Our Innocence Vindicated

 “that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

‭‭Titus‬ ‭3‬:‭7‬ ‭KJV

The Lord Jesus’s grace vindicates our innocence.  We have also become heirs to the life that we have always longed for, the life of the ages.  God’s gift has restored our relationship with Him and given us back our lives.  This is the life of the ages that was anticipated for generations; the life of our original design announced by the infallible resolve of God before time or space existed.  This life was made certain before eternal time.  Mankind’s union with God is the original thought that inspired creation.  We are joint-heirs with Christ and partake of the riches of the  glory of His inheritance in the saints.  Hallelujah!

Walking in God’s Presence

 “And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭13‬:‭10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Lot lifted his eyes and carefully surveyed the land around him all the way to Zoar.  He noticed that the Jordan Valley was fertile and well-watered (this was before Yahweh had destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah).  It looked beautiful, like the garden of Yahweh, or like Egypt.  When Abram offered the choice to Lot, he should have known that God is with Abram and left his choice to his uncle.  Lot missed the will of God by separating from the one who was called by God.  Our flesh would rather “do it on our own” but God’s way is to walk in fellowship with called ones.  The secret tug of the world drew Lot away from the place of blessing.  Compromise was a way of life for him.  He chose what would please him without considering the consequences.  Lot’s possessions were eventually burned in the fires of judgment, and he ended up living in a cave.   Like Abram, let’s learn to walk in God’s Presence according to His will which as Jesus said was, “Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me: for Thou loved Me before the foundation of the world.”  Amen!

Transformation by Redemption Realities

 “The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,”

‭‭Titus‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul tells Titus to instruct the elderly women also to exhibit a consecrated character in all their conduct.  To encourage them not to slander, or to get intoxicated with wine; their example makes beauty irresistibly attractive.  They are to radiate a conversation that flows from a mind radically transformed by redemption realities.  Their instruction should inspire young women to treat their husbands and children with tender affection.  False accusing is the work of Satan.  The devil and the fall of mankind are no longer our reference in conversation!  Gossip (to be double-minded about someone) is a form of intoxication to be avoided at all costs!  Replace that with fond affection for their husbands and children reflecting the fondness of God for mankind that persuaded our hearts! Let’s have our home reflecting the love of God inside and out!  Amen!

The Blessing of Abraham

 “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Now Yahweh said to Abram: Leave it all behind - your native land, your people, your father’s household, and go to the land that I will show you.  The God of Glory appeared to Abram and spoke with him.  God’s appearance to Abram was sudden and without warning.  The same voice of creation now proclaims a message of hope and blessing to all the world.  Abram had no burning bush to inspire him, no tablets of stone to guide him, and no ark of the covenant as a centrepiece of worship.  Neither did Abram have a Temple to worship in, a Bible to read, nor a priest to counsel him.  Nor did Abram have a pastor to pray for him, nor a prophet to prophesy to him.  But Abram had a divine encounter.  God tells Abram to not only leave the country but also his own will behind in order to enter God’s plan, and his ideas of how God will work.  God was calling Abram out from more than just his relatives, but from specific deity worship connected to nations, clans and ancestors.  Leaving all that is familiar was an incredible act of faith by Abram, but resulted in the seven-fold blessing of the next verses.  Through Jesus Christ, these blessings have come to us - that the blessing of Abraham might come on us through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.  Hallelujah!

Compassionate Authority to Build Up Faith

 “One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;”

‭‭Titus‬ ‭1‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul and his team had preached the Gospel among the Cretans and found that their own prophets or enlightened leaders had called them phony, lazy gluttons, and savage brutes.  This gives all the more reason that they needed distinguished leaders who were capable of rebuking such behaviour sharply and to establish them in robust faith.  We are not here to comment on people’s behavioural trends; we are here to declare people free to live the life of their redeemed design!  Faith sees that old life co-crucified with Christ and the new resurrected life emerge victoriously.  Faith is not a “mickey-mouse” cover-up for sin; faith defeats sin.  Spirit-led leaders in our churches need to have a revelation of the finished work of the Cross to manifest this compassionate authority that the victory of what Jesus already did for us, has done and to establish true faith in the Body of Christ.  Amen!

