on the foundation that was laid for us by God.

" For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid , which is Jesus Christ ".

1 Corinthians 3 v 11.

And one day after we have been raptured , we will watch as all the things that we have done for Christ while in our physical bodies , that we thought were acceptable to the Lord , will come before His Bema to be scrutinised by fire.

" Now if anyone builds upon this foundation with gold silver precious stones , wood , hay , straw , each man's work will become clear , for the day will declare it , because it will be revealed by FIRE and the fire will test each man's work , of what sort it is ".

1 Corinthians 3 v 12 - 13.

Those who have served Christ selflessly and for His glory will find that these works will survive the test of God's holy fire and as a result will receive a reward.

If anyone's work which he has built on it endures , he will receive a reward.

1 Corinthians 3 v 14.

Whereas those who have been motivated by selfish ambition rather than devotion to Christ will be surprised on that day.

For although while on earth they may have justified certain wrong attitudes and refused to respond to the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

Yet as these works come into contact with God's purifying fire , the secret motives behind them will result in the failure of these works to survive God's purifying fire.

If anyone's work is BURNED , he will suffer loss , but he himself WILL BE SAVED , yet so AS THROUGH FIRE ".

1 Corinthians 3 v 15.

If we desire to receive a reward at this time then it is important to realise that while here on earth we are workers together with him ( 2 Corinthians 6 v 1 ).

This principle is clearly seen in the life of the apostle Paul who said -

" By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me ".

1 Corinthians 15 v 10.

" I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me ".

Colossians 1 v 29.

Paul labored diligently in the sure knowledge that he was not doing his own thing , but that he was doing the works in the power of the Holy Spirit that God had before ordained for him to walk in.

" For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath BEFORE ORDAINED that we should walk in them ".

Ephesians 2 v 10.

This is a part of finding our identity in Christ as we learn how to work out our individual salvation before God.

" Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who WORKS IN YOU , both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Philippians 2 v 12b - 13.

So then if we build using the right materials which are described as gold , silver , and precious stones , scripture reveals that we can confidently anticipate receiving rewards on that day.

But what type of rewards can we expect to receive ?
Well just like the athletes in the Greek games , the New Testament speaks of crowns that will be awarded to us based upon our faithfulness to the Lord while on earth.

There are different crowns ( Stephanos ) awarded for different reasons.

For example , in 1 Corinthians , referring to the Isthman games the apostle Paul says -

" Do you not know that those who run in a race all run but only one receives the prize ? Run in such a way that you may win ".

1 Corinthians 9 v 24.

Paul here is comparing believers to athletes running in a race.

As believers we don’t compete against each other , we run against our three enemies –

The world , the flesh , and the devil , and their various manifestations.

To each individual is held out the promise that with the Lord’s help they are able to win the stephanos that is awarded to believers that run and win their individual life’s race.

This stephanos is called - The imperishable stephanos.

The next verse says –

" Everyone who competes in the games exercises self control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable crown , but we an IMPERISHABLE ".

1 Corinthians 9 v 25.

There is also a stephanos for every believer who longs to see the Lord.

" Finally, there is laid up for me the CROWN of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to ALL who have loved His appearing.

2 Timothy 4 v 8.

Then there is the crown of life promised to those who love the Lord and demonstrate their love practically by enduring temptation.

" Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the CROWN of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

James 1 v 12.

This verse probably has a double application.

For the person enduring temptation will be crowned with a quality of life while still here on earth , as well as being awarded a stephanos of life at Christ's Bema.

And there is also a martyr's crown of the same name , Jesus said to the Christians at Smyrna -

" Be faithful until death, and I will give you the CROWN of life ".

Revelation 2 v 10b.

Finally there is the shepherd's crown , the crown of glory.

" And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the CROWN of glory that does not fade away ".

1 Peter 5 v 4.

But of what use will they be to us when we are in heaven ?

After being caught up into heaven the apostle John beheld the throne of God and –

" I saw twenty four elders sitting clothed in white garments and golden crowns ( Stephanos ) on their heads ".

Revelation 4 v 4.

This heavenly gold will obviously be imperishable.

The question may be asked , why would a believer want a tangible reward in heaven like a golden stephanos ?

The answer to this question is found further on in this same chapter.

The twenty four elders will fall down before Him that sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever and WILL CAST their crowns before the throne saying.

Worthy are you our Lord and our God to receive glory honor and power for you created all things and because of your will they existed and were created.

Revelation 4 v 10 – 11.

Notice that here in heaven glorified believers are using their rewards to worship God with , as they fall down before His throne and worship Him with words they also cast their golden stephanos before Him.

Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

This of course means disqualified for a prize , or prizes , and not disqualified from salvation.


Meaning of being Born Again 


Here is a little study which attempts to explain the meaning of Jesus words about being " born again ".

Seeing how the bible describes the Lord Jesus as the prophet who is like Moses.

Therefore It is fitting that when He is giving an example from scripture to explain what it actually means to be born again , he takes his example from the life of Moses.

Jesus while speaking to Nicodemus says -

" Jesus answered and said to him , “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

John 3 v 3.

Nicodemus then questions Jesus -

" Nicodemus said to Him ,“HOW can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”

John 3 v 4.

Jesus answers his question by simply saying the same thing again , but in more detail , by mentioning that it is necessary to be born -

Of water ( natural birth ).

And of the Spirit ( new birth ).

" Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God ".

1 John 3 v 5.

Jesus next statement , which is also a part of the explanation makes clear what he meant by the phrase -

" Water and the spirit ".

" That which is born of the flesh ( natural birth ) is flesh

And that which is born of the Spirit ( new birth ) is spirit ".

John 3 v 6.

Jesus then explains how the Holy Spirit moves in the life of one who is born again -

" Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again. The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit ".

John 3 v 7 - 8.

Sadly Nicodemus is still struggling with this concept of new birth as explained by Jesus.

Although the actual concept itself was familiar to him because the Jews used to apply the phrase " reborn " to certain events in a person's life.

For example the Talmud -

" Rabbi Yose said -

" One who has become a proselyte is like a child newly born.”

b.Yeuamot 48b.

Jesus is now using this concept to explain an event far more important than any other event that it was applied to up until then.

But Nicodemus is really struggling to comprehend.

" Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “HOW can these things be ".

John 3 v 9.

" Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?

Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness , If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

John 3 v 10 - 12.

Jesus continues -

" No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is , the Son of Man who is in heaven.

And then Jesus gives an illustration from the life of Moses to demonstrate exactly what it means to be born again -

" And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved ".

John 3 v 14 - 16.

Looking at this example in the book of Numbers that Jesus used to illustrate how a person can become born again , we see that the people of Israel are rebelling against God in the wilderness.

" And the people spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread.”

Numbers 21 v 5,

" So the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died ".

Numbers 21 v 6.

The people are humbled by this judgment and confessing their sin they ask Moses to pray to the Lord to take away the serpents.

" Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord that He take away the serpents from us.”

So Moses prayed for the people ".

Numbers 21 v 7.

The Lord heeds Moses prayer but instead of taking away the serpents he instructs Moses -

“Make a fiery serpent , and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.”.

Numbers 21 v 8.

So now although there were still serpents in the camp of the Israelites , yet the Lord's solution was also among them.

" So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived ".

Numbers 21 v 9.

Every time someone was bitten by a snake , all they had to do was look up at the fiery serpent on the pole, believing that this was God's provision and they were healed.

Although this event actually happened exactly as recorded , yet it is also a picture of what happened in the Garden of Eden , where our first parents rebelled against God's command.

As a result of their rebellion they too were bitten by a snake ( satan ) , and therefore death was passed down to all mankind.

Again the Lord has not removed the snake bite from mankind but he has provided the solution here among us , for as we have seen the Lord Jesus has assured us that -

" And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 3 v 14.

The Israelites never had to do anything , there was actually nothing they could do , having been bitten they were in the process of dying.

All they were required to do was to look up at this fiery serpent hanging upon a pole and BELIEVE that it was God's provision for their healing.

So it is today , there is nothing a person can do to stop themselves from dying and slipping into a lost eternity.

It is only by looking at Jesus lifted up on the cross being punished for our sins and BELIEVING that he died in our place will we receive everlasting life.

This is confirmed by other verses which speak of being born again.

" But as many as RECEIVED him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that BELIEVE on his name:

Which were BORN, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, BUT OF GOD ".

John 1 v 12 - 13.

Notice here that those who are born of God are those who have simply received Christ and believed on his name.

We see this again in another place -

" Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God ".

1 John 5 v 1a.

All men get this opportunity for Jesus himself said -

" And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw ALL MEN unto me ".

John 12 v 32.

The Unforgivable sin

The Rabbis at the time of Jesus were aware that according to scripture certain signs would accompany the arrival of the Messiah.

The healing of the blind , the deaf , the lame, and the dumb.

These things were based on the following scriptures -

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

Then the lame shall leap like a deer,
And the tongue of the dumb sing.

Isaiah 35 v 5 - 6a.

And also the healing of the leper

The law stated that whenever a leper was cured of his leprosy he was to be presented to the priest and was then to undergo a certain ritual , which began on the first day and then continued on the seventh and the eighth day. ( Leviticus 14 ).

