The Work of God

Matthew 5:3–12

3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

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

10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven

Poor in spirit— is the opposite of pride. The poor in spirit is powerful in Spirit, because he is poor in spirit. He understands the source and the results of His power. Because he understands the source, he cannot be prideful. If he gets confused and thinks for some reason he was the cream of the crop; therefore, he was selected, he moves towards taking some of God’s glory.

The word pauper is used to describe this poor person. Without Jesus, he knows he has nothing. Do you think that sometimes even though we really love our Lord and are genuinely grateful that He saved us that there could be something in us that wants recognition for what we do?

Do you think it’s possible that when we don’t get recognized like our flesh wants that the enemy could use that as an opportunity to cause strife and division? And if you do believe that is possible, what do you think is causing that confusion? Who should I expect to be the author of confusion?

Meek— humble power/ Jesus told Paul, “for my strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9)”

The Lord said, “The Son of man came not to be served but to serve and to lay down His life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28).” Jesus was full of power but His purpose demanded the greatest humility ever seen. While the power of God knocked the soldiers to the ground in the garden, He also allowed them to bind Him and take Him to the cross. His purpose was to glorify His Father by doing His will. Jesus received His glory in doing the will of the Father. On this side, the will of the Father was that He die as a sacrifice in order to bring many sons to glory

Hebrews 2:10

For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

On the other side, He is seated in majesty and glory

Hebrews 8:1 NASB

Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,

Philippians 2:8-9

8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,

1 John 3:2

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

We will one day receive glory. We will one day be like He is and have a glorified body. It’s His kingdom, not mine. It’s His glory, not mine. It’s His work, not mine. Why would I try to gain glory now, when even then, it won’t be my own? He’s wanting us to practice exalting Him now. It’s time to fill the earth with His glory now if we plan to be part of His glorious kingdom then.

He said, Matt 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake

Sounds bad when you read it, but then he says:

13 You are the salt of the earth 14 You are the light of the world

13 NASB if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men

Salt that loses its flavor, loses its purpose. Many a Bible student has pointed out the preservative purposes of salt. But salt also has an ability that no other seasoning has in that it reveals the presence of other flavors. If believers lose their saltiness, they lose their purpose. Whether the world realizes it or not, they’re depending on believers not losing their purpose. The purpose of believers is to reveal Jesus to the world.

Hidden flavors are revealed when salt is added. Jesus is on the Earth, and He dwells on the inside of his people. However, if the salt of the Earth, which is his people is left in the shaker, Jesus, the one ingredient that contains hope for the lost and the dying is never revealed. So again, if salt isn’t salty, what purpose does it have? If Christians don’t expose Jesus, what purpose do they have?

When we let our light shine before men, They see our works and it glorifies the Father.

First thing that we need to figure out—what is the work of God?

John 6:28 then they said unto him “what shall we do, that we might work the works of God? “ 29Jesus answered and said, unto them, “this is the work of God, that you believe on him whom he has sent“

I’ve heard doctors say “we do God’s work – no you don’t. When people do God’s work, God gets the glory—not man.

He speaks about the Pharisees

Matthew 23:3

therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them.

5 But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men

Mark 14:3

While He was in Bethany at the home of Simon the leper, and reclining at the table, there came a woman with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume of pure nard; and she broke the vial and poured it over His head.

Mark 14:4

But some were indignantly remarking to one another, “Why has this perfume been wasted?

Matt 26:11 … You have the poor with you always.

Matt 26:13… She poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.

Matt 26:13… Verily, I say, where, so ever this is Gospel is preached in the whole world. There shall also this, that this woman has done, be told for a memorial of her.

Memorial— a remembrance – somebody gave all they had, she pushed through the embarrassment, pushed through all of the critical spirits and poured all that she had out in pure worship. Paul told the Corinthian church in regards to communion that they weren’t rightly discerning the Lord’s body.

1 Corinthians 11:29

For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

She got it. She rightly discerned His body. She was a reminder to a room filled with disciples, that the heart of true worship is all about Him.

Judas complained about the woman’s extravagant worship, and stated that the product could’ve been sold to feed the poor– you don’t want to feed the poor Judas you’ve been stealing the money and the motive of your heart is that it’s about what you want.

And then there’s her and her simple, faith. She believed on the one whom God sent and it changed her. It changed her so much that she pushed through the stares. She pushed through the cares (she was likely saving this for her wedding), scholars believe that the value of this Nard would have been worth a year’s wage, and her act became a memorial in the word of God.

The Truth About Jerusalem: It's Bigger Than You Think - PART 2

Emperor Hadrian BC 135 Palestine

Herodotus BC 5 Palestine — Philistines

Byzantine Empire 330-1453 AD During this time was the rise of the Catholic Church and the power of the popes.

A.D. 632, At the end of the last lecture, Mohammed had died in and approximately. AD 634/638 The siege of Jerusalem was taken by the Muslim army Rashidan.

Sophronius, venerated as a Saint by both the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Western Roman Catholic Church. He was the overseer of Jerusalem and surrendered the city to the Muslim army.

Through the years, the dome of the mosque has been rebuilt and expanded at least twice because it was destroyed by earthquakes.

During these times, the Jewish people were dispersed all over the nations. By the time of World War II, Jews lived all over Europe, in America and in the area of what was being called Palestine. However, during these times, they had no power and were subservient under the empires that were ruling. They lost any semblance as a nation once Jesus’ prophecy was fulfilled(Matthew 24:2).

A.D. 1045 Pope Urban II preached a message that sparked the the first of the so- called “Christian Crusades” It’s important to remember that we made the point last week that the Catholic Church is not Biblical Christianity and that during this time frame the Popes were trying to gain power and control over Jerusalem. Some people may not appreciate me making this comment at this exact spot, but this is what I’m going to do. Why is there such a frenzy to gain control of Jerusalem?

I will make this important point. Satan knows what the word of God says regarding the temple in Jerusalem and the positioning of the man of sin. Jesus said: (Matthew 24:15-16). Paul said in 2 Thessalonians (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). (Revelation 13:11-18). My main point to all of this is that when we see the chaos that surrounds Jerusalem, and if we are going to say that this is a signal of the end— maybe it is and maybe it isn’t time will tell. If it is though— all the fighting for Jerusalem from the time of the writing of the New Testament surrounds Satan wanting Jerusalem so that he can sit in the temple. It’s important that you understand that! Also, it’s important that you understand that when God comes to save Jerusalem, it will be after the 7 year period when His people are now ready to Jesus (Zechariah 12:9-11).

Back to Pope Urban II. The purpose of the crusades was an attempt to gain Catholic control of Jerusalem away from the Muslims.

AD 1119 The knights Templar were an elite military arm of the Catholic Church (ancient Jesuits) that became very powerful during these years and for a period of time, while the Catholic Church had control of Jerusalem, they acquired lands, became bankers and lenders of money, and used the Al Aqsa Muslim mosque as their palace and operating headquarters.

Intro Aleister Crowley ran a world wide black magic organization known as the OTO, which stands for Ordo Templi Orientes, meaning coming from the order of the templars. It is claimed that he learned magical practices that they gained as a mixture of Islamic mysticism intermingled mostly with Jewish Kabbalah. The templars were named this, not because they lived in the mosque but because they had excavated down to the level of Solomon’s Temple looking for secrets.

AD 1187 the Muslim general, Saladin Re-took a Jerusalem

AD 1307 The French King Philip IV had the Templars arrested and burned at the stake for admitting to spitting on and urinating on the crucifix. They also admitted to worshiping a goat head called Baphomet.

AD 1453 The Byzantine empire gives way to the Ottoman/Turkish and this region is under Muslim power for approximately 130 years.

Quick review of the Byzantine empire was the advent of the Catholic Church, the rise of popery. There were multiple power changes in Jerusalem between the eastern and western legs of the Roman empire and Catholic popes along with the armies of Islam.

AD 1583-1997 The British empire

There is an important occult connection that needs to be made during the timeframe of the British empire. AD 1700’s The house of Rothschild came into existence in Frankfurt Germany.

Some of the information related to the occult world is difficult for people to wrap their minds around. However, for those that familiarize themselves with the Scriptures, it should not be difficult to acknowledge the truth related to the enemy’s power on earth. Jesus, himself called  Satan the prince of this world three times in the gospel of John. As we discussed last week, Satan also offered Jesus the kingdoms of the world which he explained were delivered over to him, and that he had power to give them to who he wished. In addition, we can see the Psalmist in chapter 2, explaining that the kings of the Earth Have been planning a rebellion against God and his anointed one. Reaching back even further, as we discussed last week, the Tower of Babel shows us that the enemy has been engaging human beings in his effort to plan a New World order— if the Bible is real, we should expect that things like this are going on.

