Which Are You Under?
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway,even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:18-20
As you may very well know, when we set out to communicate the truth – all of it – without apology, He promised that we will be ousted by those professing to know Christ, namely those in positions of leadership. Jesus was! Paul was! The Jewish prophets were! Anyone who embarks upon going all the way with the LORD will be rejected and falsely accused, attacked and cut off (financially) by the antichrist spirit operating in the organized church world (See Matt. 10:22; Jn. 16:1-3; Matt. 5:10-12, 1 Kings 18:4, etc.).
When we learn true authority, by deduction we will discern false authority.
Always remember that “ALL” authority has been given unto our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ and He only gives it to those who obey Him (Matt. 28:18-20; Jn. 14:21,23; 2 Cor. 10:6; etc.). The unchanging Son of God, in whom “ALL” authority is vested, never grants His divine authority to any person who holds a position of leadership in a corporate setting – unless that individual is abiding fully in Him.
“All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” Matthew 28:18
How much power/authority has been given to the Son of God? “ALL power.” What/Where is the sphere of this power specifically? “Heaven and in earth.” Where do you live? On “earth?” Are you living in fervent obedience to the Master of the Universe in Whom all authority abides? How much of His power is entrusted into your life at this time?
“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” Ephesians 3:20
While on earth, Jesus walked a life flawlessly committed to His Father and purposely did not commit Himself to mere men. Unlimited authority was invested in Him (Jn. 2:24-25; 3:34; 5:30, etc.).
“For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.” John 3:34-35
“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” Acts 10:38
The early believers met in houses as well as at times in the Jewish temple (Acts 2:42-47; 5:42; Philemon 1:3, etc.). When those who held the positions of leadership refused to purge themselves of unbelief, wrong beliefs (false doctrine), sin, and rebelled against the Word, Paul “departed from them, and separated the disciples” (Acts 19:9). Church splits can be a blessing! Beloved, we need not be so naïve as to believe that those who have the positions (hirelings in most cases) are necessarily in the right – correct. When we view life from a Scriptural perspective, we find that throughout Old and New Testament history, in the vast majority of cases, those who held offices in organized religion, were the greatest enemies of Christ – antichrist (Is. 56:10-12; Jer. 23; Ezek. 34; Matt. 23; Phil. 3:17-20, etc.). Is anything different in our day? No.
Jesus spoke a more piercing, furious, potent, and lambasting rebuke to religious authorities than any other class of men (read Matt. 23). It was men who held leadership positions in organized religion who called for the death of Jesus Christ. They did this while believing they were serving God, deceived and not knowing that they had been turned over to a demonic, deluding spirit because they did not love and obey divine truth (Matt. 27:12,18; 2 Thess. 2:9-12).
When looking at history we find that it was when the church (called out remnant) was removed from homes in the 4th century that men were able to begin to come in and mislead, distort, deceive, separate, polarize, and bring blindness to people’s lives. The purity of worship was lost in most cases. The Holy Ghost foretold that this was coming. This is exactly one aspect of what the Holy Spirit was prophetically foretelling and revealing to the apostle Paul when he told the Ephesian elders: “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.” (Acts 20:29-30)
This they were able to do by moving the gatherings to their own buildings, separating people from intimate fellowship in the Word, Holy Spirit, and among themselves. Compare Acts 2:42-47.
It should be no surprise that the Roman Catholic Church, which is an antichrist system, began about that time. No one system has corrupted the Gospel of the grace of God through Christ more than this system which Jesus Christ defined and told us He will destroy in “one hour” (Rev. 17-18).
“And he went into the synagogue (man-organized church), and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. 9 But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. 10 And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. 11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: 12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.” Acts 19:8-12
We see that these believers began to gather “in the school of one Tyrannus.” The whole point of gathering is to worship the LORD Jesus Christ – when this is lost, no matter the physical locale, all is lost. A separate gathering place is not sinful. It only becomes sinful when men rule in lieu of Christ, the Supreme Ruler and Head of His body (Col. 1-2).