God’s Temple made of Lively Stones

 “And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭11‬:‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

They said to one another, “Come, let’s unite together and make bricks of clay and burn them until they become hard.”  So, they piled up the bricks they made to serve as stones and collected tar for mortar.  God’s building never includes bricks, only stones.  Man makes bricks; God is the Maker of stones.  The New Jerusalem will not be made from bricks but from precious stones.  Pharaoh made his treasure cities out of bricks; God raises up His temple using living stones.  To Whom coming, as to a Living Stone, disallowed indeed of men, but Chosen of God, and precious, we also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.  Amen!

A Bold Declaration of Joy

 “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.”

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul says, “So here I am, my life is poured out as a wine offering on the altar of ministry; I am ready to go!”  Paul is imprisoned before he is martyred.  He was in prison even when he wrote to the church in Philippians when he said, “I want you to see my ministry to you as wine poured out upon the altar of your faith.  I rejoice in the thought that we drink from the same Source and therefore celebrate a mutual joy!  Whatever you may suffer only concludes in joy!”  Joy is a bold declaration, in the face of severe danger and suffering - that contradiction does not define us or have the final say in our lives.  We know that whether we live or die, our message is unstoppable and that it is conquering the world!  Hallelujah!

The Gospel to all Nations

 “Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭10‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This is the story of the descendants of Noah’s three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.  After the great flood, they fathered many children.  This is an incredibly important generation account to understand human history.  This “Table of Nations” account is the earliest ethnological table found in the literature of the ancient world.  Almost all the names included here have been verified and found in archeological sites over the past one hundred years.  There are seventy names mentioned in the verses following this, in this chapter.  Seventy followers of Jesus were sent out as a testimony that the Gospel of His Kingdom is meant for all people.  God alone determines the boundaries of nations and seasons of history.  Let’s take this glorious Gospel to every creature we meet, so that Jesus comes soon.  Maranatha!

The Word of God is the Breath of God

 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭KJV

Jesus Christ and His work of salvation is the theme of Scripture.  The value of Scripture in its complete context is always found in God’s prophetic voice inspiring a thorough education in the revelation of righteousness!  This is what carries the Breath of God and gives substance and proof to accurately gauge what is being taught.  Mankind’s righteousness lost in Adam is redeemed in Christ.  The Breath of God, (meaning the words that proceed from His mouth), educates us in the understanding of our original identity, likeness and innocence.   Jesus said, “You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness to Me; yet you refuse to come to Me that you may have life.”  God speaks in Messianic language, revealing His resolve to redeem His image and likeness in human form.  Jesus said before ascending, “these are My words which I spoke to you, while I was with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled”…then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.  Open our minds Lord to understand Your Word.  Amen!

All Are Included in Christ’s Blessings

 “God shall enlarge Japheth, And he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; And Canaan shall be his servant.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭9‬:‭27‬ ‭KJV‬‬

May God enlarge Japheth’s family and increase his territory.  May he share in the blessing of Shem, and his descendants make their homes among the tents of Shem, and may Canaan be his slave also.  Noah’s cursing and blessing his sons illustrates the power of a father’s words over his children (and grandchildren) and how those words create the reality of their future.  Descendants of each of Noah’s sons were present at the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus.  The Jewish religious leaders who conspired to kill the Messiah, were Shem’s descendants.  The Romans who crucified the Lord Jesus were descendants of Japheth.  Simon of Cyrene who bore the cross of Christ in servitude, was a descendant of Ham.  After the Lord Jesus ascended, the Ethiopian eunuch, Saul who became Paul, and Cornelius the centurion, were descendants of Ham, Shem and Japheth.  Because Shem and Japheth both honoured their father, they shared the blessing of prosperity among them.  All are included in the blessings of the finished work of the Messiah and every curse reversed.  There is no caste or segregation or division in God’s love for all mankind shown through the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Thank You Father!

