The Beast of the Book of Revelation

The Beasts

Book of Revelation Chapter 13

Remember our last lesson where that old Serpent, the Devil, Satan himself was tossed out of the first and second heaven. The place of our atmosphere and the place of all the heavenly constellations. Well guess where he shows up?

He is mad at Jehovah. His range is limited again. The ears of Heaven are no longer open to his constant accusing.

He will set his sights on the only remaining group of God’s people.

Remember Satan has been to Heaven and he knows somewhat of the things that go on in Heaven, but as far as he is concerned, when he causes the death of any individual, they are just dead and this is what he seeks to do to the rest of the world, murder!

He knows his final outcome and he plans to murder all the remaining people upon this earth, to deny any of them any opportunity to ever see Jehovah God face to face and to destroy all of God’s creation.

You see this is another promise that Satan will try to break, that anyway he can, he will try to make Jehovah out to be a liar!

This is pure hatred, and this is the hatred that we see in many nations, including here in the USA, today.

In fact this is the hatred I see for all God’s people.

Jesus said:

Joh 7:6 Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready.
Joh 7:7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.

Joh 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

So let us see these “Beasts”.

*Rev 13:1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

It is in this Chapter 13 that we see just how wicked and evil the Antichrist is!

We will see the Antichrist and his religious leader the False Prophet, as they commence their plan to destroy this earth, we call our temporary home.

Remember the Church is already in Heaven by this time. Those upon the earth that remain are those who have chosen to follow the Antichrist and then the Jews who Jehovah has caused to go through these things to open their blinded eyes.

The 144,000 missionaries are out in the world telling evil and wicked people about the Antichrist and the true Christ and many will begin to see the truth.

The Two Witnesses are in Jerusalem preaching the truth of God and tormenting those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ.

Satan has just been tossed out of the skies and the place of the stars and he has nowhere to run except upon this earth and he is so mad that he can think of nothing but destroying God’s creation and all the people who remain.

The first three and a half years of the Tribulation, the Antichrist won the people over with his deception and flatteries.

These last three and a half years= called the Great Tribulation, the Antichrist will cause fear and destruction and fury to be his tools.

There will be so much difference in what the Antichrist was at first and what he is now, that people will think he is not the same person but remember Satan is the Great Deceiver.

It is easy to say he came from the sea but when we study the Word of God, we know that the sea also represents the multitudes of people.

Rev 17:15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

We know that Satan was actually that rebellious angel named Lucifer!

Does it seem strange that the Luciferians are beginning to make their cause known? They to, can sense the time of their false messiah

Here we see that the Antichrist is a mere man but also Satan in the flesh.

He will get his false power from Satan as will the False Prophet as these Scriptures teach us.

The prophet Daniel also informed the Jews that these things would take place so they would know, but the Jews reject the Book of Daniel.

Dan 7:7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.
Dan 7:8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.

Dan 7:19 Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;
Dan 7:20 And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.

Dan 7:23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
Dan 7:24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
Dan 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

We can see the truth when we see these things are for three and a half years.

As we continue, we can keep these things of Daniel in mind.

*Rev 13:2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

Daniel saw these same three animals, but the important phrase is that the “Dragon” gave him his power.

That word “seat” means he will get power of Satan and he will rule from Satan’s throne.

Satan’s throne is supported by all the evil wickedness that is in the world!

We know this also includes the entire economy of the world at this time.

1Ti_6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

It is the love of money that has built Satan’s throne!

Satan loves money so much that he will take control of all the economies of the world.

1Jn_2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Satan’s throne is built upon lust and covetousness!

The Church is in Heaven. The “Seat” of government of the Antichrist is based upon these two things and will operate under the character of Satan.

Joh 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

These things are the power and great authority that are given to the human that will be the Antichrist!

*Rev 13:3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

We should clearly understand that the Scriptures use the term Antichrist for a reason and this man, who is human, who is powered by Satan will have the marks of a simulated death and resurrection that will seem as some great miracle just to cause doubt in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Remember he has the name “Blasphemy”.

Blasphemy is speaking evil of Jehovah, the Lord Jesus Christ!

Psa 74:18 Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O LORD, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name.
Psa 74:19 O deliver not the soul of thy turtledove unto the multitude of the wicked: forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever.
Psa 74:20 Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.

Since the death, the burial, and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ was under the power of the Holy Spirit, then this Antichrist will also blaspheme the Holy Spirit.

Luk 23:46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

Luk 12:10 And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.

Those of the world, will see this human that is revived from a fake death and they will believe another lie, another deception, of the Antichrist.

Remember Satan is the father of all liars, all murderers and all deceivers, but he does have limited power, but even that power is given to him by Jehovah!

These remaining people who have already proved they did not believe the Lord Jesus Christ, will be deceived again into believing the Antichrist!

This will be about the time he gets brave enough to go into the Third Temple and claim himself to be God.

*Rev 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

The Bible says we have a Triune God. The Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit. Not three gods but One God in three persons!

In this Chapter we see that Satan has his false trinity. Not Triune, not even a true trinity but Satan in three “individual” persons.

We already know of Satan.
We already know of the Antichrist.

We now meet the Beast who will be a false religious leader during the seven years of Tribulation.

His job is to convince the Jews that he is the true messiah, which we know is impossible, but the Jews are looking for a Messiah. The Muslim are looking for a Mahdi and many other false religions are looking for some sort of messiah.

They all reject that the Lord Jesus Christ is the true Messiah!

The Apostle Paul taught the church these things

2Th 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2Th 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

It is the Beast who will try to unite all religions into one religious federation, and he will succeed for a while, but only until the Jews realize his deception.

Once the Jews realize the deception of the Antichrist, the Muslim world will do the same and so goes for the other religions except the Luciferians and religious wars will begin!

Already today there are those trying to unite all believers.

There is the World Council of Churches.

World Council of Churches (WCC), Christian ecumenical organization founded in 1948 in Amsterdam as “a fellowship of Churches which accept Jesus Christ our Lord as God and Savior.” The WCC is not a church, nor does it issue orders or directions to the churches. It works for the unity and renewal of the Christian denominations and offers them a forum in which they may work together “in the spirit of tolerance and mutual understanding”.

Notice the phrase the “Spirit of tolerance”

There is the National Council of Churches.

The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, usually identified as the National Council of Churches, is the largest ecumenical body in the United States. NCC is an ecumenical partnership of 38 Christian faith groups in the United States. Its member communions include mainline Protestant, Eastern Orthodox, African-American, evangelical, and historic peace churches. Together, they encompass more than 100,000 local congregations and 40 million adherents. It began as the Federal Council of Churches in 1908, and expanded through merger with several other ecumenical organizations to become the National Council of Churches in 1950. “During the late 1950s and early 1960s the National Council of Churches was partially funded by the Foundation for Youth and Student Affairs which was a front funded by the CIA to combat communism”.

Notice the phrase backed by “Backed by the CIA”. This is how this thing begin and for these wrong reasons.

Many of the leaders in this group still lean toward communism which they downgrade to socialism.

We can see this portrayed on the political scene in America every day!

They are tolerant of the slaying of babies still in the womb!

They are tolerant of the sin and immorality, the so-called gay movement.

Have you noticed the word “queer” having a revival in many news reports?

They have no shame at all anymore!

They are also weak on the punishment of evil doers.

Many say they are believers, but they go against everything that Jesus stands for in the name of tolerance.

Both these groups and there are others and it may sound like a good idea, but that one word “tolerance” says it all.

Christianity is the most intolerant organization that exist, and it must remain this way!

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

There is only one truth!
There is only one way to Heaven!
There is only one means of eternal life!
There is only one Messiah.

1Jn_5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

There is only one Savior.

1Jn_4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

2Jn_1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

The Scriptures do not allow any room to tolerate any other beliefs!

We cannot allow ourselves to be persuaded by these people, but in fact the Antichrist will in present this Beast as the answer to solving all disputes in religious circles!

Neither of these groups accept the Bible as the actual Word of God, but only guidelines that can be manipulated by man!

Only those who want to keep their sin agree with these people!

This is not what Jesus says because Jesus is intolerant!

Joh_3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Joh_3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Forgive me, but being “Born Again” is being intolerant to the way the world thinks and the way these councils think!

All so-called Christian denominations except one, came out of the Catholic Church!

Let them answer the question of why they are not still in the Catholic Church as they push to reunite.

They did not agree on what the Bible says including the Catholic Church who used the Jesuites rewrite the Scriptures to cause confusion of the people.

To this day they reject that their people need a copy of the Bible, because it is the Pope who is to interpret Scripture. Ridiculous!

All these councils do nothing, but cause confusion and it is those lost souls who suffer having never heard the truth!

What do we know from our studies in the Book of Revelation?

The Antichrist is:

1) The Devil in a human body.
2) He is now a world dictator.
3) He is the second person in Satan’s trinity.
4) He will be revealed only after the Church is in Heaven, even though he may be on the scene but not yet in position.

He will come in at first peaceful and solving the war and rumors of war issue.

Dan 11:21 And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.

He will enter into a league of federation that will include the Jews and be world renown.

Dan 11:23 And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people.

He will want the world to worship him as God and this is when Jehovah will open the eyes of the Spiritually blind Jews!

Dan 11:36 And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.
Dan 11:37 Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.

This Beast in reality is Satan’s political leader the Antichrist. This is Satan’s “Super-Human” the answer to all the world’s political problem!

*Rev 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
Rev 13:6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

This man and he is just a man, will pose as the greatest of all humanitarians. A friend to all men and especially to the Jews.

Remember Satan is now limited to just the earth and he is so mad at God he cannot stand himself.

He has two goals before Jehovah sends the tiniest angel in Heaven to bind him. At least this is how I imagine it.

1) He is determined to destroy the Jews the only people on the face of the earth that still call on Jehovah God!
2) He is determined to be worshipped as God by this world!

From what the world saw of him the first three and a half years will be far different from what the world will see the last three and a half years!

He spent his time as a flatterer and deceiver at first, but now he will show his true colors!

Dan 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

Notice none of these things can take place without Jehovah God allowing them to take place!

Notice also that he even blasphemes the Saints already in Heaven that missed out on the seven years of Tribulation, and anyone who will badmouth our God will certainly show that same hatred for all the things of God and the world will find out the truth of Satan, he has hidden from them!

We must not forget. The earth has seen earthquake after earthquake, and they will only get worse until the Big One.
The earth has seen the “Climate” change for real and not these imaginary things we see now which are only the beginning real “Climate Change”.
The earth has seen pestilence(plague) after pestilence (virus) till many will not even leave their homes.
There has seen war after war after war even though they are in the name of peace.
The earth will become a miserable place to live and only the Jews seem to bearing up, under the pressure simply, because Jehovah will not forsake them!

There is more hatred than there has ever been now, and none of these things will change until the return of the true Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ!

All of a sudden, the people that remain, even though they are wicked and evil, see a glimmer of hope even though it is a false hope!

*Rev 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

What do we know?

We know the Two Witnesses will preach in Jerusalem with the same Word of God we have today for three and a half years and then they will be murdered by Satan but they will come back to life in three days and ascend to Heaven.

We know that the 144,000 Hebrew evangelists will be working for three and a half years and not one of them will be murdered, but those converts who reject Satan will be murdered because they will reject the sealing of the Antichrist.

It is our Heavenly Father who gave this power to Satan! It sounds terrible and it is, but things are so bad during the Tribulation years especially the last three and a half years that like today, many a Saint of God will welcome death because they know they have a home in Heaven where there is no evil.

The Lord has now given the Antichrist the power to rule over most all nations! He can speak all the languages of every people. He can relate to every race and every kindred.

We must understand he only has God given power at any time and he is a tool in the hand of God for “Judgment” for all those who have rejected the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Lord has given them many, many opportunities to think about what lies ahead, but they are clinging to the power of Satan which he does not even have.

The Antichrist is just what this world is reaching out for today and he will supply a false hope to all those who see this world crumbling and falling apart, when he cannot do anything about it but show a miracle or two that he did not really do.

Most all the world leaders have given him all their resources and only one thing he is lacking, that he wants to be worshipped as God!

Dan 8:24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.
Dan 8:25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

He just wants to be God!

*Rev 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Rev 13:9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.
Rev 13:10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

We should understand that not everyone is happy with the Antichrist, but they were also not willing to accept Jesus Christ and these people are left to the whims of Satan who has the God given power to destroy them.

These are the ones that we need to reach out to today!

Once you name is written down in the Lamb’s Book of Life, you do not have to worry what this world can do to you!

The one thing that the Antichrist lacks the most is love. He does not have the ability to love, except for himself!