The writings of a man named Fritz Springmeir in the 70s Made claims that there were 13 illuminati bloodline families in existence. It is claimed by many that these families are considered Luciferian’s, and that their family lineage can be traced back to the ancient magic of Egypt and Babylon. It is claimed that just as the Israelites documented their heritage according to tribes, these bloodlines also documented their family origins.

The Rothschild family according to many sources are the most powerful of the bloodline families. I personally at one time had in my possession a Jewish Encyclopedia that documented the Rothschild family as the Vatican’s personal banker’s.

The house of Rothschild started in Frankfurt Germany under the leadership of Amschel Bauer Rothschild. There are many stories surrounding the Rothschild family. The Encyclopaedia Britannica states that the Rothschild dynasty began when Meyer Amschel Rothschild began working in a banking house, and became proficient with money in finance.

He had five sons, through which the family was slowly able to devise the central banking industry. They gained great financial power during the French revolutionary and Napoleonic wars. It is claimed that they financed both sides called in Britain and France. They had agents on the battlefield that were able to give them information stating that Wellington, the British general had defeated, Napoleon’s armies. It is claimed that Rothschild at this point, put out disinformation and claimed that France was winning the war, which caused the stock market to drop. At that time he bought up large amounts of stock at a low price, and then, when Wellington, the British leader, actually won the war, the stock prices elevated drastically making the already Rich family even more powerful. At some point, he was able to overtake the bank England and this began the start of international/ central banking in the world.

He sent his five sons to five specific cities in Europe: London, Paris, Vienna, and Naples.

It is claimed by some that both Kennedy and Lincoln were assassinated because they did not want to do business with the central banking industry. Most people do not realize that the federal reserve bank is not owned by the United States of America.

The Luciferian Conspiracy In 1784 "An Act of God' placed the Bavarian government in possession of evidence which proved the existence of the continuing Luciferian Conspiracy. Adam Weishaupt, a Jesuit trained professor of canon law, defected from Christianity, and embraced the Luciferian ideology while teaching in Ingoldstadt University. In 1770 the money lenders (who had recently organized the House of Rothschild), retained him to revise and modernize the age-old 'protocols' designed to give the Synagogue of Satan ultimate world domination so they can impose the Luciferian ideology upon what remains of the human Race.

Weishaupt completed his task May 1st, 1776. The plan required the destruction of ALL existing governments and religions. This objective was to be reached by dividing the masses, whom he termed Goyim (meaning human cattle) into opposing camps in ever increasing numbers on political, racial, social, economic and other issues. The opposing sides were then to be armed and an incident' provided which would cause them to fight and weaken themselves as they destroyed National Governments and Religious Institutions.

In 1776 Weishaupt organized the Illuminati to put the plot into execution. The word Illuminati is derived from Lucifer, and means holders of the light. Using the lie that his objective was to bring about a One World government to enable men with proven mental ability to govern the world he recruited about two thousand followers These included the most intelligent men in the field of Arts and Letters; Education:

the science's, finance and industry.

He then established Lodges of the Grand Orient to be their secret headquarters. Weishaupt's revised plan required his Illuminati to do the following things to help them aceomplish their purpose. (1) Use monetary and sex bribery to obtain control of people already occupying positions in high places in the various levels of ALL governments and other fields of human endeavor. Once an influential person had fallen for the lies, deceits, and temptations of the Illuminati they were to be held in bondage by application of political and other forms blackmail and threats of financial ruin, public exposure, and physical harm and even death to themselves and their loved ones.

Illuminati on the faculties of colleges and universities were to recommend students possessing exceptional mental ability belonging to well bred families with international leanings in well bred families. Bush/ Kerry

1871 Confederate General Albert Pike, who was a Luciferian and high-ranking the leader of the Masons. He wrote a letter to the leader of the illuminati during the time in Italy, which was a man named Mazzini. The letter was also intercepted. It described three world wars, that would move the world closer to a New World order.

Pike’s plan s plan was as simple as it has proved effective. He required that Communism, Nazism, Political Zionism, and other International movements be organized and used to foment the three global wars and three major revolutions. The First World War was to be fought so as to enable the Illuminati to overthrow the powers of the Tzars in Russia and turn that country into the stronghold of Atheistic-Communism. The differences stirred up by agents of the Illuminati between the British and German Empires were to be used to foment this war. After the war ended, Communism was to be built up and used to destroy other governments and weaken religions.

World War Two, was to be fomented (started) by using the differences between Fascists and Political Zionists. This war was to be fought so that Nazism would be destroyed and the power of Political Zionism increased so that the sovereign state of Israel could be established in Palestine. During world war two International Communism was to be built up until it equalled in strength that of united Christendom.

At this point it was to be contained and kept in check until required for the final social cataclysm. Can any informed person deny Roosevelt and Churchill did put this policy into effect?

World War Three is to be fomented (caused) by using the differences the agentur of the Illuminati stir up between Political Zionists and the leaders of the Moslem world. The war is to be directed in such a manner that Islam (the Arab World including Mohammedanism) and Political Zionism (including the State of Israel) will destroy themselves while at the same time the remaining nations, one more divided against each other on this issue, will be forced to fight themselves into a state of complete exhaustion physically, mentally, spiritually and economically. Can any unbiased and reasoning person deny that the intrigue now going on in the Near, Middle, and Far East designed to accomplish this devilish purpose.

1897 the Zionist flag

1917 Balfour declaration—Britain backs out

1948 United Nations

Alice Bailey Lucifer Publishing

Lord Teach Us to Pray

Luke 11:1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

Matthew 6:9-13 NASB

9 “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. 11 ‘Give us this day our daily bread. 12 ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’]

Luke 18:1

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint— grow weary or exhausted. Praying is the business of man and answering is the business of God. God’s kingdom is important and he has invited us to join Him in His work. Jesus says that men ought always to pray! Don’t get exhausted, weary, irritated…

Luke 18:8

…Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? Or will the disciples of the Lord fall asleep in the garden at the  most important time of their lives?

Mark 1:35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

Hebrews 5:7

Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

Matthew 6:9-10

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Let’s just start with “Our Father…” and see how far we get.

That’s how Jesus addressed God, He called Him “Father…”

What greater intimacy should there be other than the closeness between a Father and His child? What can bring more comfort to the heart of a child than intimacy with His father?

Can you convince a child that his father is not the greatest thing on the face of the earth. Even if he is harsh or cruel, he will still be convinced that he is good.

Even if his father is weak, to him he will be the strongest man that ever lived. This child believes that his father can provide whatever he needs. If he can just get the attention of his father, if he can just get his father involved in the situation, the problem can be corrected and I mean quickly.

But God our Father is neither evil nor weak, and He longs to be included in our lives. But what is really amazing is that He has included us in what He is doing. He has a desire for us to ask Him to get involved in our lives and circumstances. He wants us to get involved with Him. But what He really loves is when our prayers begin to line up with His will. Then some things really start to happen:

1 John 5:14-15

14 This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.

That’s the beauty of His word. Before I really started to read and get into the word of God, all my prayers were about me and what I needed. After, I started to read the word of God, my prayers changed to focus on what I could see He wanted. “Your kingdom come, your will be done…”

I have learned some things about living for God, and one important thing is that Jesus is in me, and Jesus in me, wants to live through me. And so how do I learn to do it Jesus’ way? In order to do what Jesus does, I must do what Jesus did. What did Jesus do? Jesus prayed…

“Our Father who art in heaven…”

Jesus was in Him and the Father was in Jesus and Paul said Jesus is in us:

Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me...

And Jesus said that we are in Him and the Father:

John 17:21

that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.

John 17:22-23 NASB

22 The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; 23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.

So if He’s in the Father and the Father is in Him, and I’m in them, and they are Holy, and righteous and kind and longsuffering and He is healing the sick and walking in authority and teaching people how to live, then why don’t His people look more like Him? Don’t say it’s because we don’t know the truth, because we are some of the most overfed people in town, so that’s not it.

If you didn’t know before, I taught you last week that born again believers are partakers of the Divine nature, so if the Divine nature heals and sets free, why do so many of God’s people still issue out fountains of bitter waters?

We say we want to heal and help others learn about the love of God, but do we ever stop and listen to what we sound like? Can bitter and sweet waters flow from the same fountain. Well, they might be able to, but James said that it ought not be brothers and sisters.

Jesus said:

John 7:38

He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

When living water flows, it brings life to what it touches:

Revelation 22:1-2

1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. The river of life produces the fruit of life and brings healing

So if we are well taught and know right from wrong and we know that we should allow the river of life and not rivers of death flow out of us, and we know that sweet water and not bitter water should flow, then why? What is the problem?

