Jan 24, 2,020. God’s 10th Month, Tevet 27, year 5,780

To: 23,074 families, gifted with a desire to be atOne with God.

What did Jesus mean saying, “what’s born of flesh is flesh and what’s born of Spirit is Spirit?” Answer. (Being born of the spirit makes one spiritual and only spiritually begotten people comprehend spiritual matters.) Jesus also said; “If I have told you people about earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?” See John 3:12) Jesus got very elementary with Nicodemus on the subject.

(John 3:5-8; Jesus answered, “I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born of water and spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. (7) Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must all be born from above.’ 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.”) (Only supernaturally ‘born from above people’ are rid of the earthly hostilities toward God inherited from Adam. This includs the holy attributes He prescribes. ‘See Exodus 20: - 23:) (Fleshly people are partisan in their thinking, spiritually born from above people love one another.)

(Matt 22:37-40; Jesus was asked, ’which commandment is the greatest’ He responded; “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”)

In addition to God’s weekly ’seventh day holy Sabbath beginning at sunset’ He gave His people three seasons and seven annual Sabbaths that foreshadows His saving.

This coming Passover season, is a time for “In Resident Churches of God people” to examine themselves in Jesus’ light. Looking to Jesus “the Pioneer and Perfector of our faith” and His View regarding all matters. (Religions divided traditionalist and denominations who’re in bondage to the status quo; but, “In Resident Churches of God people” are made free by Jesus’ gifted faith imputed to our minds.) Jesus nor did any apostles ever intended that “followers of Jesus” be in bondage to governments and tradition.

Worldly churches receiving government tax exemptions and license must respond to regulations imposed, regardless if they fit with God’s Way. Prophecy and current world conditions make clear; “followers of Jesus need to operate as ‘underground’ in this latter age.

Jesus’ apostle Paul explained.

(2Cor 6:14-18; “Do not become partners with those who do not believe, for what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship does light have with darkness? And what agreement does Christ have with Beliar? Or what does a believer share in common with an unbeliever? And what mutual agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we ‘followers of Jesus’ are the temple of the living God, just as God said, “I will live in them and will walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.” (17) Therefore “come out from their midst, and be separate,” says the Lord, “and touch no unclean thing, and I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters,” says the All-Powerful Lord.”) (Licensed, government tax exempt churches can’t successfully function as “Churches of God” when they have to obey the laws of the land.

Perseverance of the called.

(2Cor 4:1-6; “Therefore, since we have this ministry, just as God has shown us mercy, we do not become discouraged. But we have rejected shameful hidden deeds, not behaving with deceptiveness or distorting the word of God, but by open proclamation of the truth we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience before God. (3) But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing, among whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God. (5) For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said “Let light shine out of darkness,” (An allusion to Gen 1:3; see also Isaiah 9:2) is the One who shined in our hearts to give us the light of the glorious knowledge of God in the face of Christ.”)

“Slave for Jesus’ sake? Accurate translation is “bondservant” found in other versions of scripture, “indicating one who sells himself into slavery to another.” As this is archaic in people‘s minds, few people in today world can understand its force from their fleshly nature. (NOT reckoning one’s self a bondservant to Jesus demonstrates hostility and that another entity becomes one’s Vine.)

Eternal Weight of Glory

(2Cor 4:7-10; “But we ‘apostles’ have this treasure in clay jars, so that the extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us ‘we apostles‘ . We are experiencing trouble on every side, but are not crushed; we are perplexed, but not driven to despair; we are persecuted, but not abandoned; we are knocked down, but not destroyed, always carrying around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our body.

(2Cor 4:11-18; “For we ‘apostles’ who are alive are constantly being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our mortal body. (12) As a result, death is at work in us, ’we apostles’  but life is at work in you. But since we have the same spirit of faith as that shown in what has been written, “I believed; therefore I spoke,” (‘quote from Ps 116:10’) we also believe, therefore we also speak. We do so because we know that the One who raised up Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus and will bring us with you into his presence. (15) For all these things are for your sake, so that the grace that is including more and more people may cause thanksgiving to increase to the glory of God. Therefore we do not despair, but even if our physical body is wearing away, our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary, light suffering is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison because we are not looking at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen. For what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.”)

Living by Faith, Not by Sight

(2Cor 5:1-10; “For we know that if our earthly house, the tent we live in, is dismantled, we have a building from God, a house not built by human hands, that is eternal in the heavens. (2) For in this earthly house we groan, because we desire to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed, after we have put on our heavenly house, we will not be found naked. (4) For we groan while we are in this tent, since we are weighed down, because we do not want to be unclothed, but clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. (5) Now the One who prepared us for this very purpose is God. Therefore we are always full of courage, and we know that as long as we are alive here on earth we are absent from the Lord, (7) for we live by faith, not by sight. Thus we are full of courage and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So then whether we are alive or away, we make it our ambition to please Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be paid back according to what he has done while in the body, whether good or evil.”) (Only ’born from above people’ can make it their loving ambition to please God in all things.)

Apostles’ Reconciliation

(2Cor 5:11-14; “Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade people, but we are well known to God, and I hope we are well known to your consciences too. We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may be able to answer those who take pride in outward appearance and not in what is in the heart. For if we are out of our minds, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ controls us, since we have concluded this, that Christ died for all; therefore all ’Christians’ have died.” (All followers of Jesus are as fleshly dead and spiritually alive.)

(2Cor 5:15-16; And Jesus died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised. So then from now on we acknowledge no one from an outward human point of view. Even though we have known Christ from such a human point of view, now we do not know Him in that way any longer.” (Followers of Jesus acknowledge one another from a spiritual point of view.)

(2Cor 5:17-20; So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away – look, what is new has come! And all these things are from God who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation. (19) In other words, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting people’s trespasses against them, and He has given us the message of reconciliation. (20) Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His plea through us. We plead with you on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God!” God made the One ’Jesus’ who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we would become the righteousness of God.”)

If anyone is in Christ or if Christ is in anyone; “that one is a new creation.” Reconciliation is the end of conflict. (Reconciliation with God erases the once held hostilities toward His Way. Once gifted to believe IN, our desire is to be atOne with God. The desire to be rebellious or defiant is replaced with a desire to be like Jesus in every way.

Christ’s Humility

(Philippians 2:1-4; “Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort provided by love, any fellowship in the Spirit, any affection or mercy, complete my joy and be of the same mind, by having the same love, being united in spirit, and having one purpose. 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.”

(Phil 2:5-11; 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. 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.”) (Reconciled to God people can think like Jesus today, after Satan is bound and Jesus returns to establish God’s kingdom on earth; “all who call on the name of the Lord can be reconciled.” It‘s God‘s loving plan.)

Jan 23, 2,020. God’s 10th Month, Tevet 26, year 5,780

To: 23,045 families, gifted with a desire to be atOne with God.

When Jesus died, after Paul‘s conversion and even today some believers are secretive for fear of persecutions. In Paul’s day it was by power granted from Rome that Judaism’s Synagogue priest could order arrest and was Paul’s objective until Jesus revealed Himself on that Damascus journey. Paul’s letters are testimonies to his believing IN faith and what’s meant by being gifted with a “circumcision of heart nature.” In our politically correct societies, Christians have to be cautious about where they express Godly beliefs for fear of government protections of people’s abominable to God practices. Such national protections by governments professing to be Christian are an abominations to God in various ways, “particularly the ungodly practices Jesus had His apostle Paul writes about.”

(Romans 1:22-32; “Although people claimed to be wise, they became fools, exchanging the glory of the immortal God for an image resembling mortal human beings or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity, to dishonor their bodies among themselves.

Exchanging the truth of God for a lie, worshiping and served the creation rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged the natural sexual relations for unnatural ones, and likewise the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed in their passions for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

As they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what should not be done. They are filled with every kind of unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, malice. They are rife with envy, murder, strife, deceit, hostility. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, contrivers of all sorts of evil, disobedient to parents, senseless, covenant-breakers, heartless, ruthless.

Although they fully know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but also approve of those who practice them.”) (The USA’S constitution like the Holy Bible, has been twisted by ‘hostile toward God people’ who’ve passed laws that protect evil practices; thus serving Satan.)

From inherited hostilities people twist and attempt to make the God of Israel, “one fitting their own self serving nature.” Not understanding that a oneness with the God of creation isn’t obtainable through our inherited from Adam nature, and that “a belief in God begins with His calling, opening the mind and giving the desire.” (See Phil 2:13)

Now to Second Corinthians.

(2Corinthians 1:1-2; “From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God that is in Corinth, with all the Saints who are in all Achaia. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!”) (Only Jesus’ apostles had authority to write, “from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”)

(2Cor 1:3-4; “Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we may be able to comfort those experiencing any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”)

(Each follower of Jesus shares like responsibilities. Comforting one another in love for building up His church is imperative.)

(2Cor 1:5-11; “For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow toward us, so also our comfort through Christ overflows to you. But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort that you experience in your patient endurance of the same sufferings that we also suffer. (7) And our hope for you is steadfast because we know that as you share in our sufferings, so also you will share in our comfort. For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, regarding the affliction that happened to us in the province of Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of living. (9) Indeed we felt as if the sentence of death had been passed against us, so that we would not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead. (10) He delivered us from so great a risk of death, and He will deliver us. We have set our hope on Him that He will deliver us yet again, as you also join in helping us by prayer, so that many people may give thanks to God on our behalf for the gracious gift given to us through the help of many.”)