If you know anything about the Lord Jesus Christ and if you think of things that are not traits of Jesus, they will be the traits of the Antichrist!

1Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
1Pe 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
1Pe 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

Tit 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
Tit 1:3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;

Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

When there is no love, then there is no hope! The Antichrist can offer only a false hope!

Listen to the Holy Spirit describe him.

This is the last warning by the Holy Spirit. The very last chance to repent and turn toward the Lord Jesus Christ!

Mat 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

Oba 1:15 For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head.

Every detail of everything that the world has caused to happen to God’s people, they will receive from a wrathful God.

I know the liberals say that Jehovah has too much love to ever cause such harm, but they do not read the actual Word of God.

They have determined that Hell does not exist, but these lessons of final judgment will be terrible.

What is God waiting on?

Rev 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
Rev 6:11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, “until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled”.

The Lord will repay the death of his children with death!
The Lord will repay the captivity of his children with captivity!

Both of these things have their ending in the Burning Lake of Fire!

But these things will begin with the great slaughter by the Lord.

Rev_14:20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.

And then there is another Beast.

*Rev 13:11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
Rev 13:12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

As we know the first Beast, the Antichrist, will be a political dictator with all the militaries of all nations at his command and all the economies of every nation at his disposal!

There have been many types of this man, but there has never been a man as cruel as the first Beast, because the world put an end to them allowed by God.

The world will join with the Antichrist!

This second Beast will be the man who will link all the false religions together. Remember the Church is in Heaven!

Other Saints are leaving that world daily, because of being slaughtered by the followers of Satan.

They could be called Luciferians, which actually exist today and are starting to rattle their swords!

If we remember the temptations of our Lord, Satan offered the Lord Jesus some power which he has, but remember any power he has is given to him by the Lord.

Luk 4:5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
Luk 4:6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
Luk 4:7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.

Of course Jesus rejected this thing, because Satan has no real power, but guess what?

This new beast will be offered this same power and he will accept it.

He will worship the Devil!

Notice he speaks as a dragon because his power comes from the dragon, the Devil.

Here we will see a union of the false church and the dictator state of the first beast.

Our forefathers placed in our Constitution rules that would not allow the State to interfere with the Church.

Many on the left have interpreted this in reverse stating the Church is not to interfere with the State which was not the intention of our forefathers.

In the days of the Antichrist the second Beast, the False Prophet will unite all the false church with the Antichrist even to the point that the Antichrist will be worshipped as God.

It will be at this point that the Jews will rebel!

As my Pastor has said many times. The Jews may not know who the true Messiah is, but they certainly know who He is not!

They will never recognize the Antichrist as God!

The second Beast will use the evidence that the first Beast has died and then risen from the grave, but this will be nothing but a deception for Satan does not have this power and Jehovah will not give him this power at any time.

I like this scripture in Isaiah.

Isa_27:1 In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea.

The Antichrist is surrounded by followers.
The second Beast will bring in all religions to this group.

Part of the Antichrist downfall is that he cannot keep that many humans under control so he will revert to complete tyranny and destruction.

At first, the False Prophet with the power of Satan will do miracles, but those miracles will all be allusions.

*Rev 13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
Rev 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

We must understand that Satan does have some incredible power, but that power is held in check by the Lord and Satan is no more than a tool.

We must also understand that the Lord will take only those who have accepted Him as the Messiah to present to His Father.

Satan is used to provide temptation and sin, so people will have to make that choice to choose the truth over a lie.

Everyone since the time of Jesus will get an opportunity to make this choice.

Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

No one will be in Hell who did not get an opportunity to choose Jesus, after they have been presented with the truth!

Some will get only one opportunity because during the Tribulation years is not a time of “Mercy” but it is a time of “Judgment”!

Even in “Judgment” the Lord still will show any believer that one moment of “Grace”, at least I believe this!

Many souls will be saved during the “Great Tribulation” as we have already seen.

What does this second Beast do? The power is Satan is deception!

2Jn_1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

If there are many deceivers now just think the whole world will be full of deceivers joined up to the master deceiver Satan.

Just that would make the Tribulation years to be terrible!

This False Prophet who drew his power from Satan, who was allowed this power for “Judgment” could do some things that looked amazing.

They even appeared miraculous.

We might say, why in the world would our true Heavenly Father allow these things to happen.

The Lord still wants them to be convicted by the Word of God!

The only godly people that remain upon the earth at that time are the Hebrew children who preserved the Word of God so we would have a copy of the truth.

Deu 13:1 If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,
Deu 13:2 And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;
Deu 13:3 Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
Deu 13:4 Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.

All throughout the Great Tribulation the Jews, the Hebrew children, will have to confront the truth of the Scriptures.

They have already witnessed the rapture of the Church which in my opinion the Lord will keep disguised to most of the world by some pestilence or some other such thing that can easily be dismissed by the Antichrist.

They witnessed the Rapture.
They will have seen more blood than they could have ever thought of.
They will see the Word of God played out before their eyes.
They will have listened to the Two Witnesses.
They will have seen and heard the 144,000 evangelists.
They will soon doubt anything the Antichrist says.

What is the rest of the world going to do?

They will build an idol, a large idol!

*Rev 13:15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

How many have heard of holograms.

There exists today the ability to broadcast three dimensional holograms into midair.

I copied this from the internet:

3D Hologram Display is a cutting-edge visual solution for creating, managing and displaying your unique 3D video content with holographic effect. A hi-tech hardware device generating stunning 3D visuals perceived by viewers as hi-resolution holograms floating in the mid-air. HD FALCON holographic visual solution is a kind of display machine that uses the persistence of vision (POV) technology.

Casting a hologram upon a statue would be nothing unless you get caught up in the religious quackery of the False Prophet, who draws his power from Satan the great deceiver.

We should know by now is that the Lord has put off His return for many reasons, especially His patience for those who are lost, but technology had to in place for all these things in the Book of Revelation to take place. This includes military and worldly things.

Yes, this idol would speak and give the appearance of coming alive. Illusionist have been doing these things for years, yet during the Great Tribulation many will be deceived by these things.

Now if we go back to the time of Nebuchadnezzar, we know that these deceived people will have to worship this thing or die!

Dan 3:1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
Dan 3:2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
Dan 3:3 Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
Dan 3:4 Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,
Dan 3:5 That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:
Dan 3:6 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

The difference. Three Jewish boys were thrown in the fiery furnace and Jesus came to protect them and walk in the furnace with them and they did not even have the smell of smoke on their clothing.

These that the Antichrist murders will miss out on the fiery furnace, but the Antichrist, the False Prophet, and Satan, the unholy trinity will all go to the Burning Lake of Fire.

None of the true Jews will bow down to this idol because Jehovah broke them from that many times.

They will begin to rebel against the Antichrist.

Those that fell down and worshipped this idol would all be sealed with the mark of the Beast.

*Rev 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
Rev 13:17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

There is a lot of talk about the mark of the beast and I will not venture into what this mark will be.

The first thing we notice is, this looks like things that communism does to keep tabs on its people.

We know a one world government, with one man (the Antichrist) in power, would indeed be run as a communist nation and even more severe as such as North Korea. A dictatorship.

Things are terrible during this time of Tribulation known as the Great Tribulation. People are being murdered for no reason especially any that rebel.

People are starving while the elite are living sumptuously.

No one has an answer to their problems because there is no answer except Christ and that brings instant death.

There is no place to go to complain.

There is no one listening to their problems.

They are hopeless.

The Antichrist offers a solution.

The False Prophet gives them a false hope.

Let us use the examples the Bible gives us to learn from.

What does the Lord say?

Heb 8:8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
Heb 8:9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
Heb 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
Heb 8:11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
Heb 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
Heb 8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

Heb 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
Heb 10:17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
Heb 10:18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Heb 10:21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

Eph_1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

What we know is, that the Satan will have his own seal and his own method to seal his followers.

All those that deny Jehovah God. All those that deny the Lord Jesus Christ!

They will certainly have a corrupt mind!

What did God see in the time of Noah?

Gen_6:12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.

What did Moses say?

Deu_31:29 For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands.

Notice that phrase (in the work of your hands).

The Psalmist:

Psa_38:5 My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness.

Psa_53:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.

Psa_73:8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.

What do evil men do? King Nebuchadnezzar.

Dan_2:9 But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof.

(Notice they prepare lying and corrupt words to speak to each other)

What do we have to do to be Born Again?

Eph 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
Eph 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
Eph 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Eph 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
Eph 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
Eph 4:27 Neither give place to the devil.

Who were the men who defied Moses?

2Ti_3:8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

What is sure is these evil and wicked people who are already this way must at this time dedicate the work of their hands to the Devil, the Antichrist.

Remember they must fall down and worship this idol. This animated structure of the Antichrist.

Their corrupted minds will be even more corrupted and everything they do will now be dedicated to the Antichrist, Satan in the flesh.

In reality it may be some mark, some chip, some card, or something else entirely.

They will not be able to buy or sell without this mark!

*Rev 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

We know by numbers that man’s number is six.

Man when born is already evil!

Job_14:1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.

Psa 51:4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
Psa 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Psa 39:4 LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.
Psa 39:5 Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.

These wicked and evil, and corrupt men and women who take the mark, the seal of the beast, will be at least three times more evil and wicked, and corrupt than any other corrupt human being!

The wicked have chosen the Antichrist, Satan in the flesh and received his seal of approval.

The Jews have rejected the Antichrist.

Many that have accepted the words of the 144000 evangelists, are in Heaven because they were slain.

Many who also accepted the Word of God are in hiding, trying to protect themselves and their families.

The two witnesses are slain and have risen from that death and back in Heaven.

The Lord Jesus Christ is ready to receive those 144000 evangelists into Heaven not one harmed by Satan.

The Lord Jesus is prepared to return!

Amen

The Message to the Church in Ephesus

The Message to Ephesus

Book of Revelation Chapter 2 verses 1 through 7

Today we will begin to look at those seven churches that the Lord told John to write about.

Remember Jesus has given us this time to make those necessary changes to make each church to be a better church.

Jesus picked these seven churches because they represent the church as a whole.

Notice also Jesus speaks to the individual church as independent churches, and no church is to make rules over another church.

Every church is to be a church established in the name of Jesus Christ.

They also represent the seven ages of the church and we can be certain that we are in that final church age!

The City of Ephesus was the capitol of the Roman province of Asia Minor. Ephesus may have been the richest province of all the Roman territories.

It was the Apostle Paul who visited this area on more than one occasion, so we can be sure the true Gospel was preached in all these churches.

This same area had been colonized by the Greeks before they fell to the Romans.

We should also remember the Temple of Diana was located in Ephesus which had the largest theatre in the world.

It would hold 50,000 spectators.

In fact it is said that this temple may have been one of the seven wonders of the world at one time.

Different religious beliefs were everywhere, but Christianity is the work of the One true God!

1Co 15:32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.
1Co 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
1Co 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

The Church at Ephesus was established by the Apostle Paul and sustained by the work of Priscilla and Aquila.

Apollos preached in this church.

Timothy preached in this church.

What were some of the obstacles?

The Jews hated the Christians.
The city was full of idolatry and false priests.
There was the effect of riches all over this city.
There was the open display of sensual pleasures everywhere.

We know that there were at least four more Christian churches in the area. Those four that are not mentioned are the Church at Troas:

Act 20:5 These going before tarried for us at Troas.

2Co 2:12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,

The Church at Miletus:

Act 20:17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.

The Church at Colossae:

Col 1:2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Church at Hierpolis.

Col 4:13 For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.

It is well known that there were even more churches that had been established in Asia.

The Lord Jesus will begin with the Christian Church in Ephesus, but He is standing in the midst of all these churches that He has called out.

What this means is the Book of Revelation of Jesus Christ is written unto these four churches just as is intended for all churches!

Every true Church will fit into at least one of these seven categories.

Every Church from then until now will exist in every Church Age with the named church being the most dominant Church.

Though all these types of Church existed in the day of Ephesus, the particular traits of Ephesus dominated the first Church Age.

The greatest cause of persecution of the Church during this Age came from the Emperors of Rome beginning with Nero and ending with the Emperor Diocletian in 310 AD.

Some would say that this Age of the Church had its beginnings in the Apostolic Age and ran to the Constantine Age, keeping in mind that even today we can find the remnants of each individual church.

Let’s begin by listening to the Lord Jesus Christ speaking to the Church at Ephesus.

*****Rev 2:1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
Rev 2:2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

This message is written toward Ephesus, but it is actually written to the Messenger or the Pastor of the Church at Ephesus.

The Greek Word “angelos” which could mean Angel and an Angel is a Messenger sent from God.

