My Salvation - Isaiah 12:2

Isaiah 12:2 ESV 

“Behold, God is my salvation;

I will trust, and will not be afraid;

for the Lord God is my strength and my song,

and he has become my salvation.”

The Hebrew word for salvation is transliterated as Yeshua. Our English equivalent is Jesus. 

From this verse we know Jesus is God and He is our salvation from God. That salvation has arrived and is present for all. He is with us and abides in the heart of the believer. 

This is the name above all names and the only name that offers the salvation of God, for He is God. 

The Law And Prophets - Matthew 7:12

Matthew 7:12 ESV 

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Did the Law disappear with the coming of Jesus? No. He said He came to do what no one else was able to do. That is to fulfill the law. 

He embodied the word from whom the Law came. The Law prepared the way for the coming of the Lord. Christ is the Law and the prophets fulfilled. The body of Christ on the earth today participates in that fulfillment and is the only way mankind can overcome the sin revealed by the Law. 

The Law pointed to the life of God. Jesus would embody the life of God so that we might embody the life of God. 

The Law taught us about God as one teaches little children, with commands of do and don't. Love contains the teaching of the Law, but frees us for the life from the one who gave us the Law. The language of do and don't is transformed into the language of love. 

Jesus fulfilled the law, teaching us about love. Love contains the Law, for the Law came from God and God is love.

With You Always - Matthew 28:19-20

Matthew 28:19-20 ESV 

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

There are three persons in the Triune God. That is the Holy of Holies. Christ allows us to enter that sacred unity and communion of God by entering our lives. Each person of the body of Christ becomes one with the three persons of the One God. He is with us always. What God has joined together will remain.  

Shall Become One Ephesians 5:28-32

Ephesians 5:28-32 ESV 

In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.

A mystery in Scripture is something hidden from the eyes of the world. Believers have entered the mystery of Christ. This contains a teaching of importance in the word of God. 

The bride of Christ is one flesh in the body of Christ. We are joined with Him and each other in a way that is only possible in and through the divine. 

The union of husband and wife serves as a parable, a foreshadowing of what of what is happening and what is to come. He has taken our flesh to nourish and cherish as His own. We take His Spirit to nourish and cherish as our own. We are one. 

The Face Cloth - John 20:6-7

John 20:6-7 

Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself.

Leviticus 16:23-24 ESV 

“Then Aaron shall come into the tent of meeting and shall take off the linen garments that he put on when he went into the Holy Place and shall leave them there. And he shall bathe his body in water in a holy place and put on his garments and come out and offer his burnt offering and the burnt offering of the people and make atonement for himself and for the people.

Many of us have wondered about the significance of the face cloth in John 20:7. The Holy Spirit must be trying to convey some meaning. 

Consider this. When Aaron made atonement for the nation he would enter the Holy of Holies to sprinkle the blood of the bull slain as a sin offering on the mercy seat before the Lord. 

Leviticus 16:23-24

“Then Aaron shall come into the tent of meeting and shall take off the linen garments that he put on when he went into the Holy Place and shall leave them there. And he shall bathe his body in water in a holy place and put on his garments and come out and offer his burnt offering and the burnt offering of the people and make atonement for himself and for the people.

When Aaron the High Priest finished his work in the Holy of Holies, He would then take off his linen garments and leave them in the holy place. 

When Jesus finished the act of atonement for mankind, He removed the linen wrappings and the face cloth used to offer that final sacrifice. He is our High Priest and our Lord. He has accomplished the final and everlasting atonement available for everyone. 

"It is finished!"

We now have access to being one with God. There is a way to enter the very body of Christ. It is by way of Him entering our bodies with His life. We then become one. 

Your Name - Genesis 32:24-28

Genesis 32:24-28 ESV 

And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.”

The name Israel means "God prevails." Jacob wrestled with God and what does Scripture say? This translation says that Jacob prevailed over God. The Hebrew word for translated as "prevailed" can be translated as endure, as well as overcome. A better understanding of this passage in this context may be that in the process of wrestling with God Jacob was at last able to overcome himself. Jacob asked his opponent for His blessing. It is the greater who blesses the other. God then renames Jacob to Israel. 

In all things, God prevails. We who receive Him will take His name. Our old self is left behind and our new self is made alive. By no other name can man be saved. 

The Word

One does not discover the the true wonder and beauty of language until they hear the word of God. Then the true wonder and beauty of creation appears before open eyes of one that is awakened. 

