12/31/2,019 God’s 10th Month, Tevet 3, year 5,780     

To: In resident churches, people gifted with desire to be atO1ne with God.

The good news Jesus and His apostles brought did not eliminate His prophetic words through Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Habakkuk and others regarding His resurrections and His millennium reign on earth. Consider a portion of Jesus’ word through Habakkuk and His prophecy about this end time age being likened to Noah‘s day.

(Habakkuk 2:13-20; “Be sure of this! The Lord who commands armies has decreed: The nations’ efforts will go up in smoke; their exhausting work will be for nothing. For recognition of the Lord’s sovereign majesty will fill the earth just as the waters fill up the sea. “You who force your neighbor to drink wine are as good as dead – you who make others intoxicated by forcing them to drink from the bowl of your furious anger, so you can look at their genitals. (nakedness) But you will become drunk with shame, not majesty. Now it is your turn to drink and expose your uncircumcised foreskin! The cup of wine in the Lord’s right hand is coming to you and disgrace will replace your majestic glory! (17) For you will pay in full for your violent acts against Lebanon; terrifying judgment will come upon you because of the way you destroyed the wild animals living there. You have shed human blood and committed violent acts against lands, cities, and those who live in them. What good is an idol? Why would a craftsman make it? What good is a metal image that gives misleading oracles? (19-20; The one who says to wood, ‘Wake up!’ is as good as dead – he who says to speechless stone, ‘Awake!’ Can it give reliable guidance? It is overlaid with gold and silver; it has no life’s breath inside it. But the Lord is in His majestic palace. The whole earth is speechless in His presence!”)

(“Teacher of lies” refers to the false oracles that the so-called god would deliver through a priest. Why would its creator place trust in an image, teach lies, make such mute worthless things?) Oracle, from our English dictionary? Source of wisdom, prophetic saying or a God given message.)

Allow Paul’s definition at Romans 3:1-4; “Therefore what advantage does the Jew have, or what is the value of circumcision? Actually, there are many advantages. First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. What then? If some did not believe, does their unbelief nullify the faithfulness of God? (4) Absolutely not! Let God be proven true, and every human being shown up as a liar, just as it is written: “so that you will be justified7 in your words and will prevail when you are judged.” (Quote from Psalms 51:4)

The oracles of God include the law, God’s calendar and times He set aside ‘sanctified’ for our benefit and understanding.

(Matthew 24:37-39; “For just like the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. For in those days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark. And they knew nothing until the flood came and took them all away. It will be the same at the coming of the Son of Man.”)

Paul’s understanding these things makes his letters more significant. Before the mystery of God’s spirit gifted to people, no one understood the relationship God would ultimately have with His people.

(1Corinthians 3:16-23; “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?) (Temple? Greek: You are God’s temple refers here to the church, since the pronoun you is plural in the Greek text.) (In Corinthians 6:19 is the same imagery but used in a different context refering to the individual believer.) (6:19-20; “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.”)

(1Cor 3:17-22; “If someone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, which is what you ‘followers of Jesus’ are. Guard against self-deception, each of you. If someone among you thinks he is wise in this age, let him become foolish so that he can become wise. For the wisdom of this age is foolishness with God. As it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness.” And again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” So then, no more boasting about mere mortals! For everything belongs to you, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future. Everything belongs to you and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.”) Remember; no boasting except in the Lord.

Many are persecuted and have been killed for teaching this awesome truth.

Digest what Jesus is saying as recorded in John’s gospel.

(John 10:33-38; “The Jewish leaders replied, “We are not going to stone You for a good deed but for blasphemy, because You, a man, are claiming to be God.” Jesus answered, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods’? (Quote from Psalms 82:6) (35-38; If those people to whom the word of God came were called ‘gods’ (and the scripture cannot be broken) do you say about the One whom the Father set apart and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? If I do not perform the deeds of My Father, do not believe Me. But if I do them, even if you do not believe Me, believe the deeds, so that you may come to know and understand that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me.”) Consider His deeds and those through His apostles.

(1Cor 4:1-5; “One should think about us ‘we apostles’ this way – as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Now what is sought in stewards is that one be found faithful. So for me, it is a minor matter that I am judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not acquitted because of this. The one who judges me is the Lord. So then, do not judge anything before the time. Wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the motives of hearts. Then each will receive recognition from God.”) Paul’s focus in on the resurrection and his promised change. (Let’s not teach beyond what’s written.)

(1Cor 4:6-7; “I have applied these things to myself and Apollos because of you, brothers and sisters, so that through us you may learn “not to go beyond what is written,” so that none of you will be puffed up in favor of the one against the other. (7) For who concedes you any superiority? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast as though you did not?”) (Puffed as yeast puffs up bread, is another indication that Paul is writing in proximity to the Feast of Unleavened Bread.)

God’s energizing Holy Spirit changes outlooks, makes mindful of our gifted circumcision of heart, but doesn’t perfect immediately. Thus we need to grow in His grace and knowledge and overcome to the end! (See Revelations 2:26)

A little knowledge made some arrogant, but not Jesus’ apostles.

(1Cor 4:8-13; “Already you are satisfied! Already you are rich! You have become kings without us! I wish you had become kings so that we could reign with you! For, I think, God has exhibited we apostles last of all, as men condemned to die, because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to people. We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, we are dishonored! To the present hour we are hungry and thirsty, poorly clothed, brutally treated, and without a roof over our heads. (12) We do hard work, toiling with our own hands. When we are verbally abused, we respond with a blessing, when persecuted, we endure, when people lie about us, we answer in a friendly manner. We are the world’s dirt and scum, even now.”) (They each gave their all, for the cause of Christ.)

(1Cor 4:14-21; “I am not writing these things to shame you, but to correct you as my dear children. For though you may have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, because I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I encourage you, then, be imitators of me. For this reason, I have sent Timothy to you, who is my dear and faithful son in the Lord. He will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church. (18) Some have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. But I will come to you soon, if the Lord is willing, and I will find out not only the talk of these arrogant people, but also their power. For the kingdom of God is demonstrated not in idle talk but with power. What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline or with love and a spirit of gentleness?”) *Paul isn’t suggesting that he be called father, but reckoning himself as a spiritual parent per Jesus‘ call.) His duty included encouraging and correcting.

(1Cor 5:1-5; “It is actually reported that sexual immorality exists among you, the kind of immorality that is not permitted even among the Gentiles, so that someone is cohabiting with his father’s wife. And you are proud? Shouldn’t you have been deeply sorrowful instead and removed the one who did this from among you? (3) For even though I am absent physically, I am present in spirit. And I have already judged the one who did this, just as though I were present. When you gather together in the name of our Lord Jesus, and I am with you in spirit, along with the power of our Lord Jesus, turn this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.”)

A congregation’s responsibility is to formally and lovingly remove such an individual from the family of believer’s worship services in hope of seeing genuine repentance. Careful not to hatefully ostracize in a way that’d cause disdain. Followers of Jesus are in this world, but can’t be part to the world’s corrupt system of things.

(Matt 6:24; “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”)

(Hebrews 13:5-6; “Our conduct must be free from the love of money and you must be content with what you have, for He has said, “I will never leave you and I will never abandon you.” So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, and I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”)

12/29/2,019 God’s 10th Month, Tevet 1, 5,791    

To: In resident churches, people gifted with desire to be atO1ne with God.

Look up and observe God’s new moon, it’s God’s calendar we’re seeing.

Each subscriber is likely a called out follower of Jesus, one whom God has given a desire to be atOne with Him and our Savior Jesus. The Father calls and gives each over to Jesus for our salvation. We’re gifted with Godly repentance, a new outlook that desires to please in every way. It’s through God’s spiritual calling and a gifted belief IN Jesus, that knowing faith is established and eternal life gifted.

Worldly religions attempt to persuade people to believe in their doctrine and prescribed methods. God’s calling is to go out from religions, this world system of things and turn to a believing IN faith in Him as He’s presented in the Holy Scriptures. Believing IN Him as He’s revealed is eternal life. It’s knowing Jesus as Re-Creator, Creator, Deliverer, Savior, Lamb of God, Mediator and coming King of Kings. He called the prophets, apostles, calls each follower and teaches His Way through His gifted Holy Spirit of truth.

Paul had a special calling and mission. The Lord Jesus said to Ananias; “Get up and go to the street called ‘Straight,’ and at Judas’ house look for a man from Tarsus named Saul. For he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and place his hands on him so that he may see again.” Go, because this man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of My name.” So Ananias departed and entered the house, placed his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, his strength returned.” (See Acts 9:)

Through Jesus’ working in them, Paul and associates started churches, taught Jesus’ good news about the kingdom of God, healed and gave physical life back. Thus, we have the evidence that Paul’s teachings are revelations from God.

Paul subscribed to the humility of Jesus.

(1Corinthians 2:1-5; “When I ‘Paul’ came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come with superior eloquence or wisdom as I proclaimed the testimony of God. For I decided to be concerned about nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and with much trembling. My conversation and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not be based on human wisdom but on the power of God.”) Faith in God’s ability to reveal and deliver, not in persuasive personalities and eloquent words.

Wisdom from God.

(1Cor2:6-8; “Now we do speak wisdom among the mature, but not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are perishing. Instead we speak the wisdom of God, hidden in a mystery that God determined before the ages for our glory. (8) None of the rulers of this age understood it. If they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”)

Jesus fulfilled much of the prophecy He gave Daniel through His apostles. After Jesus’ death, resurrection, ascension, that Pentecost energizing Holy Spirit gifted, gentile Cornelius family’s conversion, gifted knowledge of God’s mystery; (His living in people through His spirit) and revelation not previously revealed. Old Testament scriptures were miraculously opened to the call’s understanding.

