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Christian Living

Cast Out the Bondwoman!!!

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Galatians 4:1-31
1  Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
2  But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
3  Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
4  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
7  Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Apostle Paul is speaking to the Church of Galatia.  He is reminding all of them that they were once a servant of sin.  In bondage to the world!!  But when the fulness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, as a propitiation to conciliate God and man once again.  To lift us from the curse of the law, and to restore sonship unto man through the Spirit of God, which is Christ Jesus.  As a son of God we are no longer a servant to sin, but an heir of God through Christ.

8  Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
9  But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
10  Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.

At this time, Apostle Paul is questioning the Jewish people as to why it is, that they have turned from following after the Spirit of Christ, and instead are now following again after the old Mosaic Law.  Once again observing days, times, and customs.  Basically asking them why they have brought themselves back into bondage wherein they were delivered from.

11  I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
12  Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.
13  Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.
14  And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
15  Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.
16  Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
17  They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.

This is important to understand.  The Apostle is teaching us by their example that there is people, who will zealously affect you, so that it might affect them.  This is not profitable for you.

18  But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.
19  My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
20  I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.

Here we are taught that being zealous in good things is great.  But now the Apostle is going to question those who are teaching that the customs and traditions of men, which were practiced under the Mosaic Law, must still be upheld.

21  Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
22  For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
23  But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
24  Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
25  For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
26  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
27  For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.

This is of the utmost importance.  The covenant of the Mosaic Law given by Moses in Mount Sinai, makes you a servant of the law, and into bondage, which is an allegory of the handmaiden Agar, the bondwoman of Sara, who also had a son by Abraham.  But she was not the freewoman, nor was her son the child of promise.

Romans 3:19-20
19  Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
20  Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

(Continuing from Galatians 4:28)
28  Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
29  But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
30  Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
31  So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

Cast out the Sin in your Life!!!  Cast out the Bondwoman!!!

Romans 6:16-18
16  Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
17  But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

What form of doctrine.  The Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ!!!

18  Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

How did you become free from sin?  By being obedient to the doctrine of the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ!!  We became the servants of righteousness.

By becoming a Son of God,  partaking of being born of Water and of the Spirit as the Apostle Peter told us in Acts 2:38-39  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

This is the restoration of Sonship!!  Being Born Again!!

Galatians 5:1-26
1  Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
2  Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
3  For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
4  Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
5  For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

It is our obedient faith in Christ that leads us to the free gift of God, the imputation of righteousness!

6  For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

Listen Carefully to what Apostle Paul has spoken!!!  This faith works by love!!!

What do you mean Brother Ronnie??  I mean this faith works by the action of love!!!

I John 5:3
3  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

Notice that again we are told to take an action.  We are told to Keep His Commandment, and that they are not grievous.  What!!!!?????  Are you telling me I have to work for my salvation??  No, I am certainly not telling you that you must work for your salvation, but I am telling you that faith works by love, which is an action word.  And we were told how to fulfill this action of love, through the Keeping of God’s Commandments?  I thought we weren’t under the Law?  We are not under the Mosaic Law, but we are under the Law of faith!!!  The Law of Righteousness!!!  The Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus!!!!!  The Perfect Law of Liberty!!!!!

Cast out the Bondwoman!!!  Come out from among Her my people!!!

(Continuing Galatians 5:7)
7  Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
8  This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.
9  A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

A little Sin leavens the whole loaf!!!

10  I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.
11  And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.
12  I would they were even cut off which trouble you.
13  For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
14  For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Romans 13:10
10  Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

(Continuing Galatians 5:15)
15  But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
16  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18  But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
19  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24  And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26  Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Hebrews 12:1-3
1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
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.
3  For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Luke 13:23-24
23  Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,
24  Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

Strive or Fight Vigorously to enter in at the strait gate.

Matthew 16:24-26
24  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
26  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Cast Out the Bondwoman and Live!!!

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Christian Living

We are His Witnesses

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Isaiah 43:10-11
10  Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
11  I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.