Heb 1:13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
Heb 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

This same Greek word is derived from two other Greek words “ago” which means to lead and “agelay” which means a drove.

These two words put together would mean a Shepherd or Angel, so we know by the way it is used, it means the Pastor of the Church at Ephesus.

This message is from Christ Jesus because in Chapter One we established that it is Jesus who holds the seven stars in His right hand of power and stands in the midst of the candlesticks which are these seven churches.

In fact the Lord Jesus says He is walking in the midst of these seven churches and Ephesus in this lesson.

What are the things Jesus knows, as He walks in the midst of this church?

This church had been established by the Apostle Paul and later led by Timothy almost a duplicate of the Apostle Paul in many ways.

Jesus says He knows the “effort” put forth by this church to spread the “Gospel” and everything else this church does.

Jesus says He knows the “labor” that is put forth to spread the “Gospel”.

Jesus says He knows the “patience” of the is church as they attempt to honor God the Father through His Son Jesus.

Each and every church have need of patience as the church continues in this world, until the Lord returns to take us home.

1Ti_1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

In every church, we must labor for Jesus and then patiently wait to see if there are results while still applying sunlight and water to that seed that was planted.

The Apostle Paul preached to this church with these words:

Eph 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
Eph 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Eph 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Eph 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
Eph 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Eph 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Eph 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Jesus says He knows that this church hated evil.

Why is this so important?

3Jn 1:11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

We are all to hate evil, but we are never to hate the sinner who does that evil

We could say that Jesus knows everything that goes on in every true church!

Jesus knows all the good and all the evil that goes on in every church!

This means that in each church that has the presence of Jesus, He is there to lead and guide that church!

A church that does not have the presence of Jesus Christ, is not a church by Biblical Standards!

We also realize that some false preachers, calling themselves apostles, had come through this church and they found them to be liars.

When we know the Word of God and it is written in our hearts and our minds, we should be able to tell if a preacher is preaching the truth or preaching with lies.

The church at Ephesus was able to do this.

Then Jesus repeats Himself.

*****Rev 2:3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

My pastor preaches many times about turning up the heat within us.

When we were first saved, we were on fire for God. As time goes by if we are not careful that fire will begin to grow dim and in some, that fire will go completely out.

We simply cannot allow this to happen to us.

Listen to Jeremiah:

Jer 20:8 For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily.
Jer 20:9 Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.

If the Word of God is within our hearts, then it will want to come out!

We cannot allow the things of this world to discourage us in the work the Lord has given us to do.

Afflictions and reproaches will increase as we get closer to the arrival of our Lord Jesus.

Persecutions will increase as we get closer to going home.

We must understand these things and keep on going for the Lord!

The message of Jesus Christ is not a burden! It is a message of hope in a wicked and dying world!

The message of Jesus Christ is all about love!

We are filled with the fruit of the Holy Spirit and this church was taught these things.

Eph 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
Eph 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

We can be sure that the church in Ephesus had been taught these things from the church in Galatia because all the works of the Apostle Paul were passed from church to church.

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

When we grow cold, we then grieve the Spirit, and He cannot do His work within us and within the church.

Let us all turn up the heat and get busy about the work of the Lord.

Remember the Lord Jesus Christ is the foundation of the Church!

Those that gather in any other name are not a church built on Jesus Christ!

If not for the Love of God, we would all end in a burning hell and then a lake of burning fire.

We must remain in one heart, one mind, and in one accord for our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave His all when He did not have to!

When we allow sin to overwhelm us, the church will grow cold!

Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Mat 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

This Church needed to turn up the heat and get back on fire for our Savior.

This church needed to remember back to the time the Apostle Paul who through much persecution, taught this church about a perfect Savior who loved them enough to die for them!

Again the message of Jeremiah:

Jer 2:1 Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
Jer 2:2 Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.

This is the message that should be preached in all those churches that have followed in the path of this church in Ephesus.

What was the remedy given to this Church by the Lord Himself?

*****Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

It is a fact that if Jesus was here and preaching to the churches today, they would run Him out of many churches, and He would not be allowed to preach!

Jesus says to “remember” “or else”!

There is not much of that “or else” preaching going on today!

In every so called “House of God”, unless the flame of love for the Lord Jesus Christ, which includes His Gospel, is not kept bright and glowing, He will withdraw His support.

A Church without the “Spirit of Jesus” is not a church at all, but just a social club where people gather to give praise to the devil!

Repentance has become an unknown word to many who claim to be Christian today!

Remember what Jesus said and we see He warned us many times.

Mat_24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Mar_13:6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Luk_21:8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.

Joh_5:43 I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.

We see the way that the Apostle wrote, and it is happening more today than any other time in Church history.

The false teacher and false preacher come in their own names!

What must we do if our fire grows dim?

1) Remember
2) Repent
3) Return to doing the first works, “or else”!

There is also not much “repenting” preaching going on today.

Just what does those words “Born Again” mean.

They mean repenting!

Repenting is a complete change of heart, having a new heart toward Christ Jesus.
Repenting includes a compete change of mind, having the mind of Christ.
Repenting includes a compete change of direction, stop walking with the world, and the ways of the world, and beginning a walk with the Lord Jesus Christ!

Anything else falls into that “or else” category!

When Jesus removes the candlestick, that house will become a house of darkness.

Darkness is a symbol of the “Judgments” that are coming from the Lord!

Mat 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
Mat 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

A so-called church without a candlestick of the Lord Jesus Christ is not a church at all!

They did have one thing the Lord bragged on them about. The hated the deeds of the Nicolaitan.

*****Rev 2:6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

This Church had remained faithful to the Doctrine of the Scriptures in every way except the first commandment of Jesus.

Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.

Who or what are the Nicolaitans? In reality they are those in the Church who claim to be Christians but follow the ways of the world.

There is a certain mayor who is running for President and claims to be a Christian made in the image of God, who is also queer and proud of it. He could be said to be a Nicolaitan.

Jud 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jud 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Jud 1:8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

The Church in Ephesus had rejected anyone who had this Doctrine.

This would include all those who claim to be Christian and walk in the ways of this sinful world.

To be “Born Again” must have a real meaning and Jesus said we must be “Born Again”

2Jn 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
2Jn 1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
2Jn 1:11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

Psa 101:2 I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
Psa 101:3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.
Psa 101:4 A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person.

The Psalmist also wrote:

Psa 139:19 Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.
Psa 139:20 For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.
Psa 139:21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
Psa 139:22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
Psa 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
Psa 139:24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

In reality the Doctrine of the Nicolaitans are all those who stress that Jesus Christ did away with the Old Testament and has given all Christians liberty to live as they wish!

They stress that the spirit and soul of man are far more important than this body we live in daily and therefore the sins of the body do not change the Doctrine of Salvation. The body is free to live as it wishes!

We need to hate this doctrine just as Christ Jesus did!

Without the laws such as the 10 Commandments, we would not know how the Lord expects us to live!

What does the Lord say about all those laws given to the Jews?

Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Jesus Christ came to fulfill all the Law and we are part of His Body and He is the Head of the Church!

And the Holy Spirit gives us all a warning.

*****Rev 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

In reality as Christians our redemption is based on the promises of God!

God makes many promises and those promises will be fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ.

As “Born Again” Christians we are to die to our old sinful ways and be born again to live in the ways of Jesus Christ.

Our salvation and redemption are based upon these promises!

We must be “overcomers” to the very best we can. We should remember that phrase Jesus used in verse five, “or else”.

That “or else” means we will miss out on the pleasures Heaven!

Psa 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Notice the Holy Spirit is speaking to the Church, but He is also talking to each individual Christian.

We are given this last opportunity to try to change the direction of the church we attend to reconnect with our first love, the Lord Jesus Christ, or maybe it’s time for us to leave a church that will not return to the Doctrine of Christ and find one that does, but in the least we must remember that we are a Temple of God in our body and we need to bring our own body back in line to the ways of our Lord, and hate the doctrine of the Nicolaitans.

Amen

Let’s Pray!

Jesus Taught In His Glorified Body

Jesus Taught in His Glorified Body

Book of John Chapter 21

As we close out our study of the Book of John. we will get another view of the “glorified body” of Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ appeared to the disciples the third time on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.

John uses the term Tiberius because of politics. The name this sea had been changed by the time John wrote this book.

Peter had invited the disciples to go fishing and at least 6 of them had gone with Peter.

As the day had dawned the Lord Jesus appeared on the shoreline, while these disciples were several yards off shore at least a hundred yards.

So let’s allow our Savior to speak:

*****Joh 21:1 After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.
Joh 21:2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.
Joh 21:3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.

After what things?

1) After Jesus had met with Mary Magdalene.
2) After Jesus had met with the other women who had come to the tomb but had left leaving Mary Magdalene behind
3) After Jesus had met the two disciples on the Emmaus rode.
4) After Jesus had met with Peter.
5) After Jesus had met with the disciples without Thomas.
6) After Jesus had met with the disciples with Thomas.

It is after these things that Jesus met with the seven disciples at the Sea of Galilee.

What did Jesus prove to these disciples on this occasion?

Jesus Christ proved that the disciples could do nothing without Him.

This something we all need to know! Without the Lord Jesus Christ we are nothing.

Joh_15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

The men in typology were fishermen but they had labored all night and caught nothing.

When they knew that Jesus was on the shore and told them to throw the net on the other side of the boat which should have no difference at all but with the Word of the Lord, they became true fishermen!

Joh 15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
Joh 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Joh 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

It is the same when we witness for the Lord! If we do not have the Words of Jesus, the Gospel of Jesus Christ we will never bear any fruit!

If we cannot be true to the Word of God, we are useless to Him!

The Lord Jesus resurrected from that death to prove He is God and that we must depend upon His strength!

Jesus continued to show Himself for as long as it took to make sure their faith was solid.

Jesus does the same thing today when He test our “Faith”.

The body of Jesus was the same body that had died upon the cross, but it was a glorified body!

What is the promise to each of us that believe?

Php 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

We should be able to see that there will be some differences in our body after physical death. Our Spiritual body will be made perfect while our earthly body cannot be perfect.

*****Joh 21:4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

It should be obvious that even though these disciples could not tell if this body was Jesus, they could still tell that He appeared to be a human being and not a something that was not a man. They were too far out in the sea, to see clearly.

It was just breaking dawn. Jesus walked over to the shore line but still they could not tell until He began speaking loudly.

When Jesus speaks, we will know Him!

*****Joh 21:5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
Joh 21:6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

We should be able to tell by the words, of Jesus that He was expecting “a no” answer. Normally one side of these boats would make no difference in fishing, but the Lord knew exactly where the fish were because He directed them to be there.

These disciples had to be on the right side, and we are always to be on the right side of the Word of God.

If these disciples did not have enough faith to pull the net in and place it on the other side of the boat, they would have never caught those fish!

John knew as soon as he heard these words that it was the Lord Jesus standing on that shoreline!

We should understand that there is always a reward for being obedient to the Word of God.

Being on the right side of the Word of God is to be “justified”!

The reward for being obedient to the Lord, was not just the amount of fish that were caught, but the Lord had prepared them a meal on the shoreline.

In typology, the ship they were in represents the Church. The right side, points to those who have chosen the Lord, the elect.

Jesus is the first of the elect:

Isa 42:1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

The Church is the true, choosing the “Grace of God” over the laws of man.

Rom 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
Rom 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

The casting to the net represents the preaching of the Gospel.

The promise of finding the fish, is the assurance Christ gives of the success of His Word, the Gospel.

Isa_55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

It is Jesus Christ that has blessed the Word of God and carries with it the promises of God!

The Church is to obey the Word of God for the Church to gather the fish.

What’s that old saying? “I catch them, but God cleans them”, is still the truth!

But, Simon Peter could not wait to see the Lord again.

*****Joh 21:7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.
Joh 21:8 And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.
Joh 21:9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
Joh 21:10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.

Each of us who are genuine will experience the super natural care of the Lord.

Jesus showed to these disciples the reality of His surroundings, so they could believe that He was certainly the “Risen Savior”.

The fish upon the fire represents all those who will be tried by the Lord to see if they are true to the Lord.

1Co_3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

Peter dove in the water and swam to shore eager to see Jesus. The other disciples stayed in the ship (the Church) to make sure the fish made it to shore safely.

The message of the Church must always contain the truth of Jesus Christ!

Act 3:13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.
Act 3:14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
Act 3:15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
Act 3:16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

Then Simon Peter helped to bring in the fish:

*****Joh 21:11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
Joh 21:12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
Joh 21:13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.
Joh 21:14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.

Peter drew in the fish and noticed not one was lost. The Lord will not lose any of the fish caught by His disciples!

Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Joh 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Joh 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
Joh 10:30 I and my Father are one.

