December 27, 2015 Devotion

There is nothing we can add or take away from the cross. All of our own righteousness is nothing more than dirty menstrual rags. If we think that we are doing things to earn God's favor, that means we believe God is indebted to us. It makes God's favor wages instead of grace. God is no man's debtor though, and owes no man anything. God will have mercy on whom He will have mercy, and it is through faith, which is a gift of God, that righteousness is imputed to us.

What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.
Romans 4:1-4 NKJV

Pilate and His Free Will

Do you remember when Pilate told Jesus that he had free will to use his authority to do as he pleases? What did Jesus say? Your power is an illusion, and you can only do what has been given to you.

Then Pilate said to Him, “Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?” Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”
John 19:10-11 NKJV

“For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done."
Acts 4:27-28 NKJV

The Universalist Jesus is an Illusion.

The Universalist denies the God of the Bible. They close their eyes to the Old Testament, and claim that Jesus shows us a different God. This is a figment of their imagination. Remember that the entire world stood condemned already when Jesus came the first time. This is why He came to save His sheep, the elect.

Do you think God will be unfair when He slays His enemies and cast them into eternal torment? Do you think God changes? Who do you think will be cutting the unbeliever in two and casting him into Hell fire?

‘Now see that I, even I, am He,
And there is no God besides Me;
I kill and I make alive;
I wound and I heal;
Nor is there any who can deliver from My hand.
For I raise My hand to heaven,
And say, “As I live forever,
If I whet My glittering sword,
And My hand takes hold on judgment,
I will render vengeance to My enemies,
And repay those who hate Me.
I will make My arrows drunk with blood,
And My sword shall devour flesh,
With the blood of the slain and the captives,
From the heads of the leaders of the enemy.”’
- Deuteronomy 32:39-42 NKJV

“For as the new heavens and the new earth
Which I will make shall remain before Me,” says the Lord,
“So shall your descendants and your name remain.
And it shall come to pass
That from one New Moon to another,
And from one Sabbath to another,
All flesh shall come to worship before Me,” says the Lord.
“And they shall go forth and look
Upon the corpses of the men
Who have transgressed against Me.
For their worm does not die,
And their fire is not quenched.
They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.”
- Isaiah 66:22-24 NKJV

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:

KING OF KINGS AND
LORD OF LORDS.
- Revelation 19:11-16 NKJV

It is Jesus who executes the wrath of God. Be not deceived. Do you know what God says about that great and terrible day?

With a noise like chariots
Over mountaintops they leap,
Like the noise of a flaming fire that devours the stubble,
Like a strong people set in battle array.
Before them the people writhe in pain;
All faces are drained of color.[a]
They run like mighty men,
They climb the wall like men of war;
Every one marches in formation,
And they do not break ranks.
They do not push one another;
Every one marches in his own column.[b]
Though they lunge between the weapons,
They are not cut down.[c]
They run to and fro in the city,
They run on the wall;
They climb into the houses,
They enter at the windows like a thief.
The earth quakes before them,
The heavens tremble;
The sun and moon grow dark,
And the stars diminish their brightness.
The Lord gives voice before His army,
For His camp is very great;
For strong is the One who executes His word.
For the day of the Lord is great and very terrible;
Who can endure it?
- Joel 2:5-11 NKJV

Who Loves Who First?

"I love those who love me,
And those who seek me diligently will find me."
- Proverbs 8:17 NKJV

When this verse is read, if it is not interpreted correctly with other Scripture, it sounds as if God's love is conditional. We know this isn't true, because while we were haters of God (obviously not loving Him) He died for us. There is no greater love than to lay down your life for your friends.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
- Romans 5:8 NKJV

This is why it is SO IMPORTANT to interpret Scripture with Scripture. At first glance you have two contradictory verses, which would disqualify Scripture as truth if it were. They must both be true.

We know that God's love for the believer is unconditional, and is from everlasting. He loved us BEFORE we ever were.

The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying:
“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you."
- Jeremiah 31:3 NKJV

BECAUSE of His love for us, we THEN love Him.

We love Him because He first loved us.
- 1 John 4:19 NKJV

Our love for Jesus is the proof that He loves us, so He does love those who love Him. Never interpret Scripture through perception, and ALWAYS interpret Scripture with Scripture. If you are loved of God, you will love Him back and in this truth you have rest for your soul.

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- Romans 8:38-39 NKJV

Who Are the Dogs?

Who are the "dogs"? Those who put their confidence in the flesh are "dogs", for CURSED is he whose confidence is in the flesh. Confidence in the flesh is simply doing ANY amount of works for credit or gain.

Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.  For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.  Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:  Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;  Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.  But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Philippians 3:2-7 KJV

When Was Satan Cast From Heaven?

I have heard the heresy that there was a "pre-existance" where the angels fought in heaven and Satan was cast out.

Listen. You can find the truth if you will know the Word. In Job Satan comes before God, and in their conversation it is revealed that Satan was still able to enter into Heaven at that time. If he could still enter into Heaven that means he obviously wasn't cast out yet.

Every single word in the Bible is SO important. If you are in a place, you do not refer to it as somewhere else. You say "here", if you are there, and not refer to it as "there".

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord , and Satan also came among them. And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”
Job 1:6-7 NKJV

Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord , and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord . And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”
Job 2:1-2 NKJV

It was when the Kingdom of God came that Satan was cast out of Heaven, and today he roams the earth with great wrath as a lion looking to see whom he may devour.

So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”
Revelation 12:9-12 NKJV

When did the Kingdom come? Jesus says it was when He was on the earth it was made available.

Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
Mark 1:14-15 NKJV

“The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it."
Luke 16:16 NKJV

Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation;  nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”
Luke 17:20-21 NKJV

With great wrath your adversary seeks to destroy you.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
I Peter 5:8 NKJV

Know your Bible.