(1Cor 2:9; “But just as it is written, “Things that no eye has seen, or ear heard, or mind imagined, are the things God has prepared for those who love Him.”) (Imagined? “entered the heart,” an Old Testament expression, in which the heart functions like the mind.) (Quote from Isaiah 64:4.)

(1Cor 2:10-12; “God has revealed these to us by the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the things of a man except the man’s spirit within him? So too, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. (12) Now we, ‘followers of Jesus’ have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things that are freely given to us by God.”)

Each time we read these words thoughtfully and prayerfully they fulfill God’s purpose in giving them. Denominational schools of theology attempt to teach God’s spirit through man’s spirit, “through human intellect.” Worldly intellect doesn’t grasp God’s spiritual teaching until it’s supernaturally given.

(1Cor 2:13-16; “And we ‘apostles’ speak about these things, not with words taught us by human wisdom, but with those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people. (14) The unbeliever does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him. And he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The one who is spiritual discerns all things, yet he himself is understood by no one. (16) For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to advise him? But we have the mind of Christ.”) (His Word spiritually gifted.)

Only God can make individuals His spiritual people. Until He intervenes and calls, people are unbelievers. Not particularly of their own choosing. Spiritual people aren’t understood by the world as; “Jesus was not understood by the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Immature people trusting their smarts are Self-deceived when they lean to their intellect.

(1Cor 3:1-4; So, brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but instead as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready. In fact, you are still not ready, for you are still influenced by the flesh. For since there is still jealousy and dissension among you, are you not influenced by the flesh and behaving like unregenerate people? (4) For whenever someone says, “I am with Paul,” or “I am with Apollos,” are you not merely human?”)

When someone says “I’m of a particular denomination, is that not vain fleshly speech? Fleshly intellect alone cannot discern spiritual teaching.

(1Cor 3:5-11; “What is Apollos really? Or what is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe and each of us in the ministry the Lord gave us. I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused it to grow. So neither the one who plants counts for anything, nor the one who waters, but God who causes the growth. The one who plants and the one who waters work as one, but each will receive his reward according to his work. (9) We are coworkers belonging to God. You are God’s field, God’s building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master-builder, I laid a foundation, but someone else builds on it. And each one must be careful how he builds. (11) For no one can lay any foundation other than what is being laid, which is Jesus Christ.”)

Jesus is the Cornerstone, His deity and characteristics parallel that of God the Father’s. When we see Jesus we see God the Father; they’re atOne as followers of Jesus must be and are when each know they’re the branch and He the Vine.

(1Cor 3:12-15; “If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, each builder’s work will be plainly seen, for the Day will make it clear, because it will be revealed by fire. And the fire will test what kind of work each has done. If what someone has built survives, he will receive a reward. (15) If someone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as through fire.”) Likely referring to the destruction of the “work” by fire or the loss of the reward that could have been gained. Consider Jesus’ Word through Isaiah.

(Isaiah 45:15-25; “Yes, you are a God who keeps hidden, O God of Israel, Deliverer! They will all be ashamed and embarrassed; those who fashion idols will all be humiliated. Israel will be delivered once and for all by the Lord; you ‘Israelites’ will never again be ashamed or humiliated. (18) For this is what the Lord says, the One who created the sky – He is the true God, the One who formed the earth and made it; He established it, He did not create it without order, He formed it to be inhabited – “I am the Lord, I have no peer. (19) I have not spoken in secret, in some hidden place. I did not tell Jacob’s descendants ‘Seek Me in vain!’ I am the Lord, the One who speaks honestly, who makes reliable announcements. (20) Gather together and come! Approach together, you refugees from the nations! Those who carry wooden idols know nothing, those who pray to a god that cannot deliver. Tell me! Present the evidence! Let them consult with one another! Who predicted this in the past? Who announced it beforehand? Was it not I, the Lord? I have no peer, there is no God but Me, a God who vindicates and delivers; there is none but Me. (22) Turn to Me so you can be delivered, all you who live in the earth’s remote regions! For I am God and I have no peer. I solemnly make this oath – what I say is true and reliable: ‘Surely every knee will bow to Me, every tongue will solemnly affirm; they will say about Me, “Yes, the Lord is a powerful Deliverer.”’ ”All who are angry at Him will cower before Him. All the descendants of Israel will be vindicated by the Lord and will boast in Him.”) (The terminology reveals Jesus is the speaker.)

(John 3:16-21; “For this is the way God ‘the Father’ loved the world: He gave His One and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through Him. (18) The one who believes in Him is not condemned. The one who does not believe has been condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the One and only Son of God. (19) Now this is the basis for judging: that the light has come into the world and people loved the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil deeds hates the Light and does not come to the Light, so that their deeds will not be exposed. But the one who practices the truth comes to the light, so that it may be plainly evident that his deeds have been done in God.”)

Jesus, through Paul reveals to Timothy.

(2Timothy 1:9-14; He ‘God the Father’ is the One who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not based on our works but on His own purpose and grace, granted to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but now made visible through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus. He ’Jesus’ has broken the power of death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel! (11) For this gospel I, ‘Paul’ was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher. Because of this, in fact, I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, because I know the One in whom my faith is set and I am convinced that He is able to protect what has been entrusted to me until that day. Hold to the standard of sound words that you heard from me and do so with the faith and love that is in Christ Jesus. Protect that good thing entrusted to you, through the Holy Spirit who lives within us.”)

When Jesus returns, Satan bound, knowledge of Jesus abounding; recipients of His Holy Spirit of truth will abound.

(Isaiah 11:9-12; “They will no longer injure or destroy on My entire royal mountain. (Royal Mountain? The Lord’s “holy mountain” is the mountain from which He rules over his kingdom (see Ezek 28:14, 16). More specifically it probably refers to Mount Zion - Jerusalem or to the entire land of Israel. (See Psalms 2:6; 15:1; 43:3; Isaiah 56:7; 57:13; Ezek 20:40; Obadiah 16; Zeph 3:11). The Lord’s universal kingdom is in view, standing for God’s worldwide dominion (See the next line.) For there will be universal submission to the Lord’s sovereignty, just as the waters completely cover the sea. (10) At that time a root from Jesse ‘Jesus’ will stand like a signal flag for the nations. Nations will look to Him for guidance, and His residence will be majestic. At that time the sovereign master will again lift His hand to reclaim the remnant of His people from Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, and the seacoasts. (12) He will lift a signal flag for the nations; He will gather Israel’s dispersed people and assemble Judah’s scattered people from the four corners of the earth.”) Only Believers IN, comprehend the awesomeness of God’s planning. As always study the whole.

12/27/2,019 God’s 9th Month, Av 29, 5,780    

To: In resident churches, people gifted with desire to be atOne with God.

(John 15:5-6; “I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me — and I in him — bears much fruit, because apart from Me you can accomplish nothing. “Spiritually.” If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown out like a branch, dries up; such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and are burned up.”) (Spiritually called out people know Jesus is saying, “except you cling to -  look to Me only, you can’t understand spiritual things and only through My Word is salvation.”) God doesn’t open minds nor feed spiritually through pagan practicing entities and when devotionals for worship are from such entities that don‘t keep Jesus’ commandments “the entity is that person’s vine.” We can’t bypass Jesus and find His truth.

Jesus’ teaching through His apostle Paul’s letters to the Corinthians were during or in close proximately to the Passover - Feast of Tabernacles season. Paul’s verbiage strongly indicates it. We intend to note these as we proceed.

Paul’s Corinthian salutation is to God’s church at Corinth and all people who’re set aside for God‘s purpose. 

(1Corinthians 1:1-3; “From Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God and Sosthenes our brother. To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, and called to be Saints, with all those in every place who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!”)

As with all the apostles’ letters, “note that they don’t include Holy Spirit as deity with God the Father and God the Son.” As were the Israelites by promise, God’s Saints are a set aside “sanctified” by promise people of His choosing and purpose. Paul’s letter’s are to all who’re called by God the Father. (Not to unbelievers.)

(1Cor 1:4-9; “I always thank my God for you ‘followers of Jesus’ because of the grace of God that was given to you in Christ Jesus. For you were made rich in every way in Him, in all your speech and in every kind of knowledge – just as the testimony about Christ has been confirmed among you – so that you do not lack any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. (8) He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God ‘the Father’ is faithful, by whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”) It requires gifted spiritual wisdom to comprehend the above five verses.

Paul demonstrates tremendous faith in God’s delivering each called person; making each blameless on the day of Jesus’ return. His Saints are those called into fellowship with Jesus. (Throughout Paul reminds us to watch out because of growing pains and divisions in the church, noting that Overseer’s council for constant encouragement is needed.) Even though called and believing IN Jesus Saints are being saved, they’ll have more problems when they look to entities and personalities to find comfort.

(1Cor 1:10-17; I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to agree together, to end your divisions, and to be united by the same mind and purpose. For members of Chloe’s household have made it clear to me, my brothers and sisters, that there are quarrels among you. (12) Now I mean this, that each of you is saying, “I am with Paul,” or “I am with Apollos,” or “I am with Cephas,” or “I am with Christ.” (13) Is Christ divided? Paul wasn’t crucified for you, was he? Or were you in fact baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name! (I also baptized the household of Stephanus. Otherwise, I do not remember whether I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel – and not with clever speech, so that the cross of Christ would not become useless.”)

