The Lord Jesus Speaks To His Church

Jesus Begins to Instruct the Church

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Instructions For Subjects of King Jesus
Book of Matthew Chapter 18

As “Born Again” Christians the greatest asset we have is our “faith”. Hebrews 11:6 says without “faith” it is impossible to please Jehovah God!
You might be able to please the false gods of this world because they do not exist, but you will never please our Righteous Living God without faith!
Remember the Holy Spirit provides “saving faith” so here we are talking about faith above and beyond this “saving faith” that is freely given.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

We did not have to work for it, nor could we earn it, all the things of salvation are freely given to us by our Merciful God!
This faith must remain with us all our lives and it must grow, it is our shield against the evil of this world!

Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

In the first part of this chapter Jesus teaches us we must become as little children in order to enter the kingdom of Heaven.
The disciples were consumed about who would be the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven and Jesus said you must humble yourself as a child.
Most children are not trying to get to the front of the line they are simply excited to be in the line and not be left out!
They will take the back of the line if that is all that is available.

Mat 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

There must be some modesty along with that faith.
A little child knows nothing about ambition.

Jas 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

In this context, every Christian, even “babes in Christ” must be allowed access to the things of God!

Mar 10:15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

Then we must realize that these children, “babes in Christ” and those who have been led away from Christ, are the same ones the Lord Jesus is referring to in our lesson today.

*Mat 18:11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
Mat 18:12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?

Why did the Living God pour Himself into a body of flesh? He came to save that which was lost, which is all of His creation.
How will He do this?

2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Rev 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

Then Jesus uses another parable to explain these things. The Parable of the Lost Sheep.
Jesus is very serious about all those with “childlike” faith who have received Him as their Savior!

Mat 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Mat 18:7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

We should clearly understand that the Lord Jesus Christ, the God of the Bible, Jehovah, takes His stand with those who love Him and believe in Him.
The Lord Jesus Christ says: “I Am Your Father”!
The Lord Jesus Christ is our Lord!

What did Isaiah write of our Savior?

Isa 63:9 In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.

The Lord Jesus was afflicted on the cross, but every time one of His children is afflicted today, He suffers with them.
We should keep this in mind as we witness all the suffering in our world especially the persecution of the Church.
As we honor those who love the Lord, we do honor unto our Lord!
If we have a hand in any persecution of the Church, then we are persecuting our Lord and our Savior over and over again!
We should allow this to sink in to teach us how to behave one toward another!
Jesus came to save those who are lost, He certainly will not lose any of them!
The Lord Jesus Christ left Heaven with a purpose!
The world is full of those who have strayed from our Creator.
Those that remain astray are doomed to be destroyed unless they are reached and saved by the Lord Jesus Christ!

Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
Rom 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Rom 3:13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
Rom 3:14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
Rom 3:15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:
Rom 3:16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:
Rom 3:17 And the way of peace have they not known:
Rom 3:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

There is no one outside the scope of God’s love, but we must come when He calls us to return to Him!
So Jesus teaches these disciples so that they clearly understand their purpose and the purpose of each disciple today.
Jesus said: think like, I think.
We should understand this “certain man” as our Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ.
He has gathered a 100 sheep, but one is gone astray before it reaches the safety of the truth of salvation.
I do not like the term “once saved always saved’ because it suggests that we can do as we please after we are saved, and God does not care, and this is very wrong.
The fact is that once we have given our heart to the Lord Jesus Christ, our goal is to be like Him which is the reason of the term Christian, (Like Christ).
There were 99 of these sheep safe in the hands of the Lord and one who was lost and had not found its way to the Lord.
The Lord Jesus has done everything He can to insure our salvation for, whosoever will come to Him, and it can be said that He is actively seeking all those who are lost.
Why?

1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pe 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
1Pe 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1Pe 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
1Pe 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
1Pe 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
1Pe 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

The Lord rejoices at the salvation of every soul!

*Mat 18:13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

We must never think that these lost sheep mean more to Jesus than those who are safe in the sheepfold!
We must understand that this parable is about Jesus building onto His Church.
The Apostle Paul got it right:

1Ti 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

We already know the Lord Jesus is the “Good Shepherd”!

Joh 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

We should know the Jesus is talking about His Sheep, the Church and then later on He will deal with Israel.

1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
1Pe 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

All of Heaven rejoices over every soul that is saved.

