Saul was Knocked to the Ground! Forced Dismount from a Horse?
EVER heard the saying “Get off your high horse!”? Where do you think that came from? … Do You Still Need Him?
“GET OFF that high horse” – Some believe there was a horse or donkey involved and yet there is no mention of such in the text. Saul was knocked to the ground, that’s for sure and yet such does not require riding a beast. The road from Jerusalem to Damascus covered over 135 miles (220 kilometers), so he would have wanted to ride a horse to get to Damascus faster, and yet there is no indication he was on a horse. It seems some early “Christian” art depicts Saul on a horse in his conversion account on the road to Damascus. We do know from the text, as we read it in a moment, that Saul definitely knocked to the ground at there appearance and hearing of the voice of the LORD. So, for the sake of example, let’s know he was knocked down and if you wish, one can imagine that Paul was riding a horse or donkey in his mission to stamp out Christianity. EVERY true disciple has the divine Person of the Holy Ghost living in them and so EVERY disciple is anointed! YES, every believer needs a fresh infilling and to be more anointed, but stop acting as if you are superior to other believers. You simply aren’t and fooling no one but yourself and the gullible you seek to look up to you as you rob glory from the One who bled to redeem sinners like us! It’s all about Jesus, not you! Dismount or you will be abased into the bowels of hell by Christ, the anointed One (Matthew 23:12). Drop the flesh-flattering title, cease drawing attention away from Christ, and just be Jesus’ disciple and servant – which we do not deserve to be!
LIKE SIMON THE SORCERER IN ACTS 8, THOSE WHO FLASH AND WIELD THEIR TITLES AND POSITIONS OVER YOU SEEK TO BRING YOU UNDER THEIR WITCHCRAFT SPELL SO THEY CAN EXERCISE CONTROL OVER YOUR LIFE WHICH IS SOMETHING GOD ALONE IS DUE. BY REASON OF CREATION, THE LORD OWNS ALL SOULS AND ALONE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO RULE OVER EACH HUMAN BEING (EZEKIEL 18:4; REVELATION 4:9-11, ETC.).
Of course you still and will always need the LORD and His saving mercy, and yet, do you realize this great need for Him?
Listen to the very one who was ousted from his proverbial high horse and blinded (knocked down) by the LORD for his arrogance and murderous rage against the Christ and His beloved people. Listen to what Saul of Tarsus, now Paul, had learned since being blessed to be brought low:
“But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: 10Who delivered (past) us from so great a death, and doth deliver (present): in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us (future).” 2 Corinthians 1:10
Saul of Tarsus went from his self-elevated position on the high horse to being brought low in humility by the Savior. Let’s peek into this monumental event.
Acts 9
“And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 3And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. 7And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 8And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 9And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.”
Jesus abruptly interrupted Saul’s crusade to destroy His Gospel and His people. Saul of Tarsus was mercifully granted repentance unto everlasting life as participated with his own free will.
The whole of the world received the Gospel of Jesus Christ largely due to this man Saul/Paul. What would have happened if Saul of Tarsus has not been found by Christ and brought low in humility?
Saul was a Jew among Jews, extremely accomplished in his religion (Philippians 3:4-8). As he was humbled in repentance and regenerated, only then could God use Saul who was renamed Paul. The same is the case for you and I – As we are brought low in humility, and only according to the depth of that brokenness, can we be used of the LORD.
Are we truly saved? Do we not know that salvation is His gift and that we truly merit His wrath? (Romans 3:10-26; 5:17-19; 6:23) If so, just WHAT boasting have we? What iota of self-boast still remains in our hearts? Our only boasting should be exclusively in the saving mercy of Jesus Christ Himself!
“…that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. 7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?” 1 Corinthians 4:6-7
Someone has wisely stated that:
“There’s not a saint without a past or a sinner without a future.” unknown
With the LORD, this statement is so true. Oh and this is no license to live ungodly after He finds and saves us! Never. Yet, somewhere in each life, our eyes must be placed upon the nail-scarred, risen Savior and LORD Himself and not mere men who are all faulty.
Paul said he did not preach himself but rather Christ.
“We preach Christ crucified.” 1 Corinthians 1:23
Showing people Jesus – preaching Jesus and Him crucified – is what Paul did and he also said that “no good thing” except Christ dwelled in Him (Romans 7:18). We must announce our own utter and perpetual need for Christ and God’s grace which is truly what being “poor in spirit” means (Matthew 5:3). Preaching Christ should include our own testimony of His saving grace in our own lives – both in the past, in the now/present, and future.
“Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God.” 2 Corinthians 3:5
“But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead.” 2 Corinthians 1:9
He’s the only Savior and we are His servants – “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.” (2 Corinthians 4:5)
ALL men need God – severely and perpetually!
NO mere man ever ceases the desperate need for the LORD and His saving mercy!
Some in Christ realize this and some don’t yet understand this, due to their spiritual immaturity.
Personally, as a soul saved by the mercy of Jesus Christ, I do not wish to act or pretend as if I live in some zone that is not penetrable or that there is the slightest goodness in and of myself. Remember how David let down his guard and found out that without Christ reigning presently, he was susceptible to the enemy and sin (2 Samuel 11). We must learn from this and that’s exactly why God has this in His blessed Word (Romans 15:4). The believer should remain in a posture of desperate need – hungering, thirsting, and in great need of God, every minute of the day. The things this man after God’s own heart (king David) cried out in Psalms is our example (Ps. 42:1-2; 57:7; 62:8; 63:8, etc.). Perhaps we need a real trust in God that makes us vulnerable to and dependent upon Him and not try to put up some pious, religious facade, a mere act, as if we have no more need of God’s saving mercy. Such a disposition is under girded with pride and arrogance which God hates (Proverbs 8:13). His saving grace in salvation is given to us in the past, present, and future and yet that grace of His salvation is contingent upon our current humility (2 Corinthians 1:10; James 4:6-10; 1 Peter 1:9, etc.).
Are we not instructed to be open and transparent?
“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16
Perhaps there is a time when each of us would do well to readily and publicly admit what God already knows – that we all have “faults,” are nothing without Christ, and are desperately in need of His present and perpetual mercy and saving grace.
We must rid our minds of the falsehood that salvation is only something of our past. We must understand that God requires genuine faith and repentance both initially and ongoing (Hebrews 3:6, 12-14; 10:26-39).
There’s a great breakthrough in this honesty. We are not self-sufficient and by ourselves we are totally nothing, even when at our “best.” Grab this:
“LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am. 5Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.” Psalms 39:4-5
What did the Bible just tell us that man is, even “at his BEST state”? – “altogether VANITY.” Any questions?
Saul was Knocked to the Ground!
The LORD knocked Saul of Tarsus “off his high horse” of pride and unwarranted religious arrogance. Does the LORD need to do the same to us?
Jesus said that “without me ye can do nothing” and so it’s time that we admit that we need God and stop hiding behind the farce that we have arrived (John 15:5).
THERE IS SO MUCH EXCUSE-MAKING IN MUCH OF WHAT PRETENDS TO BE CHRISTIANITY. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE FOR SIN, PERIOD. YET, IN ORDER TO BE DELIVERED, EDIFIED IN CHRIST, AND EMPOWERED BY HIS DIVINE GRACE TO OVERCOME, VICTORY BEGINS WITH HONESTY – BEING HONEST ABOUT WHO WE ARE AND WHO HE IS AND ANNOUNCING HOW DESPERATELY AND PRESENTLY WE NEED HIM.
JESUS SPEAKS OF THE “HONEST AND GOOD HEART” BEING THE ONLY TYPE HEART THAT GLORIFIES HIM (LUKE 8:15). CATCH THIS. MEMORIZE THIS TRUTH.
ANYone still holding a stone of condenmation in their fist? – “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” (John 8:7) The quicker we own up to what God said about all men – that without Him we are ALL utterly corrupt, depraved, have grossly sinned against Him, and are desperately wicked – the quicker it is that we will be broken and humbled with contrite hearts before Him (Genesis 6:5, 12; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:10-23, etc.). That’s exactly what pleases God (Psalms 34:18; 51:17; Isaiah 66:1-2, etc.).
JESUS WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO QUALIFIED TO CONDEMN THE WOMAN TAKEN IN ADULTERY AND HE DIDN’T. IN LIGHT OF THIS SIMPLE FACT, JUST HOW ARROGANT AND BLINDED WE WOULD BE TO RENDER UNDUE, SINFUL CONDEMNATION TOWARDS ANOTHER PERSON IS OUR ATTITUDES OR WORDS! BE AWARE THAT GOD IS WATCHING AND HE SEES THE VERY THOUGHTS OF OUR HEART ATTITUDES.
Concerning those in our midst who render undue judgments on others who have fallen, one sister writes:
“That’s true. We do have a past, but thank God we been forgiven. BUT, some people won’t let you live it down!”
Can you sense her pain? Can you relate? Have you also been beat over the head with a sin you have long ago repented of?