This had never happened before in Israel , Miriam had been cleansed from leprosy but that was in the wilderness.

Naaman the Syrian had been cleansed of leprosy and then returned to Syria.

But since the building of the first Temple and onward no one had ever gone there and presented them self to the officiating priests and said -

" I was a leper , but now I'm cured , could I please undergo the ceremony of the cleansed leper prescribed in the law of Moses.

Until of course when Jesus came.

After healing a leper Jesus said to him -

“See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a TESTIMONY to them.”

Mark 1 v 44.

So the man arrived at the Temple with two birds which were used in the ritual for a cleansed leper and asked the priests to perform this ritual for him.

Jesus said that this was a testimony to them , a testimony of what ?

A testimony that Jesus was the Messiah , for apparently they believed that the healing of the leper was a miracle that would only be done by the Messiah when he arrived.

When Jesus began his ministry he clearly demonstrated that he was the long awaited Messiah for he did the works of the Messiah.

When John the baptist sent a message to Jesus from prison asking him if he was the Messiah , Jesus sent a message back to John saying -

" The BLIND see and the LAME walk; the LEPERS are cleansed and the DEAF hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them ".

Matthew 11 v 5.

Jesus testimony was that he was working the works of the Messiah by the power of the Holy Spirit.

" Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not , THE WORKS that I do in my Father's name, they BEAR WITNESS of me.

John 10 v 25.

The following verse shows that the WORKS of Jesus ALONE should have been enough to convince the religious authorities that Jesus was the Messiah.

Because they believed that these particular miracles were ONLY going to be performed by the the Messiah when he arrived.

" If I had not done among them the works which NONE OTHER man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father ".

John 15 v 24.

Then after he worked a certain miracle upon a blind and mute man -

" Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw ".

Matthew 12 v 22.

The people naturally react by stating the obvious. -

" And all the multitudes were amazed and said, “Could this be the Son of David " ?

Matthew 12 v 23.

As we know the Holy Spirit was with Jesus convicting the hearts of those who heard his words and saw his works that he was indeed the Messiah.

The Pharisees here have a dilemma , for according to their own beliefs Jesus is doing the works of the Messiah.

They cannot deny that Jesus is doing the works of the Messiah.

So despite the evidence before their eyes of the works of the Messiah and the conviction of the Holy Spirit working upon their hearts they say -

" This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons. "

Matthew 12 v 24b.

The job of the Holy Spirit is to convict man that Jesus is the Messiah.

By attributing the work of the Holy Spirit to Beelzebub they were rejecting the testimony of the Holy Spirit that Jesus is the Messiah.

By rejecting Jesus as the Messiah they are committing the unforgivable sin.

For Jesus himself said -

" I am the way the truth and the life NO MAN comes to the Father but by me ".

John 14 v 6.

Today the Holy Spirit is everywhere present all of the time , and his work is to convict people that Jesus is the Messiah.

Speaking of the coming of the Holy Spirit Jesus put it this way -

" And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin ( singular ) , of righteousness and of judgment ".

John 16 v 8.

What is this singular sin that the Holy Spirit has come to convict the world about ?

" Of sin, because they do NOT believe in Me "

John 16 v 9.

Today anyone in the world who rejects Christ when they are under the conviction of the Holy Spirit is in the process of committing the unforgiveable sin.

And if they die in that state then they will be lost forever.

Jesus summed it up with these words -

" He that believes on the Son has life eternal, and he that is not subject to the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides upon him ".

John 3 v 36.

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Your eyes will see the King in His beauty

By Joshua Adams
December 14 


Your eyes will see the King in His beauty; They will behold a far-distant land Isa 33:17

now we see in a mirror dimly, then face to face; now we know in part, but then we will know fully just as we also have been fully known. The Lord knows those who love Him, those who hunger and thirst after Him; they shall dwell on high, the impregnable rock shall be their high retreat; bread shall be given them, Their water shall be sure. ( 1cor 13: Isa 33)

A part of His beauty was seen by Thomas when our Lord suddenly appeared to them all and said “Peace be with you."
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don't be faithless any longer. Believe!”
“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. Jesus came to Justify sinners. By His wounds we are healed. We live in perilous times and Jesus did not come to justify sin. Be careful how you listen. Remember Lots wife. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom.

There is a beauty of our lord that is so much more than physical, and true beauty is found in the hearts and minds of God's children. For the house of David, a time is coming soon when one will say unto him, 'What are these wounds in thy hands?' And he hath said, 'Because I was smitten at home by my lovers. God's grace is to the very end. Zech.13

The other night in a dream we were getting on a plane. In the front of the plane were boxes of bibles, and the plane was filled with folding chairs. A young girl got up and spoke of what the Lord had done for her, then someone stood up and asked what is faith?

