What We Know

Luke 12:47-48 (NIV)

47 “The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

1 Corinthians 8:1-3 (NIV)

1 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. 2 Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. 3 But whoever loves God is known by God.

Knowing is a tricky thing. Eve was convinced in her mind that it was okay and desirable to eat the forbidden fruit. She understood that God said not to, but she came to know it was the thing to do. Though she was able to convince Adam the same thing, she was not able to change the mind of God. 

We will each stand alone before the Lord to give an account of our lives. All our works will face the fire of the righteous judgment of the Lord. Our good works will survive the refining flames of His justice. 

Our hope and faith rest on the mercy and grace of Christ. Love will cover a multitude of sins. That is the power of His blood. 

1 Peter 4:7-8 (NIV)

7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

A Bow In The Wilderness

Genesis 21:19-21 (ESV Strong's)

19 Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. 20 And God was with the boy, and he grew up. He lived in the wilderness and became an expert with the bow. 21 He lived in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.

Ishmael would find his home in the wilderness of the world. His descendants would become part of the wilderness journey for the people of Israel. He would be a wild donkey of a man whose hand would be turned against his brothers. 

It is interesting to consider that the first horseman in Revelation carries a bow. 

Genesis 16:7-12 (ESV Strong's)

7 The angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. 8 And he said, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from my mistress Sarai.” 9 The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her.” 10 The angel of the Lord also said to her, “I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude.” 11 And the angel of the Lord said to her,

“Behold, you are pregnant

and shall bear a son.

You shall call his name Ishmael,

because the Lord has listened to your affliction.

12 He shall be a wild donkey of a man,

his hand against everyone

and everyone's hand against him,

and he shall dwell over against all his kinsmen.”

The Division

Luke 12:49-51 (ESV Strong's)

49 “I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! 50 I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! 51 Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.

The division that begins with the separation of light and darkness in Genesis continues in the heart of mankind to this very day. It is the fire of the Holy Spirit who separates the wheat from the chaff and the sheep from the goats. This is accomplished by the sword of the truth of God which divides between the profane and divine. 

When we come to a baptism in the waters of repentance, we can then receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The water and fire bring us into a new creation. 

Jesus does not come to provide peace on earth, but rather peace with God in the hearts of men. 

By Your Love

Psalms 5:7 (NIV)

But I, by your great love,

can come into your house;

in reverence I bow down

toward your holy temple.

But now, through Jesus, I am part of your house. 

You have made me a stone of your living temple. 

In reverence I bow down in worship. 

With joy, I rejoice in your mercy. 

In love, my heart sings of your love. 

Blessed

Luke 11:27-28 (ESV Strong's)

27 As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” 28 But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

We are born in the womb of the earth and are nursed by the word of God. We are blessed as the word nourishes our bodies with the living waters of life. 

Everlasting

Genesis 17:1-8

When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.”

The everlasting God Almighty made an everlasting covenant with Abraham giving him and his descendants Canaan for an everlasting possession. To think otherwise is an everlasting mistake. 

For The Sake Of Ten

Genesis 18:32-33 (ESV Strong's)

32 Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.” 33 And the Lord went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.

Ten adults would later be required as a minimum for a holy assembly for the worship of God. The number ten carries the meaning of being complete. 

A small group of God’s people can have a profound effect on those around them. 

We Are One

1 Corinthians 8:6 (ESV Strong's)

yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

God, the Father, is the reason we exist. We were created for Him. 

Jesus Christ, the word of God, is how things came to be and through whom we can elect to be reborn and made in His image. 

God, the Father, exists outside creation. Jesus Christ, the word of God, manifests and embodies creation. Jesus is the word of God fulfilled. Creation will be complete when the Lord enters His Sabbath rest on the earth and sits on the throne of David. 

There is one God and one Lord and they are one. For some reason, they have made the effort to become one with us. 

The Fullness

Colossians 1:19-20 (ESV Strong's)

19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Jesus emptied Himself to be born a man. The fullness of God came to dwell in Him at His baptism when the Holy Spirit descended from heaven and remained. 