Age of the Earth by Generations

From the beginning God made them male and female, and here are the generations to Noah.

This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;  Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.  And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:  And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters:  And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.  And Seth lived an hundred and five years, and begat Enos:  And Seth lived after he begat Enos eight hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters:  And all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years: and he died.  And Enos lived ninety years, and begat Cainan:  And Enos lived after he begat Cainan eight hundred and fifteen years, and begat sons and daughters:  And all the days of Enos were nine hundred and five years: and he died.  And Cainan lived seventy years, and begat Mahalaleel:  And Cainan lived after he begat Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty years, and begat sons and daughters:  And all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years: and he died.  And Mahalaleel lived sixty and five years, and begat Jared:  And Mahalaleel lived after he begat Jared eight hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters:  And all the days of Mahalaleel were eight hundred ninety and five years: and he died.  And Jared lived an hundred sixty and two years, and he begat Enoch:  And Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:  And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died.  And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:  And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:  And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:  And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.  And Methuselah lived an hundred eighty and seven years, and begat Lamech:  And Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech seven hundred eighty and two years, and begat sons and daughters:  And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died.  And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son:  And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the Lord hath cursed.  And Lamech lived after he begat Noah five hundred ninety and five years, and begat sons and daughters:  And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven years: and he died.  And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Genesis 5:1-32 KJV

Here are the generations to Abraham. Still no holes.

These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood:  And Shem lived after he begat Arphaxad five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.  And Arphaxad lived five and thirty years, and begat Salah:  And Arphaxad lived after he begat Salah four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.  And Salah lived thirty years, and begat Eber:  And Salah lived after he begat Eber four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.  And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg:  And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters.  And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat Reu:  And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred and nine years, and begat sons and daughters.  And Reu lived two and thirty years, and begat Serug:  And Reu lived after he begat Serug two hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters.  And Serug lived thirty years, and begat Nahor:  And Serug lived after he begat Nahor two hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.  And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and begat Terah:  And Nahor lived after he begat Terah an hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters.  And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran.  Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot.  And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldeans.  And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah.  But Sarai was barren; she had no child.  And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldeans, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.  And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran.
Genesis 11:10-32 KJV

From here the Bible says there were 42 generations.

So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.
Matthew 1:17 NKJV

Does God Hear Your Prayer?

When does God hear the prayer of a man? The Bible says that God doesn't hear the prayer of a sinner, and that the prayer of one who turns from God's Law is an abomination.

Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him.
John 9:31 NKJV

One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.
Proverbs 28:9 NKJV

The Bible also says that there is "NOT ONE" SINGLE PERSON WHO SEEKS AFTER GOD.

As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.”
Romans 3:10-12 NKJV

So how can a sinner who hates God say a "sinner's prayer" and be heard? You have the cart before the horse Synergist, and the Bible makes that impossible.

God must regenerate a man FIRST that he may be heard.

Baptism and Laying on of Hands

I have heard people state that someone of stated importance is the church is supposed to lay hands on people for them to receive the Holy Spirit, and that baptism is a prerequisite for salvation. Not according to the Bible. Be careful for heresy is everywhere. Test EVERYTHING against the Word of God.

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have? ”
Acts 10:44-45, 47 NKJV

The Regenerate Man or Woman

You know how you can spot a monergist and gospelist, otherwise coined a calvinist? He loves the Scriptures that most men can't stand to read.

He hears "For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.” So then it  is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens." and he says God is Holy and God is just! Praise the Lord!"

He hears "The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? I, the Lord , search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings." and he yells out "Praise God".

He hears "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.  And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple." and he cries out "Praise the Lord! Father take my life and make it Yours!!"

This is the regenerate man or woman. This is your brother or your sister. By your love for these the world will know the you are His.

Psalms 119

LOL!! I do not care about proving Calvinism or disproving Arminianism. I simply care about truth, and exposing the lie. Just so happen these are all tied together.

You must have missed some of those important words... It is God doing all the doing.

Remove from me the way of lying, And grant me Your law graciously.
Psalms 119:29 NKJV

Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, For I delight in it. Incline my heart to Your testimonies, And not to covetousness. Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, And revive me in Your way. Establish Your word to Your servant, Who is  devoted to fearing You.
Psalms 119:35-38 NKJV

Why does David run the course of His commandments? Because God has enlarged his heart to do so.

I will run the course of Your commandments, For You shall enlarge my heart.
Psalms 119:32 NKJV

Here is something else people don't realize my friend... Many say the Psalms support the heresy of Arminianism, BUT... We know that once God gives us His Spirit that HE CAUSES us to obey His statutes.

I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.
Ezekiel 36:27 NKJV

Guess what was done BEFORE the Psalms were written?!

Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD CAME UPON DAVID FROM THAT DAY FORWARD. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.
I Samuel 16:13 NKJV

The OT is FULL of spiritual truths my brother. David is not talking about the Law as given through Moses, but rather the heart and will of God.

Mormon Doctrine is Like...

Jason Cord Massey...

God just gave me a perfect analogy that you will understand perfectly.

Let's say that today I produced a purchase sale agreement for the Mace farm dated from 2009 and I claimed that the Mace development is rightfully mine.

The basis of my claim is that there are missing addendum from the executed purchase sale agreement that pointed to the validity of the contract I have in my hand that gives me rightful ownership to the land, but there is zero evidence of any such addendum.

You would laugh at me and tell me "Yeah... Right." It would be a good con for sure. The only reason anyone would believe me is if I gave them something to gain from my claim being accurate.

If I told you that according to my contract all of my supporters got a lot and house for free. Well... Now I have supporters. A free lot with a house is a great motivator for you to want my claim to be true. However, if you were objective and honest you would see that there are too many holes in my claim for it to be valid.