(When we’re gifted to understand “Jesus is our Vine through whom all spiritual nourishment and comfort flow” and we through faith as attached branches grow.)

(2Cor 1:12; “For our reason for confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that with pure motives and sincerity which are from God – not by human wisdom but by the grace of God – we conducted ourselves in the world, and all the more toward you.”)

(Examination of self, exercising pure motives through faith revelations; “not human intellect, “but as gifted through the grace of God.” Paul had already experienced living according to human intellect; his conclusion “I determined to know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”)

(2Cor 1:13-16; “For we do not write you ’followers of Jesus’ anything other than what you can read and also understand. But I hope that you will understand completely just as also you have partly understood us, that we ‘apostles’ are your source of pride just as you also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus. (15) And with this confidence I intended to come to you first so that you would get a second opportunity to see us, and through your help to go on into Macedonia and then from Macedonia to come back to you and be helped on our way into Judea by you.”) (Remember the apostles’ letters are to God’s churches. A converted to Jesus’ Way people.)

(2Cor 1:17-24; “Therefore when I was planning to do this, I did not do so without thinking about what I was doing, did I? Or do I make my plans according to mere human standards so that I would be saying both “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time? But as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” (19) For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, the one who was proclaimed among you by us – by me and Silvanus and Timothy – was not “Yes” and “No,” but it has always been “Yes” in Him. (20) For every one of God’s promises are “Yes” in Him; therefore also through Him the “Amen” is spoken, to the glory we give to God. But it is God who establishes ‘strengthens’ us together with you in Christ and who anointed us, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a down payment, ‘first installment,’ ‘pledge,’ ‘deposit.’

Now I appeal to God as my witness, that to spare you I did not come again to Corinth. I do not mean that we rule over your faith, but we are workers with you for your joy, because by faith you stand firm.”) (Note: its Paul’s custom to say so when he writes from his own mind. Paul is speaking of the sins in God’s church he wrote about in Corinthians 1:)

(2Cor 2:1-13; “So I made up my own mind not to pay you another painful visit. For if I make you sad, who would be left to make me glad but the one I caused to be sad? And I wrote this very thing to you, so that when I came I would not have sadness from those who ought to make me rejoice, since I am confident in you all that my joy would be yours. (4) For out of great distress and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not to make you sad, but to let you know the love that I have especially for you. But if anyone has caused sadness, he has not saddened me alone, but to some extent (not to exaggerate) he has saddened all of you as well. This punishment ‘of shunning’ on such an individual by the majority is enough for him, (7) so that now instead you should rather forgive and comfort him. This will keep him from being overwhelmed by excessive grief to the point of despair. Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him. (Meaning let him know your love is real.) (9) For this reason also I wrote you: to test you to see if you are obedient in everything. If you forgive anyone for anything, I also forgive him – for indeed what I have forgiven (if I have forgiven anything) I did so for you in the presence of Christ, so that we may not be exploited by Satan (for we are not ignorant of his schemes). Now when I arrived in Troas to proclaim the gospel of Christ, even though the Lord had opened a door of opportunity for me, (13) I had no relief in my spirit, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said good-bye to them and set out for Macedonia.”)

(2Cor 2:14-17; “But thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and who makes known through us ’we apostles’ the fragrance that consists of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing – (16) to the latter an odor from death to death, but to the former a fragrance from life to life. And who is adequate for these things? (17) For we are not like so many others, hucksters who peddle the word of God for profit, but we are speaking in Christ before God as persons of sincerity, as persons sent from God.”)

Jesus and His apostles caught a lot of flack, persecution and death because of their teaching absolutes and claiming to have been sent from God. Worldly unbelievers have always attempted to make God fit an image of what they think gods should be.

(2Cor 3:1-3; “Are we, ‘apostles’ beginning to commend ourselves again? We don’t need letters of recommendation to you or from you as some other people do, do we? You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone, revealing that you are a letter of Christ, delivered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on stone tablets but on tablets of human hearts.”)

(Tablets of human hearts? “Circumcision of heart - changed nature” the energizing Holy Spirit of God living in people.

(2Cor 3:4-6;”Now we have such confidence in God through Christ. Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as if it were coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who made us adequate to be servants of a new covenant not based on the letter but on the Spirit, for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”)

(May we each pray not to assume adequacy from our human intellect. It’s the reason God commanded Adam not to eat “partake of” the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam and Eve did partake and that humanity causes people to make “gods from their intellect.” Thus the many opinions, beliefs and denominations asserting that they represent God.)

Spirit’s Ministry

(2Cor 3:7-8; “But if the ministry that produced death – carved in letters on stone tablets – came with glory, so that the Israelites could not keep their eyes fixed on the face of Moses because of the glory of his face (a glory which was made ineffective) how much more glorious will the ministry of the Spirit be?”)

(When Moses came down from Mt. Sinai with the ‘ten commandment’ tablets the people were afraid to approach him because his face was so radiant (Exod 34:29-30)  (The ministry that produces righteousness is gifted faith.)

(2Cor 3:9-14; “For if there was glory in the ministry that produced condemnation, how much more does the ministry that produces righteousness, excel in glory! For indeed, what had been glorious now has no glory because of the tremendously greater glory of what replaced it. (11) For if what was made ineffective came with glory, how much more has what remains come in glory! Therefore, since we have such a hope, we behave with great boldness, and not like Moses who used to put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from staring at the result of the glory that was made ineffective.” (14; “But their minds were closed. For to this very day, the same veil remains when they hear the old covenant read. It has not been removed because only in Christ is it taken away.”

(All who look to methodology have their minds closed. Only through revealed gifted faith reliance in Jesus are people’s minds opened miraculously.

(2Cor 3:15-18; “But until this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds, but when one turns to ‘believes IN’ the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is present, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled faces reflecting the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, which is from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”)

The only freedom known to mankind is the freedom that’s through Jesus.

Jan 21, 2,020. God’s 10th Month, Tevet 24, year 5,780     

To: 23,006 families, gifted with a desire to be atOne with God.

The worshiping Christians before spiritual Mt. Zion Paul speaks of, are “Believers IN” who’re gifted with a “circumcision of heart.” When Jesus made a covenant of circumcision with Abraham, He was looking forward to “God the Father’s calling out a people, “planting a love of Himself in their minds” and making them His chosen, atOne with Himself, “circumcising their hearts” “changing that inherited from an Adam nature,” to our Pioneer and Perfector Jesus’ nature and faith. This revelation to Moses may have been as “Moses looking through a glass indirectly, as in darkened.’”

(1Cor 13:12-13; “For now we ‘followers of Jesus’ see in a mirror indirectly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known. And now these three remain: “faith, hope, and love, but the greatest of these is love.”) Loving God cures the hostility people have toward His laws. Knowing God loves us, cures the inherited desire of choosing for ourselves what’s right, wrong, good and evil.)

God hasn’t changed, His desires for His chosen’s well being in Moses’ day, is the same for converted followers of Jesus in this age.

(Deut 10:12-13; “Now, Israel, ’and you spiritual Israelites’ what does the Lord your God require of you except to revere Him, love Him, 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?”

(Deut 10:14-15; “The heavens – indeed the highest heavens – belong to the Lord your God, as does the earth and everything in it. However, only to your ancestors did He show His loving favor, He chose you, their descendants, from all peoples – as is apparent today.”

(Deut 10:16; “Therefore, cleanse ‘circumcise’ your heart and stop being so stubborn!”) (CLEANSE? Hebrew: “circumcise the foreskin of” referencing the Abrahamic covenant prompts Moses to recall the sign of that covenant, namely, physical circumcision. (See Gen 17:9-14) Just as that act signified total covenant obedience, so spiritual circumcision ‘cleansing of the heart’ signifies more internally a commitment to be pliable and obedient to the will of God. (See Deut 30:6; Jer 4:4; 9:26).

(Deut 10:17-19; “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.”) Study the whole.

Without God’s calling out and revealing Himself, “all follow the dictates of culture, what seems right through their training, schooling and inherited intellect. All individually decide for themselves, what’s right, wrong, good and evil. Without God’s revelations all are idolaters, but a world wide revelation is coming.

God’s future deliverance and cleansing is prophesied for Israel.

(Deut 30:4-6; “Even if your exiles are in the most distant land, from there, “the Lord your God will gather you and bring you back.” (5) Then He will bring you to the land your ancestors possessed, you also will possess it; He will do better for you and multiply you more than He did your ancestors. (6) The Lord your God will also cleanse, ‘circumcise’ your heart and the hearts, of your descendants’ so that you may love Him with all your mind and being and so that you may live.”

(Deut 30:7-10; “Then the Lord your God will put all these curses on your enemies, on those who hate you and persecute you. (8) You will return and obey the Lord, keeping all His commandments I am giving you today. The Lord your God will make the labor of your hands abundantly successful and multiply your children, the offspring of your cattle, and the produce of your soil. For the Lord your God will once more rejoice over you to make you prosperous just as He rejoiced over your ancestors, if you obey the Lord your God and keep His commandments and statutes that are written in this scroll of the law. But you must turn to Him with your whole mind and being.”)

Today’s followers of Jesus, genuine Christians, are a chosen called out people as was Abraham, Isaac and Jacob whose name was changed to “Israel.” (The name Israel is defined as: “God fights or fights for.”) Unlike the Israelites of old, “we spiritual Israelites are spiritual heirs of “the new covenant’s gifting Jesus’ faith in His death and shed blood for the remission of our sins. Physical and spiritual Israelites are heirs with Abraham. (See Galatians 3:29)

Israel’s Restoration through Confession and Repentance was preplanned.