That fullness of God was emptied when He became the sin of the world. He died as a man filled with the wrath of God, our due for disobedience. 

Mark 15:34 (ESV Strong's)

And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

To Heal

Luke 9:1-2 (ESV Strong's)

1 And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.

Revelation 22:1-2

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

When Jesus returns to sit on His throne in Jerusalem, Israel will at last fulfill the role of Adam in taking care of the earth and bringing the healing power of the kingdom of God into every corner. 

Daily

Luke 9:23-24 (ESV Strong's)

23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.

To take up our cross daily involves walking in His light, which is accomplished by following Him. We journey away from the life of man and into the life of Christ. Each step brings us closer to the source of that light. 

The Sons As Priest

Exodus 29:29-30 (ESV Strong's)

29 “The holy garments of Aaron shall be for his sons after him; they shall be anointed in them and ordained in them. 30 The son who succeeds him as priest, who comes into the tent of meeting to minister in the Holy Place, shall wear them seven days.

We have been washed by His blood and have put on the holy garments of His righteousness. We are anointed by His Holy Spirit and ordained as sons of God to serve as a royal priesthood. We shall serve the Lord in the Holy Place, for we have become His Holy Temple. 

How Will I Know?

Genesis 15:7-8

And he said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.” But he said, “O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it?”

Genesis 15:17-18 (ESV Strong's)

17 When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. 18 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates,

Abraham asked a legitimate question. Is there a sign on the earth that confirms a heavenly promise? God gave such a sign of His covenant with Abram. 

He has given us such a sign for a new and better covenant with all of mankind. He passed through the broken body of His Son to establish the covenant that opens the door to heaven and provides access into the Holy of Holies. This is the promised land of the new covenant. 

We have a body like His that we might follow Jesus through the flesh of the world and into the Spirit of God. It is our walk with Him that says yes to His invitation. 

The Speed Of His Light

Psalms 46:10-11 (ESV Strong's)

10 “Be still, and know that I am God.

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth!”

11 The Lord of hosts is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Though we are still, we can move with the speed of His light and are quickened by His life. 

The Finger Of God

John 8:3-6 (ESV Strong's)

3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. 5 Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.

It is the finger of God that wrote his commandments on tablets of stone. 

It is the finger of the high priest that sprinkles the cleansing blood on the altar for the forgiveness of sins. 

It is the finger of Jesus that wrote on the the ground before the scribes and Pharisees a new word of mercy and forgiveness. 

It is the finger of God who writes His word on our hearts of flesh. 

It is the finger of the Son of God who has done these things. 

Dust Of The Earth

Genesis 13:14-18 (ESV Strong's)

14 The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, 15 for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. 16 I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. 17 Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.” 18 So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the Lord.

The offspring or seed of Abraham are those who are of the earth and receive this land forever. Abraham is their father. They are as the dust of the earth. 

Our Father is in heaven and our promised land is the kingdom of heaven. It is eternal life. We are as the stars in the sky and are the light of the world. 

Heaven and earth come together when the Lord returns to the earth to stay. The light will shine from the New Jerusalem and the twelve tribes of Israel will be as the twelve leaves from the tree of life which are for the healing of the nations. 

Hearing The Word

Luke 8:8-10 (ESV Strong's)

8 And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” 9 And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, 10 he said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’

The word of God contains the secrets of God. The good news is has been given to those who seek and receive Him. The same word is a parable to others, “so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.”

We have been given eyes to see and ears to hear for understanding His word. We have understood His word if we do it, when it becomes our own. We enter the body body of Christ and become sons of God. 

The word is the life of God. There is no end of His life. The one who does not have the word is left with the life of man, and that will soon fade away.

Luke 8:18 (ESV Strong's)

Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.”

Luke 8:19-21 (ESV Strong's)

19 Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. 20 And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you.” 21 But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”

Crossing The Distance

Luke 7:48-50 (ESV Strong's)

48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Only Jesus can forgive sins, yet it is our faith that saves us. Jesus has drawn near, but we must go to Him. It takes both of us to cross the distance between us. We meet at the cross of Calvary. 