Luk 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Here in the Book of Luke, Jesus uses a similar parable to teach us about those who justify themselves, but there is joy in Heaven over every sinner that is saved.
We always ask about the will of God.

*Mat 18:14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

God has provided the only means there is for us to be saved.
God poured Himself into a human body just to die for our sins!

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.

Once the Lord finds us lost and rambling through this lost world and we see the truth of the “Gospel” of Jesus Christ and believe, we become a member of His family.
He becomes “Our Father”!
He then expects our help to reach out to other “lost sheep”!
Keep in mind He does not need us, but He promises rewards for becoming employed by the Holy Spirit.
We are also expected to help care for the flock by helping them to be witnesses of the “Gospel” and fishers of men!
What we refuse to do someone else will be sure to do!

1Ti 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Jesus Christ died for those weak in their faith just as He died for those who are strong in faith!

1Co 8:9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
1Co 8:10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;
1Co 8:11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
1Co 8:12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
1Co 8:13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

When we do things that are offensive to those, weak in their faith, we may cause them to stray.
These things must be avoided!
We are to be as forgiving as Christ Jesus, but the Lord Jesus also gives us some guidelines on how to deal with them.

*Mat 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
Mat 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
Mat 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

Again we see Jesus teaching us about the Church.
If the Lord Jesus is teaching us then, He is teaching us how to be more like He is!
A brother would be a brother in Christ, a member of those who assemble for Christ, the Church.
We see the Church in this world, all those who go through the Door, which is Christ, have become enemies of each other, rather than unified in defense of the Gospel!
We still live in these bodies of flesh so we will be at odds with each other from time to time, but that is no reason for these things to cause us to be enemies.
If we go in good faith to that one and explain how we feel about what that person has done to us, we may actually make a better friend.
If we have not already forgiven them prior to confronting them, then we will not help the matter come to a good conclusion.
***There is no need to broadcast these things to any others until this first step has been taken.
We are to confess our faults to one another and pray to the Lord before we confront each other.

Jas 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Jesus admitted that this will not always work.
Sin is not always easy to get away from, and it cannot happen without the Lord!
The next step is to take one or two more who were witnesses to this trespass.
What one may deny in front of one may not be so easy to deny because of others who witnessed this sin.
Still, do not resort to making this thing known to others or to the assembly of other Christians.
Mistakes are made in our lives and can be forgiven, but a ruined reputation may not ever be overcome.
We must keep in mind the purpose of these things is gain a brother and not to lose a brother.

Gal 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
Gal 6:2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Gal 6:3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
Gal 6:4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
Gal 6:5 For every man shall bear his own burden.

If this does not work restore this brother, then it is time to go before the assembly, all those who assemble in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We must remember all God’s Children are already “justified” so this assembly is not set in place to judge this person.
Only the question of Christlike behavior is to be considered, knowing we all fail from time to time.
We simply cannot live in denial of the truth of God!
The sin that occurred is now to be made public to the Church and it is the assembly that is to seek to restore this brother or sister.
Again, keeping in mind the Lord Jesus is teaching us how to build on to the Church and not to tear down the Church.
We cannot rate the growth of any assembly by numbers.
The rate of the growth of any Church should be how well we adapt to the truth of the Scriptures and to be more like Christ Jesus!
We must understand that the Church did not exist at this time, so the Lord Jesus is teaching these things for future use.
There will still be those who will not listen to the assembly of God’s people and then, it is time to ask them to leave that assembly.
Remember these are Holy Ghost filled people who are trying to obey the complete Word of God and we cannot allow any one person to deny the truth of God because, one bad apple can certainly ruin the whole bunch.
This person has forfeited the right to assemble with God’s people, but it does mean we should not continue to seek to restore this person as the opportunity arises.

*Mat 18:18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

We should clearly understand that the Body of Christ has every right to discipline in their assemblies, but the one caution needs to be observed is that only the Word of God should be used.
Those who break man’s laws will be disciplined by those laws without Church interference, except for the times when man’s laws conflict the Word of God.
The Word of God is always right, rightly divided!
We should understand that personal matters are not up for discussion in the Church unless that person causes it to happen and not many will.
This is not a testimony unless that person causes it to be a part of their testimony.
We should clearly understand that no one but God can forgive sin!
We should clearly understand that no one but God can doom anyone to Hell!
We should understand that no one but God can make us free!
When that person refuses to reconcile their sin with the Church, then he is lost to that group of believers!
This means, the Church has failed to reach him or her and they are bound to earth, their business between them and a Holy God.
If this person ever comes to their senses and reconciles with the Church, they can be received as a redeemed brother or sister.
Those who attempt to divide the Church must be dealt with!