Now faith is the assurance (substance) of things hoped for, the conviction (evidence) of things not seen. For by it the men of old obtained a good testimony.
By faith we understand that the worlds (literally the ages) were prepared (framed) by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.

All these men and women of Faith were willing to suffer, were willing to fight, were willing to be obedient to the word of God in full confidence of the perfection to come that we also have in Christ Jesus, a better resurrection, and a heavenly dwelling. They were willing to turn from the temporary things of this world and the lusts of the flesh preferring the promises of God for something better in Christ. Now we gentiles have this in Him. Christ in us the hope of Glory, a mystery from of old that was only revealed in this age, and we (Gentiles,and Jewish believers) are one with those Holy Ones of old, by faith (col. 1:26-27, Eph. 2:19-22). We are not our own and this is not our home. We are citizens of Heaven, Ambassadors of Christ Jesus our Lord and our God. For now, the church, in the church age, is the administration of this mystery: and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.(eph 3:9-12).

Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. May our faith be as those who went before us. May our faith be as the four men who ripped off the roof of the house to get a friend to Jesus, of the centurion who came on behalf of His servant, of the Syro-phoenician woman who came on behalf of her daughter. Pray without ceasing, Jesus is coming soon, and all His Holy ones with Him

Hold onto your blessed hope, for Your eyes will see the King in His beauty; You will behold a far-distant land. I suspect, but can only imagine, that his beauty will be much more than just visible. I suspect His beauty will permeate every particle, visible and invisible of our glorified bodies.

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!
For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever (literally for all ages). Amen.

Thursday, December 04, 2014

Can we see the Faith?


Tony Padilla


THE LAW OF FAITH (ROMANS 3:27) Faith must be based upon what God has said

NUMBERS 23:19
19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: has he said, and shall he not do it? Or has he spoken and shall he not make it good?

ISAIAH 14:24
24 The LORD of hosts has sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand:

ISAIAH 46:11
11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man who executes my council from a far country; yes, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.

JEREMIAH 4:28
28 For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black; because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it.

EZEKIEL 12:25
25 For I am the LORD: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged: for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, says the Lord GOD.

EZEKIEL 22:14
14 Can your heart endure, or can your hands be strong in the days that I shall deal with you? I the LORD have spoken it, and will do it.

EZEKIEL 36:36
36 Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the LORD build the ruined places, and plant that which was desolate: I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it.

1 JOHN 5:14-15
14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us;
15 And if we know that he hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions we desired of him."

Note: Everyone has faith in something. This is natural faith, but when it comes to faith in God, we are not putting our trust in things we can see, but in an invisible God, and what we believe he has said.
This is possible even in the natural realm. Imagine a man who opens a trap door in the floor of his house and goes down into the cellar. There is no light down there apart from the light that comes through the trap door, and his small daughter comes and shouts to him, "Daddy, are you down there?"
He replies, "Yes, dear."
She asks, "Can I come down there to you?"
He replies, "Yes, dear, just sit on the edge of the trap door and jump, and I will catch you."
The little girl sits on the edge of the trap door and looks down. She sees nothing but darkness. She says, "Daddy, I cannot see you."
He replies, "No, dear, but I can see you, just jump and I will catch you."
Believing the words of her father, whom she cannot see, she jumps into the darkness, and lands safely in his arms.
She had faith in her father's words even though she could not see him, and this is how we need to be with God. The reason why we can base our faith on what God has said is because, as the above scriptures show, he has promised to bring to pass what he has said. Therefore, if he has promised to do a certain thing for us, then providing we fulfil the conditions that he has laid down, he will bring it to pass:

(Numbers 23:19) "God is not a man that he should lie;"
(Titus 1:2) "God ... cannot lie,"

If we base our faith on something other than God's word, such as man's word, or circumstances, or things we can see, then we could have a faulty base, because these things can change. However, God has said, "My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips." (Psalm 89:34), and when we trust in what he has said, we have a sound base because, "he is faithful who promised." (Hebrews 10:23).
AND NOW ABIDE FAITH, HOPE, LOVE, THESE THREE; BUT THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE (1 CORINTHIANS 13:13). LOVE & FAITH GO HAND IN HAND!!! PUT YOUR FAITH ON GOD'S WORD ONLY, YOU CAN NEVER GO WRONG DOING THIS!!! AMEN!!! JESUS SAID, "HAVE FAITH IN GOD!" AMEN!!