We can find the Gospel in everything that Jesus did when He walked among us!

There are many great thoughts on the number 153 fish. One theory is that the Lord blessed 153 persons during His time upon this earth.

By talking, hearing and eating the Lord Jesus Christ proved He was in a living body of flesh but was a glorified body.

Remember a glorified body is a body of perfection and we do not have any clue of what a perfect body would look like!

A glorified body is real, and it is a perfect body and as believers we will each have one, one day soon.

After worship, and joy, and the peace we get from knowing Jesus Christ, the next great thing we get from the Church is fellowship.

Jesus had prepared a meal, not from the fish that these had caught, but with fish and bread He had gotten Himself.

The Lord is always giving us gifts that we do not deserve!

Heb 2:16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
Heb 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Heb 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

Jesus Christ is everything we need, and He is the only one who knows what we need!!!!!

These disciples began to understand that they knew what Jesus wanted them to know. Not like a brain washing but the truth!

When we understand the Lord, we understand the truth of life!!!!!

John lets us be aware that this was the third time that the resurrected Christ had appeared to His chosen disciples.

We must clearly understand that the success in catching fish or men, comes from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus just wants us to be busy about the Masters, work.

If souls are not coming to the Lord, it is not because there are no fish.

Joh_4:35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

The facts are that the Church has far too many men ready to put the brakes on the progress of the Church!

Just as the Lord does not relieve us from labor in this world, (he that does not work does not eat), Jesus also will not relieve us the labor for souls until the day we die. Remember it is the Lord that will call us home “when he is ready”!!!!!

We must remember why the Apostle John was writing this epistle!

Joh 20:30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
Joh 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

Not till after they had dined did Jesus show us what it is to be a disciple!

*****Joh 21:15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
Joh 21:16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
Joh 21:17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

There are many things we feel in our doings from day to day, but it is the feelings of love that move us the most!

Peter was a natural born leader so in the presence of the other 6 Jesus went straight to Peter. Not so much because he had denied the Lord but to insure Peter clearly understood his mission.

We are never to take worldly objects and love them more than we love the Lord Jesus Christ!!!!!
We are never to have idols we cherish more than the Lord!!!!!

We all have close friends and family and most have spouses, of which I no longer have, but we are to never love them more than we love the Lord.

In fact we will never love them properly until we put the Lord Jesus Christ first in our lives!!!!!

The truth is Jesus loves all of us more than we can ever understand so He is our example to learn what love is all about!

We must always remember the length of suffering the Lord has done to show us what true love is all about.

Jesus Christ gave us the gift of His love while we were mired in sin, showing Him nothing but hatred.

If we are observant as we look out over the world of today, we see more hatred than we ever have, and hatred is the absence of love!!!!!

The leadership of Peter needed to be reinforced publicly before those that gone fishing with him.

We know when the Lord Jesus called Peter by his full name the conversation was very important!

The most important trait we must have as Christians is the love we have for our Lord and our God, Jesus the Messiah!

We must understand that we are nothing and can accomplish nothing without Christ Jesus!

1) The first question Jesus had to Peter was “did he love the Lord more than he loved these other men”.

Jesus could have also been talking about the family of Peter.

One more thing is that Jesus was talking about Peter’s love of fishing and his business.
Remember Peter was a business man along with James and John as partners who were also amongst these other men.

Our love for the Lord must be true and must be sincere!

Every true Pastor has loved Jesus more than their family and their career. As disciples we are to be no different!

Jesus ask for “agape” love, but Peter did not respond with agape love but “phileo” love.

You need to look these things up yourself so you will know the difference. We are all to know the difference!

There are even some who have made up their own Christ and not the Christ as described in the Scriptures.

Jesus Christ is the God of the Bible and we had better understand that!

2) The next question Jesus asked Peter was “did he love with God’s love”.

We are not only to love Jesus more than anyone else in our life, but we are to love everyone else with the same love that God has shown to us.

Our example is still John 3:16 but let’s look at some other passages also.

1Jn 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
1Jn 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
1Jn 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
1Jn 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1Jn 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
1Jn 4:12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
1Jn 4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

1Jn 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
1Jn 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
1Jn 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.

It takes time to learn this love and show it to others, but this is what the Lord was asking Peter and the same love Jesus ask of every disciple.

3) The third question Jesus asked Peter was “do you really love Me as your brother”.

Jesus now asked with “phileo” love. It takes time to learn the love of God but until then we must be loyal not only to the Lord but also to our brothers and sisters in Christ!

We must be loyal not only to Jesus Christ but also to the entire Word of God.

There is no modern interpretation of the Scriptures. The Scriptures have said what they have always say and God’s Word is just as vital today, just as it was in the time of Peter and this was something Peter needed to lock into his heart.

Words are wonderful but if those words do not originate from a heart dedicated to the Lord Jesus Christ, then they are meaningless words!

Without the love of God as described here, Peter could never have done the things the Lord has asked him to do.

We owe a lot to Peter today because we know he learned the love that Jesus was insisting on this day on the shore of Galilee.

Peter could now feed the sheep of the Lord!

Act 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Some of the flock will be one way:

1Pe 2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
1Pe 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
1Pe 2:3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
1Pe 2:4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
1Pe 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Some of the flock will have progressed:

2Ti 2:14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2Ti 2:16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

Then there is the special ministry of the Pastor:

1Pe 5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
1Pe 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
1Pe 5:3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
1Pe 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

Then the Lord got up close and truly personal with Peter.

*****Joh 21:18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
Joh 21:19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

We need to understand as Christians, the Lord requires a total commitment in following the leadership of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who is that “another”.

What do we know about the Apostle Peter?

Peter lived for about 36 more years after this day with Jesus and he was tied to a cross upside down (because he insisted) and when the nails were driven in, he was carried by another to the place he was crucified.

Before Peter was saved, he, more or less did what he pleased, and this is the thing we must give up. We must follow the lead of the Holy Spirit!

If we cannot give the Lord Jesus full control of our bodies, then we are “foolish Christians”

Eph 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Eph 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Eph 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

Tradition says that the wife of Peter served with him in his ministry and she to, was martyred the same day as Peter, right in front of him so the last thing he saw was his dead wife.

Peter was to die the death of a martyr, but not John!

On seeing his wife’s death before his own eyes, it is said that Peter rejoiced because he knew she would be waiting on him in Heaven when he got there.

We must understand that the call of Christ will bring some persecution.

We are to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit in everything we do, until the day we go home to be with the Lord!

This was the life that Jesus told Peter he would have, and Peter stood true all his days.

We will all die unless we are among the few will go home at the time of the Rapture.

2Co 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
2Co 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
2Co 5:9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
2Co 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
2Co 5:11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
2Co 5:12 For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.
2Co 5:13 For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.

Jesus said to pick up your own cross and follow Him and this is what Peter did.

Peter turned to see John following and Peter asked Jesus what would John be doing in his ministry.

And Jesus firmly said:

*****Joh 21:20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?
Joh 21:21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
Joh 21:22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.

Peter may have thought all the Apostles would minister together as a group, but Jesus told Peter that this was not going to happen.

Peter had gone into business with John and his brother James and they were very close for many years.

Peter wanted to know what lay ahead for John.

We know that for some reason, John was spared from a martyr’s death and lived a long life.

I believe that since John was to take care of Mary the mother of Jesus, that he did not suffer as much persecution as did Peter and we know the James the brother of John was the first to die a martyr’s death when he was beheaded.

We should understand that when Jesus said these things to Peter, it was not a revelation of the will of God for John as some believed.

Jesus was dealing only with Peter as Peter would remain the head of the Apostles till, he died.

If and when we called of God to do anything, then we need to concentrate on that calling and not on what is happening elsewhere or with other ministries.

Not that we are not to help when called upon, but that we are not to allow our own calling suffer for helping others!

We are to focus our energy and our efforts on fulfilling the will of God for our own lives.

We must also understand our motivation to serve must remain our love for God, and not our love for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are to do the same.

We are certainly to love one another, but Jesus Christ is the one who is to the first in our love.

Our power to serve comes from the Holy Spirit, and we need to pay close attention to Him!

The one more thing we are to understand being a Christian in the full will of God, this will not keep us from growing old or from suffering as we grow old.

We must understand that Paul was a great Apostle only because of that thorn that caused him so much misery.

If we become too rich in material things or physical comforts, we may forget that it is the Lord who will provide.

If we become rich, then those most of those riches are to be used in the ministry or the ministry of the Church.

As Christians we are to live without the favor of this world.

We cannot do without devoted followers.

What would happen to the Apostle John was to be no concern of Peter’s.

What was said to Peter about John was misunderstood. Remember it is John who has given us these passages by the Holy Spirit, and we can believe what John is saying.

*****Joh 21:23 Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?
Joh 21:24 This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.

Since John did live the longest of all the 12 Apostles, then he could give the Church the truth of how the early Church withstood the world around it.

The Church is like a ship on course through this world, taking the message of Jesus Christ to all ports of call and the Church will sail boldly as long as the world is not allowed into the ship (Church) that would cause the Church to sink.

We can see that many a ship are sinking, or struggling today because they have allowed the world inside the Church doors!

In truth, as Christians we should forward to death. Not to rush our death in any way, but to know the joy of a job well done and going to the one place that has no part of the world and that is Heaven!

We can understand that the specific form and the manner of our death is predetermined and arranged by God Himself!

The death and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ has made a dramatic change to this world we live in.

We can only imagine what this world would look like without the Church or our own nation without the Church.

If we were to understand a miserable future, then the Church would have been useless all these years.

The Lord has promised an eternal life in Heaven. A place where we cannot even imagine the beauty of, where God accepts His adopted family and we will eat as His table for an eternity!

John could not tell us somethings because the Holy Spirit did not require them.

*****Joh 21:25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

Amen

Let’s Pray!

Jesus Christ Paid For Our Sin

Jesus Paid For Our Sins
Book of John Chapter 19:1-37

Last week we saw the Jesus Christ give himself over to a mob that had come to capture Him.

Jesus first faced Annas in an illegal court.

Jesus next was taken to Caiaphas the High Priest the son-in-law to Annas.

Today the Lord Jesus stands before Pilate.

Before we proceed let’s take a look at verse 11.

Joh 19:11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

If we cannot see anything else, it should be obvious that those who become the rulers of men are all given that power from God Himself!

What we see in our world is that many if not most all rulers think they hold the power for good or power for evil, but the truth is their power comes by God Himself.

These rulers are responsible for the way they use this power.

These rulers are foolish to believe that they can overrule Jehovah God!

These rulers are foolish if they believe God will not hold them accountable for the bad things they do.

For those who do not understand the hatred for our President have forgotten what Jesus said.

All those who claim the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior will be hated by the world.

Joh_15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

Our President has put the Bible back in the White House, where it belongs!

Why has the nation of Israel had so many problems since the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70AD?

Because it was the Jews who had rejected the Lord when He first came.

When Pilate symbolically washed his hands for the death of Jesus, these Jews made their biggest mistake of all their days.

Mat_27:25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

When these things are said to the Lord there will be repercussions and the tiny nation of Israel has suffered since that day and this will continue until the Lord returns.

The rebirth of Israel and then Jerusalem means that God has not forgotten these He has made such great promises to.

Let’s begin with verse 13

*****Joh 19:13 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.

Gabbatha, the Pavement was a place on the Temple Mount outside the walls of the Praetorium which was the “Judgment Hall”.

This place was paved with stones and Pilate would sit in his judgment seat high above this pavement.

This pavement was a walk way of stones laid in a mosaic pattern outside of Antonio Fortress.

In fact Josephus mentioned that the entire Temple Mount was paved with this type of mosaic work.

Psa 94:20 Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?
Psa 94:21 They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.
Psa 94:22 But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.
Psa 94:23 And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the LORD our God shall cut them off.

The main thing we will see about Pilate was that he was a coward who feared Caesar more than he feared Jehovah a mistake so many rulers make today. Afraid of the loss of power, which is given by God, rather than fear Jehovah God.

This is the way of the world.

These things took place on the day the Passover Lambs were slaughtered!

*****Joh 19:14 And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!

By the time we reach this point in the Book of John, Jesus has already been judged by Annas, Caiaphas, and what few of the Sanhedrin Court that good gather. All these had sentenced Jesus to death without any evidence of wrong doing, but they had to have the charge of insurrection for Jesus to be crucified.

This also the second time before Pilate, as Pilate had first sent Jesus to Herod.

We should understand that “preparation day” was the day that the Passover Lamb was killed, and the Passover meal was prepared!

This would be the day before Passover Day, whether it be the Sabbath, or a day treated as the Sabbath.