The word has come into the world and remains in the anointing of the body of Christ. 

He has come and will come again. He is here even now. 

Organized Religion

Organized religion is not necessarily the same thing as the Church, or Bride of Christ. The Church can be found in the midst of organized religion, but organized religion is not the chief attribute of the Church. The sign and indication of the Church is the fruit of the Spirit. The Church is built in the hearts of man. It is man that has become the temple of the Father and Son, that is of Almighty God. It is living and growing and full of life. 

In the end, organized religion is just an organization, an altar built by the hand of man. 

In the end, the Church will prevail and the sons of God will be revealed. This is done by the hand of God. 

Truth will prevail,  just as the life of God has been given to mankind. 

Our Dwelling Place - Psalms 90:1-2

Psalms 90:1-2 ESV 

A Prayer of Moses, the man of God. 

Lord, you have been our dwelling place

in all generations.

Before the mountains were brought forth,

or ever you had formed the earth and the world,

from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

Man is part of creation and creation is but a word from God.

From the infinite comes the finite, which is then given access to the infinite. This is our dwelling place, the house of the Lord.  

Strive - Luke 13:24-27

Luke 13:24-27 ESV 

“Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, I do not know where you come from.’ Then you will begin to say, We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’

It is possible to know of God, yet not know Him or be known by Him. The word strive reminds us that we must contend for the faith and walk, or live, as children of light in our journey to the door at journeys end. 

Our sin is forgiven, yet we are to be faithful as He is faithful. If we walk with Him, He will know us. If we don't walk with Him, He will not know where we came from. 

If we strive to seek Him, we will find Him. If we only seek the door, we will never find it. He is the door and the way. He will help us, He already has, but it's our journey. He will do it if we will go down it. He is faithful. 

Our Dwelling Place - Psalms 90:1-2

Psalms 90:1-2 ESV 

A Prayer of Moses, the man of God. 

Lord, you have been our dwelling place

in all generations.

Before the mountains were brought forth,

or ever you had formed the earth and the world,

from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

Man is part of creation and creation is but a word from God.

From the infinite comes the finite, which is then given access to the infinite. This is our dwelling place, the house of the Lord. 

Plurality Of One - Genesis 1:1

Genesis 1:1 ESV 

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

Matthew 28:18-20

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

In the first verse of Genesis, the Hebrew word for God is in the plural. In Matthew 28:19 the Greek word for the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is singular. 

The name of the three persons of the triune God is one. 

Both are true. That is the mystery of God who is beyond our understanding, yet has become one with us. There is room for more, in fact there are many rooms in the Father's house. 

It is infinite and eternal.  

A New Thing - Isaiah 43:19

Isaiah 43:19. ESV 

Behold, I am doing a new thing;

now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?

I will make a way in the wilderness

and rivers in the desert.

What is this new thing? It has begun and will have no end. This is the tree of life and the fountain of living water, from the throne of the root of David that has come into the world. 

A tree grows in the desert wilderness of our world and it is the tree of life. Those not in the original planted vine of the Lord have been grafted into that one tree. 

This is the new thing, the good news of Jesus Christ and the salvation of all that choose the way of the Lord. 

Becomes Visible - Ephesians 5:13-14

Ephesians 5:13-14 ESV 

But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

“Awake, O sleeper,

and arise from the dead,

and Christ will shine on you.”

We are dark and without form on the inside until the light of God enters. That light makes all things visible. The formation begins within and will be revealed in the fullness of time. The light of God called for in the beginning will indeed come forth into creation. 

Did Not Know Him - John 1:9-13

John 1:9-13 ESV 

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.

He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

The world did not know Him. Israel was to have made Him known, but it did not receive Jesus as the Messiah. They should have prepared the way of the Holy One and made the world ready for the true light. They were not ready. 

There were some who did believe then and some that believe now. They are reborn as children of God, born of God. 

Israel will receive Christ when He returns and they will complete their mission of taking Christ to the world. After the sealing of the twelve tribes in Revelation, a great multitude without number will appear, coming out of the great tribulation. 

Curse Of The Law - Galatians 3:10-14

Galatians 3:10-14 ESV 

For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”

Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”

But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.”

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—

so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

The law is a curse. Moses delivered the law to Israel and told them it was a gift of blessings or curses, depending on their obedience. A similar choice was given to Adam and Eve. Like the tree of life knowledge of good and evil, the law became a curse as it revealed the knowledge of sin and the inability of man to overcome the reality of that sin. 