(Leviticus 26:39; “‘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.”) (In other words ’what you inherited.’)

(Lev 26:40-43; “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 in to the land of their enemies) and then their uncircumcised hearts become humbled and they make up for their iniquity, (42) I will remember My covenant with Jacob, My covenant with Isaac, 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.”)

(Lev 26:44-45; “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. (45) 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.’”)

Man’s hostile inherited nature caused “circumcision of heart doctrine”

to evolved to a methodology of works for salvation.

(Jeremiah 4:1-4; “If you, Israel, want to come back,” says the Lord, “if you want to come back to Me, you must get those disgusting idols out of My sight and must no longer go astray. You must be truthful, honest and upright when you take an oath saying, ‘As surely as the Lord lives!’ If you do, the nations will pray to be as blessed by Him as you are and will make Him the object of their boasting.” (3) 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.”)

No uncircumcised of heart “foreigners” in New Jerusalem.

(Ezek 44:6-8; “Say to the rebellious, to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: Enough of all your abominable practices, O house of Israel! When you bring foreigners, those uncircumcised in heart and in flesh, into My sanctuary, you desecrate it – even My house – when you offer My food, the fat and the blood. You have broken My covenant by all your abominable practices. You have not kept charge of My holy things, but you have assigned foreigners to keep charge of My sanctuary for you.”

(Ezek 44:9; “This is what the sovereign Lord says: No foreigner, who is uncircumcised in heart and flesh among all the foreigners who are among the people of Israel, will enter into My sanctuary.”

(Ezek 44:10-14; “‘But the Levites who went far from Me, straying off from Me after their idols when Israel went astray, will be responsible for their sin. (Remember some became Pharisees and some Sadducees.) (11) Yet they will be ministers in My sanctuary, having oversight at the gates of the temple, and serving the temple. They will slaughter the burnt offerings and the sacrifices for the people, and they will stand before them to minister to them. (12) Because they used to minister to them before their idols, and became a sinful obstacle to the house of Israel, consequently I have made a vow concerning them, declares the sovereign Lord, that they will be responsible for their sin. They will not come near Me to serve Me as priest, nor will they come near any of My holy things, the things which are most sacred. They will bear the shame of the abominable deeds they have committed. Yet I will appoint them to keep charge of the temple, all of its service and all that will be done in it.”) Study the whole.

Consider why the Lord Jesus did not want Adam and Eve eating from the “knowledge of good and evil tree.” Why followers of Jesus must come out from among unbelievers.

(Jeremiah 9:25-26; 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, ’people of remote parts of the world.’ 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.”)

Jesus’ apostle Paul explained.

(Rom 2:17-24; “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) 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? You who boast in the law dishonor God by transgressing the law! (24) For just as it is written, “the name of God is being blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”) ‘Quote from Isaiah 52:5’

(Rom 2:25-29; “For circumcision has its value if you practice the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. Therefore if the uncircumcised man obeys the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision 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, (29) 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.”) Recipients’ of God’s gifted energizing Holy Spirit are a circumcised of heart people.

Jan 19 - 2,020. God’s 10th Month, Tevet 22, year 5,780     

To: 22,946 families, gifted with a relationship desire with God the Father, God the Son and His Church.

Denominationalism’s views separated Judaism in the apostolic age, “Pharisees and Sadducee doctrines” divided the temple priest. Pharisees believed in resurrections and angels while Sadducees rejected both. Today’s believers in Jesus are singular, having unity with Him, worshiping Him as “the Vine and we the branches” followers of Jesus reject denominationalism.

(Romans 15:4-6; For everything that was written in former times was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and through encouragement of the scriptures we may have hope. Now may the God of endurance and comfort give you unity with one another in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together we may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.)

(Today there’re spiritual components ‘parallels’ for we who’re called and gifted with His Holy Spirit 0f truth, “we’re the circumcised of heart people.” After Jesus’ ascension He breathed on and endowed His apostles with His spirit enabling them to understand the holy scriptures. On that following Pentecost they understood what was taking place. Since Jesus’ ascension and that following Pentecost; “all called out gifted with the Holy Spirit of truth people are gifted with immortality while living in the flesh and are The Church of God.” The imputation of God’s spirit is the ‘fathering.’ “Begotten of His Holy Spirit of truth makes recipients literally atOne with God the Father and God the Son.“ ‘Jesus.’

Jesus makes comparisons we need to understand through His apostle Paul “regarding the Israelites approaching Mt. Zion back when He had Moses come up and receive the law.” Paul writes of Moses saying “he exceedingly feared” when God shook the mountain and ‘even if an animal touched it, the animal had to be stoned.’ In the book of Hebrews, Jesus had Paul explain the spiritual parallel being “that when followers of Jesus worship they’re before the heavenly and spiritual Mt. Zion.”

(Hebrews 12:18-29; For you ‘worshipers’ have not come to something that can be touched, to a burning fire and darkness and gloom and a whirlwind and the blast of a trumpet and a voice uttering words such that those who heard begged to hear no more. (See Exodus 19:) For they ‘the Israelites’ could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.” In fact, the scene was so terrifying that Moses said, “I shudder with fear.” (See Deau 9:19)

(Heb 12:22-24; But you ’worshipers of Jesus’ have come to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the assembly and congregation of the firstborn, who’re enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous, who have been made perfect, and to Jesus, the Mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks of something better than Abel’s does. (See Gen 4:10 & Heb 11:9)

(Heb 12:25-29; Take care not to refuse the One who is speaking! For if they did not escape when they refused the One who warned them on earth, how much less shall we, if we reject the One who warns from heaven? Then His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, “I will once more shake not only the earth but heaven too.” Now this phrase “once more” indicates the removal of what is shaken, that is, of created things, so that what is unshaken may remain. So since we’re receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us give thanks, and through this let us offer worship pleasing to God in devotion and awe. For our God is indeed a devouring fire.”)

Regarding the spiritually begotten ‘fathered’ ‘born from above people’ Jesus explained to Nicodemus who had ask how that could be.

(John 3:5-6; Jesus answered, “I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born of water and spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. What’s born of the flesh is flesh, and what’s born of the Spirit is spirit.” (All pro-created people are flesh born of water in the mother’s womb. All spiritually begotten ‘fathered by God people’ are recipients of Jesus spirit - nature.)

(John 3:7-14; 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.) Nicodemus replied, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you don’t understand these things? I tell you the solemn truth, We ‘gifted of God’ speak about what We know and testify about what We have seen, but you people do not accept Our testimony. If I have told you people about earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven — the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.”)

(God’s spiritual fathering is a miraculous event, “a spiritual opening of mind and spirit, so spectacular we can’t explain, except perhaps as His breathing on His apostles, opened their understanding.) Likened to the change that’ll take place with “Jesus’ followers who’ll be alive when Jesus returns.”

(1Thess 4:16-18; For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be suddenly caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we’ll always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.)

During Jesus’ apostles lives, when He was working through them, ‘worldly governing conditions were much like today except less governmental welfare and more individual responsibility. As today, few worldly governmental leaders believed IN Jesus so “His followers were and are persecuted.” Then and now it’s imperative that Believers in Jesus separate from this world’s status quo “it’s system of things.” (Similar to Abraham’s example.) God is the same yesterday, today and forever. (See Hebrews 13:8) It’s always been that few are gifted to believe IN.

All nations have laws and when they oppose God’s Way “it’s lawlessness in His View.” Christians are instructed to separate mentally and spiritually.

(2Corinthians 6:14-18; “Do not become partners, ’mismatched’ with those who do not believe, for what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship does light have with darkness? And what agreement does Christ have with Beliar?) (Beliar occurs only here in the New Testament and is referencing Satan.) Or what does a believer share in common with an unbeliever? (16) And what mutual agreement does the temple of God have with idols? “For we are the temple of the living God, just as God said, “I will live in them and will walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.” Therefore “come out from their midst, and be separate,” says the Lord, “and touch no unclean thing, and I will welcome you, (18) and I will be a father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters,” says the All-Powerful Lord.”) (Quote from Isaiah 52;11, Lev 26:12; similar to Jeremiah 32:38; and Ezekiel 37:27.)

It’s incumbent on followers of Jesus that we look out for fellow Believers. Our problem in this age is that we’re so scattered that few personally know another Believing IN family. Nevertheless, we need to consider and digest Paul’s teaching regarding helping the Saints.

Collections for the Saints in Jerusalem IS another area

people twist to their own demise.

(1Cor 16:1-4; “With regard to the collection for the Saints, please follow the directions that I gave to the churches of Galatia: On the first day of the week, each of you should set aside some income and save it to the extent that God has blessed you, so that a collection will not have to be made when I come. (3) Then, when I arrive, I will send those whom you approve with letters of explanation to carry your gift to Jerusalem. And if it seems advisable that I should go also, they will go with me.”)

Unbelieving people use this text and Paul’s letter to the Galatians for their pretext example of a Sabbath change. In Jesus’ and the apostolic days, money, goods and services were physically sent “as in delivery.” Before banking was as we know it today. Getting collections together was an ordeal, ‘as in work.’ Paul wanted the collection work to be done in advance so as to be ready for delivery after the Sabbath.

(1Cor 16:5-9; “But I will come to you after I have gone through Macedonia – for I will be going through Macedonia – and perhaps I will stay with you, or even spend the winter, so that you can send me on my journey, wherever I go. For I do not want to see you now in passing, since I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord allows. But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, because a door of great opportunity stands wide open for me, but there are many opponents.”)