Could it be that while we know about our Father, we don’t really know Him? Could it be that we’re more like Job before the trial compared to how he was after the trial?

Job 42:3-6 …I have declared that which I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.” 4 ‘Hear, now, and I will speak; I will ask You, and You instruct me.’ 5 “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You; 6 Therefore I retract, And I repent in dust and ashes.”

Lord teach us to pray. Teach us to learn how to make a connection to our Heavenly Father, so that we can intimately know Him, His will, His heart, what He wants for this earth, what He wants for the people on this earth, how He wants to use me, and how He wants to use us as His church.

Lord, teach us to pray!

When I pray, I speak to Him, when I speak to Him, He speaks to me. The more I speak with Him, the more intimate, we become, the more intimate we become, the more sensitive I become to His voice, shhhh

Did you hear that? I know that voice. That’s my Father. The Holy Spirit is bringing me a word from my Father in heaven. I gotta let you go. The Lord is calling me.

I’m not talking about praying for somebody right now. I’m talking about praying to the Lord. I’m talking about spending time in God’s presence individually and corporately. Jesus said that His Father’s house would be a house of prayer, so we are going to pray in this church or at least some people are going to pray in this church. The disciples said, “Teach us how to pray.”

But I don’t like to pray like that. Annndddd you’re kind of getting on my nerves with all this talk about prayer. Well, if you don’t pray, you’re probably getting so irritated right now that you want to get up and walk out. I remember those days. When I didn’t pray and the preacher preached on prayer and my flesh got irritated. If people get bristled about prayer while they’re sitting in a church, it  can’t be anything but flesh.

If I preach about Halloween, Mardi Gras or AA and you like those things and it makes you mad, that’s one thing, I may not agree, but I can at least understand, and I’m going to still speak what I believe is right.

But I’m a preacher in a church and I’m preaching on prayer. If your flesh is irritated about that you have a serious, serious spiritual problem right now, but you came to the perfect church, to get some medicine for that problem. I’m believing that the Lord will break you out of this spiritual problem that you have right now in the name of Jesus!

He’s going to open your eyes, He’s going to make you a man or woman of prayer, and you’re about to be set on a path of hope, you’re about to be put on a path and a trail where the fire of God will follow behind you, you’re about to become a witness with the zeal of the Lord burning in your belly. If you would just learn to pray— young people. You don’t know it but the devil is scared of you! What are you going to do?

You start acting like the person you spend the most time with

If you spend time in His presence, you’re spending time in the presence of the Potter. And the Potter’s job is to mold a lump of clay. And your Father in heaven already knows what He wants you to look like.

Romans 8:29

For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;

The Father in heaven already sent the prototype. He has the blueprint. He plans to mold and shape us into the image of His dear Son, but the longer we delay, the longer it takes, and the longer it takes, the more of God’s precious time we waste!

And the longer we will feel irritated because we imagine that nothing is going our way. And that’s the problem, we haven’t taken the time to get into God’s presence and pray His will instead of seeking our own.

Listen church, if the Lord tarries, some of you won’t be here next year. I mean you may be in another town with another job and in another church, or you may buy the lie that you don’t need to go to church.

But if you don’t learn how to pray and learn intimacy with the Father and learn how to hear His voice and let Him unveil His plan for your life, you will be in another city, with another job, in another church, and while it’s fresh, it will seem good, but give it some time because the worms are going to eat that too.

If you don’t learn how to make an intimate connection with God and learn how to let Him speak to you and change you and get you on the same page with Him as far as what He’s really doing on this earth, then you’re not really serving God; instead, you’re playing church!

“Are you saying if I pray, I won’t be irritated?”

No, that’s not what I’m saying at all. I’m saying if you pray, your source of irritation will be Satan trying to make you quit praying, but your source of strength will be the Holy Spirit empowering you to keep praying and when that’s going on now you’re actually in the battle! Now, you’re being conformed into the image of the Father’s Son and actually acting like a true Christian instead of sitting on your couch watching television and complaining about how everyone else is doing everything wrong.

The father made it possible to pray— access!!

He made it possible for you to cry out to heaven and to be heard, because He made it possible for you to be His child, and this Father listens to His children.

Pamela was talking about the privilege of being able to have access. She spoke about her grandpa and that at times, he would let her come into his workshop, and she felt like that was a privilege to be able to be in there with him. I told her she was privileged. My shop story was different. My dad looked at me through his hungover eyes and said, “What do you want boy? Get the _____ out of here.”

I don’t tell you that, so you will feel sorry for me. I tell you that, so you know I don’t know where I’d be if I had not learned through the pain and sorrow of my sister how to connect with God through prayer. And part of what He did, He did so I could tell others! My poor dad didn’t mean to hurt me. He got caught in the trap, so many of you are pained by your past, by the way your father’s have acted and treated you, but they didn’t want to do that. They got caught in the snare of the Fowler. You can pray, I can pray, God heals when we do!

I have good news. You don’t have to worry about getting kicked out of your heavenly Father’s workshop. He wants you in there. That’s why He sent Jesus. He sent Jesus to die, so that you could become His child:

John 1:12-13

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

When Jesus died, the veil was torn, so that you could enter in, as a side note, let me just say that your Father really, really wants to get you in that workshop if you know what I mean. He has some adjustments He wants to make!

The Glory of God: Satan Wants to Steal It

The Glory of God

Last week, the message was about how Adam lost his connection to the glory of God and felt fearful and naked because of the fall. But we also learned that God’s glory is closely associated with light and splendor. Through the progression of God’s plan, He has brought His glory closer to man. Through Jesus, a portion of His glory is in us now (Jn 17:22) and a future promise of more to come. Through this process we are being metamorphed, changed from glory to glory, looking more like Jesus and less like us. There were 3 places where the word metamorphosis was used: (1). Matthew 17:2 Jesus was transfigured before them. His face shined as the sun and His clothing became white before them. (2). 2 Corinthians 3:18– we behold as in a glass His glory and are being changed from glory to glory. The closer we get to Jesus, the closer we get to His glory.

(3). Romans 12:1

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

• Present- to place a person or thing at one's disposal— present and accounted for sir

Jesus, the Word, who was God, became man, and laid down His life as a sacrifice for sinful man. He paid the penalty for our sin. Exposure and faith in this truth resulted in a new creation. Now, , it’s our reasonable service to present ourselves and make ourselves  available to His work. That doesn’t mean that you have to keep the nursery, clean the church or help w/ children’s ministry… most ministry for the Lord is needed out there. Put Jesus in us and then bring Him out there.

Romans 12:2

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

• How much time is spent watching regular tv?

• How much time is spent listening to secular music?

• How much time is spent in carnal conversation?

• How much time is spent in God’s word?

• How much time is spent in God’s presence?’

God has given us a portion of His glory, and it’s a treasure—it’s a precious thing. He expects us to treat it that way— like it’s a precious treasure. His presence can be practiced. Because He died you can step into His glory (illustration of Niya’s story-man w/sword). Prayer, worship, intimacy are ways we can access and practice His presence. But if we esteem God’s glory as a common thing and prefer over His presence, activities the world has to offer, we will experience a minimal portion of God’s glory/presence on this side and that will affect our reward in eternity. He has given us a portion now, and as we submit to His will, we are being changed from glory to glory and there is more to come for God’s people and there is more for all of creation in the ages to come:

Habakkuk 2:14

For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

Isaiah 11:9

They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

These scriptures promise that there is a new day coming when the glory and knowledge of God will fill the earth. By now, most true believers are hyper aware that the earth is filled with darkness and if you start talking to people about the Lord, you quickly realize that there is very little knowledge about God in the hearts of most people—many times even in the church. Nevertheless, God promised that believers would receive a glorified body, and He promises in His word that the world will be filled with His glory.

Even though the days grow darker, our lights will burn brighter. There is a world of Adam’s out there. A world of people who have only been born once and are separated from God’s presence. They’re naked, without His glory, hurting and sick: physically, spiritually and emotionally and the Jesus in you can heal them— will you be made whole.

The same way that Satan stole Adam’s glory, he wants to steal every human’s opportunity to regain the glory of God through faith in Jesus and His sacrifice. He wants to steal that opportunity from your family, your friends, your co workers. It’s what he does:

John 10:10-11

10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Satan can try to steal it from them, but the mystery of hope can be unlocked in our hearts and released out of us and into them and they can regain the glory that was lost in the first Adam but regained in the last Adam—Jesus.