This sixth hour would be the noon hour though some would say it was 6 AM.

None of these things deserve any argument because they have nothing to do with salvation.

What we need to understand is that Jesus Christ was our Passover and we are washed in the Blood of the Lamb.

What we do know is that about 3 PM Jesus gave up His own life so that we can live for an eternity.

And before 6 PM Jesus was buried in a borrowed tomb!

The only way for Pilate to use Roman Law was that Jesus had claimed to be King of the Jews, which He had not done at this time.

Jesus was innocent of all charges brought against Him!

Mat 27:62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
Mat 27:63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.

Mar 15:42 And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,

One of the things many people forget is on Passover the Blood of the Lamb was caught and that blood had to be applied to the doorpost of the place where they would eat the Passover meal.

Exo 12:7 And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.

If we consider the way that this blood was applied, it was in the shape of the cross.

It was not enough that the Passover Lamb be killed, and the blood captured in some vessel. The Blood of Christ must be applied to our lives as it was to those door post.

The cleansing power of the Lord comes only by “faith”

Exo 12:13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.

The Jews of that day were blinded by their Jewish leaders who wanted only one thing and it was the death of Jesus Christ!

*****Joh 19:15 But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.
Joh 19:16 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.

These evil men were determined that they would settle for nothing less than the death of Jesus!

Act_2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

Israel did not need a king that day, they needed a Savior.

It is the same today, Israel does not need a king they still need a Savior.

They will get the opportunity to make that decision after the Church is removed and they see where they have been wrong, all these many years!

There is much difference in the Lord of Glory and that false lord of Rome!

Act 3:14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
Act 3:15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
Act 3:16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

The Jews who claimed Caesar as there king would soon see Caesar destroy their nation.

This is not much different as all those today who have chosen to make some idol their king.

Some choose the king of money, others choose the king of power, others the king of pleasure or the king of fashion.

There those who choose the king of drugs and the king of alcohol but in the end their king will destroy them all!

There is only one Savior, who is also the King of all Kings, the Lord of all Lords and He will not let another take His place!

Before Jesus will be King, He would first be the Prince of Life!

Jesus would carry His own wood to a place called Golgotha.

*****Joh 19:17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:
Joh 19:18 Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.

The physical body of Jesus was beaten beyond recognition.

Psa 22:13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
Psa 22:14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
Psa 22:15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

Isa 52:14 As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:

When we sit at the foot of the cross on Calvary, we will see our Redeemer after he had been beaten, and crowned with thorns, and smitten, and scourged, and crucified, when his face was covered with bruises and with gore, and his frame and features distorted with agony.

This is our Savior who with the help of Simon of Cyrene made His way to Calvary, the place called Golgotha. Both of these words mean “Skull”.

This is the same Savior that Peter wrote about.

1Pe 2:19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
1Pe 2:20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
1Pe 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

One of these days soon, these Jews are going to open their eyes to the truth of Jesus Christ!

There were two more, one on each side that were also crucified on the day!

The Holy Spirit had made sure to prophesy of these things.

Isa_53:12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

When Jesus arrived at Golgotha even more pain was inflicted upon Him.

Psa 22:15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
Psa 22:16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
Psa 22:17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
Psa 22:18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
Psa 22:19 But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
Psa 22:20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.

Again we see that the Holy Spirit had told of all these things!

And Pilate just added to the misery of that day.

*****Joh 19:19 And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Joh 19:20 This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.

There should be very little doubt that this place of Golgotha was a place where many people would pass as they entered and left Jerusalem.

This capital punishment was used to each law breakers not to test the Roman government which was a cruel government.

Another proof is the fact that this title was written in 3 languages so any one who passed by or witnessed this event could know what it said, Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews.

In the flesh, He was Jesus of Nazareth.
In the flesh, He was the son of David, the true King of the Jews.

In reality He was God in the flesh, Emmanuel, the sovereign Lord of His entire creation, God!

The Hebrew language was the national language of Israel.
The Latin language was the official language of Rome.
The Greek language was the language most used in the world at that time.

The Jews were indifferent to these words. These words had no effect upon them. There was no remorse over an innocent man who truly was in the line of Kings from King David.

There were only a handful of Jews who knew the truth and none of them were certain at this time.

What is the truth?

Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Php 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Php 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

This is the most important thing that we need to know!

The only concern that the High Priest and his followers wanted was that Pilate change the wording to say that this was something that Jesus had said which would have been another lie.

*****Joh 19:21 Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews.
Joh 19:22 Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.

Jesus will never just be King of the Jews because He will always be King of this entire universe!

There has been many a Church, more today than ever, that have replaced King Jesus with some man.

The Catholic refuse to take the Lord off that cross and think they need some pope as a go between.

Jesus Christ is the Foundation and the Head of the Church, King of kings, and Lord of lords and the church needs to wake up to that fact instead of giving in to the world who will have many kings until they accept the Antichrist.

Jesus Christ has given us His Words and His Words will never change.

When we look at the throne in Heaven it is still the Lamb of God who sits upon that throne!

1Ti 6:13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;
1Ti 6:14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
1Ti 6:15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
1Ti 6:16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

Even though all these things had happened, the world is never through taking away from the righteous!

*****Joh 19:23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.
Joh 19:24 They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.

Jesus Christ had come to die and at this moment it looked as if death would have her complete victory.

The world did its best to try to eliminate any knowledge of our Savior, but this world can only do what God allows!

The body of Jesus Christ was torn in pieces yet not one bone would be broken.

The flesh of Jesus would taste death, but it could not have come unless the Lord gave His own life, because this world will never be able to take it from Him.

The only things the Lord had in His personal possession was the clothes on His back and the world would even take these things away.

Soldiers gambled for His possessions!

Psa 22:18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

All His life Jesus had gone about doing good. He had never done one bad thing!

Yet at His death no one showed compassion.

The Mother of the Lord was standing as close as she was allowed to the cross of her Son, yet these soldiers did not care or even offer to her the things that Jesus had with Him!

Jesus had not yet given up the Ghost because there was one more thing He needed to do.

*****Joh 19:25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
Joh 19:26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
Joh 19:27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

No matter how Mary the mother of Jesus is treated by religionist, the fact remains that the Virgin Mary was the birth Mother of Jesus the God-Man Emmanuel, the Messiah, the Christ.

Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel.

Jesus would not give up the ghost until He made sure His mother was taken care of.

We may ask ourselves, why John the Apostle, but history proves that John was the only apostle that died of old age.

John was the only choice because of this.

It is believed that Mary the Virgin mother of Christ is buried in Ephesus where John preached for so many years and Caesar did not make the many attempts on John’s life until after the death of Mary.

We could also say that John knew so much about the Lord Jesus because he learned those things from His mother!

Just before the pain and agony Jesus suffered in His body when He was ready to give up, He looked down at His mother and knew that she was suffering along with Him.

Mary was never to be an object of worship, but she was certainly a righteous young maiden when the Holy Spirit selected her to be the birth mother of the Messiah.

No matter where we see Jesus, we had better understand that He was always thinking of others much more than He thought upon Himself!

Anytime we are feeling uppity in this world we need to go back to the cross of the Lord Jesus and feel the love He has for us!

Isa 45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
Isa 45:23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
Isa 45:24 Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.

Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

What did Abraham tell Isaac?

Gen 22:8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

God had certainly provided Himself as the Lamb who died for all His Creation!

It was after John knew he was to take care of the Mother of Jesus and Mary knew this also, that it was time for Jesus to give up the Ghost.

*****Joh 19:28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.

We should understand that there were many words that Jesus said just for the purpose of fulfilling prophesy.

Psa 69:21 They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

We should understand that at the site of a crucifixion there would always be a mixture of Gaul a natural growing pain reliever mixed with wine, which made this a drug.

It was given to those who were crucified to ease their pain.

This sounds great, but all it did was prolong their suffering.

To some this would seem to be a good thing but actually it would only prolong the agony of that one who was crucified.

When this was offered to Jesus, He rejected it.

Mar 15:23 And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.

We should also understand that because the Roman soldiers traveled from one land to another and had to be ready at all times to be in defense of Rome, they would only drink water that contained the last product of fermented wine was is vinegar that has no alcoholic content, but it would make water safe to drink and also still provide a little nourishment from the grape.

In Vietnam we used iodine tablets if we had to drink the water in that land not water that had been treated by the Army.

This vinegar is what was offered to Jesus at the time He said, “I Thirst” and he did take this.

Jesus could be on twenty crosses and He would never drink anything that was of alcohol or any drug mixture that contained alcohol.

Jesus would never have gone against His word and He told us not to even look at true wine!

*****Joh 19:29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
Joh 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

The Jews used hyssop somewhat like a paint brush.

For instance: Exo 12:22 And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.

If we go back and look at the first Passover, we will see why the Lord Jesus Christ was our Passover.

Psa 69:21 They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

We know vinegar is very bitter. The work Jesus had done for our salvation was finished.

This where we get that Phrase, “it leaves a bitter taste in your mouth”.

Jesus had been obedient to His Father.
Jesus had freely given Himself for us.
Jesus had been diligent in the work God the Father had given to His Son.

Whatever the law had demanded was perfectly paid.
Whatever each sinner needed was perfectly obtained.

It was perfect blood that flowed through the veins of Jesus.

Heb 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
Heb 10:13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
Heb 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

That perfect blood must be applied for our lives to be like Jesus!

*****Joh 19:31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
Joh 19:32 Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.
Joh 19:33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:

These same men who insisted that an innocent man be murdered, could not think of letting His dead hang upon that cross on a Sabbath day.

What hypocrites!

Crucifixion is death by suffocation. There was a step near to where the feet were nailed to the cross and those upon the cross could support their weight in order that they could breath, which was also there to prolong their misery.

By breaking the legs they could no longer support themselves and they would soon die for lake of air.

Deu 21:22 And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree:
Deu 21:23 His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

Just so we know these were soldiers of the Roman Guard who had been in many battles they knew what death looked like and they knew how to cause such a death.

*****Joh 19:34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
Joh 19:35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.
Joh 19:36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.
Joh 19:37 And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.

We can be sure that this soldier new that Jesus was already dead, or he would have just broken the legs of Jesus as had done to the other two.

We also know that he had heard the rumors that Jesus might rise from the dead.

If we look at the picture of Jesus on the cross, we know that a bunch of hyssop with a sponge could reach His lips.

This spear, a Roman battle sword would have pass under the rib cage directly into the lungs and then the heart of our Savior.

This was a death blow that no man could recover from.

This was intentional and done with malice. Just one more indignity inflicted upon the body of our Savior.

Of course Jesus knew these things would happen!

Isa_53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Rev_1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

Jesus came to die and there must be no doubt in our minds that He did die in that flesh.

If the flesh of Jesus had not died, then there would be no sacrifice for our sins, and we would still be guilty of our sins and that penalty would be the death of our being and a complete separation from God for an eternity.

The piercing of that sword through the lungs into the heart is undeniable proof that Jesus died, but of course God cannot die.

We must believe that Jesus died and then rose again from that death!

John makes sure that we understand that Jesus had given up the Ghost before this piercing occurred.

Jesus had already said that no man could take His life from Him only then could He take His life back up!

In typology we know that God had opened the side of Adam and had taken his bride Eve.

In the case of our Savior, the side of Jesus was opened so the Church, washed in the blood and purified with pure water, could begin its life.

Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Heb 10:21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

1Jn 5:6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.

John says if you want to know the truth, then this is the truth of Mount Calvary.

John along with others were an eyewitness to these events!

Not one bone of the Lord Jesus Christ was broken, according to the Scriptures just as Paul had written.

We should understand that after the Spirit of Christ had departed from His body, it was up to His Heavenly Father who was to take care of that body that was left behind!

The body of Jesus would see no corruption for those three days He had said He would be in that borrowed tomb!

John remembered the words of the Prophet Zechariah.

Zec 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

It was only after these things that Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus came to prepare the body of Jesus for his own tomb!

We know that when the Lord returns to this earth the entire world will see the Lord but even these who had brought the false trial and these who had damaged the body of Jesus, those who had driven the nails and even this soldier who had pierced the body of Jesus will stand before the Lord at the White Throne Judgment and they too will look upon Him!

Amen

Let’s Pray

Jesus Christ Prayed for the Believer

Jesus Prayed for His Disciples

Book of John Chapter 17:1-26

The Apostle Paul was writing to the Corinthian Church and he gave us this piece of Scripture by the Holy Spirit.

1Co_2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

It is a fact that we cannot know everything of the mind of the Lord but today in Chapter 17 of the Book of the Apostle John, we get to take a look into the deep thoughts of our Savior.