Mat 12:25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

Divisiveness causes the Church to look corrupt and weak, it must be put down immediately!
Divisiveness threatens all the ministries of the Church that first one being making disciples to witness the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Notice that it is the Lord Jesus, upon which the Church is founded, that gives these instructions or better said, commandments!
The Church must always stand on the Word of God!

Php 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

What is a true Church? Those who are gathered in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ!

No other group who gathers in assembly are part of God’s Church!

*Mat 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Nothing in the Church is ever over until it has been bathed in prayer!
***Nothing in the Church is ever over until it has been bathed in prayer!
You see the Church must be united in this prayer and all divisiveness put down.
We are ambassadors for Christ, and we need to act like we are!
When a local assembly comes together in agreement with the Word of God, in prayer in the name of Christ Jesus, then and only then will that body of believers know how to handle that one who has divided himself or herself from the Church.
We must seek God’s will and God’s approval before we close the doors to anyone!
We must be unified in the name of Jesus Christ!
Notice this is not seeking the arm of God, it is seeking the face of God that many of us have forgotten to do.

1Ch 16:10 Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.
1Ch 16:11 Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.

The greatest truth here is, that how can we ever attempt to correct a brother or sister if we do not have a close relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ ourselves?

Then Peter asked another question.

*Mat 18:21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Mat 18:22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

Again this is a fair question when we think like humans. There must be some limit to our forgiveness.
But with the mind of Christ, then there can be no limit to our forgiveness.
Think back to just how sinful we have been and continue to be, yet the Lord continues to forgive us our sin.
In fact, it should be harder for the Lord to forgive our sin since we have made a promise to follow Him in His ways.
I cannot help but to remember the Apostle Paul.

Rom 7:13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
Rom 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
Rom 7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
Rom 7:16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
Rom 7:17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing:for
to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Rom 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Rom 7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
Rom 7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

A good study of Romans Chapter 7 will help us all in this matter of living in this body of flesh!
I know we find it difficult, but in all things, we are to have the mind of Jesus Christ this means, we need to think as He says and as He does.
He has given us multiple examples when He was upon this earth.
He has shown us time after time how He reacts to sin, to abuse, to government, and to the Church and we know He will never change.
There is no way to improve on the “Goodness of God”!
There is no way to improve on the “Mercy of God”!
Because there is no way to improve on the “Love of God”!
God can save anybody anywhere at any time!

Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

There is always another side to what God says and far too many travel this path to destruction!

Rom 13:2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

Amen

The Master Teacher

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Jesus Taught Like a King

Book of Matthew Chapter 5 verses 1 through 16

What happened immediately after Jesus was baptized? Jesus tempted of the Devil.

What happened immediately after Jesus was tempted of the Devil? Jesus began His ministry.

Jesus began His ministry with what is now called the Sermon on the Mount also called the “Beatitudes”.

We can understand the “beatitudes” as the blessedness of the saved soul.

We are nothing unless we have accepted the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Psa 32:1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

You are not forgiven by our Holy God until you have accepted the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ, it is just that simple!

We can also understand this sermon of the Lord Jesus Christ as the “qualities” of all those who will be found in the Kingdom of God.

We must begin these qualities once we have accepted the salvation of the Lord, “we must be Born Again”!

Remember John the Baptist preached “repent because the Kingdom of God is at hand”.

Jesus begins by preaching the qualities of those who will be found in the Kingdom of God.

If we consider that blessedness is happiness, then we can understand the preaching of the Apostle Peter:

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.
1Pe 4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.
1Pe 4:16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, “let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf”.

Or James the half-brother of our Lord and Savior:

Jas 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: “for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him”.

We can consider blessedness and happiness to be almost equal in this first sermon of our Lord Jesus.

*Mat 5:1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:

We first see the compassion Jesus had for the people.

His disciples came to Him. As disciples we should always be seeking Jesus!

These Jews were seeking King Jesus!

The Lord Jesus chose this place on a mount because it was big enough to accommodate those multitudes who were following Him.

It was also a place His voice would carry. We can just imagine these people being quiet because they wanted to hear what Jesus had to say.

If you are a human being then it behooves you to hear what the Lord Jesus Christ has to say!