In today’s age clever speech is the norm, Christendom is divided into denominations from Catholicism, Protestantism, Gnosticisms and each have their divisions. Jesus’ apostles were careful not to urge people to look to personal teachings, but that each must teach Jesus “the Cornerstone” and each prayerfully wait on spiritual revelations. It’s a natural characteristic, “particularly for people prone to be religious” to lean on their own fleshly understanding rather than wait for revelations. No apostle ever taught people to worship, “looking to their own intellect - understanding. In fact they taught to do so was idolatry.

(1Cor 1:18-19; “For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will thwart the cleverness of the intelligent.” (Quote from Isaiah 29:14)

(20-21; “Where is the wise man? Where is the expert in the Mosaic Law? Where is the debater of this age? Has God not made the wisdom of the world ‘personal intellect’ foolish? For since in the wisdom of God the world by its wisdom did not know God, God was pleased to save those who believe by the foolishness of preaching. (Giving comprehension through spiritual verbiage.) (22-25; For Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks ask for wisdom, but we preach about a crucified Christ, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles. But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, ‘preaching’ Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. (25) For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.”)

Human learning in and of itself is vanity of all sorts. Uncalled talented leaders think to lead, persuade for personal gain and popularity. It’s how Pharisees and Sadducees became denominations; it’s how all organized religions start, but Believers IN know Jesus as The Vine. They’re gifted with a spiritual desire to be obedient, be atOne, ‘change previous held outlooks’ for a circumcision of heart outlook and God’s deliverance. (As Paul writes, “for the most part it’s the lowly who’re called” to confound the wise. Examine verse 27 below.

(26-31; “Think about the circumstances of your call, brothers and sisters. Not many were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, and not many were born to a privileged position. (27) But God chose what the world thinks foolish to shame the wise, and God chose what the world thinks weak to shame the strong. God chose what is low and despised in the world, what is regarded as nothing, to set aside what is regarded as something, so that no one can boast in His presence. (30) He “God the Father” is the reason you have a relationship with Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, ‘a set aside position’ and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”) Quote from Jeremiah 9:24.

God calls, puts us on His Potter’s Wheel to train through His energizing Holy Spirit. All to grow us in the likeness of Jesus spiritually. Jesus explains that likeness through Paul to us and His church at Philippi.

(Philippians 2:3-7; “Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself. Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well. You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had, who though He existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied Himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature.”) The theological point is “Christ looked just like other men, but He was not like other men.” (He wasn’t sinful though fully human.)

Jesus was the first fleshly person “to be fathered by God the Father’s energizing Holy Spirit.”

(John 1:14-18; “Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw His glory – the glory of the One and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father. John testified about Him and shouted out, “This One was the One about whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is greater than I am because He existed before me.’” (16) For we have all received from His fullness one gracious gift after another. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came about through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The only One, Himself God, who is in closest fellowship with the Father, has made God known.”)

In this final verse of the prologue, the climactic and ultimate statement of the earthly career of the Logos, Jesus of Nazareth, is reached. The unique One. (John 1:14; again; He’s the One who has taken on human form and nature by becoming incarnate (flesh) who is Himself fully God. (The Word was God. (See John 1:1-5) Jesus identified with the ever-living One. The Old Testament revelation (Exodus 3:14) shows He has an intimate relationship with the Father, “this One and no other has fully revealed what God is like.” As Jesus said to Philip in John 14:9, “The one who has seen Me has seen the Father.”

(John 3:16 For this is the way God ‘the father’ loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through Him. The one who believes in Him is not condemned. The one who does not believe has been condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the One and only Son of God.”)

REVEALED is the key. Schooling can’t make a person a Believer IN. “Schooling can’t give a person circumcision of heart.”

(1John 4:9-10; “By this the love of God is revealed in us: that God has sent His one and only Son into the world so that we may live through Him. In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.”) It’s the mystery to the world of unbelievers, that the very same energizing Holy Spirit in Jesus is gifted to those called to be Believers IN Him. It’s a fathering, as was Jesus making Believers IN, “begotten children as was Jesus.” Review Ephesians 3:

12/23/2,019 God’s 9th Month, Av 25, 5,780    

To: In resident churches, people gifted with desire to be atOne with God.

Our teaching is to the called, mindful that most won’t pay attention. As pointed out in the last study Christendom denominations read Jesus’ words through Paul but don’t apply the knowledge shared at 1Cor 12:27-31. They don’t realize God’s church is built on the prophets as much as on Jesus’ apostles apparently. Not mindful that the Lord God Jesus is the One who inspired both. If so they’d reject all forms of paganism the prophets and apostles revealed. (Study Jeremiah 10:2-4 & Ezek 8:15-18 to discern God’s disdain for Christmas and Easter’s root beginnings. Then consider why all Christendom groups celebrate Roman, Egyptian and other worldly customs while rejecting times holy to the God of Moses, Abraham and the prophets.  Consider too why parables aren’t understood by Christendom groups.

A major one not understood is Jesus parable about Lazarus, a rich man and hell. (Hell in the New Testament is, Hades, Sheol and pit, meaning underground and has a negative force of awaiting judgment. (See Rev 20:13 and Psalms 16:13) Jesus told parables so the uncalled would not understand and in this particular parable the end discernment is: “if they don’t respond to Moses and the Prophets they’ll not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.” (See Luke 16:28-31)

Jesus was tempted and we too must face spiritual warfare.

(Ephesians 6:10-16; “Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of His power. Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. For this reason, take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand your ground on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand. (14) Stand firm therefore, by fastening the belt of truth around your waist, by putting on the breastplate of righteousness, by fitting your feet with the preparation that comes from the good news of peace, and in all of this, by taking up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”)

Satan’s schemes are many, he divides with many denominational views, designed to attract people prone to be religious. There’s only one message and one truth, which in order to comprehend must be revealed. It is the mystery hidden until revealed on that Pentecost after Jesus’ ascension and more fully after the Cornelius family’s conversion. Review Acts 10:

(Eph 6:17-20; “And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and requests for all the Saints. Pray for me also, that I may be given the message when I begin to speak – that I may confidently make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may be able to speak boldly as I ought to speak.”)

Some prophets, Jesus and all His apostles except John were killed for presenting this good news; namely the truth regarding God’s spirit gifted to His chosen. Even today, these are fighting words in the minds of people believing in a methodology by which people may be saved. The natural mind can’t grasp God’s choosing individuals thousands of years before their birth nor preplanning latter day events including His millennial reign on earth.

Christendom and the many calling themselves Evangelicals for the most part, refer to people believing IN God’s preplanning to the degree stated above as Calvinist, “doctrine of faith and predestination.” Today’s religions assume the Calvinist doctrine began with John Calvin, who maintained correctly that salvation comes through gifted faith in God and that God has already chosen those who will believe IN and be saved. Most seem to ignore that Isaiah, Jesus, Peter and Paul taught it first. See Isaiah 14:24, 46:8-13)

(Isaiah 14:24; “The Lord who commands armies makes this solemn vow: “Be sure of this: Just as I have intended, so it will be; just as I have planned, it will happen.”)

(Isaiah 46:8-13; “Remember this, so you can be brave! Think about it, you rebels! Remember what I accomplished in antiquity! Truly I am God, I have no peer; I am God, and there is none like Me, who announces the end from the beginning and reveals beforehand what has not yet occurred, who says, ‘My plan will be realized, I will accomplish what I desire,’ who summons an eagle from the east, from a distant land, One who carries out My plan. Yes, I have decreed, yes, I will bring it to pass; I have formulated a plan, yes, I will carry it out. Listen to Me, you stubborn people, you who distance yourself from doing what is right. I am bringing My deliverance near, it is not far away; I am bringing My salvation near, it does not wait. I will save Zion; I will adorn Israel with My splendor.”) Israel’s deliverance is preplanned and Satan’s demise is preplanned.

(Isaiah 35:8-10; “A thoroughfare will be there – it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it; it is reserved for those authorized to use it – fools will not stray into it. No lions will be there, no ferocious wild animals will be on it – they will not be found there. Those delivered from bondage will travel on it; those whom the Lord has ransomed will return that way. They will enter Zion with a happy shout. Unending joy will crown them, happiness and joy will overwhelm them; grief and suffering will disappear.”) As always study the whole text.

In this context people authorized to use the Way of Holiness will be morally upright, recipients of God’s deliverance, in contrast to the morally impure and foolish who are excluded from the new covenant community.”

God’s covenant with His people still requires observing three seasons each year. Including seven annual Sabbaths foreshadowing His deliverances and saving His people. The forerunner to it was Israel’s deliverance from Egypt as promised Abraham. A more mimetic deliverance is yet to be.

Israelites’ deliverance from Egypt began on the fourteenth day of Nisan and on the fifteenth “first annual Sabbath” they started their journey on the exact preplanned day. Their travels, experiences and rebellions are recorded for our learning. That Passover kept in Egypt looked forward to Jesus; “as the Lamb of God” willingly coming in the flesh, exemplifying His Father’s will and nature, sacrificing Himself, shedding His blood for the remission of the world’s sins, resurrected to His former position as preplanned, becoming our mediator before God the Father and promising His return as king of kings. All preplanned, including Satan’s demise, peace on earth and New Jerusalem coming down with God the Father.

The best orderly summation of God’s holy seasons are found at Leviticus 23:. The first of three seasons being “Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread.” Passover is the fourteenth day of Nisan; Feast of Unleavened Bread Sabbaths begins on the fifteenth and ends on the twenty second day. The weekly Sabbath falling during the seven day festival is the Wave Sheaf offering and from which a fifty day count begins to the second season; third annual Sabbath “Pentecost“ meaning to count fifty. The fifty day count begins on that Wave Sheaf Sabbath and so always falls seven weeks plus one day, a first day of the week. Pentecost after Jesus’ ascension is the birth date of His New Covenant church. The hidden mystery, “God imputing His spirit in people” gifts immortality and spiritual understanding revealed.