Those people who wrongly condemn are controlled by their own sin and therefore the accuser of the brethren himself, Satan (Revelation 12:10). But look at how readily Jesus forgave vile sinners. Think about the mercy the unchanging Savior bestowed upon the thief on the cross in his last moments (Luke 23:41-43). Think about how uncondemning HE was to the woman at the well who previously had 5 husbands and was living with another man (John 4) … then, did God not use her to go into town and tell everyone she had just met the Jewish Messiah!!!! put that in your pharisee pipe and smoke it (as the saying goes)… how about how merciful JESUS was to the woman caught in the very act of adultery …. notice that the only people He condemned were those self-righteous devils who threw her at His beautiful feet (John 8)….when the smoke cleared, that women was forgiven, told to go and sin no more and those unrepentant religious devils were sent packing on their way to hell …. go figure … we don’t have a clue yet about how loving and merciful God is to those who turn to Him ….. memorizing these 2 verses from HIS Word changed my view of God (Ps 86:5, 15)…. also, the whole chapter of Lk 15 is all about the restoring grace of God! Somebody should shout Thank YOU JESUS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now that You Know You are Totally Washed, Forgiven, and Cleansed, Let’s Ask: Can God Use You?
“Jacob was a cheater, Peter had a temper, David had an affair, Noah got drunk, Jonah ran from God, Paul was a murderer, Gideon was insecure, Miriam was a gossiper, Martha was a worrier, Thomas was a doubter, Sara was impatient, Elijah was moody, Moses stuttered, Zaccheus was short, Abraham was old,… and Lazarus was dead…. Now, what’s YOUR excuse? Can God use you or not? God doesn’t CALL the QUALIFIED, He QUALIFIES the CALLED.”
Paul wrote “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” 1 Corinthians 15:10
Do you want to get deeper into God’s Word? If so, send a reply requesting the “Moments with My Master” email that is sent out to edify Christ’s body. Sign up Here.
Support | STORE | Podcasts | Parents | Family | Godly Manhood | Women | Support | STORE | Podcasts | Christology | Because You Care Page | The Greatest of these is Charity | Be Ready in the Morning [podcast] | The Sure Mercies of David [podcast] | That Repentance and Remission of Sins should be Preached [podcast] | At His Feet | Prepared to be Used of God | The Damning Myth of Unconditional Eternal Security [podcast] | The Essential of Fearing God | The KING is Coming [podcast] |
Articles
Sinlessly Perfect? I Doubt it [podcast]
Yes the LORD commands His people to “Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16) Yet we should ask whether or not His desire is for His people to tout to others that they are “sinlessly perfect” or does His Word rather reveal that His people are to be dependent upon Him through the humility of Christ and crucified life He ordained us to walk in? Did the apostles walk around telling people they were sinlessly perfect? No. Didn’t Paul confess his own utter poverty of spirit outside of the saving, present grace of Christ? Yes. (Romans 7:18, 24, etc.) Are there biblical warnings about claiming that one is sinlessly perfect? Yes. (Job 9:20; Proverbs 20:9)
“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16
Saints, would it be accurate to observe that we cannot possibly begin to appreciate this “so great salvation” that is Christ until we understand how lost, helpless, and alienated we were in our sin? (Ephesians 2:1-10; Hebrews 2:3) We must pray and study to understand the biblical doctrine of inherent sin, fallen mankind, and the holiness of God …. in order to begin to be able to appreciate the redemption that is in Jesus Christ.
“If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.” Job 9:20
Solomon said:
“Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?” Proverbs 20:9
Speaking of king David’s imperfections, even nearing the end of his life on earth, one commentator writes:
“Surely there can be little ground for the doctrine of perfectionism, otherwise David, whose religion was so earnest and so deep, would have been nearer it now than this chapter shows that he was.” Expositor’s Bible
“For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.” Ecclesiastes 7:20
I am not a good person, neither are you – “There is none righteous, no, not one“ (Romans 3:10). Admit it. The sooner we become HONEST with that which is more than obvious, announcing freely and transparently – that there is “NOOOO good thing” in us except CHRIST, the sooner God will begin a new, deeper work in us! (Romans 7:18, 24) The Cross!
God is able to establish our hearts in His grace and to multiply His grace to us (Hebrews 13:9; 2 Peter 3:18)
ALL of our deeds are not perfect (1 John 1:8-10). “For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life” (Proverbs 6:23). The truly righteous remain humble, teachable, and repentant. Note verse 21 saints:
“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” John 3:19-21
Saved by Divine Grace and Yet Now Made Perfect by Your Flesh?
“Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” Galatians 3:3
The Galatian believers had begun their walk with Christ by responding to the conviction of the Spirit, repenting, putting their faith in Christ, and being regenerated. Yet, now they were allowing false teachers to seduce them back under the law, law-keeping for righteousness – to attempt to please God by their own self-will and performance.
Jesus’ disciples must live a set apart life. Living sinless? Well, it can be done: Here’s the key – “In him (Jesus) is no sin. He that abideth in him sinneth not” (1 John 3:5-6). We whom Jesus has saved must “cleanse ourselves from ALL filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1). Yet, the only way to be sinless is in presently abiding in Him and that begins with the essential of announcing our own poverty in self which is being poor/desperately dependent on Him in spirit (Matthew 5:3, 6). Yet some insist that they are perfect by their own will, ability, and doing. This is the exact error of the Galatians which caused them to fall from saving grace (Galatians 5:4). They left Christ for something else – law keeping. Leaving Christ, departing from faith, and casting off trusting fully in HIS saving grace, is deadly. Realizing there is “NO good thing” in us except Christ, is essential to abiding saved in Him (Romans 7:18, 24; John 15:1-6). Galatians 3:3 says it all – “Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3). The great apostle of Jesus was desperate for the LORD, ever seeking His holy face and dreadfully not wanting “to be found having mine own righteousness which is of the law” (Philippians 3:9-10).
“The great secret of abiding in Christ is the deep conviction that we are nothing, and He is everything.” Andrew Murray, Abide in Christ
Heart purity and a sinless life emanate only from intimate union and abiding with a holy God. This occurs as we consent to the cross and not by human effort alone. Jesus raises up those who are truly bowed down – crucified with Christ (Psalms 145:14; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3, etc.). One cannot possibly “stop sinning” until they come to Jesus and He saves them, making them new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17-18). Only then can the regenerated disciple “put off the old man” and “put on the new man” (Colossians 3:9-10). There MUST be something to “put off” …. that inherent sinful nature, otherwise no such language would be in Scripture (Colossians 3).
Beware of the sinless perfectionists who speak of overcoming sin outside of the daily cross and the saving, enabling grace of God. It’s only possible by God’s enabling grace in and through a true abiding relationship.
If we claim we are sufficient in and of ourselves and because of our own “natural ability” to do right, and can be perfect (which God requires) without Christ and our total trust IN HIM, we are apostate. Memorize Romans 4:4-5.
We cannot be “made perfect BY the flesh” or by means of our own self-will and effort alone. If that were possible WHY then did Jesus come? We are only perfect in the sense of Christ’s perfection AS we abide in Him (John 15:1-6). As we do, we will “walk in the light, as he is in the light … and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” Here’s the whole verse:
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7
Yes, we are “new creatures” in Christ and must humble ourselves before Him, put off the old man, put on the new man, and walk in the Spirit with Him. Yet, the victory Christ has wrought and ordained for us to walk in daily all begins with acknowledging instead of denying that there is something to deny and die to and “put off” (Colossians3:5; 2 Corinthians5:17-18). Denying that we have inclination toward sin is not the answer. Crucifying the deeds of the body by the power of the Holy Spirit is the answer (Romans 8:12-14). Many are getting hoodwinked by this self-righteous “I can do it with my own ‘natural ability’” spirit. This is a Christ-denying devil-exalting heresy, doctrine of devils (1 Timothy 4:1-3). Many who are not grounded in the grace and Word of Christ are adopting this error of Pelagianism which fosters self righteousness. They are aggressively teaching this sinless perfectionism (in the flesh) error to others. These people seem to have one common denominator – they have studied the teachings of Charles Finney or Mike Desario. Beware!
Many of those who preach sin without saving, rescuing, enabling, overcoming divine grace are perhaps still trapped in their own sins. They have no answer for others and therefore we should wonder if they have the LORD’s answer for and in their own lives. If they did, would they not be full of His great joy and sharing with others how to be delivered? Why are they content with condemning others in sin? Is God willing that ANY should perish? See 2 Peter 3:9.
Never forget to make a decision to be deepened in the essential truth that it’s “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us.”
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:5-7
WHEN we realize that God is “Holy, holy, holy,” we will no longer wrongly condemn others if they sin, just because the flavor of their sin differs from that sin which we’ve committed, knowing that the sin we committed was no less evil in the eyes of He alone who is “Holy, holy, holy” (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8).