“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Revelation 4:11
“Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.” Revelation 5:12
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” Colossians 3:16-17
His saints are to diligently and joyfully worship Him alone who is “the Almighty,” the One in Whom “all authority” resides – The Eternal Word, Jesus Christ (Rev. 1:8). Of the divine Person of Jesus Christ, the Book of Revelation states:
“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.” Revelation 1:8
Note in the text we visited above (Acts 19:8-12) that:
V8 – Paul the apostle is an incredible gift to all believers under the New Covenant. He determined to know nothing except Christ and Him crucified (Gal. 6:14; 1 Cor. 2:2). No matter where he was, the apostle Paul spoke “boldly … concerning the kingdom of God.”
In Paul’s ministry, it was all about King Jesus and the “things concerning the kingdom of God,” not men and their religious notions, fame, organizations, denominations, building and curriculum programs and projects.
V9 – In this arena of organized religion, the leaders were “hardened, and believed not, but spoke evil of that way before the multitude,” so Paul pulled the true believers out of that house of rebellion (Ichabod) and began gathering and teaching in an atmosphere of pure faith in Jesus. Nothing has changed: It is all too common for organized religious leaders today to speak evil of the LORD’s truth and those who are messengers of it.
V10 – For two years the apostle Paul taught and the Word of God reverberated to Asia.
V11 – As He promised, His power followed the preaching of the pure Word – “the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen” (Mk. 16:15-20).
V12 – Notice in this verse that there was the power of the LORD Jesus present to bless people as Paul and the other disciples walked unwaveringly in the Spirit and in divine truth. This is the remnant.
“And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.” Mark 1:22
Praise the LORD: Take a look at this snapshot of the blessed power from on high that was present in our LORD’s ministry:
“And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days. And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power. And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not. And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out. And the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about. And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon’s house. And Simon’s wife’s mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her. And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them. Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them. And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ. And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them. And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent. And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee.” Luke 4:31-44
When we are submitted under the “mighty hand of God” and not the religious props of mere men posing as His authority (wolves in sheep’s clothing), we can be assured that the blessing of His presence and healing power will be present in the midst of the pure worship of His holy saints (1 Pet. 5:6). Jesus is all-powerful. Jesus still heals broken hearts, broken lives, and broken bodies!
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” Hebrews 13:8
“O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.” Psalms 96:9
When men and women obey the LORD in sincerity and in truth, He promises to purely manifest His power to bless and meet all needs in the midst.
“Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.” Psalms 24:3-6
To find or enjoy an environment of pure worship, there has to first be a cleansing of our own temples – first our own lives, then the gatherings. This ocurrs when we sincerely humble ourselves before the LORD our God our Maker and rend our hearts – tear them open and bare before His holiness (Joel 2:13).
“Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.” 1 Corinthians 7:23
It is a diabolical lie to believe that one is right with God while serving mere men. Pleasing God and pleasing men can be two totally different things – and usually is. So many today vainly believe they are in right standing with God while they serve the religions of sinful men.
We are only to submit to men inasmuch as they follow the LORD – according to His Holy Word.
“Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation…Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” Hebrews 13:7,17
We are only to “submit” to God-fearing leaders who speak “unto you the word of God” and “they watch for your souls” in the fear of God and “warn” you to “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ” (Heb. 13:7,17; Col. 2:8).
Those leaders who are true and not false “watch for your souls.” They oversee the people of the LORD by “preaching,” “warning,” and “teaching.” This is according to the apostolic pattern (Col. 1:28; 2:8).
So many leaders today want people to submit to them (including giving tithes and offerings) and yet they are not doing what the LORD told them to do. These men do not fear Him nor feed and protect the sheep of His pasture. Incredible! And most people in their audiences do not know the Word of God enough to discern that these men are smiling, charismatic wolves posing as sheep (Matt. 7:15-23). This accounts for much of the devouring doctrines which are rampant in parts of the church world.
“Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.” Proverbs 27:23
Isn’t it time that we cease from propping up false authority and begin putting the LORD’s money into true works of Christ that align with the New Testament revelation?
Any leader who does not diligently watch over and protect with truth the saints of the LORD, is clearly identified as false authority according to Holy Scripture. Delivering a nice little sermon and shaking the hands of the people on Sunday morning, does not constitute the biblical model of God-fearing, obedient leadership.