So it is with the LDS doctrine. Instead of a house on a lot, Joseph Smith leveraged something even more valuable to us, our family. By the grace of God He is showing me the holes so that I might share them with the Mormons the Lord has put in my life. Not to demean, but to reveal the truth in hopes they might see.

You are a smart, smart man Cord. I KNOW that you can see this. God gave me this analogy this morning just for you my friend.

Glasses, or no glasses?

The Universalist's dichotomy is that they teach a person that since God is love, a person should read and interpret the Bible with this presupposition in mind. This is a fallacy because God, as He reveals Himself in His Word, is love, but love, as we know through our emotions, is NOT God.

A sinful person, which we all are, picking up a Bible and trying to read it with a presupposition that God is defined by their own sinful understanding of love is foolishness. Such a person would only end up with an idol.

Rather a sinful person, which we all are, should pick up the Bible and read it with ZERO presuppositions, and, IN FACT, with the understanding that our idea of what love is has been tainted by our sin. Our fallow ground must be broken up for us to see what God wants to show us.

If someone tells you to put on some kind of glasses (presuppositions) before reading the Bible, rather than telling you to take off all glasses(breaking up your fallow ground and having NO presuppositions), feel free to slap such a person.

Is the Bible Corrupted?

The Mormon looks at a Bible believing Christian with pity, for in their pride they believe they have the truth and that the Bible we have has been corrupted. They believe the Bible believing Christian is part of the abominable Church that is under the power of Satan and leading people to Hell.

This is the very foundation that prevents a Mormon from hearing and responding to Biblical truths. Why would they believe this? Because Joseph Smith told them so in Nephi, which is a prophet from the Book of Mormon.

26 And after they go forth by the hand of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, from the Jews unto the Gentiles, thou seest the formation of that great and abominable church, which is most abominable above all other churches; for behold, they have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away.

27 And all this have they done that they might pervert the right ways of the Lord, that they might blind the eyes and harden the hearts of the children of men.

28 Wherefore, thou seest that after the book hath gone forth through the hands of the great and abominable church, that there are many plain and precious things taken away from the book, which is the book of the Lamb of God.
- Nephi 13:26-28

This prophecy by Nephi predicted that this corruption would happen "after the twelve apostles". Joseph Smith had started to write into the KJV the "precious things taken away from the book", and in 1867 the translation was published. Guess what these missing parts were?

They were prophecies about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. Imagine that! Check this out... A large part of what was added by Joseph Smith was added to the book of Isaiah, and these additions were specific prophecies about him and the Book of Mormon.

The Isaiah Scroll was found in 1947, and was written around 100 BC. This was written before the corruption that Nephi prophesied about, and is an exact match to today's book of Isaiah. Guess what is NOT in it? Joseph Smith's additions, the "precious things taken away from the book" are NOT in the Isaiah Scroll.

Who is it that has corrupted the Book, but Joseph Smith? Who then is the church that is taken captive by Satan and leading people to Hell, but his church? Yet they do not see...

Rapture

Some things I read are so retarded. Listen. The Bible CANNOT contradict itself. Period. If it did, anywhere, it could not be truth. Rules of logic dictate that to opposing views CANNOT both be true. This verse by itself is what would be called the limiting factor. As this verse MUST be true there is no rapture before the tribulation ENDS. This verse EXPLICITLY says that the tribulation is cut short because of the elect's sake. Read your Bible, AND BELIEVE IT. The other Scriptures that talk about a rapture MUST BE interpreted with this clear verse in mind. Sola Scriptura.

For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.   And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
Matthew 24:21-22 KJV

Was Jesus or Paul Married?

I have heard fairytales that say Jesus was married. It never ceases to amaze me how some are wilfully ignorant(dumb on purpose), and choose to believe such silly things.

There would be no better example for Paul to give than Jesus for being married, but he doesn't use such an example because it DID NOT EXIST. Rather he uses Peter as his best example because Peter was the best example. NOR DID PAUL USE HIMSELF AS AN EXAMPLE OF ONE WHO WAS MARRIED, rather Paul associated himself with those who were NOT married.

Jesus and Paul were NOT married. Do NOT follow after fairytales.

Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
1 Corinthians 9:5 KJV

For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.  I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.  But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
1 Corinthians 7:7-9 KJV

Spiritual Kingdoms

When Jesus came into the world He brought the Kingdom of God with Him, and Satan was simultaneously cast from Heaven.

And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”
Revelation 12:7-10, 12 NKJV

From that day on the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence.

And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
Matthew 11:12 NKJV

Satan and God's great army are currently marching the earth executing God's wrath.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
Romans 1:18 NKJV

Family and the Truth

Our earthly family is NOT our eternal family, and this life is NOT about family. In fact, Jesus came to bring a sword as the goats are divided from the sheep. If a person doesn't value Jesus above EVERYTHING, including their family, they have NOTHING to do with Him.

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.  For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’;  and ‘a man’s enemies  will be  those of his  own  household.’  He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me."
Matthew 10:34-37 NKJV

Our eternal family are those whom Jesus fills with His Holy Spirit, causing them to be born again.

Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.” But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?”  And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers!  For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”
Matthew 12:47-50 NKJV

Secure

I have had a few conversations recently about whether or not a person can lose their salvation or not. In fact, I left a church over this very topic. Listen to what the Bible says, and you decide.

Remember that the Holy Spirit is the GUARANTEE, and God CANNOT lie.

In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
Ephesians 1:13-14 NKJV

Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
II Corinthians 1:21-22 NKJV

When a person is regenerated, he is filled with the Holy Spirit. Such a person is secure in Christ.

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.
Ezekiel 36:26-27 NKJV

There is only one reason people fall away.

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they  went  out  that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.
I John 2:19 NKJV

God or Idol?

So many talk about God, yet it is not Him of which they speak. Rather they have conjured an idol out of their vain imaginations to be a god of their liking, and it is not THEE True and Living God. They are the blind leading the blind, and they are all headed into a ditch.