Colossians 1:27

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

The thief steals through deception. Paul warned in the second letter to the Corinthians that Satan was going to try to deceive not only the world but also the church:

2 Corinthians 11:12-15

12 But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Satan’s workers transform themselves to deceive, just as he transforms himself to deceive. The word is not the same as metamorphosis in the Greek but it can take on the same meaning as to be transfigured, so he disguises himself in order to bring deception.

And that was Paul’s concern that God’s people would lose their purity, just as Eve lost her purity, because Satan, in his subtlety would present himself as an angel of light and present a different Jesus with a different spirit and that people would receive an altogether different gospel that they would think was right, but it wasn’t right:

2 Corinthians 11:2-4

2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

What we must understand is that Satan is well acquainted with the glory of God. As we spoke last week, I mentioned that the cherubim were closely associated with the glory of God, well Satan, before he fell was the anointed cherub that covered. God prepared a mercy seat on earth with cherubim that covered the place where God promised His presence would dwell and God explains that the earthly tabernacle instructions were given to Moses based off the heavenly instructions:

Heavenly tabernacle blueprints

Hebrews 8:4-5   4 Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law. 5 They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.”

But I guess being the Cherubim that covered that sacred spot in heaven wasn’t good enough for Satan. He wanted his own glory. Let’s look at a couple of those scriptures, but as we do, let’s remember that he was so close to God, it’s hard to believe he didn’t radiate God’s glory, and by wanting to steal God’s glory, he lost access to the glory of God, and now posing as something he’s not, he transforms himself as an angel of light, because just as he stole Adam and Eve’s glory, he also wants to steal our opportunity to regain the glory of God in our lives. Remember— He can only offer a Counterfeit

Ezekiel 28:2

Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:

Ezekiel 28:12-17

12 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. 13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. 14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. 15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. 16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. 17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.

Isaiah 14:12-15

12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

He destroyed his position and access to God’s glory by demanding his own and rebelling against God’s will. Through His subtlety and deception, he has caused man to follow in his footsteps. Ephesians 6 explains to us that he has a hierarchy of evil, which is made up of various levels of fallen angels and demonic spirits and through their combined efforts, they have been able to deceive and weaken the nations. They have been able to cause the leaders of nations to spread their deception on earth and attempt to steal God’s glory from the human race, but God will not be mocked. He has a remnant. He has always had a remnant. He has a people and to them, He speaks and reveals His glory and they accept, and they cultivate and they spread that glory—unless they are deceived and then they’re at risk of losing the glory.

The glory leaves the temple

Ezekiel 10:15-19

15 And the cherubims were lifted up. This is the living creature that I saw by the river of Chebar. 16 And when the cherubims went, the wheels went by them: and when the cherubims lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the same wheels also turned not from beside them. 17 When they stood, these stood; and when they were lifted up, these lifted up themselves also: for the spirit of the living creature was in them. 18 Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims. 19 And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also were beside them, and every one stood at the door of the east gate of the LORD's house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.

When you read this passage, in context with Ezekiel 8, you realize that God’s people were finally able to offend Him enough that He departed and took His glory with Him. They had embraced an image of jealousy, some form of idolatrous practice that they allowed into their temple and thought that they could just allow that to coexist with God’s glory, but God is not going to continue to remain in an unclean environment. He is patient, He is kind, He is loving and longsuffering. Trust me. I know, but don’t put Him to the test church. It’s not wisdom.

Psalms 24

A PSALM OF DAVID.

1 The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. 2 For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. 3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah. 7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. 8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. 10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.

Jerusalem: It's Deeper Than You Think

Focus: Jerusalem

Content: intermingling Biblical history, Secular history and occult history

Intent: understand how the history of Israel, the history of the occult world, and the Bible all intersect in Jerusalem and the rise of the antichrist.

The Bible repeatedly warns us about the influence of the kingdom of darkness and its influence on the earth. Some people don’t believe that it’s important to be aware of this, but it’s my opinion that if the Bible warns us about a coming deception that we should make ourselves aware and be prepared.

Matthew 24:24

For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.

Daniel 12:8

As for me, I heard but could not understand; so I said, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these events?”

Daniel 12:9

He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for these words are concealed and sealed up until the end time.

Revelation 17:1-5

CHAPTER 17

The Doom of Babylon

1 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, 2 with whom the kings of the earth committed acts of immorality, and those who dwell on the earth were made drunk with the wine of her immorality.” 3 And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness; and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a gold cup full of abominations and of the unclean things of her immorality, 5 and on her forehead a name was written, a mystery, “BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.”

Revelation 17:17 For God has put it in their hearts to execute His purpose by having a common purpose, and by giving their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God will be fulfilled.

Matthew 24:15 “Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4

3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.

Solomons split kingdom: 10 tribes north/2 tribes south: 1. Benjamin 2. Judah

1 Kings 11:1–12/ Ecclesiastes 12: 10–13

722 BC as Assyria overtakes northern tribes. Assyria is the area that was originally started by Nimrod:

Micah 5:6 They will shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, The land of Nimrod at its entrances; And He will deliver us from the Assyrian When he attacks our land and when he tramples our territory.

Consider the Tower of Babel and Nimrod’s plan of creating a society in opposition to God’s plan. Consider the Pyramids of Giza, which would have been influenced as the inhabitants moved south after the languages were confused and the people groups were dispersed according to their languages.

Consider the dollar bill with the pyramid and the all seeing eye of Horus—the Egyptian god

To this day very little is known about where the descendants of these tribes, or other than some remnants of Levi/Judah. The prophets during the time frame of the northern kingdom‘s apostasy: Jonah, Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Micah, Zephaniah, Nahum, have a Cook

586 BC Nebuchadnezzar (Babylon) text Judah: Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, a Bendigo. The prophets during this time frame: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Haggai, Zachariah, Malachi. Towards the end of the 70 years of captivity: Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther. During these times, Daniels prophecies come to pass (Babylon, Persia, grecia, Rome). Nebucchednezzar’s image Daniel 3: 60 cubits high, 6 cubits wide, 6 musical instruments that when played forced man to bow  down and worship the image (Revelation 13:14).

445 BC Nehemiah receives news that Jerusalem is in shambles and asks permission from Persian king Artaxerxes And takes an entourage back to Jerusalem to rebuild the gates and walls in city. Nehemiah one: to one of his brothers came while he was in Shushan Persia

440 BC Ezra returns to Jerusalem to rebuild the altar. It was prophesied by Jeremiah that there would be 70 years of captivity Jeremiah 25, second, Chronicles 36: 20–21.

388 BC Alexander the great. After his death, his kingdom was divided into four Daniel 8:1–12

• Seleucids east (Antiochus 4)

Alexander the Great and the splitting of his Kingdom occurs during a time known as the 400 years of silence.

168 BC Antiochus IV. He stops circumcision, stops reading of Torah, offers a pig on the altar, puts an image of Zeus, that looks like himself in the Jewish temple. The Jews called this the abomination of desolation. This is a partial fulfillment of Daniel‘s prophecy of the little horn that comes out of the four horns. But Jesus explains that there was a future Abomination that causes desolation: Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14; Daniel 9:27; 2 Thessalonians 2:3–4.

Antiochus determined to unify the religions of the region by compelling everyone to worship him as the paramount god—the Greek god Zeus—in human form__history highlights Bill Potter

167 to 164 BC the festival of Hanukkah is instituted after the Maccabean revolt. Hanukkah is also known as the feast of dedication. It celebrates the rededication of the temple. The Maccabean one independence for a short period of time with with the help from the early forming Roman republic. Israel regains independence for a short period time and this is known as the Hasmonean dynasty. John chapter 10:22–31 Jesus celebrates the feast of dedication. During Hanukkah Jesus, as the father and I are one while he is in the temple.

Within his 100 years of Hasmonean dynasty, Rome goes from a republic to an empire. 5 BC Herodotus the historian describes a place near Syria as Palestinia, believed to be associated with the ancient people known as the Phillistines.

63 BC Emperor Pompeii conquers Jerusalem 63 BC.

Somewhere within 60 to 70 years Jesus will be born into this cultural world where Rome conquers. But during this time they allow other nations to continue to exist, as long as they pay their taxes to the Caesars.

But the fundamental source of emperor-worship is to be found in one of the primitive tendencies of Roman thought, viz., the veneration of the individual human spirit, the worship of the Genius. The primitive Roman worshiped-in his utilitarian, not to say commercial, fashion-not only the forces of external nature which influenced his life, but also the power that is active within each human being-the Genius of the man, the Juno of the woman__ The worship of Roman Emperors Professor Henry Fairfield

Map showing the Roman empire, show how small Israel is, and show how small Jerusalem is

At some point during the Babylonian captivity, synagogue came into existence. Smaller houses of worship that did not include sacrificial worship. The emphasis was prayer and reading Torah, and with this came the advent of the scribes, Pharisees, doctors of the law and lawyers of the law. People began to study and experts were looked to for interpretation of scripture, during  this time frame, pride entered in to the lives of the Pharisees and the scholars.