The third of three seasons culminates, with four annual Sabbaths in God’s seventh month. “Trumpets” on the first day of Nisan, foreshadowing Jesus triumphant return and first resurrection. Fifth annual Sabbath, “Atonement” is on the tenth day of Nisan foreshadowing “Believers IN” literally being atOne with Jesus. Sixth annual Sabbath beginning on the fifteenth day of Nisan, begins the “Feast of Tabernacles seven day celebration” and the seventh annual Sabbath is the eighth day of the festival. It foreshadows final judgment and New Jerusalem coming down. Hopefully all called Believers IN God understand the importance of observing these seasons.

12/21/2,019 God’s 9th Month, Av 23, 5,780    

To: In resident churches, people gifted with desire to be atOne with God.

Circumcision of heart is gifted submissiveness to Godly authority.

Respect for governing authority is diluted when family authority isn’t Godly. When students riot it’s obvious they’re products of parents who aren’t believers in Jesus and the God of Abraham. Also the times we’re living in is on display when police authority isn’t respected. The believing IN, ‘Christ like way’ is taught to those who’re called by God the Father and Jesus’ apostle’s letters are to these.

(Eph 5:22-28; “Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word, so that He may present the church to Himself as glorious – not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. In the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church – He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

(Eph 5:29-32; For no one has ever hated his own body but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church, for we ‘followers of Jesus’ are members of His Body. (31) For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. (See Genesis 2:23) (32; This mystery is great – but I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.”)

Particularly in this latter age, “love has waxed cold” demonic influences take on many tangents that cause many division. This mystery of family relationships is only understood in view of Godly characteristics. Loving submissiveness is characteristic of the God family. Jesus is our perfect example as He demonstrates His submissive nature to God the Father. Jesus’ apostle Paul’s explanation regarding Jesus’ attitude is for our benefit.

(Phil 2:5-11; “You ‘followers of Jesus’ should have the same ‘family’ attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had, who though He existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied Himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature. He humbled Himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross! (9) As a result God exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow – in heaven and on earth and under the earth – and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.”)

(Hebrews 1:2-3; “In these last days He ’God the Father’ has spoken to us in a Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He created the world. The Son is the radiance of His glory, the representation of His essence, and He ‘God the Son’ sustains all things by His powerful word, and so when He had accomplished cleansing for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”)

(Heb 9:24-26; For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands — the representation of the true sanctuary — but into heaven itself, and He appears now in God’s presence for us. And He did not enter to offer Himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the sanctuary year after year with blood that is not His own, for then He would have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the world. But now He has appeared once for all at the consummation of the ages to put away sin by His sacrifice.”)

Think of Satan’s attitude when he was trying to tempt Jesus? He demonstrated total selfishness while Jesus demonstrated loving obedience. God the Father had made Jesus equal to Himself, creating all things through Him. (See Hebrews 1: John 1:1-5 and Colossians 1:15-20) Jesus never considered equality with His Father something to be grasped. Demonstrated His loving nature by taking on physical form and nature of man. Jesus made Himself ‘as a yielding lamb’ suffering, shed His blood and died for the remission of the world’s sins. (As the Son of God, Jesus had circumcision of heart from the beginning.) We’re gifted with circumcision of heart, ’our down payment to eternal life” when we believe IN Jesus as He’s manifested to be in the holy scriptures, turn from our inherited from Adam nature and to Jesus’ nature.

God’s set aside a third holy season, ‘His annual Sabbaths, Trumpets, Atonement and Feast of Tabernacles foreshadows resurrections, being atOne with Jesus literally and ruling with Him. Jesus’ apostle Paul proclaimed.

(1Cor 15:50-55; Now this is what I am saying, brothers and sisters: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I will tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed – in a moment, in the blinking of an eye, at the last trumpet. The trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. (53) For this perishable ‘mortal’ body must put on the ‘spiritual’ imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. Now when this perishable puts on the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will happen, “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” (55) “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (Quote from Isaiah 25:8.)

(1Cor 15:56-58; “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! So then, dear brothers and sisters, be firm. Do not be moved! Always be outstanding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”)

Believers in a methodology by which people may be saved can’t seem to grasp God’s awesomeness in predestining things such as His timing for Jesus‘ return and His choosing individuals before the foundation of the world.

(Matt 11:25-26; At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your gracious will.”) God made it impossible to discern spiritual things through intellect, education and works of the flesh. Spiritual discernment is gifted to the called; Jesus said it.

(John 16:25-28; “I have told you these things in obscure figures of speech; a time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in obscure figures, but will tell you plainly about the Father. At that time you will ask in My name, “nature” and I do not say that I will ask the Father on your behalf. For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came from God. (28) I came from the Father and entered into the world, but in turn, I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”)

Until gifted with God’s energizing Holy Spirit of truth, Jesus’ apostles, nor can we understand Jesus’ parables nor why He spoke in parables. Jesus explained.

(Matthew 13:10-17; “Then the disciples came to Him and said, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” He replied, “You have been given the opportunity to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but they have not. For whoever has will be given more, and will have an abundance. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. (13) For this reason I speak to them in parables: Although they see they do not see and although they hear they do not hear nor do they understand. And concerning them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: ‘You will listen carefully yet will never understand, you will look closely yet will never comprehend. For the heart of this people has become dull; they are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes, so that they would not see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ (A quote from Isaiah 6:9-10.)

Parables are conceal or reveal depending on whether God has made a person open to hearing what they teach.)

Matt 13:16-17; “But your eyes are blessed because they see, and your ears because they hear. For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”)

Paul explained ‘gifted Circumcision of Heart produces spiritual unity.’

(Ephesians 4:1-6; “I therefore, the prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live worthily of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (4) There is one body and one Spirit, just as you too were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”) Denominationalism?

(Eph 4:7-9; “But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Therefore it says, “When He ascended on high He captured captives; He gave gifts to men.” Now what is the meaning of “He ascended,” except that He also descended to the lower regions, namely, the earth?” When He ascended on high He captured captives; He gave gifts to men.”)

We believe Paul is writing from revelation. Think of Psalms 68: Paul may have modified that text to better support what he wanted to say. Such modifications are sometimes found in rabbinic exegesis from this and later periods, it’s also possible that Paul was simply citing a variant of Psalms 68: known to him, but which has not survived outside its quotation here. Another possibility is that these words, which strongly resemble Ps 68:19, are actually part of an early Christian hymn quoted by Paul. Parts of all are possible. Paul continues to share.

(Ephesians 4:10-16; “He, ‘Jesus’ the very One who descended, is also the One who ascended above all the heavens, in order to fill all things. It was He who gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, to equip the Saints for the work of ministry, that is, to build up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God – a mature person, attaining to the measure of Christ’s full stature. (14) So we are no longer to be children, tossed back and forth by waves and carried about by every wind of teaching by the trickery of people who craftily carry out their deceitful schemes. (15) But practicing the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ, who is the head. From Him the whole body ‘church’ grows, fitted and held together through every supporting ligament. As each one does its part, the body grows in love.”) Practicing His truth is to grow in spirit and knowledge.

Matthew 6:24; “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

12/20/2,019 God’s 9th Month, Av 22, 5,780    

To: In resident churches, people gifted with desire to be atOne with God.

Jesus promised “time will be cut short for the Elect’s sake.” So, perhaps Jesus’ return will be before some of the dire end age prophecies are completed. We know Jesus’ return is preplanned by God the Father and we know He’ll shorten that time for His Elect’s sake. Jesus’ apostle Peter was inspired to write; (Now, dear friends, do not let this one thing escape your notice, that a single day is like a thousand years with the Lord and a thousand years are like a single day. 2Peter 3:8) That be true and the seventh day Sabbath set aside for rest from normal work is a strong indication that six thousand years are set aside for man’s work, then the millennial reign of Jesus on earth. God’s calendar and annual Sabbaths also look forward.

Three seasons, seven annual Sabbaths are set aside foreshadowing God’s planning, four of the seven are in His seventh month: they’re Trumpets, Atonement, first day Feast of Tabernacles and on the eighth day is the Last Great Day. Jesus’ apostle Paul was also inspired to share that the Jews are entrusted with the oracles of God. (Oracles are defined as knowing, wise, prophetic, mysterious, ambiguous and perhaps enigmatic.)

(Romans 3:1-6; “Therefore what advantage does the Jew have, or what is the value of circumcision? Actually, there are many advantages. First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. What then? If some did not believe, does their unbelief nullify the faithfulness of God? Absolutely not! Let God be proven true, and every human being shown up as a liar, just as it is written: “so that you will be justified in your words and will prevail when you are judged.” But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He? (I am speaking in human terms.) Absolutely not! For otherwise how could God judge the world?”)

So, we being in about the year, 5,780 by Jewish calendar count, “the Father’s planned return of Jesus is about two hundred years from now.” Jesus said; “watch, when you see these things coming to pass, know the time is near. Matthew 24:)

Jesus, His prophets nor His apostles set dates, mindful of God the Father’s loving mercy toward His called out ones, “His Elect.” Only His Elect are gifted to know and understand Jesus’ message, love His Way and despise this world’s system of things. These aren’t likely to be deceived with this world’s populations. See Matthew 24:24.) God’s Elect are praying fervently that His kingdom soon come.