The Lord Jesus Christ was a great preacher who was always full of the Holy Spirit:

Joh 3:33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.
Joh 3:34 “For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him”.
Joh 3:35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
Joh 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

We can understand these words of Christ Jesus as a proclamation of the Kingdom of God “by the King of His coming Kingdom”.

Jesus is teaching His disciples.
Jesus is showing His authority over the Scriptures. His authority was within Himself.
Jesus taught as the Jewish Messiah. The Messiah who would be King of His Kingdom.

Mat 7:28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
Mat 7:29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. (A scribe could only read the Word of God)

We will see that the way to be saved is not given in this Sermon!

But we should not forget all Scripture is written for us to learn!

2Ti 3:16 “All scripture” is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

This includes all the Old Testament and all the New Testament. (This does not include the acrophobia books not inspired by the Holy Spirit)

So let us begin:

*Mat 5:2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
Mat 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

What will we be like as “Subjects” in God’s Kingdom?

Notice Jesus did not start by passing out copies of the Old Testament. Jesus sat down and taught with the Words of His mouth.

Jesus teaches us as the fulfillment of all the Scriptures. Jesus taught with authority!

To be blessed is to be “happy”.

To be blessed is a spiritual joy and satisfaction regardless of the conditions we face.

The Apostle Paul understood this to mean:

Php_4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

This is the thing carries us through times of pain, and sorrow, and loss and grief.

Everyone wants to be blessed, but most of the world seeks that blessedness in the things of this world and it cannot be found in the things of this world!

1Jn 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
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.

Those who are blessed are those who choose the Lord because He first chose them!

Psa 65:4 Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.

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.

We cannot associate these poor in Spirit with those who are poor in worldly things.
We cannot associate those who are mean spirited with those who are poor in Spirit.
We should not understand that the poor in Spirit are poor in spirituality.

Poorness of spirit, in a godly sense, is true humility or true contrition of heart, because we acknowledge that we are sinners in need of a Savior.

We are poor in spirit when we acknowledge we are nothing without the Lord Jesus Christ and then Jesus Christ will take us into His Kingdom!

*Mat 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

To mourn is the condition of all those who are brokenhearted because of their own sin or of the sin of others or the sin of this world.

It can be somewhat compared to mourning over the death of a loved one.

Isa 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Isa 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
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.

It can be that brokenness when we read the things Christ Jesus went through on the cross, while realizing it was our sin that put Him there!

2Co 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

It is the Lord Jesus Christ who can only provide that comfort!

Joh 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

You know, it is the Lord Jesus Christ who will wipe away all those tears of mourning!

*Mat 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

It is all those who have humbled themselves before Christ who can enjoy the remainder of their days upon this earth!

They are teachable in the ways of the Lord.
They have nothing to prove to this world.
They have a renewed purpose and meaning and a significance in this life knowing it will end in the glory world, in the Father’s House!

As Christians we learn to control our circumstances by not allowing our circumstances to control us!

We know we are on the winning side and we act like it!

*Mat 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

When we hunger for righteousness it means we have put to death the sin in our lives!

Rom_8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

Jesus Christ died to remove sin and the control that sin had over our lives.

It is righteousness that will fill that gap where the sin is gone forever!

Eph 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Being filled with our Righteous Savior!

*Mat 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

To be merciful is to be compassionate!

Fourteen times in the Gospels, the word compassion is used where 10 of those times Jesus used the word compassion Himself.

The other 4 times it said Jesus had compassion or that Jesus was moved with compassion.

This verse states emphatically, that if we are merciful to all others showing compassion, then God will show mercy to us and He proved this on the cross!

The modern Church have removed the importance of the cross because they would rather cling to their sin calling it the modernization of the Word of God. God is not old fashioned!

The Lord gives us an example.

Mat 18:22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Mat 18:23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
Mat 18:24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
Mat 18:25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
Mat 18:26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
Mat 18:27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
Mat 18:28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
Mat 18:29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
Mat 18:30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
Mat 18:31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
Mat 18:32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
Mat 18:33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
Mat 18:34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
Mat 18:35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

Every believer can be merciful and therefore “must be merciful”!

When we understand the blessings of God, then we should understand that it is certainly more important to give than to receive!

The Lord will deal with us just as we deal with other people. We had better keep this in mind!

So, whatever mercy we desire from God, then we had better show that mercy to our brothers and sisters in Christ!