G.R.A.C.E. = God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense
It’s only by God’s grace that we are found and saved by Him and kept and enabled to please Him which includes participating in holiness, separated unto the LORD, as He is holy (Hebrews 12:14-15; 1 Peter 1:15-16; Revelation 4:8, etc.).
Titus 2 tells us that we are only saved by divine grace and only kept to the end by His enabling grace.
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.” Titus 2:11-15
Deliverance from sin/sinning is only possible through faith, loving, worshiping, and obeying our LORD, that is, moment-by-moment abiding in Christ, the crucified life, being raised up by His Spirit (Romans 6; 8:13-14, etc.).
“And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.” 1 John 3:3-6
Perfection is the perfect forgiveness and justification of the LORD which God brings about by His Spirit and our faith which always brings our adherence to the daily cross (Philippians 2:12-13). It’s divine perfection worked out in the abiding disciple as he walks in the Spirit abiding in Christ (Galatians 5:16, 25, etc.).
True OR Feigned Holiness? | Saving, Enabling Grace | Have We Ourselves Become Pharisees? | The Spirit of Holiness |
Support | STORE | Podcasts | Jail/Prison Ministry | Mexico Mission here | All Ministry Updates | Purifying Ourselves as He is Pure [podcast] | 10 Clues Your Love for God is Waxing Cold [podcast]
Articles
Living the Edification Lifestyle [video]
Support | STORE | Podcasts | Jail/Prison Ministry | Mexico Mission here | All Ministry Updates | The Bridegroom is Calling His Bride | Purifying Ourselves as He is Pure [podcast] | 10 Clues Your Love for God is Waxing Cold [podcast] | More on the Sabbath of the New Testament – Jesus!
Articles
The True Temple of God [podcast]
“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16
Today’s priesthood of wolves, who falsely claim to be the LORD’s elders, nearly all insist that they MUST have and operate out of a physical so-called church building (Jeremiah 12:10; 23; Ezekiel 34; Matthew 24:11, etc.). Well, wouldn’t that mean that Jesus and His holy apostles weren’t legitimate elders—because none of them raised a penny for, or built a physical building?
A temple is a holy place, a sanctuary of worship. The temple the LORD had Moses construct was in order that He might dwell among His people. “And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them” (Exodus 25:8). Why was there a tent of meeting? “That I may dwell among them.” We must never lose sight of the original and perpetual purpose for a temple—for God and man to abide together in relational communion and that the Creator’s will could be advanced in the earth (Genesis 1:26; John 14:15, 21, 23; 17:3; 2 Corinthians 6:16-18).
In the divine economy, a temple is a place where God dwells. And, just where is that temple today?
The temple of God is the place He chooses to dwell—to reside. Where did the LORD tell us He chooses to dwell?
“Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for (now) he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also … Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient (better) for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” John 14:17-19; 16:7
When Jesus spoke these words He had not yet ascended back to Heaven. The Son of God here promised that when He went to the glory of His Father He was going to send the divine Person of the Holy Ghost to dwell inside every born again believer (His temples). This is why Jesus tells us in John 16:7 that it was “expedient” or better for them His disciples (and us), that He went away—so that upon re-entering His Father’s heavenly throne of glory, He could send into the hearts of every saint, the divine Person of the Holy Spirit. Apparently, up until this point the Holy Spirit was only with His saints and not inside of them in the special way He dwells with us under this glorious New Covenant (read the book of Hebrews). Christ here foretells that soon, when He rose again from the dead and ascended up on high, He was going to send forth the Holy Ghost and though now “he dwelleth WITH you,” soon He “shall be IN you” (John 14:17). But not everyone can receive the divine presence, the divine Person of the Holy Spirit. There is a qualification to receive the very presence of the Holy Spirit— “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you” (John 14:17). Only those who know Jesus and have been cleansed by His holy blood will receive the Holy Spirit and be His temples—the place He dwells. Now that His blood was shed to take away the sins of the world, the divine presence of “the Spirit of truth” was now going to dwell in those temples whom He had regenerated and cleansed in preparation for His abiding (John 14:17).
There is a shadow of this in the law and days of Moses. This truth (that one must be washed in the blood to receive the Spirit) is a prophetic prefiguring of what Christ become the reality and fulfillment. Jesus Christ has become the substance of what this was a mere “shadow of things to come.” Hebrews 10:1 says, “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.”
The blood of Jesus has provided for us much better things in our relationship with God, including the truth that we are His temples —the place He has chosen to dwell. The sacrifices under the Old Covenant were infinitely inferior to that of the supreme and matchless perfection of Christ’s sacrifice through which He has granted us a “better covenant.” —“But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant (far superior), which was established upon better promises” (Hebrews 8:6).