Therefore the Lord said: “Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men, Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work Among this people, A marvelous work and a wonder; For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, And the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden.”
Isaiah 29:13-14 NKJV

For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
II Timothy 3:6-7 NKJV

Wineskins Parable Luke 5:36-39

Then He spoke a parable to them: “No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old one; otherwise the new makes a tear, and also the piece that was taken out of the new does not match the old.  And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined.  But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved."
Luke 5:36-38 NKJV

Many try to maintain their old life and do patchwork with Jesus into their life. That doesn't work. It must be a new life, with a new Spirit. Likewise we cannot build on presuppositions, but must break up our fallow ground and let God build from scratch. Both of these are seen in the parable of the wineskins. Doing this goes against everything in, because we don't want to accept that all that we once knew was a lie.

And no one, having drunk old wine,  immediately desires new; for he says, ‘The old is better.’ ”
Luke 5:39 NKJV

The doctrines of grace were revealed to me only by allowing God to destroy everything I thought I knew and teach me whatever He wanted to teach me.

Isaiah 6

In family devotions last night we read the first verses of Isaiah 6. These verses generally bring tears to my eyes in admiration of my God.

I asked the boys how Isaiah was brought before God, and we concluded that he was brought there by God.

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.
Isaiah 6:1 NKJV

Because of the lies of the apostasy going around right now we addressed these verses pointedly in the fact that the angels were NOT saying "God is love", but WERE saying "God is holy". God is HOLY above ALL.

Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!” And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.
Isaiah 6:2-4 NKJV

Then, in response to the holy awesomeness of the Lord God Almighty, Isaiah is utterly humbled and ashamed in is inequity and sin.

So I said: “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts.”
Isaiah 6:5 NKJV

After Isaiah was humbled and brought low, which is the proper place of the creature before the Creator, the Lord removed his inequity and purged his sin.

Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with  it, and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged.”
Isaiah 6:6-7 NKJV

After God had brought Isaiah before him, and purged him of his sin, THEN Isaiah volunteered to go for God when He asked whom He should send.

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”
Isaiah 6:8 NKJV

Once we are regenerated it is us who is raising our hand and saying "Here I am! Send me!" Then as we are found a living sacrifice on the alter at different times in our lives, and we are found complaining about the situation, the Holy Spirit will bring this commitment to memory. Did we not say "Here I am! Send me! Do with me as You please and send me where You will."? Why then are we found complaining?

To God be ALL the glory!!

The Lie of Universal Salvation

One of the greatest lies found in today's apostasy is the since we are commanded to love our enemies by Jesus that this is proof that God will be kind to those who hate Him. They say "Why would God command us to do something He, Himself, won't do"? This is a carnal question asked by the unregenerate who have a god of their own imagination. We are commanded to love our enemies because God will repay.

Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:  Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;  And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,  In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:  Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;  When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
2 Thessalonians 1:5-10 KJV

The Name Of God Written Over The Cross

John 19:19 reads as follows: "Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the Cross. And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS".

Pontius Pilate wrote the words "JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS" on a sign. The sign was written in Hebrew, Latin and Greek. There was probably a very large sign, if not three of them, which could be easily read from the busy road by the Damascus Gate. Jesus was the "featured criminal" and was sentenced to death under Roman Law for "sedition against the Roman state", and under Jewish law for "the sin of blasphemy." In Hebrew, the sign read as follows:

"Yeshua Ha'Nazarei W'Melech Ha'Yehudim"

The code in Hebrew above the Cross

The first letters of each of these four words spell YHWH, the name of God.

"Yeshua Ha'Nazarei W'Melech Ha'Yehudim"

Jesus had been tried and condemned for "blasphemy". Above the Cross was written, in a simple code, YHWH, the Name of God. This code was clearly visible to the Sanhedrin, which is why they asked Pontius Pilate to change what He had written over the Cross, to break the code. This is recorded in John 19:21-22, "Therefore the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but, 'He said, "I am the King of the Jews".' Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written",

Will Jesus be Sad When He Returns?

Yesterday a brother told me that he believed it was going to break Jesus' heart that so many are to be cast away into eternal damnation. This is a logical from an Arminian view, but it is not Biblical.

God delights in judgment and righteousness.

But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the Lord , exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord .
Jeremiah 9:24 NKJV

When Jesus returns He will not come with a sorrowful heart. He will come to execute the righteous judgment of God, and to destroy those who hate Him. He will not be sad because some of those He tried to saved were not saved. He will be perfectly satisfied as He tramples out the winepress with the wrath of God because all that He came to save are saved.

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND Lord OF LORDS.
Revelation 19:11-16 NKJV

And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”

Revelation 14:9-11 ESV

Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

Revelation 6:16-17 ESV

These Little Ones

People believe that these verses apply to all children. I hear it all the time. Do you also believe these apply to all children?

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.  Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes! Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.  For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?  And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.  Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish."
Matthew 18:6-7, 10-14 NKJV

That is an absolutely erroneous reading of this Scripture. There are important parts that one must miss in order to think these verses apply to all children.

First off Jesus defines who the "children" and "little" ones are. It is the "converted" ones.

Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are CONVERTED and BECOME AS LITTLE CHILDREN, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.  Therefore whoever humbles himself AS THIS LITTLE CHILD is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  Whoever receives one little child like this IN MY NAME RECEIVES ME. Whoever causes one of these little ones WHO BELIEVE IN ME to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.  Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!
Matthew 18:2-7 NKJV

These Scriptures further verify the same, because IF He were speaking of every child born, EVERYONE will be saved since not a single "sheep" will be lost.

“Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.  For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?  And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.  Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish."
Matthew 18:10-14 NKJV

The Floods. What are they in the Bible?

Can you SEE?