Matt 24:36-41; “But as for that day and hour no one knows it – not even the angels in heaven – except the Father alone. For just like the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. For in those days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark. (39) And they knew nothing until the flood came and took them all away. It will be the same at the coming of the Son of Man. Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one left. There will be two women grinding grain with a mill; one will be taken and one left.”) Let’s review a portion of Paul’s revelations regarding the mystery understood by God‘s Elect..

(Almighty God, our Father, our Daddy: we pray that many are being led to teach Your truth and spread Your good news to many. We understand it isn’t through monetary strength, but through Your gifted Holy Spirit that Your truth must go forward. We share Your apostle Paul’s words: “many Saints should be teachers by now.” We ask You to inspire and give more the ability to teach. In the holy nature of Jesus, we pray: AMEN.)

Jesus inspired Jeremiah 9:23-24; The Lord says, “Wise people should not boast that they are wise. Powerful people should not boast that they are powerful. Rich people should not boast that they are rich. (24) If people want to boast, they should boast about this: (They should boast that they understand and know Me. They should boast that they know and understand that I, the Lord, act out of faithfulness, fairness, and justice in the earth and that I desire people to do these things,” says the Lord.”) What things? Consider your calling and serve according to gifted ability. Only the called with gifted understanding should share this good news.

(John 9:39-41; Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that those who do not see may gain their sight, and the ones who see may become blind.” Some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard this and asked Him, “We are not blind too, are we?” Jesus replied, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin, but now because you claim that you can see, your guilt remains.”)

Contemplate why family and friends turn from Jesus’ teaching. We who’re called know He does the calling. Jesus revealed this through Paul as follows.

(1Cor 2:11-16; “For who among men knows the things of a man except the man’s spirit within him? So too, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we ‘believers IN Jesus’ have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things that are freely given to us by God. (13) And we speak about these things, not with words taught us by human wisdom, but with those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people. The unbeliever does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him. And he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. (15) The one who is spiritual discerns all things, yet he himself is understood by no one. For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to advise Him? But we have the mind of Christ.”) We who have the mind of Christ are only allowed to humbly boast in the Lord.

Jesus inspired Jeremiah to speak of people ‘only circumcised in the flesh.’

(Jeremiah 9:2526; The Lord says, “Watch out! The time is soon coming when I will punish all those who are circumcised only in the flesh. That is, I will punish the Egyptians, the Judeans, the Edomites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, and all the desert people who cut their hair short at the temples. I will do so because none of the people of those nations are really circumcised in the Lord’s sight. Moreover, none of the people of Israel are circumcised when it comes to their hearts.”)

What do these people groups have in common? They think; “there must be a methodology by which we can know God and be saved.”

Look back to chapter four; “consider the necessity to separate from

the gentile mentality.” Restudy chapter 4:17-24, before continuing.

(Ephesians 4:25-32; “Therefore, having laid aside falsehood, each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we ‘followers of Jesus’ are members of one another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on the cause of your anger. Do not give the devil an opportunity. (28) The one who steals must steal no longer; rather he must labor, doing good with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with the one who has need. You must let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but only what is beneficial for the building up of the one in need, that it may give grace to those who hear. (30) And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. You must put away every kind of bitterness, anger, wrath, quarreling, and evil, slanderous talk. Instead, be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.”) (Remember 1Cor 13:13; “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.”)

What causes people to be angry? Is it not from within their fleshly inherited from Adam nature? How do we grieve “the Holy Spirit of God?” People gifted with it, grieve it by not yielding to their calling. Finally, we shouldn’t forget where our understanding comes from and then forgive one another as, “God in Christ forgave us.”

Imitating God’s characteristics.

(Ephesians 5:1-5; “Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave Himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. (3) But among you, ‘followers of Jesus’ there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the Saints. (4) Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting – all of which are out of character – but rather thanksgiving. For you can be confident of this one thing: that no person who is immoral, impure, or greedy (such a person is an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.”) (Where does the desire to imitate God’s character come from? See Philippians 2:13.)

(Eph 5:6-14; “Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them, for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light – (9) for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth – trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention. But all things being exposed by the light are made evident. (14) For everything made evident is light, and for this reason it says: “Awake, O sleeper! “Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you!” (A composite quote, possibly from Isaiah 26:19, 51:17, 52:1, and 60:1.)

Followers of Jesus are gifted with circumcision of heart; desire knowledge of God’s characteristics and Jesus’ message through His prophets and apostles.

(Eph 5:15-21; “Therefore be very careful how you live – not as unwise but as wise, taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil. For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is. And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”)

God’s Spirit in us gives the energizing desire to be the over comers’ He would have us be. Jesus revealed to John at Revelations 2:26; “And to the one who conquers and who continues in my deeds until the end, I will give him authority over the nations”)

12/18/2,019 God’s 9th Month, Av 20, 5,780    

To: In resident churches, people gifted with desire to be atOne with God.

The big spiritual question is, “who cares?” Seemingly only those gifted with circumcision of heart, ’The Elect.’ People gifted with God’s spirit, “The Holy Spirit of truth.” Jesus tells us how this comes to be? (John 3:7-8; “Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must all be born from above.’ (8) The wind blows wherever it will, and you hear the sound it makes, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”)

It isn’t from works; there is no methodology by which one can choose “in and of themselves.” The call, desire and gift is from God the Father. It’s the mystery hidden throughout the ages. Paul explains.

(Colossians 1:26; “It’s the mystery that has been kept hidden from ages and generations, but has now been revealed to His Saints.”) The mystery is “Christ in a person” “a circumcision of heart” “a changed nature from that inherited from Adam to “a new nature gifted by God.” Allow Jesus’ apostle Paul’s explanations.

(Col 1:24-29; “Now I ‘Paul’ rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my physical body – for the sake of His body, the church – what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ. I became a servant of the church according to the stewardship from God – given to me for you – in order to complete the word of God, (26) that is, the mystery that has been kept hidden from ages and generations, but has now been revealed to His Saints. ’not the world.’ God wanted to make known to them the glorious riches of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (28) We proclaim Him ‘Jesus’ by instructing and teaching all people with all wisdom so that we may present every person mature in Christ. Toward this goal I also labor, struggling according to His power that powerfully works in me.”)

“The Holy Spirit of truth” is God’s gifted power working in individuals, giving understanding and the desire to turn from this world’s system of things, to His glorious and holy way.

(Philippians 2:12-13; “So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, continue working out your salvation with awe and reverence, (13) for the One bringing forth in you both the desire and the effort – for the sake of His good pleasure – is God.”) Seek truth, pray for gifted desire.

Remember Jesus’ personal messages and those through His apostle’s letters are to ’people assembling in His name.’

Paul’s salutation to God’s church at Ephesus gives insight.

(Eph 1:1-2; “From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the Saints [in Ephesus] the faithful in Christ Jesus. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!.”) (Note the fact that Paul’s salutation doesn’t include the Holy Spirit. Is something wrong with His understanding? NO. Paul understands that the Holy Spirit is God’s energizing power and through it, God fathers individuals giving the desire to know Him intimately.) Now, each person to whom God’s spirit is given are children of God and as such, ‘members of His family, His church.”) David understood, those He‘s revealed to are sons.

Psalms 82:6-8; I thought, ‘You are gods; all of you are sons of the Most High.’ Yet you will die like mortals; you will fall like all the other rulers.” Rise up, O God, and execute judgment on the earth! For You own all the nations.”)

(John 10:34-38; Jesus answered “Is it not written in your law ‘I said, you are gods’? (Quote from Psalms 82:6.) (35) If those people to whom the word of God came were called ‘gods’ (and the scripture cannot be broken), do you say about the One whom the Father set apart and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? If I do not perform the deeds of My Father, do not believe Me. (38) But if I do them, even if you do not believe Me, believe the deeds, so that you may come to know and understand that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me.”) When we’re gifted with His Holy Spirit of truth; “it’s God putting us in His family.” Now Paul shares that same understanding as revealed from Jesus through David.

(Eph 1:3-14; “Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ. For He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in His sight in love. “He makes us holy.” (5) He did this by predestining us to adoption as His Sons through Jesus Christ, according to the pleasure of His will – to the praise of the glory of His grace that He has freely bestowed on us in His dearly loved Son. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, that He lavished on us in all wisdom and insight. (9) He did this when He revealed to us the secret of His will, according to His good pleasure that He ‘God the Father’ set forth in Christ, toward the administration of the fullness of the times, to head up all things in Christ – the things in heaven and the things on earth. In Christ we too have been claimed as God’s own possession, since we were predestined according to the one purpose of Him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of His will so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, would be to the praise of His glory. And when you heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation) – when you believed in Christ – you were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit, who is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.”)

These secrets are revealed to those called for God’s purpose in this age. In Jesus’ millennial age, when Satan is bound, “all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Abraham, Isaac and Jacob’s descendents, “Israelites, physical and spiritual” will be delivered and know to whom they owe allegiance. (These things were revealed to Jesus’ prophets and why “His church is built on the foundation of the prophets, apostles and Jesus Himself the Chief Cornerstone.)

Jeremiah 33:15-16; “In those days and at that time I will raise up for them a righteous descendant of David, “Jesus.” “‘He will do what is just and right in the land. Under His rule Judah will enjoy safety and Jerusalem will live in security. At that time Jerusalem will be called “The Lord has provided us with justice.” (17-18; For I, the Lord, promise: “David will never lack a successor to occupy the throne over the nation of Israel. Nor will the Levitical priests ever lack someone to stand before Me and continually offer up burnt offerings, sacrifice cereal offerings, and offer the other sacrifices.”’”