*****Joh 17:1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
Joh 17:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

At this time these 11 disciples of Christ Jesus are with Him in transit to the Garden of Gethsemane. It would only be a few hours before Jesus would be taken into custody and this same day He would be murdered by Crucifixion, the Capitol death of the Roman Government.

Jesus clearly understood all these things, yet His thoughts were still upon the souls His Father had given to Him!

Jesus was praying directly unto God the Father, but He was within hearing range of His disciples.

Jesus knew that His time had come.

The time of the birth of Jesus had been set by His Father:

Gal 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Gal 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Now the time of His death was set by His Father, and Jesus had known these things all along.

Most of us when we pray, we bow in humility, but Jesus lifted up His eyes. We must always remember when we approach the Throne of God, we must remember who is sitting upon that throne.

It is the Almighty Living God!

Psa 89:7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.
Psa 89:8 O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee?

We must have a reverend fear of God but not a fear of “bondage” but the fear of “adoption”. Romans 8:15

We must be clear in our minds that true prayer must be based upon “faith in” the promises of God.

We live and die by the promises of God.

Our hope lies in the promises of God and even God the Son respected the promises that God the Father had given to Him. Again our example!

We know that Jesus, the Messiah is the same one who walked with Adam and was Captain of the host that help Joshua, but until Jesus came as the Messiah, no one really knew Him.

It was nearly time for Jesus to return to Heaven as High Priest of the Church.

It is our High Priest that represents all believers to God the Father.

Jesus Christ is forever our Intercessor.

Heb 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Heb 7:26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
Heb 7:27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

It is Jesus Christ who now holds the power over all flesh.

Since Jesus did come, we now know more about the Triune God. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

*****Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Joh 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

How is eternal life obtained? By knowing the only true God and that by Jesus Christ!

Jesus had done His part. He had laid down the foundation of the Church. Jesus had made us all aware of God the Father. When Jesus got back to Heaven, He would dispatch the Holy Spirit to keep the Church moving in the right direction.

It would soon be time for God to do His part. God would have to glorify God the Son by raising Him from that death He had sent Him to do!

We will notice as we go through this prayer that Jesus uses the term Father 6 times. Not “My Father”, not “Our Father” but “Father”.

Everything Jesus did upon this earth was the most important thing that could have happened for us but the one thing that was the most important was the death of our Savior. Let that sink in for a moment!

Jesus was truly the Messiah, the immortal God but He was also man and His man side need to be encouraged and strengthened and He had to realize that only in His death would there be victory.

The whole purpose of God coming to this earth was to provide to mankind the only means of eternal life.

Jesus Christ was glorified by God giving Him the power and authority over all flesh.

Joh 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Joh 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

True life can come from only one direction, it is the life of God instilled into each believer.

It is in God’s energy.
It is in God’s life force.
It is in God’s being.
It is in God’s essence.
It is in God’s principle.
It is in God’s power over all life!

It is impossible to live in eternal life upon this place called earth.

Eternal life comes by perfection and perfection comes only by the Lord Jesus Christ!

1Jn 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
1Jn 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
1Jn 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Jesus Christ had glorified His Father by completing the work God the Father had given Him to do!

It is the same for each of us. We will have glorified God when we have finished the work the Lord has given us to do!

Glorified also means, we honor God, we exalt God, we give God the glory for the things we accomplish in His name.

1Pe_4:14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

Verse 5

*****Joh 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
Joh 17:6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
Joh 17:7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.

Notice Jesus did not say, “Our Father” that would have put Him on the same level as we are.

Jesus did not say “My Father” because this could have led to a belief of separation, not One God but three.

Jesus simply says “Father” as Jesus had confirmed the Holy Trinity.

What do we already know?

2Co 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

We know that Jesus had emptied Himself of His glory to take on flesh to do the work that God the Father had given Him to do.

Now Jesus is saying to restore that Glory to Him that He had had before the first day of creation.

God the Son was sent to restore the eternal life that Adam once had before sin entered into his life and Jesus would complete that work when He was nailed to that cross until He gave His life for us!

God the Son is distinct from God the Father, yet they are still One God, including God the Holy Spirit.

In His short time on this earth Jesus had shown the world the character and the nature of God.

Jesus also showed the world He was not about to beg people to believe, but only He had the truth and the world is full of lies.

Jesus taught us not to waste our time on those who were not receptive to His truth!

Mar 6:11 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.

It is God that calls those who are to be used.

It is the call of God that enables us to believe!

Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

But not everyone called of God will believe.

Mat_22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

We should understand this calling as the work of the Holy Spirit!

Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Joh 6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
Joh 6:46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.
Joh 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

Then the truth comes by the Lord Jesus Christ.

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Verse 8

*****Joh 17:8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.
Joh 17:9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.

We may sometimes question the faith of these 11 men but in this text, Jesus says they received His words by “Faith”. Surely like us they did not understand many things but if Jesus says it then, it has to be the truth.

These 11 men had come out of the world to accept the Lord Jesus Christ.

These 11 men had truly become disciples, even though they were not perfect.

Let’s consider that even when we were out in the world, we belonged to God because He is our Creator.

We are called and then chosen if we accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior and are therefore given to Jesus by our Creator.

One day in the near future, the Lord Jesus will present us back to our Creator our Father, as been made perfect and we can then spend eternity with our Heavenly Father.

Heb 3:14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

The key to these things taking place is the fact that we have place our “faith” in the promises of God’s Dear Son!

At this point Jesus prays for these 11 men.

Jesus did not pray for the world at this minute because the world needed these men to be the chosen Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We already know that God had a great love for the world. (Hence John 3:16).

Jesus prayed for these 11 men because he was responsible for their welfare.

It is these 11 men plus the Apostle Paul who would turn this world upside down to form the Church!

*****Joh 17:10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.
Joh 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
Joh 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

Again Jesus places Himself on the same level as our Heavenly Father. Every character trait that is in our Heavenly Father is also in God the Son and the same can be said of the Holy Spirit.

Another important fact we see here is that God the Father and God the Son have the same concern over all believers beginning with these men.

Joh 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
Joh 10:30 I and my Father are one.

We must understand that the mission of the Church, preaching the “Gospel” was given to these 11 men.

These were the first Ambassadors of Christ on this world!

Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

If we have not seen by now, we live in a very divisive world. It was very important that these 11 men to not get caught up in this divisiveness.

They were to be the start of the Church and they dearly needed one another!

The Lord Jesus Christ had provided the foundation of the Church.

When Jesus returned to Heaven the responsibility of the Church would be handed over to the Holy Spirit.

Jesus prayed to His Heavenly Father that the believers would be as close to God, as God and His Son!

The Church is to be “One” in the same nature as God by being “Born Again” in the family of God.
The Church is to become a partaker of the “Divine Nature” of God.
The Church is to become the family of God.
The Church is to become the rebuilt Temple of God that cannot be destroyed.
The Church is to become the preferred race of people.

Eph 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
Eph 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
Eph 4:19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
Eph 4:20 But ye have not so learned Christ;
Eph 4:21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

The Church is to have a single purpose, to spread the “Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ”.

The Church is to have the “Joy of the Lord” in following in the ways of the Lord Jesus Christ!

*****Joh 17:13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
Joh 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

That “Joy” comes because Jesus was going home to be with His Father and we are to have this same “Joy” as we will one day be going home to be with the Father!

Many believe that once saved God will deliver us through the trials of this world but that is not true.

The promise of God says He will deliver us through our trials and tribulations.

It means we will live a victorious life! We might ask, why not?

God will always answer the prayers of His Son!

God has given all believers to Jesus Christ.

No doubt the closer the relationship we have with the Lord and our Father in Heaven, the better off we are!

The truth is God will not allow anything to come between us and His Son.

Joh 6:39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
Joh 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

God does not forget the promises He makes!

Why is the Christian hated? We are those aliens that the world has been spending so much money trying find.

We are those peculiar people in a world of people who reject the truth.

Why does the Lord not take us out of this world when we are saved?

The Lord specifically asked Him not to, we have a work that needs to be accomplished.

*****Joh 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
Joh 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

You see Satan, the evil one, can only tempt the Christian, God will certainly keep us from his evil clutches.

These 11 men needed a protection that could come from no other source, just as we do today.

Just because of the message that the disciples of the Lord would bring, they would be hated, and this has not changed today.

1) God has given all His disciples the Word of God. Satan’s disciples do not want to hear what God has to say.
2) God is Holy, the followers of Satan are immoral and depraved.
3) God the Son demands total allegiance and a commitment to God the Father, through God the Holy Spirit.

Jesus came out of Heaven to lay claim to all those that God will call and who God has chosen if they would have “faith”.

All those who would be “Born Again” and would seek to be in the nature of God and not the sin nature of Adam.

The disciples were needed to begin the Church, the body of Christ, the Church, the home of God’s messengers.

To sanctify is to be set apart for God’s use!

Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Jesus Christ did go to the Cross to pay our sin debt but that was only part of it.

Jesus knew that this must take place, so mankind could recover the purity and truth that God intended when Adam and Eve were made in innocence.

To be sanctified then could only take place by knowing the complete truth of God. The Written Word of God that we have today!

Psa 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
Psa 19:8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
Psa 19:9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
Psa 19:10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Jesus then says all disciples of Jesus Christ are to be missionaries and ambassadors for Christ.

*****Joh 17:18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
Joh 17:19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

It is a great privilege to be a part of God’ plan for salvation for all those who will believe!

All disciples have the same ministry of Jesus the ministry of reconciliation.

2Co_5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
2Co_5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Heb_2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

How did Jesus say He sanctified Himself?

Psa 40:7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,
Psa 40:8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
Psa 40:9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.
Psa 40:10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.

Now then Jesus brings the Church into the picture.

*****Joh 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
Joh 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

Saving “Faith” can come only by the Word of God.

From the Word of God we learn of the “pardon”.
We learn of “justification”.
We learn of “adoption”.
We learn of “sanctification”.

All these through the Lord Jesus Christ!

Joh 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

Notice it is very clear, the benefits of Jesus Christ come only to those who believe in the work He has done for our salvation!

Jesus has prayed for each and every one who has “Faith” in the Lord Jesus Christ!

Notice we must not only believe upon the words written about Him, but we must believe on Him, the Living Son of God!

Here we also see the mistake of the modern Church. There is no new message. God has not changed anything to suit this modern world. To be a “Born Again” child of God we must believe the message of these 11 men plus the Apostle Paul and this message will never change because their message was the message that the Lord Jesus Christ gave to them!

We can never be “ONE” with Christ if we do not accept His Message!

*****Joh 17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
Joh 17:23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

A divided message is not a true message!

As believers we must be unified around the Word of God.

Just as a divided house cannot stand and a divided kingdom cannot stand then a divided Church cannot stand, and this is what we see today.

The church is more divided than it has ever been. A division that goes far beyond foolish denominations.

We must understand that it is not what we believe, it is what God has said!

The Word of God has been so twisted up deliberately by so many, that today many do not know the truth of the Word of God.

We can only give God the glory when we teach His truth!

God gave Jesus His message and sent Him to this earth with that message.
Jesus gave that same message to the Apostles.
The Apostle gave that same message to this world.
It’s time we listened to what God has to say without voicing our own opinion!

Col 1:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
Col 1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

We can never have the glory of God if we reject the glory of His Word!

*****Joh 17:24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
Joh 17:25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.
Joh 17:26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

We find this Scripture in the Book of Hebrews:

Heb 1:8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit all share the same throne in Heaven because they are “One God”.

With this thought in mind, it is the last will of a dyeing man, Jesus in the Flesh, and Jesus the Son of God, that all His disciples be with Him in Heaven.

Now everyone who goes home to be with the Lord, including those 12 Apostles are already with the Lord in Heaven and we will join them all at our death or at the “Rapture” of the Church which is the tool that will make the Jews jealous enough to realize that they have been wrong all these years.

1Jn_3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Jesus now prays to His righteous Father who always does things the right way and Jesus says it is only right that the family comes back home.

It is just as obvious today as in these last days of Jesus on this earth, that the world still does not know the One True God and it does not look like the world cares.

We know that we have a loving Father in Heaven who not only loved this world enough to have a plan of salvation that cannot fail, but in the end, will accept every believer into His family in a totally new home.

The world says we are crazy, but it is actually in reverse. It is the world that is foolish.

The world we live in now will one day reach a point when all mankind are deliberately evil and the Lord will return to do as he did at the time off Noah, yet this time by fire but this will never take place until he has brought His children home.

It is all our job to declare to this world the name of God which is “LOVE” if we just look at His actions toward us!

It is impossible to love a God that we cannot know!

It is Jesus Christ who expresses the Love of God and shares that love with us!