Consider Paul’s opponents and opportunities. In “Acts of the apostles” we read of riots in Ephesus, disrupting people shouting “great is Dianna” for several hours and Paul being stoned. Additionally many from Judea disrupted about methodology for salvation teaching etc. However God was calling a people for His name and revealing the opportunity to Paul.

Paul recognizes associates; fellow workers.

(1Cor 16:10-14; “Now if Timothy comes, see that he has nothing to fear among you, for he is doing the Lord’s work, as I am too. So then, let no one treat him with contempt. But send him on his way in peace so that he may come to me. For I am expecting him with the brothers. With regard to our brother Apollos: I strongly encouraged him to visit you with the other brothers, but it was simply not his intention to come now. He will come when he has the opportunity. Stay alert, stand firm in the faith, show courage, be strong. Everything you do should be done in love.”)

(1Cor 16:15-24; “Now, brothers and sisters, you know about the household of Stephanus, that as the first converts of Achaia, they devoted themselves to ministry for the Saints. I urge you also to submit to people like this, and to everyone who cooperates in the work and labors hard. (17) I was glad about the arrival of Stephanus, Fortunatus, and Achaicus because they have supplied the fellowship with you that I lacked. For they refreshed my spirit and yours. So then, recognize people like this. (19) The churches in the province of Asia send greetings to you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, with the church that meets in their house. All the brothers and sisters send greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.

(21-24; I, Paul, send this greeting with my own hand. Let anyone who has no love for the Lord be accursed. Our Lord, come! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus.”)

Jan 17 - 2,020. God’s 10th Month, Tevet 20, year 5,780     

To: 22,910 families called and gifted with desire to be family with God.

As is soon revealed to called out individuals “we aren’t our own, we were purchased with Jesus’ shed blood.” He did the calling, He gave the desire and effort to be atOne with Himself. Jesus revealed it through His apostles.

(Phil 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, for the One bringing forth in you both the desire and the effort — for the sake of His good pleasure — is God.”) (Don’t boast of your understanding.)

(1Cor 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.”)

Followers of Jesus soon learn that it isn’t their prerogative to decide for ourselves what’s right, wrong, good and evil. Adam and Eve were the first people taught this lesson; Cain and Abel is our first example; “the scriptures teach because of his obedience Abel’s blood still speaks.” Cain was defiant, did what seemed right to his fleshly nature and Abel yielded to God’s command.

Gifted “circumcision of heart people” believe IN Jesus as He’s manifest to be in the Holy Scriptures. When God reveals Himself and we realized His goodness “characteristics - attributes” only then are we able to be totally repentant for having practiced what seemed right to our inherited from Adam nature. To believe IN is to know God loved us first, He made us His own and gifted a nature change! (See 1John 4:10)

The resurrection chapter teaches “God’s kingdom

and an orderly time of judgment.

(1Cor 15:1-2; “Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel that I preached to you, that you received and on which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message I preached to you – unless you believed in vain.”)

How do people believe in vain? Follow Cain’s example! Denominationalist’s way, “practicing what seems right to fleshly inherited intellect.”

(1Cor 15:3-11; “For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received – that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the scriptures, (5) and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then He appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. (7) Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as though to one born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. (10) But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me has not been in vain. In fact, I worked harder than all of them – yet not I, but the grace of God with me. Whether then it was I or they, this is the way we preach and this is the way you believed.”)

It’s  good to consider Paul’s calling in relationship to our own. Paul couldn’t turn from the Pharisee defiant denominational way until Jesus miraculously revealed Himself and if we know, believe IN God the Father and God the Son, it’s by revelation.

(1Cor 15:12-15; “Now if Christ is being preached as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is futile and your faith is empty. (15) Also, we are found to be false witnesses about God, because we have testified against God that He raised Christ from the dead, when in reality He did not raise Him, if indeed the dead are not raised.”)

(Most denominations teach the “heaven - hell” doctrine omit half the equation regarding resurrections. Refuse to believe IN the awesomeness of Ezekiel 37:) (Jesus physically resurrected Lazarus, others through His apostles and many more will be resurrected to a second physical life.)

(1Cor 15:16-19; “For if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is useless; you are still in your sins. Furthermore, those who have fallen asleep in Christ have also perished. For if only in this life we have hope in Christ, we should be pitied more than anyone.”) (Only in this life is what Satan has the world believing.) Note the two resurrection categories expressed (a) “if the dead aren’t raised” and (b) “those who have fallen asleep in Christ. Later in this chapter we’ll see, “each in their own order.“ First “a spiritual resurrection.” Others are God’s prerogatives.

(1Cor 15:20-23; “But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, ‘Adam’ the resurrection of the dead also came through a man. ‘Jesus’ (22) For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; then when Christ comes, those who belong to Him.”)

Jesus was the first begotten by the Holy Spirit. His sperm was spiritually united with Mary’s egg; “He was the Son of God before birth” and the first to be resurrected from physical to a spiritual life. He’s the firstfruit and All who die in Christ will be in the first spiritual resurrection. All Israel and people of God’s choosing will be resurrected to a physical life. Jesus resurrecting Lazarus and through Peter, resurrecting Tabitha called Dorcas are two prime foreshadowing examples; See Acts 9:36-40. (Ezekiel 37: is one of several prophecies about Israelites being delivered back to the borders promised Abraham. (See Isa 22:, 35: , 51: -53:, 65:, Jeremiah 31:, Amos 9:11-15 & Micah for starters.)

Next Paul’s prophecy jumps about one thousand years.

(1Cor 15:24-28; “Then comes the end, ’see verses 25-28’ when He ‘Jesus’ hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when He ‘Jesus’ has brought to an end all rule and all authority and power. (25) For He must reign until He has put all his enemies under His feet. (26) The last enemy to be eliminated is death. (27) For He ‘God the father’ has put everything in subjection under His, ’Jesus’’ feet. (Quote from Psalms 8:6) But when it says “everything” has been put in subjection, it is clear that this does not include the One ’God the Father’ who put everything in subjection to Him. ‘Jesus.’ (28) And when all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself will be subjected to the One ’God the Father’ who subjected everything to Him, so that God may be all in all.”)

(There is no beginning and ending with God, there’s more plans after New Jerusalem’s coming down.)

(1Cor 15:29- “Otherwise, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, then why are they baptized for them?

(Many suggestions have been offered for the puzzling expression ‘baptized for the dead.’ There are up to 200 different explanations for the passage. The most likely interpretation is that some Corinthians had undergone baptism to bear witness to the faith of fellow believers who had died without experiencing that rite themselves. Paul’s reference to the practice here is neither a recommendation nor a condemnation. He simply uses it as evidence from the lives of the Corinthians themselves to bolster his larger argument, begun in 15:12, that resurrection from the dead is a present reality in Christ and a future reality for them. Whatever they may have proclaimed, the Corinthians’ actions demonstrated that they had hope for a bodily resurrection.”)

(1Cor 15:30-34; “Why too are we in danger every hour? Every day I am in danger of death! This is as sure as my boasting in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord. (32) If from a human point of view I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what did it benefit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. (’An allusion to Isaiah 22:13; 56:12’) Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” (34) Sober up as you should, and stop sinning! For some have no knowledge of God – I say this to your shame!”)

Why concern about the resurrected Body?

(1Cor 15:35-31; “But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” Fool! What you sow will not come to life unless it dies. And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare seed – perhaps of wheat or something else. (38) But God gives it a body just as He planned, and to each of the seeds a body of its own. All flesh is not the same: People have one flesh, animals have another, birds and fish another. (40) And there are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies. The glory of the heavenly body is one sort and the earthly another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon and another glory of the stars, for star differs from star in glory.”)

(1Cor 15:42-49; “It is the same with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable. ‘Spiritual’ It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. (45) So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living person”; ‘living soul”; (Quote from Gen 2:7’) the last Adam ‘Jesus’ became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and then the spiritual. (47) The first man ’Adam’ is from the earth, made of dust; the second man ‘Jesus’ is from heaven. Like the one made of dust, so too are those made of dust, and like the One ‘Jesus’ from heaven, so too those who are heavenly. And just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, let us also bear the image of the man of heaven.”)

(The original reading is in the future tense, “we will bear.” Thus a guarantee that believers will be like Jesus (and unlike Adam) in the resurrection. So live now as citizens of the kingdom that we are inheriting.

(1Cor 15:50-58; “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 ‘followers of Jesus’ will not all sleep, but we will all be changed – in a moment, in the blinking of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. (53) For this perishable body must put on the 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.” (‘Quote from Isaiah 25:8’) “Where, O death is your victory? Where, O death is your sting?” (‘Quote from Hosea 13:14’) (56) 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.”)

(We “circumcision of heart people” are gifted with a Godly desire to follow the Perfecter and Pioneer of our faith, ‘Jesus.’

Jan 15 - 2,020. God’s 10th Month, Tevet 18, year 5,780     

To: A called people gifted with desire to be atOne with God, “His church.”

Jesus commissioned His apostles John and Paul to identify Himself as; “Re-Creator, Creator, Sustainer, One through whom life is, Deliverer, Healer, Protector, Mediator and coming King of Kings.” (See Col 1:15-20, John 1:1-5 and Hebrews 1:) Jesus set aside perpetual Holy Days for His called people. He’s the Alpha and Omega, Son of God and Spokesman who said, “Let us make man in our image and likeness.” He’s the Lord God that made promises to Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and Moses. His kingdom and church family is built on the foundation God the Father commissioned Jesus with. Prophets, Apostles with Jesus Himself as “chief Cornerstone and Vine through whom His followers “the branches” are nourished.” His is the only truth.