(19-22; The Lord spoke further to Jeremiah. “I, Lord, make the following promise: ‘I have made a covenant with the day and with the night that they will always come at their proper times. Only if you people could break that covenant could My covenant with My servant David and My covenant with the Levites ever be broken. So David will by all means always have a descendant to occupy his throne as king and the Levites will by all means always have priests who will minister before Me. (22) I will make the children who follow one another in the line of my servant David very numerous. I will also make the Levites who minister before Me very numerous. I will make them all as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sands which are on the seashore.’”  (In other words these all are as Abraham’s heirs.)

(23-26; The Lord spoke still further to Jeremiah. “You have surely noticed what these ‘unbelieving’ people are saying, haven’t you? They are saying, ‘The Lord has rejected the two families of Israel and Judah that He chose.’ So they have little regard that My people will ever again be a nation. (25) But I, the Lord, make the following promise: I have made a covenant governing the coming of day and night. I have established the fixed laws governing heaven and earth. Just as surely as I have done this, so surely will I never reject the descendants of Jacob. Nor will I ever refuse to choose one of My servant David’s descendants to rule over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Indeed, I will restore them and show mercy to them.”

Israelites and non-Israelites considered dead because of sin;

now alive in Christ.

(Ephesians 2:1-3; “And although you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you formerly lived according to this world’s present path, according to the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the ruler of the spirit ‘Satan’ that is now energizing the sons of disobedience, among whom all of us also formerly lived out our lives in the cravings of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath even as the rest.”)

All whose heart aren’t spiritually circumcised, whose nature isn’t supernaturally changed are “sons of disobedience.” People loving this world’s system of things, “indulge in the flesh” “live the get way.”

(Eph 2:4-10; “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even though we were dead in transgressions, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you are saved! and He raised us up with Him ‘Jesus’ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, ‘why?’ (7) to demonstrate in the coming ages ‘Jesus’ millennial and beyond’ the surpassing wealth of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”) (No methodology - but His grace.) For by grace you are saved through ‘Jesus’’ faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; (9) it is not from works, so that no one can boast. For we ‘followers of Jesus’ are His, ‘The Father’s’ workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them.”)

When people are gifted to believe IN, “when we understand these things” it’s our evidence of our calling and the knowledge that God loved us first. A love like God Himself that’ll never end. Paul did a whole chapter on the subject.

(1Corinthians 13:8-10; “Love never ends. But if there are prophecies, they will be set aside; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be set aside. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part, but when what is perfect comes, the partial will be set aside.”) Circumcision of heart people are Looking forward to that perfect One’s coming. God is the personification of love! God and love are forever!

12/17/2,019 God’s 9th Month, Av 19, 5,780    

To: In resident churches, people gifted with desire to be atOne with God.

We try to say/write words that’ll penetrate the minds of those being called. Mindful that it’s been predetermined that the whole world will be deceived except ‘the Elect.’ Mindful of Jesus’ Words; “And if those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved. But for the sake of the Elect those days will be cut short. Matt 24:22) Elect are the chosen who’re called to believe IN Jesus as He manifest Himself to be at (Col 1:15-20, John 1:1-5 and Hebrews 1:.) “Man’s beliefs allow nourished inherited hostilities to remain, don’t see the need for changing from pagan practices and think it okay to go the way that seems right. Many of these will suffer the end age prophesied plagues. See Rev 9:18-20) Jesus tells us what these end age societies will be like.

For just like the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. For in those days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark. And they knew nothing until the flood came and took them all away. It will be the same at the coming of the Son of Man.” Matt 24:37-39)

Only God’s Elect are blessed to be recipients of His Spirit of Truth  others can’t accept.” (John 14:17 and 14:26; “The Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, because the world does not see Him or know Him. But you ‘Elect’ know Him, because He resides with you and will be in you.”) (26) “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you everything, and will cause you to remember everything I said to you.”)

The deceiver promotes ideologies of all sorts and each assume as Paul did, “all but us” NO, all who aren’t “God’s Elect” as Jesus said, “will be deceived.” In route to Damascus Jesus told Paul what “as a witnessing servant he was called to do.” Perhaps not to the same degree, but God’s Elect have similar duties.

(Acts 26:15-18; The Lord replied to Paul, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But get up and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this reason, to designate you in advance as a servant and witness to the things you have seen and to the things in which I will appear - ‘reveal’ to you. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, to open their eyes so that they turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’

God does the equipping so His called can do His will in things pleasing to Himself through Jesus. Paul explained to the Hebrews.

(Heb 13:20-21; “Now may the God of peace who by the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep, our Lord Jesus Christ, equip you with every good thing to do His will, working in us what is pleasing before Him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever. Amen.”

Paul was inspired to teach “present Jesus’ truth with spiritual logic that’s difficult to criticize.

(Titus 2:1-8; But as for you, ‘Titus’ communicate the behavior that goes with sound teaching. Older men are to be temperate, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in endurance. Older women likewise are to exhibit behavior fitting for those who are holy, not slandering, not slaves to excessive drinking, but teaching what is good. In this way they will train the younger women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be self-controlled, pure, fulfilling their duties at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the message of God may not be discredited. Encourage younger men likewise to be self-controlled, showing yourself to be an example of good works in every way. In your teaching show integrity, dignity, and a sound message that cannot be criticized, so that any opponent will be at a loss, because he has nothing evil to say about us.”

Hostile people criticize Paul’s use of the word ‘slave’ in this context, not aware “there’s a righteous altruistic servitude way for masters and servants.” It’s God’s perfect welfare system. Under God’s system regardless of debt or cost a slave could only be used seven years before granting freedom; then if the slave wanted to remain in servitude He’d pierce a ear to indicate that.

(Titus 2:9-15; Slaves are to be subject to their own masters in everything, to do what is wanted and not talk back, not pilfering, but showing all good faith, in order to bring credit to the teaching of God our Savior in everything. For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people. (12) It ‘grace’ trains us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, as we wait for the happy fulfillment of our hope in the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He gave Himself for us to set us free from every kind of lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people who are truly His, who are eager to do good. So communicate these things with the sort of exhortation or rebuke that carries full authority. Don’t let anyone look down on you.”) (Christian employees and employers should apply this Godly teaching. There’s necessary spiritual lessons to be learned while practicing adherence to God’s ordained authorities.)

The end of this age’s hostilities Jesus described is detailed by Peter, explaining the likeness of the two ages.

(2Peter 2:1-21; But false prophets arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. These false teachers will infiltrate your midst with destructive heresies, even to the point of denying the Master who bought them. As a result, they will bring swift destruction on themselves. And many will follow their debauched lifestyles. Because of these false teachers, the way of truth will be slandered. And in their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words. Their condemnation pronounced long ago is not sitting idly by; their destruction is not asleep.

(2Pet 2:4-11; For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but threw them into hell (Tartarus - pit -lower earth) and locked them up in chains in utter darkness, to be kept until the judgment, and if He did not spare the ancient world, but did protect Noah, a herald of righteousness, along with seven others, when God brought a flood on an ungodly world, and if He turned to ashes the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah when He condemned them to destruction, having appointed them to serve as an example to future generations of the ungodly,  and if He rescued Lot, a righteous man in anguish over the debauched lifestyle of lawless men, (for while he lived among them day after day, that righteous man was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard — if so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from their trials, and to reserve the unrighteous for punishment at the day of judgment, especially those who indulge their fleshly desires and who despise authority. Brazen and insolent, they are not afraid to insult the glorious ones, yet even angels, who are much more powerful, do not bring a slanderous judgment against them before the Lord.) See Gen 18:)

(2Pet 2:12-13; But these men, like irrational animals — creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed — do not understand whom they are insulting, and consequently in their destruction they will be destroyed, suffering harm as the wages for their harmful ways. By considering it a pleasure to carouse in broad daylight, they are stains and blemishes, indulging in their deceitful pleasures when they feast together with you.

(2Pet 2:14-16; Their eyes, full of adultery, never stop sinning; they entice unstable people. They have trained their hearts for greed, these cursed children! By forsaking the right path they have gone astray, because they followed the way of Balaam son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness, yet was rebuked for his own transgression (a dumb donkey, speaking with a human voice, restrained the prophet’s madness).

(See Numbers 22: & 31:)

(2Pet 2:17-22;These men are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm, for whom the utter depths of darkness have been reserved. For by speaking high-sounding but empty words they are able to entice, with fleshly desires and with debauchery, people who have just escaped from those who reside in error. Although these false teachers promise such people freedom, they themselves are enslaved to immorality. For whatever a person succumbs to, to that he is enslaved. For if after they have escaped the filthy things of the world through the rich knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they again get entangled in them and succumb to them, their last state has become worse for them than their first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than, having known it, to turn back from the holy commandment that had been delivered to them. They are illustrations of this true proverb: “A dog returns to its own vomit,” and “A sow, after washing herself, wallows in the mire.”)

Because deception is worldwide, in residence worship is recommended.

(Matthew 18:20; “For where two or three are assembled in My name, I am there among them.”) (In Jesus’ name means; “in the nature of” or “as an ambassadors of Jesus.”) Using Jesus’ name superstitiously doesn’t allow for a miraculous appearance. (People using; “in the name of Jesus” without His gifted understanding, His deity and characteristics are superstitiously worshiping blindly.