There is no god like unto Jehovah, the “I AM” of the Bible.

Amen

Let’s Pray!

John the Baptist

The Witness of John the Baptist

Book of John Chapter 1:15-36

In last week’s lesson we saw that John introduced the Jews to the Holy Trinity, the Triune God. The Jews laid claim to God. The Jews were familiar with the Spirit of God. The Spirit can be found 224 times in the Old Testament. It was time for the world to meet the Messiah, God the Son.

Last week we saw these words Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Last week we saw these words Joh 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

John the Baptist preached to all who came to hear him that this man named Jesus was indeed the Messiah sent from God.

This is the same job we have today, “to witness that Jesus is “the Christ”, “the true Messiah” come from God, the God-Man!

We believe that John was only 6 months older than the Man/Jesus, so we know that John the Baptist preached the coming of the Messiah before Jesus made His presence known to him.

You see it is important for the world to know that God certainly manifested Himself in the flesh and that Jesus was that person.

Jesus’ last name is not Christ, Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah!

*****Joh 1:15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.

There can be no doubt that God had sent His Spirit to dwell in John the Baptist.

God’s answer to the sin of Adam was making Himself known to the world. We would have never known Jehovah God if He had not introduced Himself to us!

When John realized by the Holy Spirit that it was this Jesus, the son of Mary his cousin, he could say that Jesus was born of Mary after his own birth.

John also knew by the Holy Spirit that this same Jesus was before Him, in fact so far before him that He was God in the flesh!

Isa 44:6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

God alone is eternity.
God has always existed.
God is the cause of John’s existence and also our own existence.

Jesus the Christ is to be first in importance much more than any human being that has ever lived.

The entire world has changed and is still changing since the First Coming of our Lord to this earth and this cannot be denied.

BUT, We must all be aware of the Second Coming of the Messiah, still in the same flesh He wore at His departure.

Rev 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Rev 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

There is no human who can lay such a claim to themselves other than Jesus the Messiah.

Christ is not Jesus’ last name it is who He is! It is only Jesus Christ who has revealed God the Father to us!

All that we are capable of knowing about God the Father is revealed to us through His Son!

*****Joh 1:16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
Joh 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

John the Baptist had a great following, but he had to make sure that the Light of the Messiah did not shine upon him, John was only the “Voice” and not the “Foundation” of the Church.

His job was to lead as many people as he could to the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is only Christ Jesus who can reveal to us the “Grace” of God!

There would be no “Gospel” (Good News) for us if, Jesus was a mere man like so many who lay claim to be of God!

Col 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
Col 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

We can be complete in no other but Jesus Christ.

Jesus has given us “Grace” upon “Grace”, Grace enough to meet every need we could ever have, no matter the circumstances!

Jesus Christ does not only have the answers but He in His Deity is the answer to all life’s problems!

It is a fact that Moses revealed the written Law to the Jews but, is also a fact that “Grace” came by Jesus Christ!

What is “Grace”? Grace is the unmerited favor of God!

The word “Grace” can be found 39 times in the Old Testament and 131 times in the New Testament. God’s Grace is very important to us!

Rom_5:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Law made us realize that we are all sinners.

It is only by the “Grace” of God that we can be saved from our sin!

Righteousness cannot come by the Law for no one can keep all the Law, but Jesus Christ.

Therefore righteousness can come only by Jesus Christ, who in His person is the “Grace” of God!

Moses was no more than a servant just as we are to be. Jesus Christ is the Master!

Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Again it is only by Jesus Christ that we can know the true God!

*****Joh 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

Had the Lord Jesus Christ not come to this earth we would have never known the truth of God. He would just have been someone who just moved on after He created us like so many believe.

There is but one God and this is very true!

There is no such thing as a God of Evil and a God of Good who are fighting to see who wins.

There is One God and He is very involved in every action upon this earth.

This does not mean God does bad things because He cannot do such a thing, but He can allow them to happen when He could have certainly stopped them from happening. God will not necessarily stop anything that does not alter His plan of salvation or His plans for this world.

This is why our prayers are so important. God has to power to alter anything that does not change His salvation plan and He is willing to do so. Sometimes He just wants to know if we love those we say we love!

God will never deviate from what He says but God will heal where healing is needed and comfort where comfort is needed if we fall down on our knees and pray!

We must not forget that we are His children and Jesus is working on our Mansions now.

Christianity is in fact the fulfillment of the Old Testament because Jehovah God designed it that way.

If we had seen God in all His Majesty before we have become Christians, we would have perished!

Exo 33:20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.

When the Lord does return, this time in all His glory, those who reject Him will be just as this Scripture. They cannot see Him and live!

*****Joh 1:19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?
Joh 1:20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.

We must not be fooled, those that were questioning John the Baptist, many of them students of the Scriptures, knew the prophecies of Daniel and he had said when a period of time would come, and the Messiah would appear. Maybe not the exact day but at least in that generation. Just as it is today when the Lord will return.

Dan 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
Dan 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

They understood that Daniel was writing of years.

When will the Lord return?

Luk_17:26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

How was it in the days of Noah?

Gen 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

We cannot deny that we live in a replica of the days of Noah today!

We can just imagine how great a preacher was John the Baptist if the elders of the Scribes and Pharisees thought he might be the Messiah!

But they had not yet heard our Savior preach!

Luk_7:28 For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

It would have been rather easy for John to say he was the real Messiah, at least for a while but, he confessed he was not the Christ!

John the Baptist knew what he was sent to do, and he concentrated on those things!

John knew he was not the Messiah and John also knew he was not the Prophet Elijah.

Mal 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
Mal 4:6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

The Lord Jesus said that John was Elijah in the spirit but not in his person.

Mar 9:12 And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought.

Elijah will return from the dead to be the forerunner of the Lord when He returns, at least this is what I believe because there were two, Elijah and Enoch who do not have a recorded death on earth!

Heb_9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

John the Baptist was well aware that he was not the Messiah.

In fact John knew very well that he was only a sinner unworthy to serve the Lord just like the rest of the world!

*****Joh 1:21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.
Joh 1:22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?
Joh 1:23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

The Scriptures only subtlety show the great impression John the Baptist made on the Jewish elders of that day, including the Sanhedrin Court.

It is obvious that these Bible Scholars had missed the Church Age and the Messiah the Redeemer in their studies.

John was certainly not Elijah even though in many ways he was like Elijah in his boldness.

John was not just another prophet who I believe to be Enoch the two prophets who would show up before the Second Coming of the Lord.

Rev 11:3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
Rev 11:4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
Rev 11:5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
Rev 11:6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
Rev 11:7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
Rev 11:8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

John the Baptist said he was just a poor desert preacher, one who was doing his best to lead people to the Lord.

John said he was nothing more than a voice and really this is the same job we have today. We are God’s voice and God’s legs to take the “Gospel” of the Lord Jesus Christ to all parts of this world!

Isa 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

It is only Jesus Christ who could meet all the requirements written in the Scriptures of the Messiah the God-Man!

We are never to claim to be the Messiah.
We are never to claim to be some great man or woman.
We are not even to seek recognition.
We are never to assume some power that only the Lord has.
We are never to allow God’s Mercy and God’s Grace to turn our heads toward “Pride”, thinking more of ourselves than we should.

We are simply to obey the Lord Jesus Christ, the God of the Bible, in everything He tells us to do!

These people who were the Bible Scholars of that day when seeking for a Messiah were looking for some man to show up and by His works determine that the Messiah had arrived.

It is the same for many today. Most of this world are ignoring the fact that Jesus was God in the flesh.

The message of John the Baptist was that the Kingdom of God was among them in His person, not in His majesty!

These Jews saw the Messiah as being someone along the line of King David who would set them free from the tyranny of Rome!

These Jews missed the fact that the Messiah came to save them and not them alone but also the Gentiles.

These Jews believed they were the only ones acceptable to the Lord and not the Gentiles.

These Jews had allowed their beliefs to be tainted by formality and just a form of godliness denying the Power of God!

John the Baptist would burst their perfect bubble, just like the Lord does every day!

*****Joh 1:24 And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.
Joh 1:25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?

The truth of the Pharisees in that day is that they had made themselves the interpreters of the Scriptures. They were well aware of the Old Testament prophesies of the Messiah, but they had missed His coming and rejected that Christ was among the people.

1) A Pharisee had to set apart all the sacred tithes of the produce of the land.
2) A Pharisee had to observe the essential laws of purity which affected the eating of food and family affairs.

We know that the Mosaic Laws contained not just 10 laws, but 613 laws and it was impossible for any Jew to keep all those laws all the time, but the Pharisees would argue that they did.

The Pharisee would immerse his whole body in purified water before they partook of holy sacrifices.

The Pharisees had so many laws involving impurity they were in a book named the Mishna, which were only the many interpretations of Scripture and many placed these laws above the Mosaic laws.

It is during this time that the Pharisees and the Sadducees had become corrupt in their thinking on the Word of God and were no more than legalists and liberals, who could not themselves keep the laws that they claimed for everyone else to keep!

These things began with good intentions when the Jews returned from Babylon after their captivity by Nebuchadnezzar.

It’s as if today we placed the words of commentaries above the Word of God.

So they asked John since you are not a Pharisee but only a Levite and you are not the Messiah and you are not Elijah nor any other prophet what right do you have to baptize any person?

They used this same line of thinking upon the Lord Jesus Christ!

Mat 21:23 And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?
Mat 21:24 And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things.
Mat 21:25 The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?
Mat 21:26 But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.
Mat 21:27 And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

How did John answer these corrupt men?

*****Joh 1:26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;
Joh 1:27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.

We should understand that everything John did was to prepare the people for the Messiah and John’s baptism was just an example of the break from Judaism to the coming Christianity who would bring total purity with His blood.

The Lord Jesus Christ was so pure and so trustworthy and so different from the way these people had been taught that those who were corrupt sought to have Him destroyed.

The Jews of that day needed to know this man called Jesus was the One who was mentioned throughout the Old Testament Scriptures who was sent from God.

This was the job of John the Baptist to teach these things!

Act 1:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
Act 1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

What was the importance of Betha bara?

*****Joh 1:28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Joh 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Betha bara means the house of confidence or the house of crossing or simply ferry house.

It was a place on the River Jordan where you could safely cross over to the other side!

This was the place where we got that wonderful phrase “Behold the Lamb of God”.

1Co_5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. “For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us”:

Jesus Christ is our Passover!

And we are Saved because Jesus shed His “Blood” on Mount Calvary!

Heb_9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

Jesus Christ was certainly , God’s perfect Lamb who was sacrificed to save all the people of this world and He did so for all that love Him!

Jesus Christ was our own blood Substitute!

1Pe 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
1Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

By the blood of Jesus Christ, God has paid the debt for all the sin in this world past, present, and future!

If we will pay attention we will see that Christ Jesus willingly gave His life for me and for you and for everyone who would put their trust in Him!

What did John continue to say?

*****Joh 1:30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
Joh 1:31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

We all know that Jesus was at the most only 6 months in age younger than John the Baptist, yet John says He was before him.

The Messiah was not only before John the Baptist, but He was before us all!

The son of Elizabeth must have known the Son of Mary. John means that he did not know Him as the Messiah.

We can believe that John knew Jesus, but he did not know He was the Messiah, The Christ.

God knew that He would not be recognized as a man of God until He reached the age of 30 in earth years. Up until this time He had been feeling all the emotions of the human body.

Heb_4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

We should notice that John the Baptist was a man of strong faith!

Certainly God spoke to John just as He did with other prophets in dreams and visions and God had given him a sign to watch for to know the truth.

*****Joh 1:32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
Joh 1:33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
Joh 1:34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

John said this is the One that is taught in the Old Testament Scriptures!

Again we see the proof of the Triune God. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

A dove was a sacred bird to the Jews and a symbol of purity, innocence, and gentleness.

The dove was often identified with the Spirit of God!

We should understand that the Holy Spirit did not take the shape of a dove but descended from Heaven as a dove flies in to land.

They land like no other bird in a fluttering motion.

In fact a dove can represent the Church sustained by the “Loving Grace of God”, justified in the “righteousness” of Jesus Christ.

Psa 68:13 Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.

The dove of Palestine is white with golden wings!

Tit 3:3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
Tit 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Tit 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

John saw as the Holy Spirit descended from Heaven and remained on God’s Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ!

This became the message of John the rest of his days!

What is the evidence of the Holy Spirit on the life of those who have accepted the Lord as their Savior?

There will be a change in that life!

What are Baptisms mentioned in the Scriptures?