Still Silent years

There was another group that isn’t mentioned in the scriptures known as the Essenes. It is well known that they were mystics. In addition, there are documents that show that there may have been some connections between the Pharisees:

John 8:44

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

One document made the point that the Essenes were the early stages of Kabbalah. They were mystics that believed in special knowledge in the study of angelology.

There was a mixed multitude amongst the congregation. Egyptians w/ the Hebrews?

Numbers 11:4 And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?

Egyptian mystery religion is very well known. In addition, we know from scripture that the  Israelites were intermingled with the prophets of Baal, they serve the God of Chemosh, they served the God of Molech, Solomon built alters for these gods during his reign, as was already discussed. Make the connection of the harlot and her connection to the kings of the world.

No longer the in the silent years. Jesus has ascended

A.D. 70, which is about 40 years after the death of Jesus, and around the time that the gospel of mark was written, and also the letter to the Galatians. The Jews try to revolt against Roman General Titus of Rome, quash of the rebellion and Jesus, his prophecy regarding the temple, comes to pass (Mark 13:2).

Byzantine Empire

After the Roman empire, the next empire is known as the Byzantine empire, which, alas, from about 330 A.D. until about 1453 A.D. It starts about the time of Constantine emperor of Rome, who saw the cross a Crossing The sky, “In hoc signo vinces” (by this sign you will conquer) 313 A.D. Constantine under the edict of Milan decriminalize Christianity. The Byzantine empire started approximately 330 BC when Constantine split the Roman empire into east and west

600 AD Muhammad, there is a connection between Catholicism and Islam Pope John II “the plan of salvation, includes those who acknowledge the creator, in the first place, amongst him all the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us, they adore the one, merciful God mankind a judge on the last day(catholic catechism page 242–243)

Discuss the connection between Rick Warren, and Chrislam, the video that had the pope on simulcast with Kenneth Copeland

600 AD According to Alberto Rivera, Jesuit priest, who defected from Catholicism in the 1950s, he and a group of other Jesuit priests received instruction at the Vatican from Cardinal Bea (For more information on Jesuitism, research Ignatius Loyola 1500’s. He was a Catholic mystic/, Jesuits as the Catholic assassins and the Jesuit 4th death vow,  Jesuit General aka Black Pope), Alberto Rivera Cardinal Bea explained that Catholicism had a large hand in creating Islam, Mohamed married a woman named Khadijah who was an Arab that had been converted to a nun. All this occurred during the Byzantine Empire, which existed between 330-1400 AD. The purpose originally started, because the Catholic Church wanted Jerusalem for itself. The Ishmaelites were a large nomadic group of Bedouins without a nation. The Vatican instructed that a leader amongst those people was to be found and trained to be a warrior and create an army that could give the Pope Jerusalem.

The known history of Islam is that the angel Gabriel appeared to Mohammed and told him to create the Nation of Islam. The Arab army became very powerful. Before we move on with this part of the story let’s take a look at some documented connections between Catholicism and Islam:

Independent Catholic news May 9, 2017: The Surprise Connection Between our Lady of Fatima and Islam.

The Portuguese cities Fatima and Ourema are said to be named after the Muslim princess. What’s interesting is that the Muslim princess named after one of the daughters of Muhammad Fatima, a woman, highly revered in Islam. She was given the title of Al-zahara the shining one, and Mohamed said about her “Thou shall be the most blessed of all women in Paradise after Mary” (While Muslims do not all the same beliefs about the Virgin Mary as Catholics. They still hold her with highest regard__ Independent Catholic News May 9th 2017

May—October 1917 in Fatima the sun appeared and danced in the sky, and the voice spoke this called the Fatima apparition of Mary.

According to Alberto Rivera Mohammed was trained to be the leader of an Arab army to fight and gain control of Jerusalem from the Eastern leg of the Roman Empire who, at the time was controlling Jerusalem. Mohammed built his great army and died AD 632 Caliph Rashidan won the victory over the Eastern part of the Roman Empire, and it was at this point that the Pope in Rome would have expected to receive Jerusalem from the Arab army, but the Caliph said something to this effect, Why should I give it to you? I won it, come get it if you want it. The dome of the rock was built over the next hundred years afterwards.

Why would they want control of Jerusalem at this time?

Possibilities:   

I find it strange that the book of Revelation was written by John in AD 95

1. AD 300 Constantine sees some kind of cross in the sky and wins a war

2. He makes persecution against Christianity a crime but keeps the Pagan rituals

3. Satan already knows that Jesus’ prophesied that the abomination of desolation will be fulfilled when antichrist sits in the temple 70 AD Mark 13:14; 50 AD 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4

4. Now, about 200 hundred years after the book of Revelation is written, Catholicism starts and throughout the Byzantine Empire (we will start there next week) Popery begins to gain power as it establishes its seat in the city of Rome, which is the city most scholars believe that Peter was referring to when he said, “The church that is at Babylon saluteth you” (1 Peter 5:13).

5. Revelation 17:9-10 The 7 heads are 7 mountains/ Well that’s convenient: Rome is built on 7 hills. The woman is dressed in scarlet and purple. Well, that’s convenient: the Vatican priests are dressed in purple and the Vatican cardinals are dressed in scarlet. She has a golden cup in her hand. Well, that’s convenient: Roman Catholicism uses a golden cup for their communion and let’s not even get into the strangeness that they believe regarding the wine turning into literal blood of Jesus and then drinking it.

during the early stages of the Byzantine empire, which I would call the rise of popery. During this time the Catholic Church want to Jerusalem for itself, why would they want Jerusalem?

Revelation 17 she has Justin purple is Colin has a cup full of abominations. She prays with Babylonian prayer beads.

Spurgeon, Wesley, Albert, Barnes, the list goes on, and on of mighty men of God that won the world is in Catholicism, that war of the world against Catholics and Catholicism and popery. Whether it’s Satan, see if there needs to be a temple for him to sit in it, so he creates Catholicism Babylonian Meche Religion and makes a powerful, spiritual army. Our God put in his hard to do it and it’s like the Egyptian pharaoh situation worked on Harden‘s heart and then he hardness zone heart, nevertheless, Catholicism want to Jerusalem.

Spiritual DNA

Roots

Romans 5:12 NASB

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—|

Kosmos- Greek for world- meaning--order or arrangement.

The order was arranged by God earthly or physical to inhabit the earthy man. Satan, a spiritual creation who was the originator of sin, had to have an earthy vessel through which to introduce sin, which is spiritual and doesn’t come from God into the creation that was created in the image and likeness of God. The entry of sin affected the nature (spiritual DNA/at its core) of the entirety of God’s physical creation.

Adam’s yielding or presenting himself to the submission or service to Satan’s wishes caused a change to everything. The sin shift resulted in death to the entirety of creation. All creation groans or has an anxious longing awaiting the manifestation or revealing of the sons of God.

Romans 8:18-22 NASB

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.

8:18-22 KJV

18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

Romans 5:14 NASB

14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.

Adam’s sin resulted in bondage for all humans. Even though, all humans didn’t commit the sin of Adam, which was the first sin, now, the spiritual DNA has been changed, because sin has entered the creation. The image has been changed.

Adam was a type of Jesus who was to come in that He was created in the image and likeness of God. Jesus, as God, was the image and likeness of God, and being born of a woman, He clothed Himself in human flesh for the purpose that He could die to pay the wage of sin, which had corrupted the natural creation.

First Adam and last Adam. First Adam created in the image and likeness of God disobeyed and reproduced after His own kind, giving to his offspring a sinful nature.

Jesus the Last Adam, came in the express image of the Father (Hebrews 1:3) and through new birth, He reproduces offspring after His kind.

Romans 5:15 NASB

But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many.

The free gift is not like the transgression in this way... it results in life instead of death.

The free gift of Jesus is like the transgression in this way. The transgression brought sin and death to the the human creation.

The free gift brings grace and life to all humans that are willing to receive the offer by faith.

Romans 5:17 NASB

For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

βασιλεύω--king, reign to be king, to exercise kingly power, to reign

βάσις basis; from βαίνω bainō (to walk); a pace (“base”), i.e. (by implication) the foot: — foot.

Adam’s sin allowed entry and was the beginning point, a foothold that gave building rights for the foundation and the preparation of the kingdom of darkness and the reign of sin to begin upon the earth.

Death vs life

I’m no longer a slave to fear

I’m no longer a slave to sin

Hebrews 2:14-15

14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.