It’s idolatry when people imagine Jesus fitting some artist’s description, baby in manger or a dead image on a cross. The Son of God ’Jesus’ in fleshly form, looked and dressed like the ordinary men of His time. Willingly allowed Himself to endure the stripes for our healing and shed His blood for the remission of sin. He died, was buried and put in His tomb on the fourteenth day of Nisan as preplanned. They hurried to put Him in the tomb before sunset beginning the fifteenth day annual Sabbath, commencing the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. It paralleled the Passover celebration in Egypt when blood was placed on door facings so the death angel would Passover and Israel fleeing on the fifteenth of Nisan. On the morning of Nisan eighteen, Jesus’ tomb was found empty. Jesus was three nights and three days in the tomb as Jonah’s time in the big fish’s belly. If the fourteenth of Nisan had fell on Friday ‘day six’ that year they’d found His tomb empty on day three.

12/14/2,019 God’s 9th Month, Av 16, 5,780    

To: In resident churches, people gifted with desire to be atOne with God.

A mother came with two sons asking Jesus that they sit at His side in His kingdom. Jesus ask the sons “are you able to drink the cup I’M about to drink?” They affirmed they were. (Jesus said, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right and at my left is not mine to give. Rather, it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.” (Matt 20:23)

(Matt 25:31-34;”When the Son of Man comes in His glory and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be assembled before Him, and He will separate people one from another like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”) (Both these verses tell us all is preplanned.)

King David prayed, “In my time of trouble I cry out to You, for You will answer me. None can compare to you among the gods, O Lord! Your exploits are incomparable! All the nations, whom You created, will come and worship You, O Lord. They will honor Your name. For You are great and do amazing things. You alone are God. O LORD, teach me how you want me to live! Then I will obey your commands. Make me wholeheartedly committed to you! O Lord, My God, I will give You thanks with my whole heart! I will honor Your name continually!” Psalms 86:8-12)

Moses, King David, the prophets and Jesus’ apostles were called and ‘predestined - gifted to know by revelation’ the Lord God’s Way, power, characteristics and at least partly His kingdom planning. It was the Lord God Jesus that revealed to Isaiah, spoke the words Matthew recorded at Matt 24 and John recorded in Revelations.

(Isaiah 29:6-24; “Judgment will come from the LORD who commands armies, accompanied by thunder, earthquake, and a loud noise, by a strong gale, a windstorm, and a consuming flame of fire. It will be like a dream, a night vision. There will be a horde from all the nations that fight against Ariel, those who attack her and her stronghold and besiege her. It will be like a hungry man dreaming that he is eating, only to awaken and find that his stomach is empty. It will be like a thirsty man dreaming that he is drinking, only to awaken and find that he is still weak and his thirst unquenched. So it will be for the horde from all the nations that fight against Mount Zion. You will be shocked and amazed! You are totally blind! They are drunk, but not because of wine; they stagger, but not because of beer. For the LORD has poured out on you a strong urge to sleep deeply. He has shut your eyes (the prophets), and covered your heads (the seers.) (11) To you this entire prophetic revelation is like words in a sealed scroll. When they hand it to one who can read and say, “Read this,” he responds, “I can’t, because it is sealed.” Or when they hand the scroll to one who can’t read and say, “Read this,” he says, “I can’t read.” The sovereign master says, “These ‘hostile’ people say they are loyal to Me; they say wonderful things about Me, but they are not really loyal to Me. Their worship consists of nothing but man-made ritual. (14) Therefore I will again do an amazing thing for these people — an absolutely extraordinary deed. Wise men will have nothing to say, the sages will have no explanations.” Those who try to hide their plans from the LORD are as good as dead, who do their work in secret and boast, “Who sees us? Who knows what we’re doing?”

(Isa 29:16-19; Your thinking is perverse! Should the Potter be regarded as clay? Should the thing made say about its maker, “He didn’t make me”? Or should the pottery say about the Potter, “He doesn’t understand”? In just a very short time Lebanon will turn into an orchard, and the orchard will be considered a forest. At that time the deaf will be able to hear words read from a scroll, and the eyes of the blind will be able to see through deep darkness. The downtrodden will again rejoice in the LORD; the poor among humankind will take delight in the Holy One of Israel.

(Isa 29:20-24; For tyrants will disappear, those who taunt will vanish, and all those who love to do wrong will be eliminated, those who bear false testimony against a person, who entrap the one who arbitrates at the city gate and deprive the innocent of justice by making false charges. (22) So this is what the LORD, the One who delivered Abraham, says to the family of Jacob: “Jacob ’Israel’ will no longer be ashamed; their faces will no longer show their embarrassment. For when they see their children, whom I will produce among them, they will honor my name. They will honor the Holy One of Jacob; they will respect the God of Israel.  Those who stray morally will gain understanding; those who complain will acquire insight.”) (The Lord God Jesus revealing to Isaiah is also revealed to John.)

(Rev 21:7-8; The one who conquers will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But to the cowards, unbelievers, detestable persons, murderers, the sexually immoral, and those who practice magic spells, idol worshipers, and all those who lie, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. That is the second death.”)

(Isaiah 35:3-7; Strengthen the hands that have gone limp, steady the knees that shake! Tell those who panic, “Be strong! Do not fear! Look, your God comes to avenge! With divine retribution he comes to deliver you.” Then blind eyes will open, deaf ears will hear. Then the lame will leap like a deer, the mute tongue will shout for joy; for water will flow in the desert, streams in the wilderness. The dry soil will become a pool of water, the parched ground springs of water. Where jackals once lived and sprawled out, grass, reeds, and papyrus will grow.

(Isa 35:8-10; A thoroughfare will be there — it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it; it is reserved for those authorized to use it — fools will not stray into it. No lions will be there, no ferocious wild animals will be on it — they will not be found there. Those delivered from bondage will travel on it, those whom the LORD has ransomed will return that way. They will enter Zion with a happy shout. Unending joy will crown them, happiness and joy will overwhelm them; grief and suffering will disappear.”) Jesus has Isaiah repeat at 51:11; “Those whom the LORD has ransomed will return; they will enter Zion with a happy shout. Unending joy will crown them, happiness and joy will overwhelm them; grief and suffering will disappear.”)

(Matt 11:6-10; “Blessed is anyone who takes no offense at Me.” While they were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? What did you go out to see? A man dressed in fancy clothes? Look, those who wear fancy clothes are in the homes of kings! What did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: ‘Look, I am sending My messenger ahead of you, who will prepare Your way before You.’) (See Mal 3:1& Exodus 23:20)

Israelites - Jews heard the priest read each Sabbath and were expecting the Messiah’s coming to fulfill Isaiah prophecies. Jesus’ good news ’gospel’ was about the resurrections, His return and His kingdom as His prophets foretold. (Remember Jesus came to His own and they predictably refused Him, fulfilling that gentiles would be saved come in, make them jealous and become spiritual Israelites.

(Isaiah 60:14-22; The children of your oppressors will come bowing to you; all who treated you with disrespect will bow down at your feet. They will call you, ‘The City of the LORD, Zion of the Holy One of Israel.’ You were once abandoned and despised, with no one passing through, but I will make you a permanent source of pride and joy to coming generations. You will drink the milk of nations; you will nurse at the breasts of kings. Then you will recognize that I, the LORD, am your deliverer, your protector, the powerful ruler of Jacob. (17) Instead of bronze, I will bring you gold, instead of iron, I will bring you silver, instead of wood, I will bring you bronze, instead of stones, I will bring you iron. I will make prosperity your overseer, and vindication your sovereign ruler. Sounds of violence will no longer be heard in your land, or the sounds of destruction and devastation within your borders. You will name your walls, ‘Deliverance,’ and your gates, ‘Praise.’ (19) The sun will no longer supply light for you by day, nor will the moon’s brightness shine on you; the LORD will be your permanent source of light — the splendor of your God will shine upon you. Your sun will no longer set; your moon will not disappear; the LORD will be your permanent source of light; your time of sorrow will be over. All of your people will be Godly; they will possess the land permanently. I will plant them like a shoot; they will be the product of my labor, through whom I reveal my splendor. The least of you will multiply into a thousand; the smallest of you will become a large nation. When the right time comes, I the LORD will quickly do this!”)

Had it been time, they would’ve known.

(Malachi 3:1-7; “I am about to send My messenger, who will clear the way before Me. Indeed, the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to His temple, and the Messenger of the Covenant, whom you long for, is certainly coming,” says the LORD who rules over all. Who can endure the day of His coming? Who can keep standing when He appears? For He will be like a refiner’s fire, like a launderer’s soap. He will act like a refiner and purifier of silver and will cleanse the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will offer the LORD a proper offering. The offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in former times and years past.

“I will come to you in judgment. I will be quick to testify against those who practice divination, those who commit adultery, those who break promises, and those who exploit workers, widows, and orphans, who refuse to help the immigrant and in this way show they do not fear me,” says the LORD who rules over all. (6) “Since, I, the LORD, do not go back on my promises, you, sons of Jacob, have not perished. From the days of your ancestors you have ignored My commandments and have not kept them! Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD who rules over all. “But you say, ‘How should we return?’) Always study the whole.

Matt 12:16-21; “But Jesus sternly warned them not to make Him known. This fulfilled what was spoken by Isaiah the prophet: “Here is My servant whom I have chosen, the One I love, in whom I take great delight. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not quarrel or cry out, nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets. He will not break a bruised reed or extinguish a smoldering wick, until He brings justice to victory. And in His name the Gentiles will hope.”)

12/12/2,019 God’s 9th Month, Av 14, 5,780    

To: In resident churches, people gifted with desire to be atOne with God.