So shall they fear The name of the Lord from the west, And His glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.
Isaiah 59:19 NKJV

So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth.
Revelation 12:15-16 NKJV

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:  and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:  and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
Matthew 7:24-27 NKJV

Sent

It is only AFTER the Lord draws us unto Himself and cleanses us that we are then willing to go forth, but then we are willing to go and do whatever we are commanded.

Listen to the words of the Lord as He speaks to Isaiah. As we speak the words of the Lord many will be hardened and made fat for the day of slaughter, yet "a tenth" will be preserved. The remnant will be saved.

We are brought to the Lord by His will, cleaned by His will, sent by His will, to do His will. May His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.

So I said: “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts.” Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with  it, and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged.” Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” And He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ “Make the heart of this people dull, And their ears heavy, And shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And return and be healed.” Then I said, “Lord, how long?” And He answered: “Until the cities are laid waste and without inhabitant, The houses are without a man, The land is utterly desolate, The Lord has removed men far away, And the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land. But yet a tenth will  be in it, And will return and be for consuming, As a terebinth tree or as an oak, Whose stump remains when it is cut down. So the holy seed shall  be its stump.”
Isaiah 6:5-13 NKJV

Three Heavens?

Let us compare the three heavens of the Bible with the three heavens of the LDS doctrine.

The three heavens of the Bible are as follows.

1.The firmament where the birds fly.

Thus 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. And God called the firmament Heaven. So the evening and the morning were the second day. Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.”
Genesis 1:7-8, 20 NKJV

2. The firmament which holds the sun, moon, and stars.

Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He  made  the stars also. God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it  was good.
Genesis 1:16-18 NKJV

3. The dwelling place of the Most High.

then hear in heaven Your dwelling place their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause,
I Kings 8:49 NKJV

The LDS get their three level of heavens from not understanding the different heavens of the Bible, and from this verse in 1 Corinthians. It is NOT talking about different levels of heaven. It is saying that the things of the earth are different than the things in space, which are both different than the spiritual.

There  are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
I Corinthians 15:40 NKJV

There is only one heaven where God dwells and where the saints will abide with Jesus.

Faithful Servant

Jesus says that a "faithful" and "wise" servant is the one who gives his Master's household "food in due season".

“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?  Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing."
Matthew 24:45-46 NKJV

There is another place where we hear Jesus driving this point home. After Jesus had been denied by Peter three times He comes to visit with him after His resurrection. He doesn't and him to go build a church, or to go do something to redeem himself. Rather Jesus tells him to "Feed His sheep".

So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep."
John 21:15-17 NKJV

If feeding His sheep is so important, and feeding those of His household is what makes us a faithful servant, it is important that we know of what He is speaking. What is this "food" we are to "feed" His sheep?

But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”
Matthew 4:4 NKJV

Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.
Jeremiah 15:16 NKJV

It is the Word of God which is the "food" we are to "feed" the household of our Lord.

Where Do Our Thoughts Rest?

We know that the place where our thoughts constantly return and rest reveal what our treasure really is.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.  But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
Matthew 6:21-23 NKJV

We are to constantly turn our thoughts back to Jesus, our God, and find our rest in Him.

Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Colossians 3:2-3 NKJV

Open the gates, That the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in. You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on  You, Because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, For in YAH, the Lord , is everlasting strength.
Isaiah 26:2-4 NKJV

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord , “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”
Psalms 91:1-2 NKJV

Our faith is made real as we take each thought captive, returning our mind to Jesus when the "many waters" of the enemy comes against us.

Jonah

You cannot read a single chapter in the Bible without seeing God's sovereign hand. Jonah thought he would go his way and do his thing, but guess what? Jonah ended up doing EXACTLY as God pleased.

Even to the point that God had "prepared" a great fish to accomplish this purpose.

Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah...

Jonah 1:17 NKJV

I have heard people say "If you don't do perform the task God gives you, He will find someone else to do it instead." Well, that is a load of crap. Read Jonah. If God gives you a work to do, it was given unto you from the foundation of the world and it WILL come to pass.

Remember... "It is hard to kick against the goads."

Forgotten My First Love

Over the last few months as I have been deeply engaged in defending the faith, I have been convicted of a hardened heart. I have forgotten my first love.

“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;  and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.  Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love."
Revelation 2:2-4 NKJV

The reminder is that all I do must flow forth from my relationship with Jesus, but that I have erroneously focused on my "doing". In doing this I have become clanging brass, for I can of myself do nothing.

It breaks my heart that have strayed from things that I know and preach, and so I receive this correction with sorrowful humility. A fresh I throw myself at His feet, empty of anything I may think I add to Him.

Lord forgive me of my pride, and take me entirely once again as a broken vessel entirely dependant upon Your grace. Truly I am nothing without You. Have Your way, Your will, in my life, and keep me in my humble place. Give me a clean heart Lord. Holy Spirit come and consume me as a fire, burning away all remnants of self that still plague me every day. Thank you that You hear me. Come Lord Jesus, come.

Quit Being a Coward

Listen. IF you are a Spirit filled believer, then know that God has done this not for you, but for all who are His. We are sent forth IN the Name of the very creative power of the Universe. What are you afraid of? Those people you are scared to offend are those who lie on the other side of the gate of Hell, and they need your courage to crash through those gates to save them.

“The Spirit of the Lord God  is upon Me, Because the Lord  has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those  who  are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord , And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn,
Isaiah 61:1-2 NKJV

Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.  Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
Luke 10:19-20 NKJV

Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.  And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
Matthew 16:17-18 NKJV

Lord God Almighty

The angels around the throne of God say day and night forever and ever (unless you deny the eternality of God and the meaning of aionion) how "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, WHICH WAS, AND IS, AND IS TO COME.

Revelation 4:8 KJV

And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

Hmm... I seem to remember reading about who He is WHICH WAS, AND IS, IS TO COME earlier in the revelation. Oh yeah!! It was the Almighty again, Jesus. Strange how He is called "Lord God Almighty" by the angels.