1 Peter 3:12-15
12  For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
13  And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
14  But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
15  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

It is of the utmost importance that we as the witnesses of Jesus Christ, are always ready to give a scriptural account of the hope we have within us.  This hope not only pertaining to the plan of salvation, but to everything that witnesses of the hope that lies within us.

Some examples could be:  how you overcome trials and tribulations, why you live a separated life from the world, I thought once you were saved, you were always saved, etc.

As you can see, to be an effective witness, one must have a knowledge of the Word of God, and then they need to be a humble servant of Christ and present this information with meekness (quiet, gentle, and submissive) and (in the) fear (of the Lord).

2 Timothy 2:24-26
24  And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
25  In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
26  And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

As we learn here from the Apostle Paul, we must not strive or fight vigorously against those who oppose themselves.   We must be gentle and patient.  And again in meekness as we give instruction.  And then perhaps, or maybe, God will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.

Remember the parable of the sower……

Luke 8:11-15
11  Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
12  Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
13  They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
14  And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
15  But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

We need not strive or debate the Word of God with anyone.  As you can see by the Word of God, the receiving of the Word is a heart condition.  Those who hear the Word with an honest and a good heart, and keep the Word, will bring forth fruit with patience.

As a witness of Jesus Christ, one of the first and most important scripture verses for opening up someone’s eyes to the possibility of being misinformed with the knowledge of Christ that they have been taught, is….

2 Timothy 3:16
16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, Not some scripture is and others are not.

This verse clearly states that All scripture is profitable for doctrine.  All scripture is profitable for reproof.  All scripture is profitable for correction.  All scripture is profitable for instruction in righteousness.

This teaches us that we can not stack one scripture against another to justify why we choose to only apply certain Bible verses in our walk with God.  I would like to give 3 examples of how people commonly use one scripture to reject another.

Example 1

John 3:16 (accepted)
16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Mark 16:16 (rejected)
16  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Yet we have learned that all scripture is inspired by God and profitable for doctrine.

Example 2

Romans 10:9 (accepted)
9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Acts 2:38 (rejected)
38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Example 3

Ephesians 2:8 (accepted)
8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Acts 22:16 (rejected)
16  And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

When you are witnessing to someone, be sure to introduce 2 Timothy 3:16 into the conversation so that you can show the person that we should never use one scripture against another, but rather all scripture will work together.

After you have opened up their eyes to the acknowledging that all scripture is inspired by God and profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness, a great follow up is to explain to them, how the scriptures are set up.

Isaiah 28:9-13
9  Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
10  For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
11  For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
12  To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
13  But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

The prophet Isaiah is telling us that knowledge and the understanding of doctrine, comes by studying the scriptures one line at a time.  Which is line upon line.  And also by one precept at a time.  Which is a rule that governs one’s behavior or thought, which would be a commandment.  So, he is saying we learn by one commandment at a time, and by studying the scriptures one line upon another line, one commandment upon another.  Gaining knowledge here a little and there a little.

Meaning part of the information you need for a particular subject is found in one book of the Bible while more of the information you need is found in other books of the Bible.

God purposed this for man so that we would study the scriptures.  God is looking for someone who truly loves Him and is seeking Him.  These type of people, will search the scriptures, pray about them, learn from teachers, and will always consider all possible meanings of the verse at hand, because they want to make certain, they are obeying the Gospel correctly.  It is to these people, that God will open the scriptures up to, because the scriptures are spiritually discerned.

1 Corinthians 2:12-15
12  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15  But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

Now I would like for you to take notice of Isaiah 28:13 again.

Isaiah 28:13
13  But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

This verse here is speaking of the Jews.  The Jews had been disobedient over and over to the LORD.  In His Jealousy, He decided that He would go to another people who were not a people.  This being (us) the Gentiles.