As we prepare our minds for the coming Passover, we need to ask God for revelations regarding our short comings and to give us His gift of repentance. Consider Jesus’ parable concerning the “last becoming first and the first last.” Last are people in this age since Jesus‘ ascension. (It may be harder than in previous times because Satan realizes his time is short.) It’s prophesied that he’ll cause more disturbances for Jesus’ followers as he sees his time is about up. (Consider Heb 12:1-2; “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the Pioneer and Perfector of our faith.”) (In Matthew’s 24th chapter Jesus said in effect, “in these latter days love will wax cold, families will turn on one another and lawlessness will increase.” (Allow the apostle John’s definition of lawlessness.)

(1John 3:4-5; “Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; indeed, sin is lawlessness. And you know that Jesus was revealed to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin.”)

Consider our Pioneer and Perfector riding into Jerusalem on a donkey before Passover. (Matt 21:1-5; “Now when they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, telling them, “Go to the village ahead of you. Right away you will find a donkey tied there, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to Me. If anyone says anything to you, you are to say, ‘The Lord needs them’ and he will send them at once. (4) This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet: “Tell the people of Zion, ‘Look, your king is coming to you, unassuming and seated on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ (Quote from Zachariah 9:9.)

There was never room for defiance in Jesus’ nature, He deliberately, humbled and willingly demonstrated His subordinate nature toward His and our God the Father. As Deliverer of Israel through Moses “our Perfector and Pioneer of the Christians faith, “Jesus our Lord and Savior” fed the Israelites manna forty years and gave them water from a rock through Moses. As the Son of God Jesus came as Savior of the world. “He demonstrated all the attributes of God the Father by re-creating aged wine, fish and bread, feeding thousands; He resurrected Lazarus after being dead four days. As the scriptures say; “it isn’t room in the book to record all Jesus’ miracles.”

All things that have been created were created by Creator Jesus. (See John 1:1-5) (Read 1John 1:1-4) (Colossians 1:15-20) and (Hebrews 1:1-4 now.) (After God spoke long ago in various portions and in various ways to our ancestors through the prophets, in these last days He 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 and the representation of His essence, and He 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. Thus He became so far better than the angels as He has inherited a name superior to theirs.”)

This same Re-creator, Creator, Deliverer, Savior and Mediator

humbled Himself in washing His apostles’ feet.

(John 13:1-17; “Just before the Passover feast, Jesus knew that His time had come to depart from this world to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He now loved them to the very end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, that he should betray Jesus. Because Jesus knew that the Father had handed all things over to Him, and that He had come from God and was going back to God, (4) He got up from the meal, removed His outer clothes, took a towel and tied it around Himself. He poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel He had wrapped around Himself. (6) Then He came to Simon Peter. Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not understand what I am doing now, but you will understand after these things.” Peter said to Him, “You will never wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with Me.” (9) Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head!” Jesus replied, “The one who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not every one of you.” (11) (For Jesus knew the one who was going to betray Him. For this reason He said, “Not every one of you is clean.” (12) So when Jesus had washed their feet and put his outer clothing back on, He took His place at the table again and said to them, “Do you understand what I have done for you?” You call Me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and do so correctly, for that is what I am. (14) If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you too ought to wash one another’s feet. (15) For I have given you an example – you should do just as I have done for you. I tell you the solemn truth, the slave is not greater than his master, nor is the one who is sent as a messenger greater than the One who sent him. (17) If you understand these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”)

Unlike Jesus we inherited and were born with a defiant nature, which causes the many to rely on their own intellect rather than believe in creation, the God of Creation, order, structured and life practices He commands.

As a salesperson in my early twenties. My supervisor was assisting me when something came up about Jesus’ return and His millennial rule on earth. I made a comment regarding peace on earth and that “all would one day be in compliance with Jesus’ order of things.” My supervisor commented that he wouldn’t want to live in a situation where he couldn’t choose what to believe for himself. That ended our dialog, but I’ve never forgot it because his view defines the hostile nature we inherited from Adam.

The “Lord God Jesus” didn’t want Adam choosing for himself regarding. “what was right, wrong, good and evil.” (Genesis 2:15-17; “The Lord God took the man and placed him in the orchard in Eden to care for it and to maintain it. Then the Lord God commanded the man, “You may freely eat fruit from every tree of the orchard, (17) but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will surely die.”)

Why did God not want Adam deciding for himself “what’s good and evil?” People deciding for themselves opens the door of division, chaos and gives Satan opportunity to coach and deceive. That result is prevalent today. Thus, true to God’s promise, “all die once” and true to God’s promise, “people not obedient and submissive to His Way will die a second death.” (See Revelations 2:11, 20:6, 20:14 and read 21:8 now. (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.”)

The good news for this age is that not everyone is called; God isn’t revealing Himself to everyone because it doesn‘t serve His ultimate purpose.  In the millennial age to come, “knowledge of Jesus’ Way will cover the earth.”

(Isaiah 11:9; “They will no longer injure or destroy on My entire royal mountain. For there will be universal submission to the Lord’s sovereignty, just as the waters completely cover the sea.”

Unity and being at one is God’s way.

(Gen 2:15-18 “The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a companion for him who corresponds to him.” (Note Adam’s created intellect in naming all God’s created animals too.

(Gen 2:21-24; “So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep, and while he was asleep, he took part of the man’s side and closed up the place with flesh. (23) Then the man said; “This one at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one will be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and unites with his wife, and they become a new family, ‘one flesh.’)

Hebrew: “and they become one flesh?” The retention of the word “flesh” in the translation often leads to improper or incomplete interpretations. The Hebrew word refers to more than just a sexual union. When they unite in marriage, the man and woman bring into being a new family unit. The phrase “one flesh” occurs only here and must be interpreted in light of v. 23.” Without Godly knowledge “marriage is only a sexual union.”

The principle of family order is consistent with the reason God didn’t want Adam deciding for himself, “what is right, wrong, good and evil.” It’s why Jesus is head of His new covenant church. People choosing for themselves are the reason we have denominations that demonstrate Satan’s success. It’s caused Israelites in Jesus’ day to be Pharisees and Sadducees. Mankind’s inherited defiant nature feeds his desire to decide for self.

Look back to the previous chapter: “we studied Paul’s instruction regarding the difference in men and women’s role in the family.” Consider why women should be quiet in congregational teaching worship? (Greek: “For they are not permitted to speak.” In light of 1Cor 11:2-16, which gives permission for women to pray or prophesy in the church meetings, the silence commanded seems not to involve the absolute prohibition of a woman addressing the assembly. Therefore consider (1) some take “be silent” to mean not taking an authoritative teaching role as 1Timothy 2: indicates, but (2) another suggestion relates to the preceding regulations about evaluating the prophets (v. 29) Paul is indicating that the women should not speak up during such an evaluation, since such questioning would be in violation of the submission to male leadership that the Old Testament calls for. In the law, Gen 2:18-23)

The man and his wife were both naked, but they were not ashamed.”)

Paul’s letter to Timothy shares the nature Godly women should strive for.

(1Tim 2:9-16; “Likewise the women are to dress ‘adorn themselves’ in suitable apparel, with modesty, (‘moderation’ ‘sobriety’ ‘decency’ ‘sensibleness’ or “sound judgment’ and self control. Their adornment should be with good deeds, not braided hair gold, pearls or expensive clothing, as is proper for women who profess reverence for God. (11) A woman must learn quietly with all submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man. She must remain quiet. (13) For Adam was formed first and then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman, because she was fully deceived, fell into transgression. (15) But she will be delivered through childbearing, if she continues in faith and love and holiness with self-control.”)

Godly characteristics in men or women are hard to find in this latter age. This Passover season is the perfect time to evaluate ourselves in Jesus’ light.

Jan 13 - 2,020. God’s 10th Month, Tevet 16, year 5,780     

To: A called people gifted with desire to be atOne with God, “His church.”

Consider the difference in how Passover and the two Sabbaths associated with the season were planned for? Consider how this holy season should be prepared for. About eight days before Nisan 14, ‘in the year Jesus died” He began preparing His apostles for His departure. They didn’t comprehend Jesus’ value until He entered that locked room where His followers were assembled, because of fearing the local authorities.

(John 20:24-25; “Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “Unless I see the wounds from the nails in His hands, and put my finger into the wounds from the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe it!”)

(John 20:26-29; Eight days later the disciples were again together in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and examine My hands. Extend your hand and put it into My side. Do not continue in your unbelief, but believe.” Thomas replied to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen Me? Blessed are the people who have not seen and yet have believed.”)

Let’s prepare our minds for worship and thanksgiving on this coming Passover season. Let’s believe that Jesus is our Passover and Deliverer from sin’s broad way, “to His righteous path.” Starting on this coming Passover and through the following week, “let’s set aside time for examining ourselves in Jesus’ light and consider what He has delivered us from and to.” To Jesus’ followers Paul wrote and remember he’s writing during the season.

(1Cor 6:9-11; “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! The sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, passive homosexual partners, practicing homosexuals, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, the verbally abusive, and swindlers will not inherit the kingdom of God. Some of you once lived this way. But you ‘followers of Jesus’ were washed, you were sanctified, ‘set aside’ you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”)

Our Lord, nor did any apostle ever tell us it would be easy turning from sinful practices while living is this world’s condoning sin system of things. As with the Israelites Jesus delivered through Moses, followers of Jesus in Paul’s day had their problems with standing firm in The Faith ‘the truth.’ To the Galatians Paul expanded.