Christ’s Love Leads Us

 “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭2‬:‭22‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The best way to consistently escape the snare and distractions of youthful lusts, which are often typified by an all-consuming longing for forbidden pleasures, is to pursue and engage your life actively in everything that celebrates your redeemed oneness.  Instead of a sin-consciousness, cultivate a righteousness-consciousness.  This is a faith-righteousness and not a fake righteousness based on make-belief and self-effort.  Become addicted to the adventures of faith; let the agapé-love of God romance you into His rest where you cease from striving and bask in completeness.  Feast on peace; celebrate your joint togetherness with everyone who has mutually discovered their original identity in the Lord.  Live your life from this place of innocence, from your heart.  Pursuing a greater value and pleasure is the most effective way to flee temptation.  It is Christ’s love that leads us to rest, like the Good Shepherd, and brings us into the full realisation of His finished work!  Agapé is Psalm 23 in one word!  Glory to God!

Rest in the Ark of our Salvation

 “And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭8‬:‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

And on the 17th day of the 7th month, the ark came to rest on the highest peak in Ararat.  Noah’s name means rest.  At the Feast of Passover, the Lord made the 7th month into the first month and on the 14th day of the month.  Three days later would be the 17th day of the month, the very day when Jesus rose from the dead.  The final resting place of our Ark of Salvation was the top of the mountain - Jesus was raised on high, seated at the right hand of the Most High.  Ararat means the curse is reversed.  The resting place of God’s sons and daughters is where the curse is reversed (the Cross and the empty tomb).  We rest in Christ seated with Him in the heavenly realm.  What inspiration lies within the Bible!  Hallelujah!

Grace Life in Christ

 “who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,”

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Christ rescued the integrity of our original design and revealed that we have always been His own from the beginning, even before time was.  This has nothing to do with anything we did to qualify or disqualify ourselves.  We are not talking religious good works or karma here.  Jesus unveils grace to be the eternal intent of God!  Grace celebrates our pre-creation innocence and now declares our redeemed union with God in Christ Jesus.  This is the life of the ages that was anticipated for generations; the life of our original design announced by the infallible resolve of God before time or space existed.  Mankind’s union with God is the original thought that inspired creation.  There exists a greater dimension to eternity than what we are capable of defining within the confines of space and time!  God’s faith anticipated the exact moment of our redeemed union with Him for all eternity!  This life was made certain before eternal time.  Jesus took death out of the equation and re-defined life - this is good news indeed.  Jesus is what grace reveals!  Amen!

The Importance of Righteousness by Faith

 “And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭7‬:‭23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

All life on earth was blotted out - all that He had made, animals large and small, wild and domesticated, birds and reptiles, including humanity - was wiped off the face of the earth.  Only Noah was left behind, and those who were in the ark with him.  In the days of Noah, the wicked were taken away, swept off the earth by the flood.  It was the righteous who were left behind to inherit the earth.  Jesus mentioned this when He said, “For it will be like it was in the days of Noah when the Son of Man appears. Before the flood, people lived their lives eating, drinking, marrying, and having children. They didn’t realize the end was near until Noah entered the ark, and then suddenly, the flood came and took them all away in judgment.”  How important righteousness is for us to receive it and be in Christ.  But now, the righteousness of God is tangible and brought to light through Jesus, the Anointed One. This is the righteousness that the Scriptures prophesied would come. It is God’s righteousness made visible through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. And now all who believe in him receive that gift.  Amen!

Doctrine of Godliness

 “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;”

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭6:3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul instructs Timothy and this who believe, that if anyone spreads false teaching that does not agree with the healthy instruction of our Lord Jesus, teaching others that holy awe of God is not important, then they prove they know nothing at all! It’s obvious they don’t value or hold dear the healing words of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The doctrine or instruction here is the “fear of the Lord”. As Isaiah said that the spirit of the fear of the Lord is one of the seven spirits of God.  The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; and shall make Him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD.  To teach that there is no fear of God would be leading people away from the Holy Spirit.  The fear of God is more than simply loving and respecting God.  It is being in awe of I AM THAT I AM - His power, might, majesty, splendour, glory - that causes even angels to cover their face with their wings, in His Presence.    Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts!

Exceeding Greatness of Christ’s Power

 “There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭6:4 KJV

Back then, and later, there were giants on the earth, who were born as a result of the unholy union of heavenly beings with the human daughters.  They were the mighty ones of old, warriors of renown.  The Hebrew word for giants is Nephilim, also used for fallen ones.  Offspring of divine beings and women, they were monsters of iniquity, meant to corrupt the earth and destroy the godly seed.  There were two ways in the old covenant to kill giants - like David, prophesy their downfall, run straight toward them, knock them down and cut off their head.  Or like Caleb and Joshua, conquer them, see them as “bread” to strengthen us.  Intimidation never worked when facing giants.  The Lord Jesus destroyed all the works of the enemy at the Cross, including giants.  In the new covenant, for those of us who are in Christ, we know the exceeding greatness of His power to us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named…and has put all things under His feet.  Glory to God!