So Isaiah tells us that the word of the LORD to the Jews was one commandment upon another, one line upon another, until it caused them to be snared.  It became a trap to them.  The Word of God is written in a way, that God reveals to some, while concealing it from others.  The answer for why, is because of seeing whether you have an honest or a dishonest heart.  Do you truly love Him and will you obey what he says, or will you not truly love Him and decide to build your own plan of salvation from the scriptures.  Listen to Jesus give the answer to His disciples.

Matthew 13:10-15
10  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
12  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
13  Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
14  And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
15  For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

You may have read this just now, and missed the answer to why this happens.  The answer is verse 15.  Jesus tells us, their hearts is waxed gross, their ears are dull of hearing, and here is the answer to why they don’t see, for their eyes they have closed.  Least at any time they should open their eyes and see, which would allow them to open their ears, to hear, which would bring understanding to their heart, which would bring repentance and conversion, and then Jesus would heal them.

Jesus is looking for a bride that truly loves Him.  Someone Obedient and Faithful to Him.  Thus scriptures were deliberately set up to either ensnare you if you love not the truth, or if you do love the truth, the spirit will open your understanding.  Let me show you who the gospel is hid from and who it is revealed to.

Matthew 11:25
25  At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

2 Corinthians 4:1-4
1  Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
2  But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
3  But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

This goes right along with what Jesus answered to His disciples concerning them that had shut their own eyes.  Now we find out that because they believed not, the god of this world has blinded their minds.  So the Gospel is only hidden to the Wise, Prudent, and to them that are lost.  Yet it is revealed to babes.

2 Peter 3:13-18
13  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14  Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
15  And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
16  As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
17  Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
18  But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

As the witnesses of Jesus Christ it is important to understand how the scriptures are set up and that all scripture is inspired by God.  This knowledge will allow you to quickly assess whether the person you are speaking with is hungry for truth.  If they are, this will lead to many other questions from them.  As the Lord’s witnesses we must be prepared to answer these questions by growing in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ as we have just been instructed.

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Holy Spirit

The Power of Pentecost!

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The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

The voice of John the Baptist

Matthew 3:11
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

What is this fire?  This Pentecostal fire?

Acts 2:1-8
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire,and it sat upon each of them.
4  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.  

Pentecostal Power!!

5  And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
6  Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
7  And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
8  And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

Acts 2:13-18
13  Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
14  But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
15  For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
16  But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17  And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
18  And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

I’m talking about ……..The Power of Pentecost!

Acts 2:3
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

I say this fire is a purifying fire!! A Godly fire that purges out our ungodliness and it sanctifies us!

This is Pentecostal Fire! – Godly Fire!!

Let Me Speak To You About The Mystery of the Human Tongue

James 3:6-10
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

Devilish Fire – Sensual Fire

7  For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
8  But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9  Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10  Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

With our tongue we praise God and curse our brother who is made in the image of God. But when the Holy Ghost comes in, God’s Spirit unites with our Spirit and cries out Abba Father in recognition that you have became a child of God. God only can tame your tongue! When you receive the Holy Ghost God does sanctify and tame your tongue.

Receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues is the Power of Pentecost!

Church the Power of Pentecost is not a one time experience!

Acts 1:5-8
5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
6  When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7  And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Power to Witness; Pentecostal Power!!!

Isaiah 43:10-11
10  Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
11  I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.

Power over death, hell, and the grave!  Power over sin! Power over our trials, tribulations, sorrows, and persecutions.

With Pentecostal Power-comes persecution!

The early church after the day of Pentecost was persecuted for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is the Power of Pentecost!

(Peter and John taught and preached Jesus to the people in the Temple after healing the impotent man at the gate Beautiful. )

Acts 4:1-10
1  And as Peter & John spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,
2  Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
3  And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.
4  Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand. (What a revival in a single day!)
5  And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,
6  And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.
7  And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?  (By the power of Pentecost!)
8  Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
9  If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;
10  Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

The Name of Jesus Christ Invokes the Power of Pentecost!