(Galatians 1:6-10; “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the One ‘God the Father’ who called you by the grace of Christ and are following a different gospel – not that there really is another gospel, but there are some who are disturbing you and wanting to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we (or an angel from heaven) should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. (9) As we have said before, and now I say again, if anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let him be accursed. Am I now trying to gain the approval of people, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ!”)

(Some manuscripts translate ‘accursed’ as, “condemned to hell” comparing scripture to scripture we know the likelihood of teaching another gospel is “a second death.” See Revelations 2:11, 20:6, 20:14 and 21:8.

Teaching followers of Jesus to Love and build up

one another was Paul’s primary objective.

True to their and our fleshly nature’s leanings, some in Christendom groups attempt to utter words that have no meaning as evidence of the Holy Spirit.

(1Cor 14:13-19; “So then, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. If I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive. What should I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing praises with my spirit, but I will also sing praises with my mind. (16) Otherwise, if you are praising God with your spirit, how can someone without the gift say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? For you are certainly giving thanks well, but the other person is not strengthened. I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you, but in the church I want to speak five words with my mind to instruct others, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.”)

Paul taught self control in prayerful thanksgiving and singing praises. Paul’s mind may have drifted to other languages; “but in the church he was careful that he be understood.”

(1Cor 14:20-25; “Brothers and sisters, do not be children in your thinking. Instead, be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. It is written in the law: “By people with strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people, yet not even in this way will they listen to Me, says the Lord.” (Quote from Isaiah 28:11-12) (22) So then, tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers. Prophecy ‘teaching’ however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. So if the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and unbelievers or uninformed people enter, will they not say that you have lost your minds? (24) But if all prophesy, ‘teach’ and an unbeliever or uninformed person enters, he will be convicted by all, he will be called to account by all. The secrets of his heart are disclosed, and in this way he will fall down with his face to the ground and worship God, declaring, “God is really among you.”)

Remember when God’s energizing Holy Spirit came on believing Israelites on that Pentecost after Jesus’ ascension, “visitors from various countries heard them speaking wonderful words in languages they understood.” (Are not all these Israelites they said?) As with order “celebrating the Lord’s supper, Paul taught assembly order.”

(1Cor 14:26-33; “What should you do then, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each one has a song, has a lesson, has a revelation, has a tongue, and has an interpretation. Let all these things be done for the strengthening of the church. If someone speaks in a tongue, it should be two, or at the most three, one after the other, and someone must interpret. But if there is no interpreter, he should be silent in the church. Let him speak to himself and to God. (29) Two or three prophets ‘teachers’ should speak and the others should evaluate what is said. And if someone sitting down receives a revelation, the person who is speaking should conclude. For you can all prophesy ‘teach’ one after another, so all can learn and be encouraged. Indeed, the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets, (33) for God is not characterized by disorder but by peace.”)

Seemingly Jesus and Paul would’ve had a problem with the way many in Christendom conduct worship services in this age. Today Christendom’s groups attend to hear a lecture from a self called individual. If someone raising a hand to speak a revelation, ‘he’d be considered out of order.’

Godly submissiveness to order in His church

and family structure is of great spiritual value.

(1Cor 14:35-36; As in all the churches of the Saints, the women should be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak. Rather, let them be in submission, as in fact the law says. (35) If they want to find out about something, they should ask their husbands at home, because it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in church. Did the word of God begin with you, or did it come to you alone?”) (Why? it’s God’s way. Yielding to Godly authority is of great spiritual value, “a Christian husband should be yielded to Christ, a wife to her husband and children to parental authority.)

(1Cor 14:37-40; “If anyone considers himself a prophet ‘teacher’ or spiritual person, he should acknowledge that what I write to you is the Lord’s command. If someone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. So then, brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy ’teach’ and do not forbid anyone from speaking in tongues. And do everything in a decent and orderly manner.”)

Depending on where and economic status, today’s gatherings for worship have evolved from formal to informal settings and dress attire. Only a few fit the pattern Paul recommends in this chapter. The main reason is, “all worldly religions teach some form of methodology for salvation.” Their thinking seems to be, “revelations are in theological schoolings to be delivered to the merchandise.” As such they teach “individuals can choose whether or if, to be a follower of their religion.”

Their giant error is; “Believers IN Jesus are called through God the Father’s promised revelations, made alive in Jesus and saved by grace.”

(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 and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus to demonstrate in the coming ages the surpassing wealth of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace we are saved through ‘Jesus’’ faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast. (10) For we are His workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them.”) No works or individual intellectual decisions can save. God calls opens minds, gifts a turning and deliverance for His kingdom service.

Jan 12 - 2,020. God’s 10th Month, Tevet 15, year 5,780     

To: A called people gifted with desire to be atOne with God, “His church.”

Our individual calling and deliverance is likened to Israel’s deliverance from Egypt in many ways. Israelites were predestined to be delivered by promise, “no good works, nor righteousness.” They were in physical and spiritual bondage “slaves to pagan Egypt” much as we followers of Jesus were in bondage to this world’s pagan practices inspired by Satan before God the Father revealed Jesus. This world’s Babylonian styled system of things has all the pagan Egyptian trappings the Israelites were under. As Jesus delivered Israelites and some Egyptians by promise through His called out servant “Moses,” He delivers a predestined called out by promise following from this world’s system of things. As Israelites struggled with their inherited nature’s desire to turn back: “called out followers of Jesus need to count the cost.” As Israel’s turning from old Egyptian customs wasn’t easy, “separating from the world can bring on persecutions.” Israel’s stubbornness through their fleshly nature was to the degree that most died before being delivered to the promised lands. There’s an important difference. Our individual spiritual callings and deliverances has parallels to Israelites physical deliverance, but “believers IN Jesus’ shed blood so our sins can be remitted “is accompanied by His Holy Spirit’s energizing power to overcome to the end.”

Jesus defines our spiritual calling and new nature through Paul.

(Romans 15:1-6; “But we who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not just please ourselves. Let each of us please his, ‘Christian’ neighbor for his good to build him up. (3) For even Christ did not please Himself, but just as it is written, “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on Me.” Quote from Psalms 69:9. (Israel’s recorded fleshly failures are for our spiritual learning.)

Rom 15:4-6; “For everything that was written in former times was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and through encouragement of the scriptures we may have hope. Now may the God of endurance and comfort give you unity with one another in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”)

Today we aren’t necessarily blessed with “believing IN assemblies to congregate with” but we can pray for like minded believers whose struggles are similar to our own. May we each be encouraged to keep our minds fixed on Jesus as “The Vine and we the branches.” Our condition is similar to Abraham’s who lived among unbelievers, but we have spiritual examples.

(Hebrews 12:1-6; “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the Pioneer and Perfector of our faith. For the joy set out for Him He endured the cross, disregarding its shame and has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Think of Him who endured such opposition against Himself by sinners, so that you may not grow weary in your souls and give up. You have not yet resisted to the point of bloodshed in your struggle against sin. And have you forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons? “My son, do not scorn the Lord’s discipline or give up when He corrects you. “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son He accepts.”) Quote from Proverbs 6:11-12.

One God, One Body, One Message

with many members, defines God‘s church.

Disorder is the product of evil; unity is the of product of His righteousness. (James 3:16-18; “For where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, full of mercy, accommodating and good fruit, impartial, and not hypocritical. And the fruit that consists of righteousness is planted in peace among those who make peace.”) We must conclude that all aren’t called to His peace in this age.

(2Corinthians 4:3-4; “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing, among whom the god of this age ‘Satan’ has blinded the minds of those who do not believe so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God.”) We must conclude “Satan has blinded all but God’s called.”

(1Corinthians 12:12-26; “For just as the body, ‘church’ is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body – though many – are one body, so too is Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Whether Jews or Greeks or slaves or free, we were all made to drink of the one Spirit. (14) For in fact the body is not a single member, but many. If the foot says, “Since I am not a hand, I am not part of the body,” it does not lose its membership in the body because of that. And if the ear says, “Since I am not an eye, I am not part of the body,” it does not lose its membership in the body because of that. (17) If the whole body were an eye, what part would do the hearing? If the whole were an ear, what part would exercise the sense of smell? But as a matter of fact, God has placed each of the members in the body just as He decided. (19) If they were all the same member, where would the body be? So now there are many members, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you,” nor in turn can the head say to the foot, “I do not need you.” (22) On the contrary, those members that seem to be weaker are essential, and those members we consider less honorable we clothe with greater honor and our un-presentable members are clothed with dignity, but our presentable members do not need this. Instead, God has blended together the body, giving greater honor to the lesser member, so that there may be no division in the body, but the members may have mutual concern for one another. (26) If one member suffers, everyone suffers with it. If a member is honored, all rejoice with it.”)

Divided religions resent God’s loving togetherness

conclude that God works in all denominations.

(1Cor 12:27-31; “Now you, ‘individually’ are Christ’s body, and each of you is a member of it. And God has placed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, gifts of healing, helps, gifts of leadership, and different kinds of tongues. Not all are apostles, are they? Not all are prophets, are they? Not all are teachers, are they? Not all perform miracles, do they? Not all have gifts of healing, do they? Not all speak in tongues, do they? Not all interpret, do they? (31) But you should be eager for the greater gifts. And now I will show you a way that is beyond comparison.”)

That way beyond comparison is, “LOVE.” Chapter 13: is the love chapter.

The greatest of all is love which is “the manifestation of a circumcised heart.” Because there’s animalistic love, parental love and Godly perpetual love we insert Godly in front of love for greater understanding. Godly love like His promises are perpetual as the human parental love should be.