The Only Supernatural Knowledge is the Lord Jesus Christ

“And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.”

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭5:13‬ ‭KJV

Paul is writing for the Body of Christ - the Church - though mainly pertaining to widows but it applies to men and women who spend their time speaking negatively about others.  Here, widows who go around from house to house as busybodies are only learning to be lazy, making their situation even worse by talking too much, gossiping, and speaking things they shouldn’t. They become far too obsessed with empty things that will not bear good fruit.  Sometimes it is in the garb of prayer meetings where they offer to pray for others!  Sometimes such conversation can delve into the dangerous territory of gaining illegal knowledge of the supernatural.  The only knowledge of the supernatural that is available is through the Lord Jesus Christ Who explained, “I am the Way, I am the Truth, and I am the Life. No one comes next to the Father except through union with me. To know me is to know my Father too.”  This is our supernatural knowledge, to know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death; if by any means we might attain to the resurrection of the dead.  Amen!

Mature Sons of God

 “and all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: and Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭5:23-24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Enoch and God walked together as intimate friends; then God took him to Himself, and he was seen no more.  The life span of Enoch was three hundred and sixty five years.  Enoch means dedicated one and he was seventh from Adam.  Enoch show us what mature sonship could be.  Luke included Enoch in the genealogy of the Son of God.  Enoch was a man who walked in faith and was translated from earth to heaven without dying.  His life was pleasing to God and he prophesied about the coming of Christ with myriads of holy ones.  Ancient Jewish writings refer to him as one who possessed the secrets of heaven.  God wants us to become mature sons of God through the Lord Jesus Christ.  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For we have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but we have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.  Let’s choose to mature in faith for God has called us to be His sons.  Thank You Father!

Testify of the Risen Christ

 “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;”

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭4:1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The Holy Spirit has explicitly revealed: At the end of this age, many will depart from the true faith one after another, devoting themselves to spirits of deception and following demon-inspired revelations and theories.  God’s Spirit still speaks to His people today through gifts of prophecy, tongues and interpretation of tongues, and in many other forms.  To distinguish deceiving prophecies from what the Spirit is saying, we heed what Jesus said, “But when the Comforter is come, Whom I will send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me”.  The Holy Spirit always testifies of the risen Christ.  Whether an apostle, a prophet, an evangelist, a pastor, or a teacher of the Word of God, if they are not speaking of the finished work of the Cross and the risen Lord Jesus, let’s be cautious to receive what is being spoken, and pray for them.  Let’s abide in the Word of God now more than ever, to lead successful and victorious lives in Christ.  Amen!

The Blood of Christ Speaks

 “And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭4:10‬ ‭KJV

Yahweh said, Listen, the voice of your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground!  What have you done?  Blood crying is a symbol of the soul crying out for the right to live, demanding for the punishment of the murderer.  Bloodguilt calls for justice, even from the ground, defiling the ground, and staining the conscience.  It is as if the face of the earth blushed as it becomes stained by blood.  Blood spilled outside the body is always plural.  Here Abel’s blood speaks of the descendants that could have lived, their blood too, cries out against Cain.  The blood of Abel cries out for vengeance, but the Blood of Christ cries out for mercy and pardon.  Therefore the Blood of Christ speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.  May we bow before the Blood of Christ, the finished work of the Cross, to receive mercy from any guilt consciousness in our lives.  Forgiveness of sins is the greatest freedom mankind has.  Worthy is the Lamb!