Acts 4:15-21
15  But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,
16  Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.
17  But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.
18  And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
19  But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
20  For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
21  So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.

Acts 4:29-31
29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
30  By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
31  And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

Pentecostal Boldness!

The Holy Ghost is the Power of Pentecost! (The nine gifts of the Holy Ghost is Pentecostal Power!)

These scriptures prove that the Baptism of the Holy Ghost is not a one time experience, but continuously moves on His people. That is they were all refilled with the Holy Ghost, they already had the Holy Ghost yet they received a refilling when they prayed and asked God for boldness to preach His word.

Again I say Church Pentecostal Power is not a one time experience!

Church, saints hear me! The Holy Ghost is not a one time experience, we can be refilled over and over again! As a matter of fact- we must be refilled over and over again, lest we grow feeble and weak, spiritually sick. The joy of the Lord is our strength, and that joy is the Baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance.

Speaking in other tongues is a miracle, it is Pentecostal Fire!

Speaking in tongues is not a one time experience!

Do not let Satan lie to you and tell you, that you cannot speak in tongues anymore. Every time that you allow the Holy Ghost to move upon you, move in you; the gift of speaking in tongues will well up within you as a well of living water. It will bubble over, it will overflow you. For out of your belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Stir up the gift within you! The gift of the Holy Ghost!
Stir it up! Get beside yourselves!
Crucify your flesh!
Bring your flesh into subjection to the Holy Ghost in you!
Let God have reign in your life!
Submit yourselves unto God!
Give God a spiritual sacrifice of praise! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Begin to worship God!

Pentecostal Power – You shall receive Power after that the Holy Ghost has come upon you!

Raise your hands and worship the Lord! Cry out to God like you did when you first repented and earnestly sought God. You can have a Pentecostal experience right now!  This very moment! Draw nigh unto God, lift Him up and God will draw nigh unto you.  Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever!! He changes not!!

Worship God, love God, praise God, lift up Holy hands unto God!!

The Holy Ghost is a continual blessing of eternal life!  Renewed in your heart daily!! Day after day, after day, forever and ever!

Pentecostal Power is the saving power of Jesus Christ.

Lesson written by Perry Harris.

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Prophecy

Not All Prophecies Are of God

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Do not believe every prophet or every prophecy.  In the Old Testament when King Solomon died his son Rehoboam became king in his place, but because Solomon sinned against God and worshipped other gods, God punished Solomon at his death by letting his son, Rehoboam only be king over the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, which became one tribe.  The other ten tribes of Israel were given to a man named Jeroboam and he became king over Israel.  This division is the reason that there were kings of Judah and kings of Israel.  Jeroboam was to become the first king of Israel.  While Rehoboam became king over Judah.  Yet even after this promise by God to Jeroboam, this same Jeroboam also sinned against God.

1 Kings 11:28-38
28  And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valour: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph. 

The Promise of God Almighty!

29  And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field:
30  And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces:
31  And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee:
32  (But he shall have one tribe for my servant David’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel:)
33  Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father.
34  Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand: but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servant’s sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes:
35  But I will take the kingdom out of his son’s hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes.
36  And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there.
37  And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign according to all that thy soul desireth, and shalt be king over Israel.
38  And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee.

Yet for all that the Lord had promised Jeroboam and allowed him to become king over Israel (the 10 tribes that were rent out of Solomon’s hand…..)

I Kings 12:26-33
26 And Jeroboam said in his heart, now shall the kingdom return to the house of David:
27 If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah.

Already Jeroboam, even after receiving the promise of becoming king over the 10 tribes of Israel, has now doubted the word of the Lord and fears that if the people return to Jerusalem for to worship the Lord, that the people’s hearts will turn once again unto the king of Judah Rehoboam.  And then believes that if this takes place, they will kill him.  So Jeroboam commits even worse whoredom than that of King Solomon and…..