It is Christ who redeems us, for He is the tree of life. Yet He becomes a curse for us by hanging from a tree. It is from the branch of the forbidden tree He hung, replacing the forbidden fruit plucked from that branch in the Garden of Eden. 

All this was done to bring light into the world, "so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith."

Know And Believe

In the Old Testament God wants us to know him. 

In the New Testament God wants us to believe him. 

We must know Him to believe Him. 

We must believe Him to know Him. 

Walked With God - Genesis 5:24

Genesis 5:24 ESV 

Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.

Genesis 6:9

These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God.

There are two individuals in the Old Testament that were to have been described as "walked with God."

They were both "taken" out of the world where they walked. Enoch walked directly into heaven to be with God. Noah would ride in the safety of the ark to find himself in a new world cleansed by the flood of God. 

We might understand from these accounts that those who walk with the Lord and are found blameless will find themselves delivered into a place prepared by the Lord. 

The Church, the body of Christ, which walks with Him and is clothed with the righteousness of the Lord will be delivered from this world, that is, taken and caught up with Him in the clouds. 

Enoch was not was only from a worldly perspective. From a heavenly perspective, Enoch still walks in the presence of God. 

Coming Into The World - John 1:9-13

John 1:9-13 ESV 

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.

He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

The world did not know Him. Israel was to have made Him known, but it did not receive Jesus as the Messiah. They should have prepared the way of the Holy One and made the world ready for the true light. They were not ready. 

There were some who did believe then and some that believe now. They are reborn as children of God, born of God. 

Israel will receive Christ when He returns and they will complete their mission of taking Christ to the world. After the sealing of the twelve tribes in Revelation, a great multitude without number will appear, coming out of the great tribulation. 

You Have Been Anointed - 1 John 2:20

1 John 2:20 ESV 

But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.

If you have the Holy Spirit, you are the anointed of God. If the Lord abides in your heart and you are part of the body of Christ, then you are anointed as Jesus is anointed. 

Putting on Christ includes His anointing because that anointing is intrinsic and an inseparable aspect of His name and who He is. It is who we are. He has given Himself that we might become like Him. We must give ourselves to the same end. 

Greatly Annoyed - Acts 4:1-2

Acts 4:1-2 ESV 

Peter and John Before the Council

And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

The world is greatly annoyed with the proclamation of Christ. The spirit of the world reflects the ruler of this world who is dead in his sin. 

Everyone resurrected from the dead is lost by Satan to the salvation of Christ. To say he is annoyed is a vast understatement. There is murder in his heart. He will gladly share his heart with all who listen. 

Taken Away - John 20:1

John 20:1 ESV 

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.

Revelation 18:21

Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying,

“So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence,

and will be found no more;

Babylon represents the world apart from God, that deceives unto death. In effect, the earth has become a tomb. Jesus came to roll the stone away from that tomb and to call us out into the light. 

The millstone of sin and death will be thrown down and be found no more. 

The stone of our captivity has been rolled away. We only have to come out and stand on the rock which is the mountain of the Lord. 

This Mountain - Mark 11:23

Mark 11:23 ESV 

Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.

Matthew 4:8-11 

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,

“‘You shall worship the Lord your God

and him only shall you serve.’”

Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

Revelation 8:8

The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood.

This mountain in Mark signifies the mountain of all things opposed to God. Satan offered Jesus this mountain if Jesus would worship him. With a word Jesus put the mountain behind Him. 

With the word we can move the mountain of the world that Satan offers. We can overcome the world because Jesus has shown us the way. We do this when we believe in Him. 

In the end, the mountain of Satan will be thrown into the sea, on fire with the flames of God's righteous judgment. 

This is the prayer of the saints and the will of God. It will be done. 

In The Garden - John 19:38-42

John 19:38-42 ESV

After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

Once again we are taken to a garden, which may bring to mind that Garden in Genesis from which Adam was expelled. Jesus as the new Adam brings the Garden of Eden into view and opens a way for man to enter into the presence of God. 

The doorway through the curse of death into that Garden of life is through the death of self, of choosing God. It was the choice of self which separates from His presence. In choosing God we are able to return. Remaining faithful to that choice, we are promised access to the tree of life. 

It is a new way, a new thing that God has done. We enter the new tomb of His death and leave this world of death for the kingdom of heaven. There we find the life of God, and receive the breath of life that was breathed by God into the nostrils of Adam. It is our choice to remain in that Garden, the kingdom of heaven. We only have to obey God. 