Mystery of Righteousness

 “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

For the mystery of righteousness is beyond all question! He was revealed as a human being, and as our great High Priest in the Spirit! Angels gazed upon him as a man and the glorious message of his kingly rulership is being preached to the nations! Many have believed in him and he has been taken back to heaven, and has ascended into the place of exalted glory in the heavenly realm. Yes, great is this mystery of righteousness!  In Greek it says “justified in the Spirit” but the Aramaic says “righteousness” which indicates Jesus as the High Priest of our faith.  This whole verse is a deep and beautiful poem.  It reveals hidden truths not only of Jesus’s High Priesthood but also His kingly righteousness, called of God after the order of Melchizedek!  Truly great is this mystery!  Let’s go deep into God’s Word with hunger, humility and a teachable heart to receive the revelation directly from the Holy Spirit!  Thank You Lord!

Did You Hear God Call You?

 “And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭3:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Then Yahweh-God called Adam’s name and asked, “Where are you?”  When Adam first sinned, he should have gone immediately to God to beg for mercy and forgiveness.  Instead he did just what millions are doing today: he ran and hid from God so that God had to come and look for him.  God knew where Adam was hiding but wanted him to admit his shame.  The first question God asks in the Bible: “Where are you?” shows that we belong to God.  He longs for each person to examine our lives, be honest with Him, and come out of hiding.  The first question of the New Testament is, “Where is the child born King of the Jews?”  And the first question Jesus asks is, “What do you seek?”  Our answers to these three questions hold the keys to understanding the need of our heart, our life’s passion, and God’s plan for our lives.  Let’s be eager to present ourselves before God, acknowledge Jesus’s Lordship over our lives and seek to fulfil His purpose for our lives.  Amen!

Pray for All

 “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭2:1-4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul is writing that most of all he encourages us to pray with gratitude to God.  Let’s pray for all men with all forms of prayers and requests as we intercede with intense passion.  And let’s pray for every political leader and representative, so that we would be able to live tranquil, undisturbed lives, as we worship the awe-inspiring God with pure hearts.  It is pleasing to our Saviour God to pray for them.  He longs for everyone to embrace His Life and return to the full knowledge of the Truth.  If we think that prayer is a waste of time, that is unbelief indicating an evil heart, and never gets us anywhere.  But if the Church understands its responsibility to intercede selflessly for others who don’t know the good news of Christ,  and with the spirit of sonship in Christ, the gates of hell will not prevail against it and the victory of Christ will be released!  Praise the Lord!

Eden - The Land of Delight

 “And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2:8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Then Yahweh-God planted a lush garden paradise in the East, in the Land of Delight; and there He placed the man He had formed.  The Lord wanted to plant Himself in the dust of Adam and become life within Him.  As the tree was to receive nourishment from the soil, so Adam was to draw life and sustenance from his Maker.  Life for Adam depended on what he did with the “Tree.”  Life for you and me depends on what we do with the Tree on which Jesus died.  Jesus Christ is now the Tree of Life and is accessible to all who come by faith.  Man began in a garden, sinned in a garden, and was driven out of a garden.  Then Jesus came.  He went into a garden called Gethsemane as the Perfect Man and tasted the fruits of our suffering and pain.  He was then laid in a garden tomb that we might become the garden of His delight.  Eden means delight and bliss.  Eden is the realm of glory, bliss and delight that God wants to unveil to the believer.  Let’s enjoy the bliss and delight that God has for us in Christ.  Glory to God!

King Eternal

 “Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭1:16-17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul writes, “Yet I was captured by grace, so that Jesus Christ could display through me the outpouring of His Spirit as a pattern to be seen for all those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Because of this my praises rise to the King of all the universe Who is indestructible, invisible, and full of glory, the only God Who is worthy of the highest honors throughout all of time and throughout the eternity of eternities! Amen!”  Jesus displays His perfect patience in us who are destined to believe, for all to see.  He is the King of all ages, Whose physical body did not decompose in the tomb but was raised in resurrection.  He is indestructible and worthy of all glory and honour throughout the age of time and in the ages to come and into the eternity of eternities.  This glory is on display in and through us who have chosen to follow and obey Him!  Let’s join Paul in giving the highest honour and glory to Him Who alone is worthy!  Amen!