Jeremiah 23 is a landmark chapter dedicated to the exposure of false shepherds among the people of God. This is how it begins:
“Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD. Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.” Jeremiah 23:1-2
Make no mistake: The LORD is “against” these “pastors” who have “scattered” His “flock” and “driven them away, and have not visited them.” He promised to judge these wolves in sheep’s clothing.
False leaders have time and energy to collect tithes and offerings, yet they conveniently find little or no time to dwell among the people and visit them. Amazing! Any leader who is too busy for people, the people Christ came and died for, is too busy and totally deluded.
How long shall we fund the ministries of these wolves?
The LORD is angry with these men who usurp and intercept His worship, but it is only when people support these deceivers that they are able to continue beguiling and ravaging the sheep of His pasture.
Jesus Christ bought us with His very own precious blood – so we could know and worship Him and the Father (Jn. 17:3). Satan’s emissaries, wearing sheep’s clothing, are in our midst, diverting pure worship to themselves or something else other than the LORD – entrenching the affections of men deeper into this fleeting world by building greater and greater buildings, involving them in programs and fostering their allegiance to an organization of mere men. This is idolatry and spiritual adultery. Men are not to usurp, subvert, and intercept the authority invested in and granted by Jesus – “All power.” When such occurs, there is the quenching of His Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30; 1 Thess. 5:19).
God is calling us to repent and be broken before Him before it is too late. He loves us. He loves you, and here is the proof of His love:
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” Revelation 3:19
Let’s look at the divine prescription for getting right with the LORD and upholding Christ as the Supreme Authority of our lives and His body. At the beginning and end of His ministry on earth, Jesus cleansed the temple. In doing such He established a memorial of the zeal of God for holiness among His people, namely in having undiluted, unpolluted, pure worship:
“And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out (purged, cleansed) all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased, And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise? And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there.” Matthew 21:12-17
Note what we see in this important text:
- Purging – “cast out (purged, cleansed) all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves” (v12)
- Prayer – “My house shall be called the house of prayer” (v13)
Power (to heal) – “And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them” (v14) - Persecution from Pitiful Pharisees – “And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased” (v15)
- Praise – “And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?” (v16)
- Peace – “And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there.” (v17)
We see from this biblical model that when there is first purging and prayer, there will then be power, persecution, praise (to God), and divine peace. First we must assure that the LORD Jesus Christ is truly the “Head” of our lives – exalted as the Supreme Authority and not subtly replaced by mere men (Col. 2:8-10, 18-19).
Ready or not – Jesus is Coming.
PRAYER of Consecration: LORD Jesus, I need Your holy grace in submitting fully to Your Lordship. I want to truly and genuinely love and serve You Jesus and be Your unspotted sheep – kept from the lure of the evil one and his false leadership that poses as Your true authority. Thank You my LORD for dying for me and rising again from the dead. Cleanse this temple – my heart, mind and body afresh with Your holy blood. I know You are coming soon LORD and I want to be fully pleasing to You in all things. Right this moment, I ask You to please take over my life completely. Reign upon the throne of my heart. Into Thine hands I commend my spirit. Wash and fill me my Savior. I love You supremely Jesus. Amen.
Articles
The Sure Mercies of David [podcast]
What exactly does the Bible mean by the phrase “the sure mercies of David”?
The divine guarantee in Christ is that God’s mercies are upon your life, is available to you – as His divine mercies were upon the beloved David, from whose lineage came the promised Messiah. This grants no license for sin, which leads to judgment – now and forever (Romans 11:20-22; Hebrews 10:26-39; 2 Peter 2:20-21). God’s mercy in no way negates the biblical truth that we must all reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7-8).
Biblical examples of Sinful People God Forgave:
- Adam and Eve (Genesis 3).
- David (2 Samuel 11-12; Psalms 51).
- The prodigal son (Luke 15).
- One of the two men who stood before the LORD to pray (Luke 18:9-14).
- Peter (Matthew 26:26-69, Luke 22:31-32; John 21:15-17).
- Thief on the cross (Luke 23:42-43).
- Woman taken in adultery (John 8).
- The fornicator in Corinth (1 Corinthians 5; 2 Corinthians 2).