Jesus has opened the door of the kingdom of heaven. Faith allows us to walk across the threshold. 

Sons Of God

Luke 3:23 (ESV Strong's)

The Genealogy of Jesus Christ

Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli,

Luke 3:38 (ESV Strong's)

the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

Adam was created, but was not born a man. He was the son of God. 

Jesus was born a man, but was not created. He is the Son of God. 

We are born of man, then reborn from above. We are sons of God. 

Written For Our Instruction

1 Corinthians 10:11-13 (ESV Strong's)

11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. 12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

All Scripture is profitable for teaching. 

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV Strong's)

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Revelations are given by the Holy Spirit who guides us into all truth. 

Scripture is like a parable that reveals the truth of God only in the presence of the Holy Spirit. 

Confused?

Genesis 11:5-9 (ESV Strong's)

5 And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built. 6 And the Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another's speech.” 8 So the Lord dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. 9 Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth. And from there the Lord dispersed them over the face of all the earth.

Adam was removed from the Garden before he could eat from the tree of life because of his disobedience to the Lord. The Lord confused the language of the children of man and dispersed them before they could attempt to reach heaven on their own. It is the nature of man to seek a name for himself rather than the name of the Lord. This is what makes the forbidden fruit so attractive. 

At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit would bring order to this confusion of language. The Lord would provide the way into heaven. The one place this is possible is at the feet of Jesus Christ. It is when we confess the word of the Lord that the kingdom of heaven is opened to us. This is why He comes to us. 

Acts 2:1-4 (ESV Strong's)

The Coming of the Holy Spirit

1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Light Of The World

Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV Strong's)

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

What does it mean when the light of the world tells us that we are the light of the world?

We are the New Jerusalem, the city of light, the Bride of Christ, and have become His body on earth. 

We are the sent ones of Jesus Christ who was sent by God. We have His Spirit. 

They Left Everything

Luke 5:8-11 (ESV Strong's)

8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” 11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

When we see Jesus, our eyes are opened and we see ourselves as we are. Only then can we leave this life behind and follow Him. We journey to what we can be. 

Our Home

John 14:22-24 (ESV Strong's)

22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.

The word came from God the Father. It is manifest in words that form in our mouths, in shape of Jesus His Son, and the presence of His Spirit in the body of Christ. 

The word of God goes forth and does not return empty. It fills and dwells in the earth of man. There will be many sons and daughters of God. It is here God will rest.  

He Is With Us

Luke 5:33-34 (ESV Strong's)

A Question About Fasting

33 And they said to him, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink.” 34 And Jesus said to them, “Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?

As disciples of Christ, God is with us. Do we fast as we prepare for the wedding?

He Humbled Himself

Philippians 2:5-8 (ESV Strong's)

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Though we are in the form of man, we do not count self as a thing to be grasped. When we empty ourselves and take the form of His servant, we are reborn into the mind of Christ. We humble ourselves in obedience to His word to the point of death. We bear our cross which leads to life. 

Pitch Perfect

Genesis 6:14 (ESV Strong's)

Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch.

Our salvation is worked out in our response and obedience to the Lord. He has provided the way to escape the waters of the world. Our work is believing the Lord and keeping His word. 

The word translated as “pitch” comes from the Hebrew word “h3722. כָּפַר ḵâp̱ar”, which means cover and is more usually translated as “atonement”. Our repentance cleanses and seals us in His mercy and grace. Our obedience to His word keeps us dry during our passage in this world. We are in Christ and He in us. 

Genesis 6:22

Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.

The In Crowd

John 14:20 (ESV Strong's)

In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.

God enters creation through the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the face He has presented to the world and is the radiance of the glory of the exact image of His nature. His nature becomes ours when we receive His Spirit. A new creation arises in our flesh and we are intimately connected with the Trinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 

This is the Holy Communion of the Saints.