Let there be Light

 “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1:3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

And then God announced: “Let there be light,” and light burst forth!  God imagined light and there was light.  God spoke and shattered the cosmic silence to give birth to creation.  God’s thoughts had already imagined and shaped the largest galaxy and the smallest atom before He created them.  With exquisite skill and creativity, God shaped all things by His Word and spoke them into being.  No detail was too small for God as He prepared to unveil His masterpiece of wisdom.  God speaks order and goodness into His creation and filled it with the light and glory of His Presence.  The sun was created after that and is never to be worshipped!  As God released His Word of power, the universe began to expand and has been expanding ever since.  God’s Kingdom operates according to the principle of an endless increase, not by a power that diminishes over time.  Jesus Christ is the Word of God’s power!  Through His finished work on the Cross, the Light of God has come to dwell in us and to reflect His glory through us.  Glory to God!

Don’t Get Weary of Doing Right

 “But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.”

‭‭2 Thessalonians‬ ‭3:13-14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Brothers and sisters, don’t ever grow weary in doing what is right.  Take special note of anyone who won’t obey what we have written and stay away from them, so that they would be ashamed and get turned around.  Paul is persuading here that doing right is not growing tired of honest work.  The Hebrew word for work is a homonym for worship.  Our lives are to be a seamless expression of offering to God all of our activities as things we do with all our might for the glory of God.  To stay away from wayward and disobedient people in the church was not a punishment but an attempt to draw them to repentance and bring them back into restored fellowship with the church.  Paul persuades church leaders everywhere to walk the talk and for their guidance, influence and power that comes from God’s Presence, to be real to their congregations.  Let’s trust in the Holy Spirit to be real with God and with people so we can mirror Jesus to them.  Amen!

Pillar in Yahweh’s Temple

 “And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.”

‭‭Ruth‬ ‭4:6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

At this, the kinsman-redeemer baulked and said, “In that case, I’m not able to redeem it for myself without risking my own inheritance.  Take my purchase option of redemption yourself, for I can’t do it.”  “I can’t do it” is the statement of the law.  Grace, is not law-keeping, and is our only hope of salvation as it’s not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy Christ saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.  This kinsman-redeemer desired to preserve his name in Israel but now is lost.  Boaz on the other hand, not only preserved his name but it was inscribed on the pillar in Yahweh’s temple that Solomon built.  Our Kinsman-Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ, preserves our name for eternity as pillars in the Temple of our Yahweh.  We trust Him for He is faithful!  Amen!

Enjoying the Glory of our Lord Jesus

 “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

‭‭2 Thessalonians‬ ‭2:13-14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We always have to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, for you are dearly loved by the Lord. He proved it by choosing you from the beginning for salvation through the Spirit, who set you apart for holiness, and through your belief in the truth. To this end he handpicked you for salvation through the gospel so that you would have the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Some wonderful truths are contained here about all that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit have done for us - His eternal love, the drawing work of the Holy Spirit and His sanctification by setting us apart for holiness, faith in Jesus, and much more - to our present enjoyment and participation in the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ.  The purpose of our salvation is more than being set free from guilt.  We don’t have to wait for some future event to enjoy sharing in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, we have it right now in the very present.  Glory to God!

Christ Laid Down at the Cross

“And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do.”

‭‭Ruth‬ ‭3:4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Naomi told Ruth to watch closely to see where Boaz lies down, then to go and uncover his feet and lie down there.  He will tell Ruth what to do.  Our heavenly Boaz, the Lord Jesus lay down at the Cross to rest in His finished work.  We too uncover His feet, His walk of holiness and love.  We appropriate His grace to walk in His ways when we take our place resting with Him in His finished work.  We are a company of lovers resting at His feet, who will walk like Him.  All we have to do is listen and obey Him, for He will tell us what to do.  Jesus will have a loving bride worshipping at His feet at midnight.  May we be part of this company.  Amen!

Delightful Grace & Peace is Ours

 “grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

‭‭2 Thessalonians‬ ‭1:2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

May God’s delightful grace and peace rest upon you.  God’s grace, revealed in Christ, is indeed delightful and something that awakens joy and pleasure.  This joyous and delightful grace rests upon the people of God who recognise that they are forgiven and that their righteousness comes only from the Lord Jesus Christ.  Those who are self righteous and depend on their own work and service to the Lord rather than the finished work of Christ on the Cross, can never, not ever, know the joyous delight and freedom that comes from being righteous in Christ.  That’s the reason Grace and Truth came to us in the Person of Jesus Christ, because He became sin Who knew no sin, that we might be the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.  Thank You, Jesus, for the joyous delight that Grace brings into our life.  Amen!