A merciful heart is a pure heart!

*Mat 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

A pure heart is “clean”, it is unsoiled from the things of this world. It is unpolluted, “a pure heart is Holy”!

Remember no one can see God and live, yet here we read that those with a Holy heart shall see God, in fact they are the only ones who will ever see God face to face!

Of all the other traits of the Christian, none of those traits can be true if our heart is not pure and like the heart of the Lord Jesus Christ!

How do we see God now?

1Co 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
1Co 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Perfect charity comes from a pure heart! Charity is a “giving love”!

Our pure heart will become a reality when we meet the Lord in the air!

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”.
1Jn 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him “purifieth himself”, even as he is pure.

All the qualities of the true Christian come together with a pure heart which leads us to righteousness!

Psa 17:15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

Only then can we become a true peacemaker, a true child of God.

*Mat 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

The Lord has left us upon this earth after our salvation “to become peacemakers”.

It is our job to prepare the highway to the Lord for individuals who are lost, just as did John the Baptist begin preparations for Jesus to build the “Highway to Heaven”!

It is our job to make peace between the lost and the Lord!

We are to solve disputes and never be the cause of them!

We must find ways to explain the truth of God to those who do not understand it, without compromising the Word of God.

We must take our faith, with a pure heart, full of mercy and love, and show these things to the unbeliever.

Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

We must remember we can only get close to Christ Jesus because of the blood He shed for us.

Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Eph 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Eph 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
Eph 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

We are reconciled to God by His “grace” and we must show “that same grace” to all we meet, even to our enemies.

When we do these things, we will be persecuted by those who are sold out to Satan.

*Mat 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

There are many people in this world who are persecuted for one evil reason or another, only the Church is persecuted for doing good.

The Church is persecuted simply because most of the leadership of the world hates the Lord Jesus Christ and the principles that He teaches through His disciples!

The teachings of Jesus Christ reveal the wickedness and immorality that is approved by the world, even though the queer movement represents only a small fraction of the world’s people, less than ten percent.

The teachings of Christ Jesus go against abortion, when it is those two people who decide to commit a sinful act, neglecting the responsibility of their actions!

Why is the everyday taxpayer held responsible for the acts of two people who should be held accountable?

It is not the child who is at fault, so why is the child punished with death?

Abortion is now used, not just to murder an innocent living child, but also to choose the sex of the baby, to check for traits that are unwanted, and many other reasons and then aborted child is not treated with any respect but is sold for its body parts. “True wickedness”.

When we are persecuted for doing what is right, it shows how low our world has become!

2Ti 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

I accept the fact that I may be persecuted just because I love the Lord Jesus Christ, but it does not make it easier, it is just like all the other Word of God, I just accept it as the truth and move on.

It just shows that I serve an all-knowing God!

Whoever thought people would be treated so bad just because they were trying to do good for all people.

Our government has already decided that we are too ignorant to know right from wrong!

Today you can do all manner of evil and much of the world will stand up in your defense, even come to your rescue, but if you try to do the things the Lord Jesus Christ did or try to live your life according to the Word of God, you are treated as less than a human being.

In fact the world will say you are mentally unfit.

But it does not matter because we have a Savior and if you reject that Savior you are only causing harm to yourself and to those you love.

Just because you persecute God’s people, you cannot rob them of God’s blessings!

Jesus speaking here just says, I can be happy that I am seen to be like Him.

In fact Jesus says to rejoice! Be exceeding glad! For our rewards are just piling up in Heaven!

Persecution is just a test of true discipleship!

1Pe 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
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.
1Pe 4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.

The world may try to protect the murderer, and the thief, and the evildoer, and all those who are busybodies in other people’s matters, but “Heaven is not open to the world”.

Jesus is not preparing a home for the world He is preparing a home only for those who love Him!

Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh 14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

I will not worry about what this world can do to me, because I have a Living Savior who cannot be touched by the ways of the world and I want to be like Him!

The Church exists for the sake of the world to try to change the evil ways of the world, but most of the world have sold their souls to the Devil and they are not looking to change!

*Mat 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

At one time salt was so valuable in this world that Roman soldiers were paid with salt because it could be used to meet their needs in any nation they traveled and was more valuable than gold.

Salt makes many foods acceptable because it changes the flavor of the food.

Job 6:6 Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

Salt was a preservative especially for edible meats and fishes and is still used today for this reason.