Romans 5:21

so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT- in the spiritual realm

On the battlefield of life, we must understand the gospel—how sin works, how grace works, what the cross accomplished in the spiritual realm.

A man can't just be a better man because he wants to. We are born into a kingdom where sin is reigning as king, but we are born again and translated into the kingdom of God’s Son, where we receive back, from God kingdom authority. It was purchased by Jesus on the cross and it’s daily by the minute dispensed into our lives by the person of the Holy Spirit through faith.

Romans 6:5 NASB

For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,

σύμφυτος symphytos; from 4862 and a derivative of 5453; grown along with (connate), i.e. (figuratively) closely united to:

Built from:

1. Syn-- synonyms together

2. Sprout

Together—sprout

So the NASB says United. Imagine the intertwined DNA helix. When a true conversion takes place, the believer becomes intertwined, sprouts and begins to grow in Christ. In Christ, we have become GMO. Genetically modified into His holiness.

— planted together.

AV (1) - planted together 1;

born together with, implanted by birth

2 Peter 1:2-4

2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; 3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

Romans 6:6 NASB

knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;

KJV uses “old man” in this verse, the old man, the body of sin are words being used to describe a repeated occurrence throughout Romans 6.

The word sin is used with the definite article 13 times in Romans chapter 6 when searched within Young’s literal translation. The idea of “the sin” is related to the sinful nature. It’s the noun of sin that produces verbs of sin. The power of sin that drives someone to produce acts of sin.

Adam allowing sin into the realm of the natural creation, allowed sin into our being, just as we have been United or planted together in Christ and also resurrected with Him, those who are not born again, remain living their lives bound by the spiritual DNA of their sinful nature. But also Christians can be bound this way, when they do not understand what the word says about spiritual freedom.

Romans 6:7

for he who has died is freed from sin.

Going off of verse 12 through the one man Adam sin entered the natural man. He receives his association w/ sin in his first birth in Adam. Our old man, our association with Adam dies w/ Jesus. Now, being dead to the first birth, we’ve been freed from that connection that we had w/ Adam.

The next questions are:

1. Did you know that?

2. Do you believe that?

Romans 6:3

Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?

Romans 6:11

Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

The KJV uses Reckon. The thought is that a disciple, which means learner, has been taught and learned and has come to the conclusion that he is no longer operating according to the old standard. He is no longer the previous creation born of Adam. He is a new creation born of Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17)

And so now knowing the truth, it is his responsibility to apply this truth to his life. God says that he is new; therefore, he must believe God and not Satan that he is a new creation in Christ.

Romans 6:12

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts,

Even though sin has entered the natural realm through Adam and had kingship previously in your personal life, sin is no longer king in you. It no longer has its dominion over you. You have been translated into the kingdom of Christ, so quit submitting yourself to sin’s authority.

Romans 6:13

and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

KJV Yield

If we willingly yield to the power of sin, we open the door and allow sin to regain power in our lives.

When we do this, our members or body parts become weapons of warfare for the kingdom of darkness. That’s the Greek meaning of instruments (weapons of warfare)

Our minds think evil instead of righteousness

Our mouths speak death instead of life

Our feet walk towards sin instead of holiness

Our hands break instead of build.

Romans 6:16

Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?

KJV- ὑπακοή hypakoē; from 5219; attentive hearkening, i.e. (by implication) compliance or submission:

Conclusion

Jesus has given us new life. Through our new birth, we with Jesus, our old man died with Jesus and our new man resurrected as a new creation. While we were in the tomb with Jesus, the Holy Spirit was doing some spiritual surgery on us. He did a very technical spiritual procedure where He turned off a switch that disconnected the power of sin received from the natural birth in Adam and He intertwined His divine nature into the helix of our spiritual DNA. New birth activates it. Continued faith keeps it going. If you need your switch flipped pray with me now.

The Cross: The Ministry of Reconciliation

2 Corinthians 5:17-18

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

Faith in Jesus and His death: the old life passes away and God’s gift of new life is given.

18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

Financially reconciliation makes an adjustment that corrects the books. Man born in Adam, is born in sin and is in debt. Jesus’ death paid the debt and now the books can be reconciled (Romans 6:23).

1 Corinthians 6:17

But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

When a person is born again, the Holy Spirit comes to live in the person. The human spirit is joined with God’s Spirit (John 4:24).

Genesis 3:24

So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

Sin separates man from God’s presence. God’s ministry of reconciliation begins after the fall with the skins of animals but finds fulfillment at the cross of Christ. Notice how God places Cherubims [angels] with swords to prevent entrance back into the presence of God.

Exodus 25:16-22

16 And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee.

The ark was a box made of gold, and within the box, the “testimony,” which was the 10 commandments was placed into the ark. If the Law was not kept completely, it was considered broken.

17 And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof.

18 And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat.

Just as there were 2 Cherubims preventing access to God’s presence, we will see that these 2 Cherubims are associated with allowing access to God’s presence.

19 And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof.

20 And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be.

The faces of the cherubim are looking towards the top of the mercy seat.

21 And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.

“The testimony” is another way to say the 10 commandments. In order to live by the Law every aspect of the Law must be kept (James 2:10). If it’s not kept perfectly, it’s considered by God as broken.

22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.

It’s further explained in Leviticus 16 that on the Day of Atonement, once per year, blood is applied on top of the Mercy Seat, between the Cherubims. This would change this place from judgment (broken law) to a place of mercy. Now, the Cherubims don’t see broken law, they see the blood. Only the high priest was allowed into God’s presence once per year, but God is furthering the ministry of reconciliation.

Romans 3:25

Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

The Greek word for propitiation means mercy seat. Jesus is our mercy seat. Because of His sacrifice. We are allowed back into the presence of God. When He dies, the veil that separated the holy of holies was torn from top to bottom signifying that access into the presence of God was now granted to those who come through faith in the blood of Jesus (Matthew 28:5; Hebrews 10:19, 20).

Genesis 3:10

And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

Because of sin, Adam’s covering of glory was removed and the exposure of his sin produced a separation between him and God’s presence. The forces of darkness are connected to sin and sin and darkness are not comfortable in the presence of God.

Genesis 3:7

And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

Since the fall, mankind has tried to find a way to escape the guilt of His sin, but there is only one thing that is accepted by God the Father as reconciliation for the sin debt and that is the blood of Jesus, meaning His death pays the wage of sin. It’s important for Christians to understand that if they have accepted Jesus, then they can call upon God, they can enter God’s presence without fear or reservation! The word of God says that Jesus’ sacrifice paid the penalty of your sin. You can trust God’s word.

Genesis 3:21

Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

It must be believed that these skins represent the first sacrifice. If you read back in chapter 1 of Genesis, you will realize that man and animal were herbivores, meaning that they did not eat meat. Moving forward in Leviticus, it becomes clear that animal sacrifices were a temporary answer for forgiveness of sin—the innocent animal dying in place of guilty man, until finally Jesus came to die as the sinless man, who made right what the first sinless creation [Adam] made wrong because the blood of bulls and goats cannot remove sin (Hebrews 10:4).

Galatians 3:27

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

When a person puts faith in Jesus, the old man is buried and a new man is resurrected, and the new man is clothed in Jesus in God’s eyes.

1 Corinthians 15:49

And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

Ultimately, we will receive a glorified body and our reconciliation in God’s presence will be complete.

Ezekiel 36:26-27

26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

In the Old Testament, God promised that He would provide a new covenant where He would change the inside of people and give them a new spirit and a new heart. It was mentioned earlier that when we’re born again, we are joined together with God in our spirit.

27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

The ministry of reconciliation makes it possible that the blood of Jesus takes away our sin and allows the Spirit of God to come and live within us.

Colossians 2:13

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

In Adam [our first birth], we were born dead. In Jesus [born again], we are made alive through the power of His resurrection.

Ephesians 1:13

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

It’s already been said, but God keeps saying it, so I will also. When a person responds by faith to the gospel, the Spirit of God seals them and comes to live in them and their life will never be the same again.

Luke 9:59-60

59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

60 -- Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

Genesis 1:26

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

When God created Adam, mankind was created in the image and likeness of God.

Genesis 5:3

And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:

After Adam sinned, mankind was born in the image and likeness of Adam [with a sinful nature]

Ephesians 4:22-24

22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation [conduct or behavior] the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

The “old man,” who we were before we were born again, used to live his life a certain way, but new creations are supposed to look differently, talk differently and act differently.