The Baptism of water, in the name of the Father, the Son, the Holy Ghost(Spirit). As an introduction into the Church.
The Baptism of repentance. Turning away from the world and toward Jesus Christ.
The Baptism of the Holy Ghost(Spirit). At salvation and asked for continually all our days.
The Baptism by fire. We should know that God revealed himself to Moses in the burning bush and God lead the Jews through the wilderness by fire so to be Baptized by fire to me seems to be baptized by the presence of the Lord! Fire is one the physical manifestations of God’s presence! Fire can also represent “Judgment” and “Purification”!

Turn to Jesus and know the truth of God.

Amen

Let’s Pray!

The Word Became Flesh

The Word Became Flesh

Book of John 1:1-14

Some things we know about John the Apostle of Jesus Christ:

1) John was one of the very first disciples.
2) John was a fisherman along with his brother James.
3) John left everything he had behind to serve the Lord Jesus Christ.
4) John was called the “beloved disciple”.
5) John was the disciple that Jesus committed the care of His mother.
6) John was said by Paul to be one of the 3 pillars of the church. Paul considered James the brother of the Lord Jesus, Peter, and John to be the 3 pillars of the early church. We cannot dispute the Apostle Paul, but I believe he was also a pillar of the early church, at least for the Gentiles.
7) John was the only apostle that died of natural causes.

When John was old and feeble his only sermon was “Little children love one another”.

When asked why he would continue with this sermon he replied, “It is the Lord’s command”.

We sometimes forget that we are certainly commanded to love one another, and it is not a request, it is a command given to us by the Lord our Christ, our Messiah.

John shows throughout all his writings that the Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah find their fulfillment in the Lord Jesus Christ!

*****Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John states that “before”, there was even one thing created by God, God had a plan of salvation and this plan would be followed until the very end!

We know that all the Word of God has been brought to us by specific men chosen and tutored by the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit will always lead us to the Lord Jesus Christ.

John said the Old Testament is so full of words that describe the birth, the life, and the death of the Messiah, He could actually be called the Word!

It should be obvious that the Word was distinct from God, so we can see the beginning of our understanding of the Triune God.

The Godhead was clearly revealed in the Old Testament.

Psa 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

God the Deity and God the Shepherd in the flesh, are two parts of the Triune God. We know the Holy Spirit is the third!

The Messiah is to be a Shepherd and when we acknowledge this truth, the Lord who came in the flesh, is truly our Shepherd.

Our Shepherd existed before creation had begun!

The Book of John was certainly written to the lost and to the Jews but, until the Word of God came along, the Gentiles knew nothing of a Messiah.

The Messiah, God in the flesh, is the very center of Christianity and the Book of John will lead us to this truth.

The Jews saw words as not just a sound, but something alive and existing and John begins with this statement, the “Word was God” so the Jews could easily understand the truth of the Messiah.

We will see that God has given us much more than the Holy Scriptures, God has given us Himself in the flesh, the Lord Jesus Christ!

When we read the Word of God we can see the ultimate character of God and this same character was in Jesus Christ

The Lord Jesus Christ lived the words that were written of Him!

Jesus Christ was not created of God because He is God in the flesh, one third of the Holy Trinity!

Psa 90:1 Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.
Psa 90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

Since Jesus Christ is the God of the Bible, then we must clearly understand, “that sin is far more abominable in the sight of God”, than most of us see it to be.

We have made sin to just be bad behavior, but sin is an abomination in the eyes of the Lord!

Therefore the Scriptures teach us to hate sin, but we are never to hate the sinner.

We should understand that when God speaks, things happen and “we can be made new”, if we will listen to what God has to say and apply it to our lives!

Faith does not mean much unless it brings with it action!

*****Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.

There are many times that God repeats Himself to show the importance in what He had just said.

God wants to point out to us the importance of His character as the Triune God, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Not three Gods but One God in three persons.

John wants us to clearly understand that the Word, the Messiah (Jesus Christ) and the Father in Heaven are one and the same person!

1Jn_5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

It must be clear to all the world that we have an “Amazing God” who loves us enough to make us His home until we can get to His heavenly home!

Most of this world see Jesus Christ only as some man and it is true that He took on the fashion of a man, but each believer sees Christ for who He is, the very substance of God in all His perfect being!

Php 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of all the Word of God and therefore self-existent and eternal, the Son of the “Living” God!

The Word is the way God chose to introduce Himself to mankind, His greatest creation. Why?

God knew that many would look at His creations and call them accidents that just happen to have happened. Even a fruitcake can see the that our world is in too much order to have happened by accident.

The Lord Jesus Christ is indeed God in visible action!

After all if Jesus Christ is then God then He would also be our Creator!

*****Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

We should understand that all things, but God were created. Our world had to have a Creator and to believe otherwise is foolishness!

Verse one and two describe things the way they were before any act of creation took place!

We must all understand that “all things” were made of God and without God there would be no creation and we would not exist.

God created everything we see and that we cannot see in the first six days of our beginning because we know God rested on the seventh day.

Not because God was tired but because he had completed what He had set out to do!

There are no creations by man because if man makes anything then he must use something that God has already made.

If our Savior and our Creator creates anything new today, it would be that “Born Again” child of God that only He can make new!

The Word of God is a reality, it is truly the Word of God.

Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the glue that binds this world together!

Jesus Christ’s greatest creation is life, the living things there is nothing on this earth made that is not teeming with life.

A man once wrote “the basic difference between man and beast is speech. Animals cannot speak to man as they speak to themselves”!

We should understand that this world belongs to God and He does with it “as He pleases”!

We should understand that God is not far off removed from His creation but is very near showing great concern for the welfare of His created beings.

We should also understand that the problems in this world do not come from God, but they come because of sin!

The answer to these problems cannot come from man because only Christ Jesus has the answer to all our problems.

God is all about life and life eternal.

*****Joh 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

We cannot know true life without the Lord Jesus Christ!

Jesus Christ led a life of perfection to show us that it is possible for us to yearn for perfection in our own lives!

From the beginning in the days of Adam, God has proved He wanted to be up close and personal with His creation.

The knowledge of Jesus Christ is to be our light in this world that belongs to Him.

Joh 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

1Jn 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
1Jn 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

The message of God is really very simple. He says come let us walk together and I will be the light of your path!

*****Joh 1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

We live in a dark world made darker by our own sin. When Satan was booted out of Heaven he came to this earth and he brought darkness with him!

Much of world wants to remain in darkness forever but God is not going to allow that to continue much longer.

Jesus Christ has shown us the way to escape this darkness because He has no darkness within Him!

2Co 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

When the Light of Christ shined on this world then darkness fled and Satan hides in his darkness because he does not want us to see the “nobody” that he is!

Turn on your light in a dark room and you will see darkness flee to hide until the light goes back off.

When we walk with the Lord we become a light ourselves and then we can shed that light on our families, our neighborhood and then our cities.

Mat_5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.

Without Jesus Christ there would be no life and then there would be no light.

It is Jesus Christ who gives us purpose.
It is Jesus Christ shows us the meaning of life.
It is Jesus Christ who shows us the significance of our life.

After John has made us aware and the understanding of the Triune God, He then begins to tell us about the life of our Savior, from a man(John) that spent much time with Him and loved Him while He was upon this earth and he will begin with the forerunner, John the Baptist.

Our life improves when we fall in love with Jesus the Messiah!

We are cautioned not to forget what we have just learned.

*****Joh 1:6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

The Old Testament will lead everyone to Jesus the Messiah, when we take the time to study the Scriptures as God commanded and it is these same Scriptures that tell us about a forerunner paving the way for our Master.

Mal 3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

That man was John the Baptist.

There is also this Scripture in the Book of Isaiah:

Isa 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Isa 40:4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
Isa 40:5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

Did the Lord need someone to go before Him, I don’t think so, but the Scriptures must be fulfilled according to the way God intended them?

There is a purpose for every Word, every dot, and every tittle, in God’s written Scriptures

There will be a complete fulfillment of the Word of God!

Mat_5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Jesus the Messiah was before the beginning of creation, John was just a man, called of God with a special calling.

This was a part of John’s sermon:

Joh 3:28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.
Joh 3:29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
Joh 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

John the Baptist as the forerunner of the Messiah, also had to live his life as close as he could to perfection!

Luk 1:15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.

John was to bear witness of the truth of God.

*****Joh 1:7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

The Old Testament teaches that the Messiah was coming.

John the Baptist job was to tell the world that the Messiah was now here.

It is the Church’s job not only to a witness of the Gospel but to also tell the world that the Lord will return to fulfill all the Scriptures.

Rev 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Rev 22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Rev 22:21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

John the Baptist was the first ambassador for Jesus Christ!

2Co 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
2Co 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
2Co 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

It is sin not to look forward to the Second Coming of Christ!

It is sin, to ask Jesus into your heart and fail to repent!

It is all our job to be ambassadors for Jesus Christ and not just be pew sitters!

Our ministry is the ministry of reconciliation!

The same as John the Baptist.

John the Baptist did his job so well that many thought that he might be the Messiah.

*****Joh 1:8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
Joh 1:9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

We can say the John the Baptist was the first Christian!

John’s purpose was to lead mankind to the Light of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Say what you will but these things are to be true of every Christian. (Forgive me Lord for my failure to be more like Christ)

John could have allowed the people to make him great, but he said:

Joh 1:27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.

A man once wrote that “at the point that we quit testifying for Jesus Christ we have chosen to betray Him”.

We are not that Light, we are sent to bear witness of the Light of the Lord!

It seems that this is the world we live in today.

All those sitting in the pews motionless and emotionless “are actually betraying the Lord”.

This is a hard saying but it is the truth!

Light reveals.

Light opens up the truth of darkness and reveals a brand-new world, a brand-new life!

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

The truth is “Our Creator stepped out of Heaven and came down to spend some time with His creation”.

*****Joh 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
Joh 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

1) Our world is so dark that when the Lord came, people closed their eyes to the truth.

2) Christ Jesus came as a Jew in the line of King David and He was rejected by His own nation.

God cares deeply for His creation especially mankind!

God is actively working to help this world throw off the burden of sin.

God made man in his own trinity, the flesh, the spirit, and the soul.

It is an unforgiving sin to those who reject the Living God.

Gal 4:3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
Gal 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Gal 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Gal 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Gal 4:7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

This world we live would rather recognize the works of Satan, so that the world does not have to change its evil ways!

*****Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Joh 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

What is the will of God?

2Pe_3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, “not willing that any should perish”, but that all should come to repentance.

God has done and continues to do all He can, (besides force) to persuade the world of the truth of Jesus Christ.

To reject these things is to bring damnation upon yourself!

The new birth is of God and God only!

Yes, we are washed in the blood of Jesus and are made clean, but it is not the blood that saves us in that sense!

It is only by the Mercy and the Grace of God through His Son Jesus Christ that we can be saved and be part of this New Birth!

This New Birth is not a natural birth it is a Spiritual Birth!

This New Birth is necessary to become a child of God!

This New Birth is a true experience!

This New Birth is a radical change in our lives that can only be brought about by the Love of God, and His power to save!

It is not our own flesh that brings us to salvation, it is Holy Ghost conviction.

There is no man on the face of this earth that has the power to make us a child of God!

It is only by God’s power that the new birth can take place and we are welcomed into the family of God!

We must understand it is also our Holy God who has broken the barrier of race! There are only believers and non-believers!

There is only one truth of those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ!

Joh 8:33 They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
Joh 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Joh 8:37 I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
Joh 8:38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
Joh 8:39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
Joh 8:40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
Joh 8:41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.
Joh 8:42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
Joh 8:43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
Joh 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Joh 8:45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.

What is the complete truth of our Savior, The Lord Jesus Christ, God the Son?

*****Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

The incarnation of Jesus Christ is a reality!

Those that believe in God:

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Those that believe in God must also believe that Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is God in the flesh!

1Jn 2:21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
1Jn 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
1Jn 2:23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
1Jn 2:24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.
1Jn 2:25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

The flesh of mankind today is not what God created it to be!

Our flesh no longer exists in the image of God because of sin. The same sin that began with Adam! Disobedience.

Jesus Christ had to come in the flesh to give us that example of what God intended for us all.

1Co 15:47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

Joh_15:22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.

Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Jesus Christ became flesh to correct and then counteract the corruption of sin, which mankind did not understand until God revealed Himself in the Scriptures!

It is by the “Grace” of God that He took the time to give us the truth of His creation when He did not have to.

We are a foolish people if we ignore what God has to say!

It is the will of God that we should believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, so God’s “Grace” can come to its fulfillment and we can be saved.

There is no other way period, for anyone to be adopted into the family of God!

We must understand what God is saying!

If Spiritual life comes by receiving the truth of Jesus the Messiah, then there must be death in rejecting Him!

Amen

Let’s Pray!