It Is Finished - John 19:28-30

John 19:28-30 ESV 

After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

The work of paying the price of our sin has come to its end. The jar full of sour wine signifies the cup of wrath that He drinks on our behalf. The hyssop branch was used in the ritual sprinkling in the temple and indicates the meaning of sacrifice. The culmination of all sacrifice by the Israelites had pointed to and foreshadowed the sacrifice of Christ for the atonement of man. 

How marvelous and beautiful are the words "It is finished." God has done the work of salvation. It is now our anointing to follow Him in our walk with Him until we reach our journey's end and are able to speak those same words of triumph. He is with us and has prepared the way. He is the way. 

Come to me, all who thirst and drink the living water which goes forth into all the earth. 

Woe - Luke 6:24-26

Luke 6:24-26 ESV 

“But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.

“Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry.

“Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.

“Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.

Woe to those who are unable to see past the riches of the world to the true riches in heaven. 

Woe to those who are satisfied with the fare of the world that they do not hunger after the things of God. 

Woe to those who laugh with the world in its darkness rather than pursuing the light of God. Their laughter will turn to weeping. Their mirth will turn to mourning. 

Woe to those who are honored by the world, but not by God. The first will burn in the refining fire of the Lord, leaving that which is honored by God as a lasting work. 

Blessed - Luke 6:20-23

Luke 6:20-23 ESV 

And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said:

“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.

“Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied.

“Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.

“Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.

Blessed are those who realize their spiritual poverty and the riches that await in the kingdom of heaven. 

Blessed are those who are hungry for the word of God, for the word will satisfy all who will receive it. 

Blessed are those who weep and repent of their sin because their joy will come in the morning as the light of the Son rises in their hearts. 

When the world rejects you on account of the Christ, rejoice, for heaven awaits you as one of its own. You are blessed!

His Own Home - John 19:26-27

John 19:26-27 ESV 

When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

Our family in the body of Christ is defined by our love. Jesus loved His mother Mary and He loved John. His love brings us into love for each other. Our family becomes those who obey the commands of the Father. 

When we enter the grace of God, we enter the house of the living God and it is there we make our home. It becomes our own home. 

To Release - John 18:39-40

John 18:39-40 ESV 

But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.

Once again the theme of the choice between the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is repeated. This time the choice is displayed in the flesh. 

Now the choice takes place in the flesh of each man and woman. It is up to us to decide. It has ever been before us. Who do you choose to release?

What Is Truth? - John 18:37-38

John 18:37-38 ESV 

Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him.

Pilate did not know truth because he did not listen to Jesus. The word is there for all, but not all will listen. 

Anyone who asks "what is truth" has not received the truth, even when it is revealed. The darkness of deception obscures the light of truth. One who is left in the dark will remain in the darkness. In the end they will understand the truth, but the truth will not set them free. 

It Would Be Good - John 18:12-14

John 18:12-14 ESV 

So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.

Caiaphas had told them it would be good that one man should die for the people. He meant it for evil, but God would take that event of sacrifice to bestow the most precious gift of life for all people. God created good out of the bad. 

All things work for the good of those who love the Lord. All things are not good, but the Lord is always good and always with us. It is His presence and help that provides the context for all good things, even to the giving of eternal life. Our life on earth provides the context and opportunity to find God. We begin in darkness that we might find the light. It is always dark before the dawning of the light. This is true of life in general. He can create something good out of every life and circumstance if we place our trust in Him. 

Their Word - John 17:20-23

John 17:20-23 ESV 

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.

The word is the thread that links the purpose of God with its fulfillment. 

Creation comes through the word and the word becomes flesh. It is through the Spirit that the Son is given. It is through the Spirit that the Son is raised. It is through the Spirit that many sons and daughters are raised into the body of Christ. The word has gone forth and will not return void and unfulfilled. 

The word and God are one, Father and Son. The Spirit gives witness to the truth, which is the word of God. We make the word our own. 

We have received the glory of the Father and have become beloved as sons and daughters of the Father. We are perfectly and completely one with Him, He in us and we in Him. 

Sent Them - John 17:16-19

John 17:16-19 ESV 

They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

We are in the world, but not of the world. It is the truth that makes the separation, that divides the light from the darkness. God sent His Son into the world for this purpose and the Son sends us out into the world for this same purpose. 

He has fulfilled all holiness that we might be holy. We have become the sent ones of God to be the children of light, the light of the truth. 

We have become one with the way, the truth, and the light.