Salt can also be used for destruction of the land not allowing it ever again to produce life, such as the land that was once Sodom and Gomorrah.

Zep 2:9 Therefore as I live, saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them.

Psa 107:34 A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.

Salt is also used in blessings.

Lev 2:13 And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt.

It is the Christian life that can change the evil ways of Sodom and Gomorrah in our world today.
It is the Christian life that can show the world the beauty of living for Christ Jesus before it is too late.

It is the quality of Christian salt and not the quantity of Christian salt, that can make a difference in this world!

The flavor of evil can be changed by salt of God’s people!

Remember God’s people are salted and preserved forever more!

But much of the Church has lost its saltiness and it has no more value than the soil we walk upon.

In fact, as the false church gains in popularity, the world becomes a barren wilderness of sin!

The true Church is also the Light of this world.

*Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Mat 5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

The Christian who stays true to the Word of God cannot be hidden any more than the Sun can be blocked from its light.

God is Light, darkness is sin:

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.

Every Christian being filled with the Holy Spirit has the Light of God living within them, glowing with the Light of Life.

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.

Joh 9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

Now that our Lord Jesus Christ is in Heaven, then the Church is the Light of the World.

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;)
Eph 5:10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

Light is clear and pure.
Light penetrates darkness.
Light enlightens, it enlarges our vision.
Light reveals, it opens up the truth of darkness.
Light guides us down the right path.
Light strips away darkness.
Light protects us from the ways of darkness.

Our own Christian Light will grow dim if it is not used!

The more we confess the Lord Jesus Christ, the brighter we will shine, and no amount of persecution can change that.

There is no other light in this world that can benefit this world, we cannot allow our Christian Light to become dim and go out!

Light only has one purpose and that purpose is “to shine”!

After God created Heaven and the void of Earth, He next made “Light”!

Amen

In the Image of God

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Seven Stars and Seven Candlesticks

Book of Revelation Chapter 1 verses 12-20

We need to remember that up until this point all we know is the John was worshiping alone on the Isle of Patmos and the Holy Spirit just overwhelmed John and as he says:

Rev 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

If you are a Christian, you know what John is saying here. Most all of us got in the Spirit the day we prayed that sinner’s prayer and was gloriously saved.

Most of us have had a visit from the Holy Spirit on other occasions. Those that say they haven’t, just are not paying attention. The Holy Spirit sometimes speaks in a real small voice

John was having Church. He and the Holy Spirit and the Lord Jesus Christ were gathered together. What did Jesus teach us?

Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

We can worship when we are alone with the Lord and the Holy Spirit!

BUT Those who do not attend a true House of God do not know what they are missing.

It is sin not to attend the House of God on a regular basis!

Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

In our day, we do see the “Day of the Lord” approaching so, we should be in the House of God more today than we have in the past

John and the Holy Spirit were having themselves a time when, in came the Lord Jesus Christ.

There was no doubt in John’s mind that this was Christ, but he remained motionless for just a moment listening to the Lord.

It was now time for John to turn and see where this voice was coming from.

Remember John was alone on this Isle of Patmos at least he was alone as he worshiped the Lord.

The Isle of Patmos was a barren lonely place which was John’s punishment.

*****Rev 1:12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
Rev 1:13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

John first saw seven golden candlesticks.

First John heard a voice.
Next John turned toward that voice.
Next John saw seven candlesticks.

Again we see the number seven and we will see this number many times in the Book of Revelation and it will have the same meaning each time.

It is a fact that the number seven is considered to be a holy number by many peoples.

To the Hebrew people, every seventh day has a meaning.

Every seventh year has a specific meaning and the multiples of seven have specific meanings.

They would mourn for the dead seven days.
They would also celebrate weddings for seven days.

These things began with the seven days of Creation Week.

Notice to evolutionist, the number seven has no meaning at all except, on the calendar that they do not agree with.

They do like multiples of years but its millions of years and billions of years, so just about anyone will say “well in that many years anything could happen” just to get away from one simple Creation Week when the Lord made everything we see and everything that we cannot see.

The candlestick of the Jewish Temple is called a “menorah”.

How did Moses construct such a candlestick?