According to Ezekiel 16:8-13 and many other Bible passages, God takes care of His beloved people.
Just as was the case with our earthly parents, so God took care of us, of you, when you couldn’t take care of yourself, He, your loving heavenly Father was there, tenderly taking care of you.
“Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine. 9 Then washed I thee with water; yea, I throughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil. 10 I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers’ skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk. 11 I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck. 12 And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head. 13 Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom.” Ezekiel 16:8-13
The LORD saved Paul as an example to us – to every vile sinner to be born thereafter.
“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. 17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Timothy 1:15-17
“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14
IF God forgave David and told you that in Christ you have “the sure mercies of David,” why wouldn’t He freely forgive you? (Isaiah 55:3-4; Acts 13:34) If God forgave the fornicator of 1 Corinthians 5 in 2 Corinthians 2, WHY wouldn’t He freely forgive your sins? Return to Him, confess all sin, forget the past, and “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).
The “sure mercies of David” are exclusively reserved for those who are in Christ!
“Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” Romans 8:33-34
What is meant by the phrase we read in God’s Word “the sure mercies of David”?
“Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. 4 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.” Isaiah 55:3-4
“55:2-5 In its alienation from God, Israel has been wasting its energy and resources. True satisfaction and lasting pleasure are found only in the Lord. If Israel returns to the Lord, they will receive all the sure mercies promised to David in the everlasting covenant (see Psa_89:3-4, Psa_89:28-29). These blessings are fulfilled in the Lord Jesus and in His glorious reign. The Gentile nations, too, will share in the benefits of the kingdom, and there will be amicable relations between Israel and the nations.” Believer’s Bible Commentary
“the sure mercies of David” … yes those words definitely are so beautiful….. when we realize how wicked we are, we will find no stone to cast at any other. Instead we will send out the life saving message of “the sure mercies of David” which are in Christ.
UNTIL, as an individual, you begin to realize just how wicked you really are, you will never begin to appreciate what our KING and Savior did on that cross!
Read this verse carefully:
“For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.” James 2:13
Recently, someone asked me what is meant by “mercy rejoiceth against judgment”? Reply: God’s mercy is greater than the judgment of sin…… His mercy is powerfully forgiving. The LORD would clearly rather bestow His mercy upon sinners than His judgment.
“But God commendeth (exhibited) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9
All men have sinned against our Maker and yet the LORD is so very good that He “gave his only begotten Son” to be sacrificed for “the sins of the whole world” so that none “should perish” (John 3:16-17; 1 John 2:1-2; 2 Peter 3:9).
I love this verse which puts it all in perspective…. “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32).
Stay in the mirror – the Word. When we are not in the Word we forget just how wicked WE are, how in desperate need WE are of God’s mercy, and that’s when we judge others when we should be extending that bless-ed divine mercy upon them.
“For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass (mirror): 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty (Gospel), and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” James 1:23-25
God freely forgives His people on the basis of Christ’s perfect sacrifice…. and requires that we forgive all others as He freely forgives unworthy sinners like us on behalf of the perfect sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. We are unworthy in and of ourselves. Jesus’ righteousness alone provides for our salvation, the justification of God.
If God were not a forgiving God who restores the backslidden, NOT EVEN ONE of us would still be alive and headed for eternal glory.
It takes no less than to read Jesus’ 3 parables which make up Luke 15 to witness this glorious truth concerning His great mercy! Read it afresh with the restorational love of our God in mind!
Well, most of us would admit that we are not sinless… and sin is sin…. because God is holy….. and so we should have no stone of condemnation to cast at anyone except ourselves for any sin we committed in the past 😉
“Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:” Luke 6:37
Does God forgive all sins? Yes, all except one…
“Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. 32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.” Matthew 12:31-32
Well Judas committed perhaps the worst sin in history by betraying Christ and yet Jesus offered him mercy but he refused it.
Note that even in the midst of Judas betraying the innocent Son of God, Jesus called Judas, the traitor “friend.” This would clearly convey that Christ had his forgiveness in mind, had the desire to restore him.