(1Cor 13:1-13; “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but I do not have Godly love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have Godly love, I am nothing. If I give away everything I own, and if I give over my body in order to boast, but do not have Godly love, I receive no benefit.

(4-7; Godly Love is patient, Godly love is kind, it is not envious. Godly love does not brag it is not puffed up. It is not rude, it is not self-serving and it is not easily angered or resentful. It is not glad about injustice, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things.”

(8-13; Godly 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 ‘completion’ comes, the partial will be set aside. When I was a child, I talked like a child; I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. But when I became an adult, I set aside childish ways. For now we see in a mirror indirectly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope, and Godly love. But the greatest of these is Godly love.”)

How wonderful to worship a God who knows us fully, One who knew us before the foundation of the world and One who gives us His energizing Holy Spirit, “the spirit of a sound mind.”

(2Timothy 1:6-7; “Because of this I remind you to rekindle God’s gift that you possess through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and ‘Godly’ love and self-control.”)

Pursue love, exercise gifts, particularly that which you teach interpret.

(1Cor 14:1-5; “Pursue love and be eager for the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy ‘teach.’ For the one speaking in a tongue does not speak to people but to God, for no one understands; he is speaking mysteries by the Spirit ‘with the spirit.’ But the one who prophesies ‘teaches’ speaks to people for their strengthening, ‘edification’ encouragement, and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds himself up, but the one who prophesies ‘teaches’ builds up the church. (5) I wish you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy ‘teach.’ The one who prophesies ‘teaches’ is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be strengthened.”)

It’s obvious, chapter 12 and Paul’s theme “isn’t speaking of prophesies as in predicting the future” but teaching that builds up God‘s church.

(1Cor 14:6-12; “Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I help you unless I speak to you with a revelation or with knowledge or prophecy or teaching? It is similar for lifeless things that make a sound, like a flute or harp. Unless they make a distinction in the notes, how can what is played on the flute or harp be understood? If, for example, the trumpet makes an unclear sound, who will get ready for battle? (9) It is the same for you. If you do not speak clearly with your tongue, how will anyone know what is being said? For you will be speaking into the air. There are probably many kinds of languages in the world and none is without meaning. If then I do not know the meaning of a language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. It is the same with you. Since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, seek to abound in order to strengthen the church.”)

God’s manifesting His energizing Holy Spirit in people on that Pentecost after Jesus’ ascension caused them to speak languages not understood by themselves, but to many from distant lands hearing Israelites who didn’t normally speak their language, speaking words of God made quiet an impression. Likewise God manifesting His spirit in Cornelius’ gentile family, causing them to speak an unfamiliar language. See Acts 10:. Both were evidence of God’s miraculously putting His energizing Holy Spirit in His called out people.

It was never intended that a perpetual sign be given to manifest God’s spirit in people as evidence of their conversion. (Matt 12:38-40; “Then some of the experts in the law along with some Pharisees answered Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.” But He answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish for three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.”) See also Matt 16:4, Mark 8:12 and Luke 11:29. Meditate on “an evil adulterous population ask for signs.”

Jan 10 - 2,020. God’s 10th Month, Tevet 13, year 5,780     

To: A called people gifted with desire to be atOne with God, “His church.”

The future plight of the wicked is well documented through God’s Prophets and Apostles. The wicked include those refusing to believe IN Jesus.

(Rev 21:8; 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.”) Jesus’ apostle Peter wrote about the reason for Jesus’ good news being proclaimed.

(1Peter 4:5-6; They ‘unbelievers’ will face a reckoning before Jesus Christ who stands ready to judge the living and the dead. Now it was for this very purpose that the gospel was preached to those who are now dead, so that though they were judged in the flesh by human standards they may live spiritually by God’s standards.) (A second death requires a second fleshly life “a resurrection” likened to Lazarus’.) (Also see Ezekiel 37:) (The dead who’ve heard the gospel will have an opportunity to live spiritually by God’s standards.)

(1Pet 4:7-8; For the culmination of all things is near. So ’you followers of Jesus’  be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of prayer. Above all keep your love for one another fervent, because love covers a multitude of sins.”) (Fervent - effectual prayer by righteous people avails much.)

(KJT. James 5:16; “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”) (Net Bible Translation. James 5:16; “So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness.”) (Jesus gave us His example of how we should pray.)

(Matt 6:7-16; When you pray, do not babble repetitiously like the Gentiles, because they think that by their many words they will be heard. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. So pray this way: (Our Father in heaven, may Your name be honored, may Your kingdom come, may Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we ourselves have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. “For if you forgive others their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive you your sins.”)

(1) We need to address our Heavenly Father with adjectives that honor Him. (2) Mindful of His kingdom’s coming and ask for a shortening. (3) Express thanks for His gifted desire for doing His will now and appreciation for coming peace. (4) Consistently ask for spiritual nourishment and the gift of clinging to the Vine ’Jesus.’ (5) Forgive others their debt to us so God will do likewise for us. (6) Ask that we be lead from temptation and be delivered from Satan. (7) Do so with the knowledge that we must have a forgiving nature toward others if we expect forgiveness.)

People who’re gifted with Godly knowledge need to exercise/practice His truth for the benefit of others. We who see His spiritual benefit have the love of God shed abroad in our beings, giving us a desire to build up one another.

(1Cor 10:23-11:1; “Everything is lawful,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is lawful,” but not everything builds others up. (Everything is lawful? Paul cites slogans the Corinthians use to justify their behavior (See 6:12-13; 7:1; 8:1, 4.) Paul agrees with their slogans in part, but corrects them to show how the Corinthians have misused their ideas.” People that teach lawlessness, such as abandoning God’s set aside Holy Sabbaths misuse Paul’s intent. (The same attributes Jesus inspired Moses gave the Israelites recorded in Exodus 20: - 25: are relevant for Christians today.)

Heart circumcision’s attributes.

(1Cor 10:24-11:1; “Do not seek your own good, but the good of the other person. Eat anything that is sold in the marketplace without questions of conscience, for the earth and its abundance are the Lord’s. If an unbeliever invites you to dinner and you want to go, eat whatever is served without asking questions of conscience. (1Cor 19:28-29; But if someone says to you, “This is from a sacrifice,” do not eat, because of the one who told you and because of conscience – (29) I do not mean yours but the other person’s. For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience? If I partake with thankfulness, why am I blamed for the food that I give thanks for? So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God ‘to build others up. Do not give offense to Jews or Greeks or to the church of God, just as I also try to please everyone in all things. I do not seek my own benefit, but the benefit of many, so that they may be saved. (1Cor 11:1) Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.”)

Many new converts in the city of Corinth had been associated with the “goddess Dianna and Artemis of the Ephesians.” Artemis was a Greek goddess worshiped particularly in Asia Minor, whose temple, “one of the seven wonders of the ancient world” was located just outside the city of Ephesus. (See Acts 19:23-41. Paul dwelt with superstitions of every sort. Pagan cultures had many zodiac worshipers in addition to their handmade idols, while Pharisees and Sadducees were looking to the law for salvation.

Women’s hair is their head’s covering.

(1Cor 11:2-10; I praise you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions just as I passed them on to you. But I want you to know that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ. (4) Any man who prays or prophesies with his head covered disgraces his head. But any woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered disgraces her head, for it is one and the same thing as having a shaved head. (6) For if a woman will not cover her head, she should cut off her hair. But if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, she should cover her head. (7) For a man should not have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God. But the woman is the glory of the man. For man did not come from woman, but woman from man. Neither was man created for the sake of woman, but woman for man. (10) For this reason a woman should have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. (Seemingly Paul is making reference to loyal Godly angels assigned to His people and subornation to Jesus.)

(1Cor 11:11-16; “In any case, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For just as woman came from man, so man comes through woman. But all things come from God. (13) Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for women praying to God with her head uncovered? Does not nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace for him, (15) but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. If anyone intends to quarrel about this, we have no other practice, nor do the churches of God.”) Other scripture verify; “Godly families should exemplify the church relationship to Jesus.”

Passover observation practices in memory of Jesus’ last supper

(1Cor 11:17-22; “Now in giving the following instruction I do not praise you, because you come together not for the better but for the worse. For in the first place, when you come together as a church I hear there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. (19) For there must in fact be divisions among you, so that those of you who are approved may be evident. Now when you come together at the same place, you are not really eating the Lord’s Supper. For when it is time to eat, everyone proceeds with his own supper. One is hungry and another becomes drunk. Do you not have houses so that you can eat and drink? Or are you trying to show contempt for the church of God by shaming those who have nothing? What should I say to you? Should I praise you? I will not praise you for this!

(1Cor 11:23-26; “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which he was betrayed took bread, and after He had given thanks He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way, He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. Do this, every time you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For every time you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.”)

Tradition usurps holiness to a degree when the Lord’s Passover isn’t practiced on Passover evening. A time to be much remembered because of Israel’s deliverance and our being saved through believing IN Jesus’ shed blood for remission of sin.

Gifted to believe IN makes one worthy to examine self in Jesus’ light.

(1Cor 11:27-33; “For this reason, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. A person should examine himself first, and in this way let him eat the bread and drink of the cup. For the one who eats and drinks without careful regard for the body eats and drinks judgment against himself. (30) That is why many of you are weak and sick, and quite a few are dead, sleep. But if we examined ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned with the world. So then, my brothers and sisters, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. (34) If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, so that when you assemble it does not lead to judgment. I will give directions about other matters when I come.”)