Exo 25:31 And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same.
Exo 25:32 And six branches shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side:
Exo 25:33 Three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop and a flower: so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick.
Exo 25:34 And in the candlestick shall be four bowls made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers.
Exo 25:35 And there shall be a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches that proceed out of the candlestick.
Exo 25:36 Their knops and their branches shall be of the same: all it shall be one beaten work of pure gold.
Exo 25:37 And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it.
Exo 25:38 And the tongs thereof, and the snuffdishes thereof, shall be of pure gold.
Exo 25:39 Of a talent of pure gold shall he make it, with all these vessels.
Exo 25:40 And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.

When John says a candlestick then this is what he saw, and he saw seven of them.

They were either placed in a circle or in a straight line because in the midst of them was the Lord Jesus Christ and I believe they were placed in a circle.

We will see later that these candlesticks represent these seven Churches and seven Church Ages, and they all are to get their light from Him.

Eph 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

The Lord Jesus was in His human form, but oh how wonderful it was the sight of Him.

We could say John saw the Lord as He presents Himself in Heaven.

He had on a garment such as a robe that covered His body down to His feet and was most likely a white robe, but it could be that same scarlet robe He wears later.

Rev 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

Jesus was wearing the robe of a prophet because He proclaims the Word of Truth to us.
Jesus was wearing the robe of a priests, because He gives us access into the presence of our Heavenly Father.
Jesus was wearing the robe of a King, because He rules this earth that belongs to Him.

He had on a golden cloth used as a belt around His waist. Much like a priest but it also represents dignity and authority.

The Lord Jesus was dressed as if He were going on a journey!

We must understand that the message of the Book of Revelation is from Jesus Himself!

He was just marvelous to look upon.

Both Ezekiel and Daniel had similar views of the Lord!

What else did John see about the Lord?

*****Rev 1:14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

The head and hair of Jesus were as white as snow which pictures our Lord Jesus as the “Ancient of Days”.

The Prophet Daniel spoke often of the “Ancient of Days”.

Dan_7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
Dan_7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
Dan_7:22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

Hair on the head of the Lord was white as white wool, a perfect whiteness.

Wool is also an emblem of eternity! The Lord is eternal, who was, who is, and who is to come!

His eyes were as a flame of fire.

His eyes are a token of His omniscience, eyes that can pierce through all things clearly. Eyes that can penetrate even into the heart.

Heb 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

Jer 23:23 Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off?
Jer 23:24 Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.

Nothing can be hidden from our Savior!

And of what of His feet?

*****Rev 1:15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

Brass signifies strength but also lasting! Jesus Christ has no weakness at all, and our God is eternal. There is no one and nothing that can overcome the power of God.

Brass that has been through the furnace reaches a “white heat”. This answers that burnish look, that glowing look that can only be Jesus Christ.

The voice of the Lord. If you were near the Niagara Falls you could not hear anything but the roar of the waters as they flowed down the falls.

The voice of the Lord was the same to John. John could here no other sound as the Lord spoke with the authority that He has.

Remember when the Lord speaks all of nature is listening to His voice for His next command!

John knew he was in the presence of the Almighty God and once He spoke, he had John’s full attention!

Psa 93:1 The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.
Psa 93:2 Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.
Psa 93:3 The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.
Psa 93:4 The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.
Psa 93:5 Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever.

When the Lord speaks to you, you will have no doubt who is speaking! If you have doubts, then it is not the Lord speaking!

We should understand that the Lord Jesus Christ will be a sight to behold and the only One who deserves our worship forever more!

It is the Lord Jesus Christ who holds the true Church in His hand!

The next two chapters will deal with those seven churches, their problems and the Lord’s solution to their problems!

When the Lord is speaking to the Church, He is expecting us all to pay attention.

We need to hear what the Lord is speaking to us, but we also need to hear what the Lord is speaking to all the church!

*****Rev 1:16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

As we read ahead, we know that these seven candlesticks represent those seven churches and these seven stars represent seven angels who are messengers to those churches.

A true church is a church whose message comes from our Heavenly Father! Anyone, anyone, who has a message that opposes the written Word of God has a false message.

God intends for the true church to survive until He takes the true Church home! Remember this message is to the true Church.

Any gathering of people together that is not to promote the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is then not a true Church.

Those who follow a perverted or twisted up version of the true Scriptures are not a true Church.

Those who search for power that is not the power of the Holy Spirit are not a true Church.

The message of our Holy Father is as a two-edged sword!

Truth: Dan 12:3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

Judgment: Rev 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

God the Father has given us His message of salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ. There is only one message! There is only one true Messenger!