28  Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
29 And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan.
30 And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.

But King Jeroboam does not stop his idolatrous practice here with causing all of Israel to go a whoring after other gods.  He continues…. 

31 And he made a house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi.
32 And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did him in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made.
33  So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense.

Jeroboam’s sin was, instead of letting Israel go up to Jerusalem to worship and make sacrifices to God in His temple he made two golden calves and told Israel to worship these two golden calves as their gods who have brought them up out of Egypt.  He also appointed his own priests instead of the Leviticus Priesthood appointed by God.

So God sent a prophet to rebuke King Jeroboam and also commanded that prophet to neither eat nor drink or to return back into the same direction that he had came, but to leave in the opposite direction.

I Kings 13:1-24
1 And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense.
2 And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men’s bones shall be burnt upon thee.
3 And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the LORD hath spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.
4 And it came to pass, when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, which had cried against the altar in Bethel, that he put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him.
5 The altar also was rent, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the LORD.
6  And the king answered and said unto the man of God, Entreat now the face of the LORD thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God besought the LORD, and the king’s hand was restored him again, and became as it was before.
7 And the king said unto the man of God, Come home with me, and refresh thyself, and I will give thee a reward.

Notice what the man of God says…..

8 And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place:
9 For so was it charged me by the word of the LORD, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that thou camest.
10 So he went another way, and returned not by the way that he came to Bethel.
11 Now there dwelt an old prophet in Bethel; and his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel: the words which he had spoken unto the king, them they told also to their father.
12 And their father said unto them, What way went he? For his sons had seen what way the man of God went, which came from Judah.
13 And he said unto his sons, Saddle me the ass. So they saddled him the ass: and he rode thereon,
14 And went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak: and he said unto him, Art thou the man of God that camest from Judah? And he  said, I am.

FOLKS TAKE HEED!!!!!!

15 Then he said unto him, Come home with me, and eat bread.
16 And he said, I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee: neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place:
17 For it was said to me by the word of the LORD, Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou camest.
18  He said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the LORD, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him.

I REPEAT:  BUT HE LIED UNTO HIM!!!!!! 

19 So he went back with him, and did eat bread in his house, and drank water.
20 And it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of the LORD came unto the prophet that brought him back:
21  And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the LORD, and hast not kept the commandment which the LORD thy God commanded thee,
22  But camest back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place, of the which the LORD did say to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no water; thy carcase shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers.
23  And it came to pass, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled for him the ass, to wit, for the prophet whom he had brought back.
24 And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew him: and his carcase was cast in the way, and the ass stood by it, the lion also stood by the carcase.

Do not believe every prophet! All prophecies are not of God!!!

The scriptures said that an old prophet that dwelled in Bethel went to the man of God, verse 18  He said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the LORD, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him!!!!! 

It is a dangerous thing to disobey God’s commands!

Giving heed to a false prophecy can cost you your life, your place of honor with God, even cost you your salvation. This old prophet from Bethel for what ever reason lied to the prophet of God and yet God later used him to pronounce judgement against God’s prophet.

God’s prophecy against King Jeroboam came to pass as the prophet said, but the prophet himself died for his disobedience to the Word of God.

I John 4: 1-6
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Do not believe every prophecy or prophet! 

Church we are living in the last days, there shall come many false Christs and many false prophets saying thus saith the Lord, but they are wolves in sheep’s clothing, they are ministers of satan.  God commands us to try the prophets to see if God spoke through them or not.  This is a serious responsibility!!  Do not just believe any prophecy because it makes you feel good or feel important, for it can cost you your eternal life.

If God has given you directions on what you are to do, no matter if an Angel from heaven or another prophet of God tells you that God has told them to tell you something else, DO NOT HEARKEN UNTO THEIR WORDS!!!!!