Passover is a time for remorse, humility and thanksgiving for having been called and delivered to the family of God. (Greek: “DEAD are asleep.” The verb literally means “sleep,” but it is often used in the Bible as a euphemism for the death of a believer. Sleep is more appropriate for believers because they‘re promised the first resurrection.

Gifts, manifestations of the Holy Spirit and healings

(1Cor 12:1-3; “With regard to spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans you were often led astray by speechless idols, however you were led. So I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.”)

People aren’t kept from speaking meaningless words without knowledge. Through God’s energizing Holy Spirit of truth, no one can think Jesus is cursed and no one can know the degree in which Jesus is Lord except by God’s energizing Holy Spirit of truth.

(1Cor 12:4- “Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are different ministries, but the same Lord. And there are different results, but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. (7) To each person the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the benefit of all. For one person is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, and another the message of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another performance of miracles, to another prophecy, and to another discernment of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. (11) It is one and the same Spirit, distributing as He decides to each person, who produces all these things.”

In other words, theology schooling  can’t give Godly gifts to individuals.

Jan 9 - 2,020. God’s 10th Month, Tevet 12, year 5,780     

To: A people gifted with desire to be atOne with God, “His church.”

Comparing ourselves or nations among nations isn’t wise. Non are righteous and each will ultimately come to God for righteous training. Until Satan is bound the whole world will be divided, serving his demonic purpose, “in Babylonian confusion, self-righteous competing on demonically/politically correct scales.” It’s little difference in demonism and adhering to political correctness, “each condition is always evolving and Satan inspired.”

In our last study we looked to Deuteronomy 18:9-14, discerning what the world had become before the Lord God Jesus delivered Israel from demonic Egypt. Today nations are still practicing superstitious demonically inspired ways God delivered Israel from. The fact is, until God supernaturally reveals Himself, “Satan has each individual and nation following what seems right to their fleshy minds.” That’s dangerous and divisive. In other words each individual is traveling the broad road to destruction “until they’re called, granted a desire and effort by God to turn from what seems right to what He says is right. (See Proverbs 14:12, 16:25 and 18:17; “There’s a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way that leads to death.” “16:25; There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way that leads to death.” “18:17; The first to state his case seems right, until his opponent begins to cross-examine him.”)

Things that were an abominations to God during Moses’ day still are. Commandment, Oracles and Attributes God gave Israel for the people’s good back then still are. The world’s religions naively look to the likes of Catholicism, Mohammad, Protestantism, even Baal, while make imaginary gods “from star cluster shapes etc.” Avoiding the never changing Creator God’s commandments, oracles and attributes, “replacing with evolving traditions while marches to this world’s Babylonian system of things.

The two beast described in the previous study “Revelations 13” are likely demonically inspired individuals who gain popularity through flattering speech and do demonic miracles. The beast is also “this world’s deceiving system of things directed by Satan.” It’s here now and our populations are ripe for the deceptions at hand. Satan and his followers are permitted to conquer this world’s populations with ruling authority until God’s set time. It’s an end age prophecy.

(Rev 13:7-11; “The beast was permitted to go to war against the Saints and conquer them. He was given ruling authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation, and all those who live on the earth will worship the beast, everyone whose name has not been written since the foundation of the world in the book of life belonging to the Lamb who was killed. If anyone has an ear, he had better listen!”)

God has His purpose “allowing Satan to be the god of this world until His set time.” Overcoming his devices, our inherited from Adam nature and yield to God’s Holy Spirit of truth is what each Saint is called to. Jesus refers to this calling as “growing in the grace and knowledge of God.” It’s a calling and duty.

(2Peter 1:2-7; May grace and peace be lavished on you as you grow in the rich knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord! I can pray this because His divine power has bestowed on us everything necessary for life and godliness through the rich knowledge of the One who called us by His own glory and excellence. Through these things He has bestowed on us His precious and most magnificent promises, so that by means of what was promised you may become partakers of the divine nature, after escaping the worldly corruption that is produced by evil desire. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith excellence, to excellence, knowledge; to knowledge, self-control; to self-control, perseverance; to perseverance, godliness; to godliness, brotherly affection; to brotherly affection, unselfish love.”)

(2Peter 3:14-18; “Therefore, dear friends, since you are waiting for these things, strive to be found at peace, without spot or blemish, when you come into His presence. And regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as also our dear brother Paul wrote to you, according to the wisdom given to him, speaking of these things in all his letters. Some things in these letters are hard to understand, things the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they also do to the rest of the scriptures. Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard that you do not get led astray by the error of these unprincipled men and fall from your firm grasp on the truth. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the honor both now and on that eternal day.”)

As God planned, so it will be, “writes Isaiah at 14:24 and 46:8-13.”

(Rev 13:10; If anyone is meant for captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed by the sword, then by the sword he must be killed. This requires steadfast endurance and faith from the Saints.”)

Faith in God’s promises are gifted. The promised faith to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob “is faith in God’s truth.” Knowing we’re followers of Jesus is being spiritual Israelites and heirs with Him and Abraham. (See Galatians 3:29; “And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to the promise.”)

Followers of Jesus need to be mindful of practices, that aren’t necessarily for our benefit “but for the benefit of others whom God may be calling.” Jesus taught it through Paul, “His principle teaching goes beyond food and defines our responsibility.”

(1Cor 8:11-13; “So by your knowledge the weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed. If you sin against your brothers or sisters in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. For this reason, if food causes my brother or sister to sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I may not cause one of them to sin.”)

Rights and responsibilities of “circumcised of heart people.”

(1Cor 9:1-5; “Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? If I am not an apostle to others, at least I am to you, for you are the confirming sign of my apostleship in the Lord. This is my defense to those who examine me. Do we not have the right to financial support? (5) Do we not have the right to the company of a believing wife, like the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?”)

Apparently Peter, James, Jude and other apostles had wives. Is Paul being self righteous, boasting that he and Barnabas seemingly worked more than others?

(1Cor 9:6-12; “Or do only Barnabas and I lack the right not to work? Whoever serves in the army at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its fruit? Who tends a flock and does not consume its milk? Am I saying these things only on the basis of common sense, or does the law not say this as well? (9) For it is written in the law of Moses, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” God is not concerned here about oxen, is He? Or is He not surely speaking for our benefit? It was written for us, because the one plowing and threshing ought to work in hope of enjoying the harvest. If we sowed spiritual blessings among you, is it too much to reap material things from you? (12) If others receive this right from you, are we not more deserving? But we have not made use of this right. Instead we endure everything so that we may not be a hindrance to the gospel of Christ. (13) Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple eat food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar receive a part of the offerings? In the same way the Lord commanded those who proclaim the gospel to receive their living by the gospel. (15) But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing these things so that something will be done for me. In fact, it would be better for me to die than – no one will deprive me of my reason for boasting! For if I preach the gospel, I have no reason for boasting, because I am compelled to do this. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward. But if I do it unwillingly, I am entrusted with a responsibility. (18) What then is my reward? That when I preach the gospel I may offer the gospel free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights in the gospel.”)

(1Cor 9:1921;” For since I am free from all I can make myself a slave to all, in order to gain even more people. To the Jews I became like a Jew to gain the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) to gain those under the law. (21) To those free from the law I became like one free from the law (though I am not free from God’s law but under the law of Christ) to gain those free from the law.”) (The law and love of Jesus is imputed to our minds through “the Holy Spirit of truth, making us not under the law of Moses.”)

Why was Paul not under the law or we followers of Jesus not under the law? Only because the total benefit of God’s law is imputed to our minds, “His energizing Holy Spirit gives an internal desire to be righteous because He’s righteous.

(1Cor 9:22; “To the weak I became weak in order to gain the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that by all means I may save some. (Out of context, one can assume that Paul is saying he saves. He means “by all means God may call and save through me. Verse 23 makes this clear.)

(1Cor 9:23-27; “I do all these things because of the gospel, so that I can be a participant in it. Do you not know that all the runners in a stadium compete, but only one receives the prize? So run to win. Each competitor must exercise self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one. So I do not run uncertainly or box like one who hits only air. Instead I subdue my body and make it my slave, so that after preaching to others I myself will not be disqualified.”)

All written for our learning; particularly Israel’s past failures.

(1Cor 10:1-4; “For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they were all drinking from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.”) Jesus was Israel’s Deliverer through Moses and our Deliverer today.

(1Cor 10:5-13; “But God was not pleased with most of them, for they were cut down in the wilderness. These things happened as examples for us, so that we will not crave evil things as they did. So do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” And let us not be immoral, as some of them were, and twenty-three thousand died in a single day. And let us not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by snakes. (10) And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel. These things happened to them as examples and were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages have come. (12) So let the one who thinks he is standing be careful that he does not fall. No trial has overtaken you that are not faced by others. And God is faithful: He will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear, but with the trial will also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it.”)

Paul is writing in proximity to “The Feast of Unleavened Bread” and “Jesus our Passover”.

(1Cor 10:14-22; “So then, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. I am speaking to thoughtful people. Consider what I say. Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread that we break a sharing in the body of Christ? (17) Because there is one bread, we ‘followers of Jesus’ who are many are one body, for we all share the One bread. (18) Look at the people of Israel. Are not those who eat the sacrifices partners in the altar? Am I saying that idols or food sacrificed to them amount to anything? No, I mean that what the pagans sacrifice is to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be partners with demons. (21) You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot take part in the table of the Lord and the table of demons. (22) Or are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we really stronger than He is?)