The shadow: Do you remember that under the law, the blood was first applied to the priest and then the oil? The substance: There is order with the LORD—one must first be cleansed of all unholy contamination (sin) by the blood of sacrifice before the oil of God the Holy Spirit will come and dwell there.
“And thou shalt take of the blood that is upon the altar, and of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon the garments of his sons with him: and he shall be hallowed, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons’ garments with him.” Exodus 29:21
With these truths at heart and for a deeper understanding, let’s peruse through a larger portion of this vital passage recorded in John 14, even the words of our LORD:
“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide (dwell) with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:16-26
The Holy Spirit is now dwelling in us as His temples—“he abideth (dwells) IN US, by the Spirit which he hath given us … greater is he that is IN YOU, than he that is in the world” (1 John 3:24; 4:4).
“Ye are God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3:9
The person who does not understand what God’s Word teaches concerning the identification of God’s real “church”—“God’s building”—is prey for a wolf to make him loyal to his own cause, diverting and intercepting his focus and funds from the LORD God (soul-damning idolatry – Ephesians 5:5-9).
Did Jesus ever build a physical building to further His heavenly kingdom? No. So what does He mean by the declaration “I will build my church”? See Matthew 16:18.
“Many have no idea that 1 Corinthians 3:16 means God dwells within us. They pride themselves on how often they attend church. It becomes a ‘holier than thou’ attitude (Isaiah 65:5). And they believe they are morally superior because they attend ‘church.’ God forbid you leave their apostate building and become the real church! At our last ‘church’ we were ostracized for that. Because according to them, when you leave their physical building, you have now left God. They believe that Jesus is only in those buildings and not in us! But those church buildings are only made of wood. And Jesus does not dwell there because of the defilement, self-righteousness, and sin. He dwells in us. We are the temples of the living God! And we are to carry His Word and shine His light into the world and not to hide it behind a fake, lukewarm, religious building!” Karen Cochran
How does the Bible define His “church”? Greek – ekklessia, which means called out ones (people).
What Jesus is building is “a spiritual house” (1 Peter 2:5). This is transpiring as His Word is sown into the hearts of men.
The Carpenter from Heaven promised to build and work on His “building” causing it to prevail against all hell could offer (Matthew 16:18). His people are the “church” Jesus promised to “build.” We are each lively stones— “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5). Each one of His people is a living stone making up His “building,” His “temple,” His “spiritual house” (1 Corinthians 3:9, 16; 1 Peter 2:5).
“And I (Christ) say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock (the revelation that I am the Messiah) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18
Jesus says “I will build my CHURCH” (Matthew 16:18). His “church” is HIS PEOPLE, not a physical building but rather He is building His kingdom in the hearts of His PEOPLE. Are you STILL wasting God’s money on physical buildings many erroneously call “church” ?
The revealed divine goal is to “build” His family by saving and changing lives that are houses of clay and being conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:28-29). Christ didn’t come to give license to sub-leaders to build their own little kingdoms using His name. He is orchestrating all things to this divine and holy end—it’s all about Him and not us. This is why He has redeemed us and come to dwell in us—to do what He promised and is doing, build His church. Any movement, leader, or organization that does not own and communicate this foundational truth through the Gospel, is preaching another gospel and is false (Galatians 1:6-9). Defining the true Church as the LORD has in His Word is ultra important, especially in this late hour of epidemic apostasy (Matthew 24:3-5; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; 1 Timothy 4:1-3; Revelation 12:12). Jesus Christ told us that His kingdom was “not of this world” and that His kingdom was within His people and not an organization of mere men or physical buildings— “the most High dwelleth NOT in temples made with hands” (Luke 17:21; John 18:36; Acts 7:48).
Just as the blood of an animal sacrifice preceded the application of the anointing oil, so the precious blood of Christ made it possible for His Holy Spirit to dwell inside each and every one of His saints. This is why Jesus told us that it was “expedient” for us that He go to Heaven after paying the full price for our sins on the cross so He could send the Spirit into each heart (Acts 2:1-4).
Did you catch that? — “The most High dwelleth NOT in temples made with hands” (Acts 7:48). God is holy and cannot dwell in any place prepared by the hands of sinful men. As God would have it, only the divine blood of His only begotten Son via His nail-pierced hands and feet could have possibly prepared the place in us for His holy presence to dwell.
This “so great salvation,” wrought by the very blood of Jesus, provided for the indwelling Spirit to inhabit us as His temples and gives full access and blessed provision to every disciple for communion and any need (Hebrews 2:3; 4:14-16).