23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

Our spirit is joined with God’s Spirit. The word says that we are new creations in Christ. The word says that we are not who we used to be. The word says that the old man that we were originally born as in Adam, died with Jesus on the cross, was buried with Jesus in the tomb and was resurrected with Jesus to newness of life (Romans 6:3,4)

24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

It’s just that simple. Through faith, the old died and the new was resurrected and now, like an old pair of shoes you take off the old and put on the new. The only thing holding you back is:

1. You don’t know it so you can’t believe it and that’s why we need a renewed mind

2. You’re not ready to give up sin and keep walking the same path In the same shoes

Hebrews 1:3

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Jesus, the last Adam, came in the image of God and died to make right what Adam made wrong

Romans 8:29

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Now, being born again, the Holy Spirit lives in me, and as I yield to His will, my old man and his old ways are crucified, and through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, I am being molded into the image of Jesus.

John 3:3

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

The ministry of reconciliation cannot happen unless a man is truly born again.

Romans 6:5-6

5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

In God’s mind our old man that was sinful, naked and offensive has died and a new man has been resurrected. The new man is clothed in Christ, and he is being molded into the image of Jesus. Jesus is the image of God; therefore, when the Father looks at a Christian, He sees Himself, like He did when He looked at Adam before the fall.

6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

The renewed mind understands that the old man is crucified with Jesus, he also understands that the power of sin is broken through this spiritual death, burial and resurrection with Jesus, and lastly he understands that he does not have to be a slave to sin.

Romans 8:11

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

The ministry of reconciliation takes people that are born dead in the first birth in Adam, kills them and buries them in Jesus and resurrects them through the power of the Holy Spirit, the same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in the believer now, and He is there to continuously make changes as the believer cooperates with Him.

A Vineyard and the Inheritance Part 2

2 Samuel 23:9-12 He’s not distracted that his hand is cramped onto the sword. This is not the time for quitting.

9 And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away: 10 He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.

11 And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines. 12 But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory.

Last week Naboth’s stood his ground and refused to give up the inheritance received from his fathers. This inheritance connected to God’s promises was important enough for Naboth to die for. Everything battle you face in life is not worth dying for, but Eleanor, Shammah and Naboth knew when it was time.

Romans 8:37

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Revelation 12:11

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Ahab and Jezebel’s approach symptomatic... the serpent deceives. The dragon takes by force. Ahab asked permission. The initial approach was not to take but to entice Naboth to yield. Satan cannot take whatever he wants. 3 problems people have spiritually:

1. Unsaved and blindly walking towards the edge of eternal destruction.                                  Through the word

2. Say, “I love God,” but have no desire to know Him.

3. Know His word, just disobey—not that big a deal

Snake and a plan

Underestimated is the exercise of free will and the trickery of Satan. Satan slithers w/ his traps and tricks into position. His venom paralyzes. He wraps, squeezes and his constriction wraps and entraps. Once the trap is set it’s never as easy to get out [Psalm 91]. One last thing to say about the free will, deception and the strike. A snake repeatedly flicks its tongue many times before it ever sinks its fangs. It’s sensing both the prey and the environment. It’s sensing and adjusting as needed.

Like a snake, Satan hides his real intent until he’s ready to strike. He hides in the shadows watching our responses to situations and circumstances. Satan will put people and situations in our path to position us for the strike.

A Rat and a grape

Believer’s are not supposed to be vulnerable prey. They have access to the truth. He has the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit gives discernment. The more a person yields to the Holy Spirit and focuses on God’s truth, the more discernment they receive. The more a person yields and focuses on what life has brought, the more distracted they become—the more vulnerable they are.

Examples:

1. Two single adults. Both desire companionship. Both love God. It starts innocent. It starts as a friendship. It starts slow. Talking turns to texting, and before you know it texting turns to kissing. And well from there not much more needs to be said. How dare you preacher. I’m an adult, and I am allowed to kiss or make out with someone if I want to! Yes, you can do what you want with your free will. That’s the point. He flicked his tongue, sensed you were ready for a nibble, the paths converged…

2. There are a lot of people who want a new life. Tired of drugs, tired of men or vice versa, just looking for fellowship—need some good social companionship. They seek out fellowship with other believers, and end up in a church full of false doctrine. You think demons of lust are bad? You don’t want to get caught up in doctrines of devils. That serpent will slowly constrict the life out of you.

Jezebel and Ahab are types of spiritual darkness infiltrating the kingdom of God. Adam allowed the serpent into the garden, Ahab allowed Jezebel into the kingdom and Christian’s, have been known to allow darkness into their lives:

But Paul warned

KJV Ephesians 4:27 Neither give place to the devil.

NASB Ephesians 4:27 and do not give the devil an opportunity.

NIV Ephesians 4:27 and do not give the devil a foothold.

Eleazer the son of Dodo and Shammah were examples of God’s people taking a stand against darkness, not giving into it:

Ephesians 6:10-11

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Ephesians 6:13

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

NASB Ephesians 5:8-14 a teenage girl whispers to her friend about what her and her boyfriend did 2 nights ago

8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light 9 (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.

Sometimes we feel too weak to stand

David’s men came to serve him before he was given His crown. When they first arrived, they looked weak and pitiful:

1 Samuel 22:1-2

1 David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him. 2 And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.

Think about that. They were distressed and in debt. David wasn’t on the throne yet, but he was the rightful king and they came to serve him. After spending time serving him, this is how a couple of these men were described:

Eleazer’s hand grew weary in the battle, but his hand clung to his sword. Paul learned in (2 Cor 12:9) “In my weakness, His strength is made perfect.

God’s word tells us not to grow weary in well doing when everyone else ran away, in fear, God helped Eleazer grip the sword tighter.

Why you want to fight over a patch of peas Shammah? Because these peas don’t belong to the Philistines. This pea patch belongs to God, He gave it to us and the people of God don’t give up their inheritance to the devil.

If New Testament Christian’s would spend more time learning what the scriptures say, so they could believe what God says about them instead of what the world says, they, too, would become kingdom warriors:

This thing we’re seeing with Israel is big. This thing with America is big. The vineyard was big, the pea patch was big, but you do understand that there is something bigger, than the conflict in Israel and what we’re experiencing in America? The snake is flicking his tongue and he’s trying to gain an angle on people’s souls, and more than anything he wants the souls of God’s people:

Luke 17:21

Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Satan wants the kingdom of God and the kingdom of God is in God’s people and people think that they’re ready, and I so hope that we are.

But just as the devil offered Adam and Eve a lie, he offers people lies today and wants them to trade their eternal inheritance for something temporary. He tried to do that to Jesus also:   

Luke 4:6-8

6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. 7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. 8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Satan told Jesus that the kingdoms and their glory were delivered to him, and that now, he can give them to whomever he wills. Who do you reckon gave Satan the kingdoms?

Adam yielded his authority to Satan, as a result, Satan has power on earth.

Deliver- to surrender or yield.

God gave it to Adam, but Adam traded his authority to Satan for a lie.

Jesus doesn’t yield to Satan or His friend’s:

Luke 4:8

And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Matthew 16:23

But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

There is no time to get snared in Satan’s traps

Both Peter and Satan were trying to get Jesus to focus on temporary kingdoms. You might get caught up in temporary problems, but Jesus said that the offense is a trap, the trap is a temporary promise, and he’s telling Satan to get behind him. What is the trap in front of you?

Jesus came from heaven to earth to give us back our power and our inheritance, so that He can resume His plan of filling the earth with His glory.

Inheritance from God

Satan wants to steal what God has given you. In Christ, God has given us great power and an inheritance, and its important that we understand what we have in Christ:

Ephesians 1:17-19

17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power.

Throughout the Bible, the people that failed God and received a bad testimony from the scriptures are those, who didn’t care about God’s word, didn’t believe God’s word or were somehow deceived related to God’s word.

• Adam, was deceived & delivered his power to Satan

• Esau didn’t care & sold his birthright for a bowl of lentils

• The 10 spies didn’t believe and said they were grasshoppers in the eyes of the giants

• Israel cowered in fear and unbelief as Goliath ridiculed God’s people

• The prodigal son spent his inheritance on prostitutes and pig slop

• Adam failed but Jesus said, “It is written Satan”

• Esau sold out but Jacob wrestled with God until finally his name was changed to Israel

• The 10 grasshoppers died on the other side of Jordan but Joshua and Caleb crossed over and killed giants

• Israel cowered. But then David showed up and sunk a rock in Goliath’s head and fed his flesh to the birds.

• The prodigal woke up one day, lost his taste for pig slop and prostitutes and said I’m going home to serve my father and there, unexpectedly, received again his authority with a ring and a robe

Satan tries to convince us that he has something better.