We can share no greater gift than revealed spiritual understanding, hoping “God directs it as pleasing to Himself.” Watching a daddy teaching his child to ride a bicycle, running protectively beside, teaching to brake, exit, turn around and start up again. I thought, how much like my heavenly Father’s teaching, revealing, protecting, delivery and what an example of child like faith. Reminding me of Jesus’ words to His followers; (John 15:1-9; “I am the true vine and My Father is the gardener. He takes away every branch that does not bear fruit in Me. He prunes every branch that bears fruit so that it will bear more fruit. You ’followers of me’ are clean already because of the Word that I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the Vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me. (5) “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me — and I in him — bears much fruit, because apart from Me you can accomplish nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown out like a branch, and dries up; and such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, and are burned up.

(15:7-9; If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you want, and it will be done for you. My Father is honored by this, that you bear much fruit and show that you are My disciples. “Just as the Father has loved me, I have also loved you; remain in My love.”)

Remaining in Jesus’ love is to believe IN, practice trust in His faith and mimicking His Way. It can’t be done by following any denominationalism.

God is all knowing, He gives to whom He will. He opens and mercifully gives stupor of mind according to His ultimate plan. He shapes individuals and nations according to His ultimate plan. See Jeremiah 18: about His Potter’s wheel.

Restoration through Confession - Repentance for God’s people in this age were preplanned by promise to Abraham. His called descendents are gifted with a desire to be Christ like and thus be delivered from this world’s system of things in similar fashion to Israel’s from Egypt. From God’s View Egypt represented sin, in today’s verbiage, “this world’s system of things.” Called out Believers soon realize God preplanned all things for His ultimate purpose in this and the age to come. Those who persecute God’s people have a reckoning.

Isaiah 14:24-27; “The Lord who commands armies makes this solemn vow: “Be sure of this: Just as I have intended, so it will be; just as I have planned, it will happen. I will break Assyria in My land; I will trample them underfoot on My hills. Their yoke will be removed from My people; the burden will be lifted from their shoulders. (Assyria metonymy stands for the entire group of nations to whom God‘s people are scattered.)

Isaiah 14:26-27; This is the plan I have devised for the whole earth; My hand is ready to strike all the nations. Indeed, the Lord who commands armies has a plan, and who can possibly frustrate it? His hand is ready to strike, and who can possibly stop it?”)

Israelites were scattered among pagan gentiles because of their stubbornness, their lack of reliance on the Lord God with whom they covenanted with. Spiritual Israelites have a new faith covenant since the One  with whom the first covenant was made died. (Hebrews 9:15-18’; And so He is the Mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the eternal inheritance he has promised, since He died to set them free from the violations committed under the first covenant. For where there is a will, the death of the one who made it must be proven. For a will takes effect only at death, since it carries no force while the one who made it is alive. So even the first covenant was inaugurated with blood.”) (Study the whole.) Now promises made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are perpetual and all Israel is to be saved.

Isaiah 46:8-13; “Remember this, so you can be brave! Think about it, you rebels! Remember what I accomplished in antiquity! Truly I am God, I have no peer; I am God, and there is none like Me, who announces the end from the beginning and reveals beforehand what has not yet occurred, who says, ‘My plan will be realized, I will accomplish what I desire,’ who summons an eagle from the east, from a distant land, one who carries out My plan. Yes, I have decreed, yes, I will bring it to pass; I have formulated a plan, yes, I will carry it out. (12) Listen to Me, you stubborn people, you who distance yourself from doing what is right. I am bringing My deliverance near, it is not far away; I am bringing My salvation near, it does not wait. I will save Zion; I will adorn Israel with My splendor.”)

God doesn’t break promises. Followers of Jesus can rely on those pertaining to Abraham’s descendents because they’re heirs of the promises. As God told Abraham about his descendents spending 430 years in bondage and was delivered on the exact date, Jesus foretold the events and times we find ourselves in today.

Promises to scattered physical and spiritual Israelites.

Leviticus 26:39-45; “‘As for the ones who remain among you, they will rot away because of their iniquity in the lands of your enemies and they will also rot away because of their ancestors’ iniquities which are with them. However, when they confess their iniquity and their ancestors’ iniquity which they committed by trespassing against Me, by which they also walked in hostility against Me, (and I Myself will walk in hostility against them and bring them into the land of their enemies), and then their uncircumcised hearts become humbled and they make up for their iniquity, I will remember My covenant with Jacob and also My covenant with Isaac and also My covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land. (43) The land will be abandoned by them in order that it may make up for its Sabbaths while it is made desolate without them, and they will make up for their iniquity because they have rejected My regulations and have abhorred My statutes. (44) In spite of this, however, when they are in the land of their enemies I will not reject them and abhor them to make a complete end of them, to break My covenant with them, for I am the Lord their God. I will remember for them the covenant with their ancestors whom I brought out from the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations to be their God. I am the Lord.’”)

All God’s statutes are for the people’s good, including a Sabbath rest for the land. Remember God changed Jacob’s name to “Israel” meaning “God fights or fights for.” Today all followers of Jesus are spiritual Israelites; heirs with Abraham, thus prophecies pertaining to Israel include followers of Jesus. See Galatians 3:29.

Exhortation to Love God and one another is in both covenants.

Deut 10:12-22; “Now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you except to revere Him, to obey all His commandments, to love Him, to serve Him with all your mind and being, and to keep the Lord’s commandments and statutes that I am giving you today for your own good? (14) The heavens – indeed the highest heavens – belong to the Lord your God, as does the earth and everything in it. (15) However, only to your ancestors did He show His loving favor, and He chose you, their descendants, from all peoples – as is apparent today. Therefore, cleanse your heart and stop being so stubborn! For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awesome God who is unbiased and takes no bribe, who justly treats the orphan and widow, and who loves resident foreigners, giving them food and clothing. (19) So you must love the resident foreigner because you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. Revere the Lord your God, serve Him, be loyal to Him and take oaths only in His name. He is the One you should praise; He is your God, the One who has done these great and awesome things for you that you have seen. (22) When your ancestors went down to Egypt, they numbered only seventy, but now the Lord your God has made you as numerous as the stars of the sky.”) (Circumcision of foreskin always looked forward to circumcision of the heart.)

Jeremiah 4:3-4; “Yes, the Lord has this to say to the people of Judah and Jerusalem: “Like a farmer breaking up hard unplowed ground, you must break your rebellious will and make a new beginning; just as a farmer must clear away thorns lest the seed is wasted, you must get rid of the sin that is ruining your lives. (4) Just as ritual circumcision cuts away the foreskin as an external symbol of dedicated covenant commitment, you must genuinely dedicate yourselves to the Lord and get rid of everything that hinders your commitment to Me, people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem. If you do not, My anger will blaze up like a flaming fire against you that no one will be able to extinguish. That will happen because of the evil you have done.”

Jesus’ apostle Paul was gifted to understand circumcision of heart.

Rom 2:28-29; “For a person is not a Jew ’Christian’ who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision something that is outward in the flesh, but someone is a  Jew ‘Christian’ who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart by the Spirit and not by the written code. This person’s praise is not from people but from God.”) Note that Paul equates Jew as Christian and so does Jesus in His revelations to John. See Rev 2:9, 3:9 and Galatians 2:14-18.

Only cure for stubbornness against God is a circumcision of heart, otherwise people imagine God to be one to their liking, one who isn’t absolute but changes with society.

(Romans 2:1-29; “Therefore you are without excuse, whoever you are, when you judge someone else. For on whatever grounds you judge another, you condemn yourself, because you, who judge, practice the same things. Now we know that God’s judgment is in accordance with truth against those who practice such things. And do you think, whoever you are, when you judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself, that you will escape God’s judgment?”)

Rewarded for practicing “The Truth” not a truth but The Truth

“these will be rewarded with eternal life.”

(Romans 2:4-8; “Or do you have contempt for the wealth of His kindness, forbearance, and patience, and yet do not know that God’s kindness leads you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath for yourselves in the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment is revealed! He will reward each one according to his works: eternal life to those who by perseverance in good works seek glory and honor and immortality, but wrath and anger to those who live in selfish ambition and do not obey the truth but follow unrighteousness.”

(9-11; “There will be affliction and distress on everyone who does evil, on the Jew ‘Israelite’ first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, for the Jew first and also the Greek. For there is no partiality with God.”

Unconverted people under the law.

(12-16; “For all who have sinned apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous before God, but those who do the law will be declared righteous. (14) For whenever the Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature the things required by the law, these who do not have the law are a law to themselves. They show that the work of the law is written in their hearts, as their conscience bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or else defend them, on the day when God will judge the secrets of human hearts, according to my gospel through Christ Jesus.”) Teaching others is teaching self too.

(17-20; “ But if you call yourself a Jew ‘Christian’ and rely on the law and boast of your relationship to God and know His will and approve the superior things because you receive instruction from the law, and if you are convinced that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, an educator of the senseless, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the essential features of knowledge and of the truth –(21-24; therefore you who teach someone else, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? You who tell others not to commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? (23) You who boast in the law dishonor God by transgressing the law! For just as it is written, “the name of God is being blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

(25-28; “For circumcision has its value if you practice the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision has become un-circumcision. Therefore if the uncircumcised man obeys the righteous requirements of the law, will not his un-circumcision be regarded as circumcision? And will not the physically uncircumcised man who keeps the law judge you who, despite the written code and circumcision, transgress the law? (28) For a person is not a Jew ‘Christian’ who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision something that is outward in the flesh, but someone is a Jew ‘Christian’ who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart by the Spirit and not by the written code. This person’s praise is not from people but from God.”)

Circumcision of the heart is a gifted desire to be holy because God is holy.

Philippians 2:13; “for the One bringing forth in you both the desire and the effort – for the sake of His good pleasure – is God.”