JESUS WANTS THE GATHERINGS OF HIS PEOPLE CLEANSED FROM THE HIRELING WOLVES WHO MONETIZE HIS NAME AND HIS CHURCH! They refuse to emphasize the divine desire for God’s people to have pure hearts nor the cardinal doctrines of the doctrine of God.
God is all about people and yet cannot bestow His blessing until there is true repentance and humility (Isaiah 1:18-20; Acts 3:19; James 4:6-10). We should ask His forgiveness for the idolatry of having other gods before Him and therefore aggrandizing self, physical temples, organizations, programs, and mere men.
“For the LORD taketh pleasure in HIS PEOPLE (not physical buildings, organizations or leaders, etc.): he will beautify the meek with salvation.” Psalms 149:4
The Father sent His only begotten Son for people. The earth and everything else is only in existence for His highest creation for which He came and bled. The eternal Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, ultimately purchasing our redemption with His own blood in order to wash away all our sins and grant us intimate relationship with Him who is “holy, holy, holy” (Isaiah 6:3; Matthew 26:28; Revelation 4:8). Christ did not come to the earth so that men could use His name to amass organizations to their own glory, ruling over the people—such is the occupation of “evil workers” (Philippians 3:1-3, 17-19). Jesus told us that those who truly followed Him would be the greatest servants (Matthew 20:24-28). Any person in leadership who does not strive to be “servant of all” is in direct disobedience to the command of Christ and will inevitably become a wolf operating among the sheep if he does not repent and lay down his life (Mark 9:35). Hirelings are those who are in ministry positions for their own personal gain—they serve their own carnal appetites (Philippians 3:17-19). As we were repeatedly forewarned, there are “many” who erect physical monuments and perpetuate the existence of religious organizations of mere men while claiming to be Christ’s leaders. This they do while simultaneously rejecting His words (Matthew 7:21; Mark 8:38).
The LORD is all about “HIS PEOPLE” and not physical buildings, organizations, religious politics, or the undue and idolatrous worship of human leaders, etc. Those who do not emphasize this truth that Jesus Christ is “Head” and is building His people—His Church—His building, are those who are “not (up)holding the Head (Christ), from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God” (Colossians 2:18-19).
Oh yeah to the naked and untrained eye it looks like Christianity is growing in America with all the church buildings that are being constructed. That’s a picture of the organized, visible apostate church world. As Elijah and the apostle Paul were taught and reminded of, God’s remnant people are not always readily visible to the physical eye (1 Kings 19:14, 18; Acts 18:9-10). But we must ask ourselves if the growth of the kingdom of God is parallel with the construction of brick and mortar buildings and the numeric growth of organizations or local churches.
According to history, organizations, properties, and numbers of people can be thriving while men are simultaneously departing from the LORD.
“For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof.” Hosea 8:14
“Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples” —From this telling statement it seems that as men forget God, they tend to migrate to the idolatry of self by building physical structures as a way to make up for what they lack spiritually and what they would otherwise be receiving from God if they were worshiping Him “in Spirit and in truth” (John 4:23-24). The innate tendency in the man who has a mere form of godliness yet does not know the LORD, is to construct physical things, believing that he is contributing to the building of God’s kingdom. For this sin the LORD promises to send the “fire” of His judgment which must begin at the house of God (Isaiah 5:20-24; 1 Peter 4:17-18).
Those who understand the biblical truth about the true Church and that we are His temples, will cringe when we hear a pastor stand up and say “Welcome to the house of God.” We are the Church (called-out ones) and therefore cannot go to church as many insinuate. We are the temple or house of God and therefore cannot go to the house of God. Now we can fellowship with those in “the household of faith” yet the house of God is not a physical building where we gather (Galatians 6:10). Any leader who misleads people to believe that his little church program or business is “the house of God” simply does not possess a foundational knowledge of the kingdom of God.
Like apostate Israel, in America we see the exponential proliferation of “church houses” at the expense of the advancement and spread of the kingdom of Heaven. Wasn’t this the case with the Laodiceans? They appeared to have substance with all their material wealth and yet God saw them as ready to be rejected out of His body because they were “lukewarm… wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked…” (Revelation 3:14-22). Let’s freshly read these vitally important words of Christ and examine our own hearts in this light:
“And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” Revelation 3:14-22
One deceived pastor of a large and financially affluent church here in the Dallas area attributes the financial increase and his accumulation of real estate properties to the growth of God’s kingdom. Is that biblically accurate?
“Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog’s neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine’s blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not. Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.” Isaiah 66:1-5
The LORD is not impressed with physical buildings and organizations of religious men who don’t know Him. The Almighty told us that He only chooses to commune with that redeemed person who is of a “poor and of a contrite spirit” and therefore trembles at His holy Word (Isaiah 66:2).
Being His dwelling place requires that I obediently keep His temple clean. (God be praised for repentance, His holy throne of grace, and the restoring love of Christ.) Such is a condition for remaining His son and receiving His blessings:
“And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Corinthians 6:15-7:1
PRAYER: Father, please do a fresh work in my heart. I ask You in Jesus’ holy name. Grant a heart of flesh and please remove all stony places in this heart. Bless this vessel to please You in all thoughts, meditations, and acts in this short life. Please dig in deep, probing the depths of this heart. Please test the substance of my life and reveal the true value or lack thereof. Grant repentance and the holy fear of the LORD. Let me be clothed with Your righteousness through the precious blood of Jesus. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you truly desire to know more about how to really know the LORD, go here okay: Born Again: What is It?
Feedback:
“Brother TODD you are such a blessing .. I came out two years ago .. HE kept taking me out.. I thought something was wrong with me.. not anymore .. brother AUSTIN shared this teaching on the living stones and gave an illustration.. I will send this to him he will love it and I have sent it to a few others as well.. thank you for writing it for the FATHER is using you and all your past experiences HE is using for his glory!” Marsha O.
Support | STORE | Podcasts | Jail/Prison Ministry | Mexico Mission here | All Ministry Updates | More on Assurance here | Because You Care Page | The Greatest of these is Charity | Be Ready in the Morning [podcast] | The Sure Mercies of David [podcast] | That Repentance and Remission of Sins should be Preached [podcast] | At His Feet | Knowing God | The Cross Life | 100’s of Christ-centered Scripture-rich Podcasts | Christology = the Study of Christ
Sinlessly Perfect? I Doubt it [podcast]
Living the Edification Lifestyle [video]
The True Temple of God [podcast]
GOD’S GRACE “IN THIS PRESENT WORLD” TITUS 2:12 [podcast]
Message from an Antichrist Refuted! Is Jesus Christ Divine? [podcast]
FAKE THEOLOGIAN DESTROYED: Is Learning Hebrew and Greek Necessary to Understand God’s Word?
The Book of 2 Peter Narrated [podcast]
“Be thou in the Fear of the LORD all the Day Long” [podcast]
The Sensual Seduction and Solicitation of the Modern Church!
WHY were 24,000 of God’s People Killed at Peor? [podcast]
The Result of Real Repentance [podcast]
God’s Universal Way of Fighting with Todd Tomasella and Travis Bryan III [podcast]
Man Shall not Live by Bread Alone [podcast]
VIDEO Mission Mexico Update January 2026 [video]
The Prayer Life of Jesus [podcast]
7 Sayings of Jesus on the Cross [podcast]
Counting the Cost – Following Jesus to the End of Your Life [podcast]
The Sensual Seduction and Solicitation of the Modern Church!
GOD’S GRACE “IN THIS PRESENT WORLD” TITUS 2:12 [podcast]
White and Clean: Garments of the KING’s Bride [podcast]
WHY were 24,000 of God’s People Killed at Peor? [podcast]
BEWARE of the Wolf Defenders [podcast]
Biblical Deliverance Prescription-Wholeness in Christ [podcast]
The Gospel: What is It? [podcast]
Living with an Eternal Perspective [podcast]
What Did Paul Mean by “I Keep Under My Body”? [podcast]
The True Temple of God [podcast]
Sinlessly Perfect? I Doubt it [podcast]
The Laid Down Life [podcast]
The Book of 2 Peter Narrated [podcast]
Sinlessly Perfect? I Doubt it [podcast]
Living the Edification Lifestyle [video]
The True Temple of God [podcast]
-
America11 months agoThe Drugging of America: The Pharmakeia Sorcery Deception [podcast]
-
Articles2 years ago
Children being Rescued in Tunnels: Happening Now – UPDATE!
-
Articles8 years ago
Self-Examination in Preparation for the Lord’s Return
-
Apostasy2 years ago
SHOCKING List of False Prophets Most Believe are True
Providing Christ-centered Scripture-rich resources to feed, edify, and equip the body of Christ (John 21:15-17; Ephesians 4:11-15).
Navigation
Quick links
Newsletter
Stay updated of the ministry operations. We saved a spot for you on the ministry email list.
© 2025 Safe Guard Your Soul. All Rights Reserved