Revelation 1:8 KJV

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

Don't We All Believe in Jesus?

You know why there are so many beliefs about God and Jesus? I will tell you.

The Bible says that the names of the elect were written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world. It also says that the beast, false religion, will rise up and EVERYONE whose names were NOT written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world will worship the beast. The only ones who will not be swept away into false religion are the elect.

Revelation 13:8 NKJV

All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Revelation 17:8 NKJV

The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

Matthew 24:24 NKJV

For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

So that means that ONLY THE ELECT WILL BE KEPT BY GOD from being fooled and worshipping the beast. Guess what happens to everyone who worships the beast? Whose names were not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world.

Revelation 14:9-11 NKJV

Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his  mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”

One of us is dead wrong, and it is going to carry catastrophic eternal consequences. Forever is a long time.

Righteous or Sinner?

You know the one verse that those who hate God know?

Matthew 7:1 NKJV

"Judge  not, that you be not judged."

Want to hear the irony in that?! The judging that Jesus is speaking about here is assessing another's worth or righteousness in comparison to your own.

Guess what every unregenerate person believes? They ALL believe they are a "good person", "not as bad as Hitler", or "not as bad as so-and-so". THAT IS EXACTLY THE KIND OF JUDGING THAT JESUS SAYS NOT TO DO.

Guess what every Spirit filled person (true believers, not just people who go to church) believes? We ALL believe that we are wretched sinners saved by grace, and we are just as bad in our hearts as Hitler was. There is no comparison. We are ALL equally guilty.

People hear the following verse and they think it applies only to those religious people who judge from their imaginary pious high horse, but it doesn't. It applies to them, but it also applies to the woman who looks at the woman across the store and thinks in her heart "that woman is such a slut".
It also applies to the person who thinks in their heart "that person is such a bigot". These people are self-righteous, comparing others to themselves or their expectations, and then casting judgment based on their own measuring stick. These are the self-righteous Jesus did not come to call

.

Matthew 9:13 NKJV

"But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

Who then are the sinners Jesus came to call to repentance? It is those who know we are ALL sinners, and none is better than another. We let the Law of God bring conviction, making ALL guilty before God.

Luke 18:13-14 NKJV

"And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Man is Still Responsible Before God

Although God is perfectly sovereign, man still has a direct responsibility to Him to whom we owe account.

"Side by side with the immutability and invincibility of God's decrees, Scripture plainly teaches that man is a responsible creature and answerable for his actions. And if our thoughts are formed from God's Word the maintenance of the one will not lead to the denial of the other. That there is a real difficulty in defining where the one ends and the other begins is freely granted. This is ever the case where there is a conjunction of the Divine and the human. Real prayer is indited by the Holy Spirit, yet is also the cry of the human heart. The Scriptures are the inspired Word of God, yet were they written by men who were something more than machines in the hand of the Spirit. Christ is both God and man. He is Omniscient, yet 'increased in wisdom' (Luke 2:52). He was Almighty, yet was 'crucified through weakness' (2 Corinthians 13:4). He was the Prince of life, yet He died. High mysteries are these, yet faith receives them unquestioningly." - A.W. Pink

Decrees of God

One of the books that God put in my hands towards the end of my stay in prison was "The Attributes of God" by A.W. Pink. In his book he put into words all of the things that God has just spent over a year showing me. These are some great things to meditate on that your faith may grow.

"God's decrees are called His 'counsel' to signify they are consummately wise. They are called God's 'will' to show He was under no control, but acted according to His own pleasure. When a man's will is the rule of his conduct, it is usually capricious and unreasonable; but wisdom is always associated with 'will' in the Divine proceedings, and accordingly, God's decrees are said to be 'the counsel of His own will' (Ephesians 1:11)."
- A.W. Pink

Think about it...

"Our days are numbered, and so are the hairs of our heads. We may learn what is the extent of the Divine decrees from the dispensations of providence, in which they are executed. The care of Providence reaches to the most insignificant creatures, and the most minute events - the death of a sparrow, and the fall of a hair."
- A.W. Pink

"(The decrees of God) are absolute and unconditional. The execution of them is not suspended upon any condition which may, or may not be, performed. In every instance where God has decreed an end, He has also decreed every means to that end. The One who decreed salvation of His elect also decreed to work faith in them (Thessalonians 2:13). 'My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure' (Isaiah 46:10): but that could not be, if His counsel depended upon a condition which might not be performed. But God 'worketh all things after the counsel of His own will' (Ephesians 1:11)."
- A.W. Pink

"O my reader, how thankful should we be that everything is determined by infinite wisdom and goodness! What praise and gratitude are due unto God for His Divine decrees. It is because of them that 'we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose' (Romans 8:28). Well may we excaim, 'For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen.' (Romans 11:36)." - A.W. Pink

Challenge Your Faith

Here is a question to challenge those who profess Christ. We sing of and talk about God's love for us, and many even profess that love to be unconditional. Time to challenge your faith, if you dare care to test what you think you know.

1. IF you must "choose" God in order for Him to save you, would that not make His love conditional?!

-You must either conclude that God's love is conditional, or that He loves you BEFORE you decided to glorify God as God.

2. IF God loves everybody the same, how do you tell someone being damned to Hell that God loves them?

- You must become a Universalist and blatantly make Jesus a liar by claiming that Hell is temporary and that suffering the undiluted wrath of God is somehow loving, or you conclude that God has a peculiar love for His bride (Imagine that).

Please feel free to comment on either point. Can your faith withstand testing? If it is built on Truth, it should.

My Reflection

Over the past few weeks I have been blasted by many for speaking God's Word and telling the truth. Today I was cleaning my old apartment, and I was just listening to worship music and praying. I don't want to estrange people, so I was just praying "Lord I will follow you anywhere, and I will speak whatever you want me to speak, just let me know that it is you."