God the Father also gives us the message of righteous anger, to all those who oppose His message of truth!

A two-edged sword cuts on both sides!

The countenance of our Savior implies His abundance of favor toward His children.

Psa 21:5 His glory is great in thy salvation: honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him.
Psa 21:6 For thou hast made him most blessed for ever: thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance.

To the Church:

Act 2:25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
Act 2:26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:
Act 2:27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Act 2:28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
Act 2:29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
Act 2:30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
Act 2:31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
Act 2:32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

The countenance of our Holy Father is seen in His Son the Lord Jesus Christ, the Almighty Living God!

This is what John knew and this is what John saw!

*****Rev 1:17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
Rev 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

What are we going to do when we first meet the Lord Jesus Christ in all His glory at the Bema Seat, where Christ will judge His church for rewards or loss of rewards?

We will fall down on our faces as dead men and women at the feet of our Savior!

There is a great big difference in sinfulness and sinlessness!

Luk 5:8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

Some may feel differently, but they will be the first ones to fall at the feet of Jesus!

Then if that same light is shining in our heart, the Lord will say “fear not”!

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.
2Co 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

Jesus Christ was the hope of His Church in the past, since He went back to Heaven and Jesus Christ is the Only Hope for His Church today.

His message is that of truth and love!

Our encouragement will always come from the Lord! Today and when we meet Him in the air!

When He reaches down with that right hand of power to touch us in love and says those words “fear not” we will then know for sure we are redeemed and it’s time to go home with Him!

That same hand that holds those stars also holds my soul!

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.

And those keys!

As the Church we need to understand that all power has been given to the Lord Jesus Christ and He holds the power over death, and He holds the power over who and who does not go to hell.

Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

In reality we hold this power ourselves. Make that decision today to call on the Lord.

Rev 6:8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

We know that only the Lord Jesus Christ can take away the life and that is at His choosing!

He may dispatch this to some other as this verse states. He gave the power to Death and Hell, which would be the Angel of Death and the Keeper of Hell who will both be tossed in the Lake of Fire also.

Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

When this takes place, there will be no more death and Hell will no longer be a place, the Final Place for those sentenced to eternal death will be the Burning Lake of Fire.

You see the gates of Hell will never prevail over the Church!

Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

If you place your life into the hands of the Lord, you are assured of safety throughout eternity!

And now the Apostle John is given his instructions.

*****Rev 1:19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
Rev 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

John is to write down the things he sees in all his visions, whether they be in the past, whether they be in his present, or whether they be in his future and therefore in our future as it seems to be.

Some of these facts are that of Christ’s Incarnation.

We know that the Lord Jesus Christ left Heaven’s glory to come to this earth and grow as a man from a child born in Bethlehem as the prophesies foretold.

As the God-man He became the foundation of the Church and of all Christianity.

All other religions are just man-made rejections of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Faith in Jesus Christ is faith in God and there is no other God than He, Jehovah!

Jehovah Himself said man was created in His image and that of His Son!

Gen 1:26 And God said, “Let us” make man in “our” image, after “our” likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Gen 9:6 Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: “for in the image of God made he man”.

We may not totally understand exactly what being in the image of God means, but we do know we have this connection to our Almighty Creator, Elohim.

God created man and God continues to reveal Himself to man and He explains His relationship by giving us His Book of the Living, we call the Bible.

Pro 8:17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

We are caught up the prophecy of the Messiah.

Pro 8:22 The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
Pro 8:23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
Pro 8:24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
Pro 8:25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:
Pro 8:26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
Pro 8:27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
Pro 8:28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
Pro 8:29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
Pro 8:30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
Pro 8:31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.
Pro 8:32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.
Pro 8:33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
Pro 8:34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
Pro 8:35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
Pro 8:36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

How can we deny our Creator or His Son, the only means to reconnect with our Creator in His house!

The Lord takes the time to tell us that those seven candlesticks represent those seven churches in Asia and therefore all the types of the Church and all the Church Ages since the beginning of the first true Church in Jerusalem and then Antioch, where the first missionaries were sent out and deacons were elected.

Those seven stars are then the seven messengers to the church which in my mind means those pastors or preachers, even though I am sure God’s Angels watch over not only that Church but also each and every Christian and certainly every true called man of God!

There are not really any mysteries in the Scriptures, if you study the Bible because the Bible itself is its own best commentary if you are filled with the Holy Spirit.

Amen

Let’s Pray!