“And Jesus said unto him, FRIEND, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.” Matthew 26:50
Of this verse where even while betraying the LORD Jesus, He refers to Judas as His “friend” or companion, Adam Clarke writes:
“Jesus said – Friend – Rather, companion, wherefore, rather, against whom art thou come? How must these words have cut his very soul, if he had any sensibility left! Surely, thou, who hast so long been my companion, art not come against me, thy Lord, Teacher and Friend! What is the human heart not capable of, when abandoned by God, and influenced by Satan and the love of money!”
God’s Word informs us that the LORD will love us all the way into hell if we choose to refuse to turn back to Him. Nothing “shall be able to separate us from the love (not life) of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39.) We see such unconditional love extended from the Savior upon the very man who was previously His close companion, one hand picked by the LORD Jesus and promised an eternal throne (Matthew 19:28). All men are given free will – till they die (Deuteronomy 30:19; Joshua 24:15, etc.). Instead of turning back to the Lamb of Glory before it was too late, Judas chose to kiss the Gate of Heaven and turn and plunge headlong into eternal hell (Acts 1:25).
God’s love is unconditional but His acceptance is not. | The Truth about Judas
“I would have been eternally lost if not for Jesus’ parable in Luke 15…O, may the prodigal, lost in this world, hear the good news, turn, and repent before its too late. O the tender mercies of God!” Jon Crane
As we see illustrated in Luke 15, RE-TURNING, turning back to God (repentance) is always the answer (Hosea 14:1-2). Denying such a need simply prolongs the separation and the misery of being in sin (Isaiah 59:2; Romans 6:23). Just ask the prodigal son in Luke 15. Take a fresh look at the before and after on his life! Our loving heavenly Father, His mercy and desire to restore the fallen is so beautifully depicted in the three parables which makes up Luke 15.
Take a look at what our glorious LORD and Savior is depicting, is showing each of us in His parables of the lost sheep, silver, and son.
Mankind is already fallen, condemned, and separated from Him in sin. Never forget beloved that Jesus came to save and not to destroy! That’s His stated desire and will (Psalms 86:5, 15; Luke 9:56; 19:10; John 3:17; 1 Timothy 1:15, etc.).
ALL sin is first and foremost committed against God, not man. God is the only law giver who determines what sin is (James 4:11-12).
ANY sin one would commit is first and foremost against our Maker, God Himself.
“Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.” Psalms 51:4
God is the only One who is “Holy, holy, holy” (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8).
David is forever a trophy of God, set forth with the characteristic of the Messiah….. and yet, like all men, he fell, and was shown mercy….. in this we take heart and are forged with confidence by this example that if God forgave David, He will surely forgive and show mercy upon my life…. the key is to have a heart after God, which causes us to be honest and repent and confess all sin (Ps. 51).
“And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.” Acts 13:34
The promise of “the sure mercies of David”
“I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.” Revelation 22:16
“The sure mercies of David” are secure to us in Christ because they are from our loving merciful God who forgive the beloved David.
God’s people are commanded to forgive others, to show them mercy toward, upon others as God has showed us His mercy in our sin.
“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32
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Articles
Following Christ’s Great Commission Command [podcast]
The future belongs exclusively to Jesus Christ and His followers. Read the book of Revelation!
“And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62
Is your hand on “the plough” – that which God has called you to do in His kingdom work? Have you looked back?
“Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.” Colossians 4:17
Have you grown weary in well doing?
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galatians 6:9
Are you obeying God by forgetting, by putting behind you the past – good and bad? Declare aloud in prayer before the LORD today: “forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14)
“Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:16
GOD WILL REWARD ACCORDINGLY
“And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.” John 4:36
ALL WHO PARTICIPATE IN GOD’S WORK WILL BE EQUALLY REWARDED!!!
DO YOUR MISSION. Colossians 4:17
Think about this…..
Every laborer of Christ, no matter what small part he plays in God’s work, will be equally rewarded.
“For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike.” 1 Samuel 30:24
Are we praying this specific prayer?
Whatever you do, never cease to preach Christ’s original Gospel!