I was examining the things I say, and the things I have been saying. Have I been judgmental? Am I inappropriately dividing the Word? What am I doing, and why? I asked that God would just show me. Show me what He wants me to be saying.

Towards the end of the cleaning I had peace in these things. The Word of God, and His Law, is to make EVERYONE guilty before Him. The Word should bring conviction. The Truth should offend. There is no difference between me and another as far as our "deeds" are conerned. We ALL stand guilty. A person has no hope in and of himself, and we must all have our conviction.

We are to use the Word to shine the light into the darkness, exposing the truth in hopes that people will realize that they are sinners under condemnation. Only then, in that place of humility, can one accept that they need a Savior. ONLY FAITH IN JESUS saves. PERIOD. Trust God. Is that not the Gospel?! Is that not how we are made righteous?

Maybe it is that I am failing to offer the solution after revealing the darkness, which would be a greivious error on my part. God forgive me. There is NO HOPE outside of Jesus.

Why Shouldn't We Have Our Best Life Now?

Christianity is about Jesus. When we wonder what our life should look like as a Christian, it should look like His.

1 John 2:6 NKJV

He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

John 14:4-7 NKJV

"And where I go you know, and the way you know.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”

The persecution, the rejection, the humiliation... all the way to the cross.

John 13:16 NKJV

"Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him."

Revelation 12:11 NKJV

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

What I Teach is...

It appears to me that I haven't taken the time to properly convey things to some, so I am going to attempt a concise and pointed narrative.

For some reason some of you think I judge others by comparing them to me. Well... If I did that, that wouldn't be a bad thing because comparing anyone to me would ALWAYS make the other person look good. I know who I am, and I am a wretched sinner.

Here is what I teach in a nutshell (if I can be so precise).

We are ALL born into sin, and deserving of God’s holy wrath. We are born SLAVES to sin. That means sin owns us. We cannot do ANY good and our hearts are deceitful and wicked.

Psalms 51:5 NKJV

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.

Jesus came as God in the flesh around 2000 years ago and was born of a virgin mother. He lived a sinless life and was crucified for the sins of those whose names were written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, and was raised from the dead all according to Scripture. In this act Jesus became the sin of the believing ones and suffered the wrath of God in our place, and HIS righteousness is imputed to those that He died for.

2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV

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

When a person turns to God with ALL of their heart through the regenerative power of the Holy Spirit, such a person is born again (filled with the Holy Spirit) and made new. We are given remission of sins through faith in Jesus Christ, and sanctified through the Word of God by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Ezekiel 36:25-27 NKJV

Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.

The spiritual state of a person produces FRUIT, which is the by product of what is going on in our heart. If a person is filled with the Holy Spirit, they produce like fruit in their lives. If a person is not filled with the Holy Spirit, still a slave to sin, they produce like fruit in their lives.

Galatians 5:19-21 NKJV

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who  are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

These things are manifest as a RESULT of the God/god in a person's life. If Jesus is our God, then we are in right standing before. If Jesus is not God to a person, they are guilty of idolatry and abide under the wrath of God.

The RESULT of Jesus being God to a person is that the person is free from sin, and is being sanctified (made like Christ) to the glory of the Father. The  RESULT of Jesus not being God to a person is that the person is a slave to sin, and GOD GIVES THEM OVER to the destructive behaviors of the flesh.

This is a HEART issue, NOT a "do it yourself" project. ONLY Jesus can save you and make you free. I NEVER speak about me, but ALWAYS about God, for a person must fully turn to Him with ALL of their heart. If the fruit of the flesh is evident in a person's life, they must be made aware of their idolatry that they might return to God and be healed.

Testify

Yesterday I spent time talking to all three of my brothers about God and these things. Dale and I went to Maranatha Christian School, and Adam and Ryan went to Nampa Christian. As we were talking there were so many heresies and erroneous beliefs exposed in their words that were taught to them through their experience at Nampa Christian and church growing up.

All three of them are living in the world right now and have denied God, and it is in part because of the lies they were taught growing up. I know that because it was those fallacies that they were bringing up in their attempt to validate their position.

Listen... Here is truth. Jesus came to save those whose names were written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, the beloved. Jesus' sheep, the elect (the beloved), hear His voice, and they follow Him. There is NO AMOUNT OF PERSUASION or CREATIVE PRESENTATION that can turn one to God. ONLY the Word of God saves, because it is mixed with faith that God gives a person.

Because of the heresy that is taught people worry about how "the thing" for which God sends His Word is going to respond, which is the fear of man, instead speaking the Truth in love as we are commanded. (Isaiah 55:11)

My own cousin professes Christ with her mouth, yet her she likes and supports a hater of God as he spews forth his hate and rebellion. NOBODY CAN BE A FRIEND OF THE WORLD AND A FRIEND OF GOD. Either we are hated by all for Jesus, or we make ourselves an enemy of God.

I do not force anything down anyone's throat, but because I KNOW that it is the Word ALONE that saves I speak the Word constantly into the lives of those I love. If they are of the elect, they WILL respond to the Word. If they are not, that is not my concern, for what is the chaff to the wheat, and I must keep looking for my brethren. Speak the Word over your family my friend.

All the Promises of God.

If you are in Christ, filled with the Holy Spirit, ALL the promises of God are yours. Amen!

2 Corinthians 1:20-22 NKJV

For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

Deuteronomy 28:2-8 NKJV

And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God: Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be  in the country. Blessed shall  be  the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks. Blessed shall  be your basket and your kneading bowl. Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out. The Lord  will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways. The Lord will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you.

Do You Resist Reformed Theology?

You do realize that the very mission you are on to refute reformed theology is to steal God's glory in His sovereignty and to give it to man don't you? Again... Your intent is very discomforting sir.

1 Corinthians 1:29 NKJV

that no flesh should glory in His presence.