OBEY THE VOICE OF THE LORD THAT HE HAS COMMANDED YOU!!!

Lesson written by Perry Harris.

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Poetry

The Bridegroom cometh!

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The Bridegroom cometh!
The Silly Virgins are at play.

The Bridegroom cometh!
They say probably not today.

The Bridegroom cometh!
The Silly Virgins are at play.

The Bridegroom cometh!
They say what we do is ok.

The Bridegroom cometh!
The Silly Virgins are at play.

The Bridegroom cometh!
They say we’ve not been led astray.

The Bridegroom cometh!
The Silly Virgins are at play.

The Bridegroom cometh!
They say why has He turned us away?

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Salvation

Are you Blind?

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This is a spiritual question of great importance.  Unlike being naturally blind in the flesh, where one can not see anything, spiritual blindness can happen to a person, and that person be completely unaware that they can not see.  Never the less, these people are blinded to the understanding of the scriptures of the Word of God.  This is a very scary place to be.  For you are in the darkness of this world, but yet believe you are in the glorious light of the Gospel of Christ.

The question today is, are you one of these people that are spiritually blinded and  unaware?  This question is of eternal consequences.  For if you are spiritually blinded you are lost.

You may be recalling,

2 Peter 3:9
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.

The question that may be coming to your mind is, why would anyone be spiritually blinded if the Lord doesn’t want anyone to perish, but that all would come to repentance?

To understand the answer to this question, will take an understanding of whom the Lord will teach doctrine, how scriptures are discerned, what causes spiritual blindness,  and finally to whom the Lord will reveal the doctrine of Christ to and to whom it is hid from?

The answer to the first question, “To whom will the Lord teach doctrine”, is found in the book of:

Isaiah 28:9-13
9  Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
10  For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
11  For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
12  To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
13  But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

The prophet Isaiah is telling us that knowledge and the understanding of doctrine, comes by studying the scriptures one line at a time.  Which is line upon line.  And also by one precept at a time.  Which is a rule that governs one’s behavior, which would be a commandment.  So, he is saying we learn by one commandment at a time, and by studying the scriptures one line upon another line, one commandment upon another.

God purposed this for man so that we would study the scriptures.  God is looking for someone who truly loves Him and is seeking Him.  These type of people, will search the scriptures, pray about them, learn from their pastor, preachers, and teachers, and will always consider all possible meanings of the verse at hand, because they want to make certain, they are obeying the Gospel correctly.  It is to these people, that God will open the scriptures up to, because the scriptures are spiritually discerned.

1 Corinthians 2:12-15
12  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15  But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

So the answer to the second question which was, “how are the scriptures discerned”, is by the Spirit of Christ, which is the Spirit of God.

To answer the third question, which was, “What causes spiritual blindness”, we will need to look at some of the examples given to us.  We will start with taking notice of what verse 13 of Isaiah 28 above has told us.

Isaiah 28:13
13  But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

This verse here is speaking of the Jews.  The Jews had been disobedient over and over to the LORD through out the reading of the Old Testament.  In His Jealousy, He decided that He would go to another people who were not a people.  This being (us) the Gentiles.

So Isaiah tells us that the word of the LORD to the Jews was one commandment upon another, one line upon another, until it caused them to be snared.  It became a trap to them.  The Word of God is written in a way, that God reveals to some, while concealing it from others.  The answer for why, is because of seeing whether you have an honest or a dishonest heart.  Do you truly love Him and will you obey what he says, or will you not truly love Him and decide to build your own plan of salvation from the scriptures.

Hear the Parable of the Sower and take notice of whom the Lord tells us it is that receives the Seed.

Luke 8:4-18
4  And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:
5  A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.
6  And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.
7  And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.
8  And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
9  And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?
10  And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.
11  Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
12  Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
13  They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
14  And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
15  But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
16  No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.
17  For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.
18  Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.