The Harvest Is Plentiful, the Laborers Few
“And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:35-38
Being kingdom minded means that your life is all about King Jesus and you are living a life of prayer, busy about the ¨Father´s business¨, waiting with baited breath to jump in and engage in and support the teaching, preaching, spreading, the communication of God´s Word – fulfilling the Great Commission Jesus gave us (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20).
Whose business are you about today – Christ´s or your own?
The answer to this question plainly reveals which kingdom you are in – Christ´s or Satan´s. The remnant body of Christ is all about the ¨Father´s business.¨ (Luke 2:49)
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Abiding
Chosen, Ordained, Joyfully Fruitful [podcast]
“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you,
and ordained you, that ye should go and bring
forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that
whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name,
he may give it you.” John 15:16
- “Ye have not chosen me”
- “I have chosen you”
- “and ordained you”
- “that ye should go and bring forth fruit”
- “and that your fruit should remain”
Of this truth, the Believer’s Bible Commentary notes the following:
“15:16 Lest there be any tendency for them to become discouraged and give up, Jesus reminded them that He was the One who chose them. This may mean that He chose them to eternal salvation, to discipleship, or to fruitfulness. He had appointed the disciples to the work which lay before them. We should go and bear fruit. Fruit may mean the graces of the Christian life, such as love, joy, peace, etc. Or it may mean souls won for the Lord Jesus Christ. There is a close link between the two. It is only as we are manifesting the first kind of fruit that we will ever be able to bring forth the second.
The expression “that your fruit should remain” leads us to think that fruit here means the salvation of souls. The Lord chose the disciples to go and bring forth lasting fruit. He was not interested in mere professions of faith in Himself, but in genuine cases of salvation. L. S. Chafer notes that in this chapter we have prayer effectual (v. 7), joy celestial (v. 11), and fruit perpetual (v. 16). “That whatever you ask … .” The secret of effective service is prayer. The disciples were sent forth with the guarantee that the Father would grant them whatever they asked in Christ’s name.”
Adam Clarke writes;
“The first ministers of the Gospel were the choice of Jesus Christ; no wonder, then, that they were so successful. Those whom men have since sent, without the appointment of God, have done no good. The choice should still continue with God, who, knowing the heart, knows best who is most proper for the Gospel ministry.
To be a genuine preacher of the Gospel, a man must –
1. Be chosen of God to the work.
2. He must be placed in the true vine – united to Christ by faith.
3. He must not think to lead an idle life, but labor.
4. He must not wait till work be brought to him, but he must go and seek it.
5. He must labor so as to bring forth fruit, i.e. to get souls converted to the Lord.
6. He must refer all his fruit to God, who gave him the power to labor, and blessed him in his work.
7. He must take care to water what he has planted, that his fruit may remain – that the souls whom he has gathered in be not scattered from the flock.
8. He must continue instant in prayer, that his labors may be accompanied with the presence and blessing of God – Whatsoever ye shall Ask.
9. He must consider Jesus Christ as the great Mediator between God and man, proclaim his salvation, and pray in his name. – Whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, etc. See Quesnel.”
God alone ordains His people to His work and brings them
through many purging seasons to cause His fruitfulness in
them, preparing them to bear more of His fruit.
God chose us and blessed us with the ability to repent and
receive Christ. As His people, He’s also ordained us to “go
and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain.”
As we read this discourse from our LORD (John 15 and 17),
we discover that He is speaking of that abiding fellowship we
have with Him, and how out of it is borne the good fruit of
His ministry in and through our life.
Being rooted in that oneness, the abiding relationship with
Christ, is all-important to our relationship with Him and the
Father. As his student, His disciple, may the reader be
encouraged to pour prayerfully over these truths captured,
and given to us in John, chapters 15 and 17.
Isaiah 43
“But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. 2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. 3 For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. 4 Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. 5 Fear not: for I am with thee … “
Prayer: Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus, please make me one with You. Please deeply root and establish my life in an abiding fellowship with You dear LORD.
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The Sure Mercies of David [podcast]
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Following Christ’s Great Commission Command [podcast]
Kiss Jesus Or be Crushed as His Enemy! [podcast]
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The Sure Mercies of David [podcast]
Following Christ’s Great Commission Command [podcast]
Chosen, Ordained, Joyfully Fruitful [podcast]
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