Jeremiah 13:15-17 NKJV

Hear and give ear: Do not be proud, For the Lord has spoken. Give glory to the Lord your God Before He causes darkness, And before your feet stumble On the dark mountains, And while you are looking for light, He turns it into the shadow of death And makes it dense darkness. But if you will not hear it, My soul will weep in secret for your pride; My eyes will weep bitterly And run down with tears, Because the Lord ’s flock has been taken captive.

How Are We Righteous?

Want to know how to be righteous? Believe God. Period.

James 2:23 NKJV

And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.

Genesis 15:6 NKJV

And he believed in the Lord , and He accounted it to him for righteousness.

Romans 4:3 NKJV

For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

Galatians 3:5-7 NKJV

Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does  He  do  it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?— just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Therefore know that only  those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.

Homosexualality and AIDS

Rick Warren is the "pastor" of Saddleback Church, one of the largest churches in the U.S. He said that he would work with practicing homosexuals, REGARDLESS OF THEIR BELIEFS, to help find a cure for AIDS.

That may not seem bad on the surface, but it is an absolutely erroneous stance for someone who claims to be a man of God. A man of God should know the Word, and believe it.

The Bible says that homosexualality is God’s judgment being poured out on those who hate Him in their heart, and that AIDS is the just reward for their rebellion against God. That being said, it is absolute foolishness to say that it is even possible to help them "regardless of their beliefs" since their beliefs is the root of the problem.

Romans 1:18-27 NKJV

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

Missing Parts of the Gospel

There are two very important parts of the Gospel of the Kingdom preached by Jesus Christ that that are so often entirely neglected.

1. God's Wrath
- Very rarely talked about, but what does it look like?

Joel 2:1-11 KJV

Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand;  A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.  A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.  The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.  Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.  Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.  They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks:  Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.  They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.  The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:  And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?

2. Repentance
- Occasionally it is spoken of, but what does it look like?

Joel 2:12-14 KJV

Therefore also now, saith the Lord , turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:  And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.  Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord your God?

So Mad!

Last night on the way to play basketball Morgun told me that we are part monkey, and that is why we can climb trees. When I hear this kind of crap it makes me so mad! Our kids go to school and are fed lies, and they believe those who lie to them because these liars have a position of authority. Granted that the individual teacher may not be intentionally conjuring lies, but nonetheless they are perpetuating the lies.

I told Morgun that we are not evolved from monkeys, but that people have created all kinds of lies and stories so as to deny God. I told him that Jesus created us as humans, and that we were never anything different. From the BEGINNING He made them male and female, and that we did not exist until Jesus created us in the womb.

We went and played basketball, then at bedtime when I was praying with him I took the opportunity to further the conversation. Morgun asked me what things would be like if there was no God, and I told him that there would be nothing if there was no God. No people. No life. No air. No planets. No animals. Nothing.

He asked me if there were more than one God, and I told him that there has always been and will always be only one God. "God has always existed, and will always exist. He will always be the only God ever."

Then Morgun asked me what things were like before God was born. To verify what he was asking I asked him if he was talking about when Jesus was born, and he said "Yes".

I made three circle with my hands, and told him that the circles represent the Father, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus. I then made like I was holding an imaginary ball in the air and explained that these three persons have always existed alone from all of eternity as God. Just these three, and they were perfectly content and at peace.

"Then the time came when they said 'Let's create something', so they did. Jesus created everything, and then when the time came Jesus came into the world as an infant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus didn't begin then, but rather God became a man so that He may die. He never quit being God, but for the first time He became a man. He left His glorious place of glory with the Father and became a human. After He was resurrected from the dead he once again ascended into Heaven and returned to His previous place of glory and honor with the Father from which He came. Jesus was NEVER created. He was always God, even when He was a man He was still God, and He will always continue to be God."

I asked Morgun if he understood, and he said "Yes". I again reiterated that people make up lies so that they can deny their Maker, and deny His right to judge His creation. I told him not to let people lie to him, but to boldly speak up.

"Do not be afraid to tell people 'That is not true' when they try to tell you that we came from monkeys Morgun. There is NOT one single piece of evidence in all of the world to support their claim. If you ask them to prove it, they cannot. I will happily support you for telling your teacher that you do not believe the crap they try to feed you."

Priesthood

The royal priesthood isn't misunderstood to those who understand the Kingdom. It goes like this...

John the Baptist was the greatest prophet ever born of a woman, but the Law and the prophets ended with him. From that time on Jesus brought the Kingdom of God with Him. Jesus says "the least" in the Kingdom is greater the the greatest prophet.

Matthew 11:11 NKJV

“Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he."

Luke 16:16 NKJV

“The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it."

This is because when God fills a person with the Holy Spirit, they become one with God. Every single believer is an ambassador of Christ, a royal priest, and a son of the living God.

1 Peter 2:9 KJV

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

Revelation 1:5-6 NKJV

To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Revelation 5:10 NKJV

"And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”

Jeremiah 31:33-34 NKJV

But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord : I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord ,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord . For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

Should We Worship Jesus?

Let's look at something...

What happens if we worship ANYONE other than God? That is called idolatry. Listen to what the angel says when John begins to worship him.

Revelation 19:10 NKJV

And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that  you  do not do  that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

Revelation 22:8-9 NKJV

Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. Then he said to me, “See that  you  do not do  that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”

Deuteronomy 5:7-10 NKJV

‘You shall have no other gods before Me. ‘You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of  anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.'

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 NKJV

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord  is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.'

Guess who accepts worship though? Unless an angel is more faithful to the Father than Jesus, He would have responded the same as the angel did to John in Revelation if the worship was inappropriate. He didn't though. He accepts it.

Matthew 28:9 NKJV

And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him.

Revelation 5:8-14 NKJV

Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.” Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!” And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!” Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.

Luke 19:35-40 NKJV

Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him. And as He went, many spread their clothes on the road. Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, saying: “ ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord !’ Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”