We have learned some life essential Words of Wisdom in this parable and from the snare which has befallen upon the Jews.  To better understand these Words of Wisdom concerning why the Lord spoke in parables, let’s listen to the Apostle Matthew as he has recorded for us why the Lord spoke in parables.

Matthew 13:10-15
10  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
12  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
13  Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
14  And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

Why??

15  For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

You may have read this just now, and missed the answer to why this happens.  The answer is verse 15.  Jesus tells us, their hearts is waxed gross, their ears are dull of hearing, and here is the answer to why they don’t see, for their eyes they have closed.  Least at any time they should open their eyes and see, which would allow them to open their ears, to hear, which would bring understanding to their heart, which would bring repentance and conversion, and then Jesus would heal them.

Jesus is looking for a bride that truly loves Him.  Someone Obedient and Faithful to Him.  Thus scriptures were deliberately set up to either ensnare you if you love not the truth, or if you do love the truth, the Spirit will open your understanding.

Let’s compare this to the natural.  When you are about to be married, how do you want your spouse to love you?  Do you want them to love you with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength?  Or do you prefer them to somewhat love you, and every so often cheat on you?  Or would you rather if they were going to half way love you, that you had never even met this person?

Revelation 3:14-16
14  And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
15  I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 

Jesus Christ is the Bridegroom.  The Church is the Bride of Christ.  So then if you are a person halfway serving the Lord, we are told that your ending will be that you are spued out of the Lord’s mouth. 

Luke 10:25-28
25  And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
26  He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
27  And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
28  And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

Matthew 22:40
40  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

You may be wondering how love will save you?  The answer is, LOVE fulfills all the law and God is love.

Romans 13:8-14
8  Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
9  For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
10  Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
11  And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12  The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
13  Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Apostle John continues in: 

1 John 4:16-21
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.
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.
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.
19  We love him, because he first loved us.
20  If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
21  And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

So now that we understand to whom the Lord will teach doctrine, how the scriptures are discerned, and that the Gospel is deliberately set up to either ensnare you if you love not the truth, or to be opened to you by the Spirit if you do love the truth, we will continue by seeing to whom the gospel is hid from and to whom it is revealed to.

Matthew 11:25
25  At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

2 Corinthians 4:1-4
1  Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
2  But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
3  But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

This goes right along with what Jesus answered to His disciples concerning them that had shut their own eyes.  Now we find out that because they believed not, the god of this world has blinded their minds.  So the Gospel is only hidden to the Wise, Prudent, and to them that are lost.  Yet it is revealed to babes. 

The answer to the question of, “To whom will the Lord reveal the doctrine of Christ to and to whom is it hid from”, is to them that are wise and prudent, and to them that are lost.  The gospel of Christ is not intended to be hid.  The gospel is revealed unto babes.  Which are those that have an honest and a good heart as the parable of the Sower revealed, they not only hear the Word of God, but also keep it, by applying what they have learned, and these bear fruit with patience. 

2 Peter 3:13-18
13  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14  Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
15  And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
16  As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
17  Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
18  But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Here Apostle Peter tells us what to do in verse 18 so that we be not blinded.  Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Jesus tells us,

Matthew 7:7-8
7  Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

In closing,

With this new found knowledge we can now understand why there are so many divisions of Christianity that have led to so many different denominations.  Now that you can see that the gospel was designed to either ensnare one, or to be open to one, you want to make sure you are somebody that the scriptures are open to.  This comes by making sure what you are taught is correct.  And growing in the grace and knowledge of God as Apostle Peter has spoken.  And in conclusion Apostle Peter gives us the instructions very clearly on how to make sure we never fall and that we will not be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:1-12
1  Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
2  Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5  And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6  And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7  And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9  But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
10  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
11  For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
12  Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

I urge everyone that has read this message to cry out to God with an honest and a good heart, and make sure that you are not one that has become spiritually blinded and your thoughts being overtaken by satan unbeknownest to you.

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