Better wife

Better husband

Better job

Better car

Lies and distractions he uses to get an entry and keep us away from our purpose for God’s kingdom. There are 2 questions that must be asked before making the deal:

1. How will this affect my eternal inheritance or purpose?

2. Is this decision consistent with the written word of God

The more time that we spend w/ God, the more sensitive to His Spirit we should be, but if we are already distracted, [RAT w/ a grape] it’s easier for him to slip in and take something that doesn’t belong to him.

Conclusion

2 Kings 9:30-33 what does she think, she can seduce the new king? Isn’t that what the devil does though? Tries the same old tricks. How many times does he get the same person w/ the same thing time and again.

30 And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window. 31 And as Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, Had Zimri peace, who slew his master? 32 And he lifted up his face to the window, and said, Who is on my side? who? And there looked out to him two or three eunuchs. 33 And he said, Throw her down. So they threw her down: and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses: and he trode her under foot.

The serpent is still looking for an entry. Ahab wants the vineyard. If you won’t give in Jezebel is going to try to kill you to take it. Jesus refused to give up the kingdom of God for an earthly counterfeit. Naboth refused to sell the land. The Eunuch said, “Enough!” And threw her out of the window.

I can’t prove what I’m about to say, but it’s hard for me to believe that at least one of these eunuchs didn’t hear what Jezebel told Ahab her plan to set up Naboth. I believe they heard her wicked plan. I believe they heard the news that Naboth died standing up for the inheritance, and I believe that they were ready for a new king!

The Glory 1

Glory— The glory of the Lord is directly associated with God’s presence. When God’s glory and presence enters the natural realm, it affects the atmosphere, it affects people, it changes situations and circumstances. [Leviticus 9:6-7] God’s presence in the New Testament saints is directly related to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and the believers acceptance of that sacrifice.

Colossians 1:10-14

10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; 12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet [qualified] to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered [to rescue] us from the power of darkness, and hath translated [to transpose, transfer, remove from one place to another] us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption [deliverance or release by payment] through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

The glory of God is associated with the splendor and brightness of God. In the Old Testament, the glory was physical and very dramatic. Today, it can be that way also in that healings and miracles are associated with the glory of God.  The glory is associated with His presence, and when it is released into the atmosphere, it is felt and changes things, even if it’s not as dramatic as a true miracle, when His presence is released, His glory is released, and when His glory is released, it has an affect in the natural realm and it affects the people that are around it.

In the Old Testament,  it often took the form of a cloud, sometimes it was associated with fire (Ezekiel’s Cherubim had fire in the midst). Simply stated the glory of God is the presence of the Lord, and where the presence of the Lord is there freedom, liberty, power. When a person spends time in the presence of God and is affected by the glory of God, they begin to emanate the glory of God. His presence flows from them into others. All sorts of miracles of transformation show up when the glory shows up.

WHAT WAS REMOVED FROM ADAM TO MAKE HIM REALIZE THAT HE WAS NAKED?? Can’t explicitly prove that Adam was clothed in God’s glory, but let’s work backwards a little bit in the scriptures related to God’s glory and see if we can make a case for the fact that God’s intent is that man would be a carrier of His glory.

Because: Numbers 14:21 But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.

Revelation 21:22-23. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

John 1:4. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

John 1:5. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

Other translations say: overcome it. Darkness can’t understand it to lay hold of it, so it can’t overcome or defeat it

John 1:8. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

John 1:9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

That men might believe through Him vs 7 and that they might become the sons of God vs 12

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

The glorified body

1 Corinthians 15:35-58 NASB

35 But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?”

The glorified body: We are being conformed into His image through sanctification. We will be changed into His image through glorification.

36 You fool! That which you sow does not come to life unless it dies; 37 and that which you sow, you do not sow the body which is to be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 38 But God gives it a body just as He wished, and to each of the seeds a body of its own. 39 All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fish. 40 There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.

The sun, having its own splendor and glory given to it by God, releases its glory into the atmosphere. Then the moon receives the glory of the sun and reflects it outwardly so that it’s glory can be seen, but anyone that knows what’s really up understands that the moon is a reflection of the sun.

42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body;

43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power;

Vision of privilege and promotion

44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 So also it is written, “The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

He releases His life, He releases His glory into us

46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. 47 The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly.

People who either are not saved or are led by the flesh instead of the Spirit will act like sinful earthlings; whereas, those saved and led by the Spirit, will act like Jesus, because He was always led by the Spirit, and the scripture says that we’re heavenly beings, even now, in that we are seated with Him in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6).

49 Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly.

But, there’s more heavenly glory to come. He’s not done with us. The inheritance will be fulfilled in eternal glory.

50 Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. 55 O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

Exodus 34:29-35 NASB

Moses’ Face Shines

29 It came about when Moses was coming down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the testimony were in Moses’ hand as he was coming down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because of his speaking with Him. 30 So when Aaron and all the sons of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. 31 Then Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the rulers in the congregation returned to him; and Moses spoke to them. 32 Afterward all the sons of Israel came near, and he commanded them to do everything that the LORD had spoken to him on Mount Sinai. 33 When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face.

Exodus 34:33 KJV

And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his face.

34 But whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with Him, he would take off the veil until he came out; and whenever he came out and spoke to the sons of Israel what he had been commanded, 35 the sons of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone. So Moses would replace the veil over his face until he went in to speak with Him.

Exodus 34:10-14

10 And he said, Behold, I make a covenant: before all thy people I will do marvels, such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation: and all the people among which thou art shall see the work of the LORD: for it is a terrible thing that I will do with thee. 11 Observe thou that which I command thee this day: behold, I drive out before thee the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite.

God’s glory will not remain forever in a location of wickedness. He is merciful and longsuffering, but He won’t stay there forever—Ezekiel 8:3-6;10:18.

The land/ earth is polluted with sin and darkness, which is the opposite of the glory of God. When Satan has his way with humanity, he is able to do the opposite on earth from God’s original intent. This is only temporary. God is looking for Joshua’s and Caleb’s. He is looking for Naboth’s to hold fast to His promises. In the current time frame that we are living in, this is how He fills the earth with His glory.

Because: Numbers 14:21 But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.

12 Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee: 13 But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves: 14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:

The land is filled with corruption, it is defiled, it bears the image of sin. God wants it eradicated. His people aren’t supposed to join them. His people carry the glory of God for heaven’s sake!

2 Corinthians 3:7-13

7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: 8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? 9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. 10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. 11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. 12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: 13 And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:

2 Corinthians 3:13 NASB

and are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading away.

2 Corinthians 3:14-18

14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. 15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. 16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. 17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

μεταμορφόω

18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

This word in the Greek Metamorphoo is where we get the word metamorphosis. The idea of metamorphosis- a change of the form or nature of a thing or person into a completely different one, by natural or supernatural means_ New Oxford American dictionary. The caterpillar has butterfly DNA in it. Christian has Jesus DNA in them. The caterpillar dies in a cocoon. Christian dies with Jesus on the cross and is buried in the tomb. The caterpillar comes back to life as a butterfly. The Christian resurrects to newness of life, but this is just a partial,down payment. We are being changed from glory to glory into the same image as our Lord. Do you understand this. You’re not a Mormon. You’re not going to ascend into being a god. You’re going to metamorph into a fuller resemblance of the image and likeness and glory of Jesus who is the express image of God’s person and glory (Hebrews 1:3).

Matthew 17:1-3

1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,

μεταμορφόω

2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

We see this in Jesus. As the deity “Godness” in Him transfigured or “metamorphed”

3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

Romans 12:1-2

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

μεταμορφόω

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Paul exhorts Christians

Moses, in God’s presence radiated God’s glory— Adam used to walk in God’s presence and I believe that he emanated God’s glory and that’s why he knew he was naked after the glory left.

Jesus transfigured in front of His disciples and Moses is there

John 17:21-24

21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

You have God in you. You have God’s glory in you! I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to release some of this out there. 🎼 Day and night, night and day, let incense arise…

Because: Numbers 14:21 But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.

I might be coming to your neighborhood soon.

23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. 24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Romans 12:1-2

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

__________________________________________________________________________________  μεταμορφόω

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

A Vineyard and the Inheritance: Part 1

1 Kings 21

Jezebel is a foreigner/ she is outsider to the Israelites, which are God’s people on the earth. She enters into the kingdom bringing her ways and beliefs which are against the ways of God. She is a spiritual intruder and she wants to affect God’s plan by introducing her ways into God’s people.

God’s whole plan on the earth hinges on having a people that carry His truth, His image, and His glory upon the earth. It’s because of His love and His grace that He created us to be part of His plans. He did it because He is love and there is no better place for love than within a family unit—God wants an eternal family.

He wants to have a relationship with us. So He created this physical realm as a place for the physical to exist, but the physical journey is a test, and the response in the physical, has a direct impact on the spiritual/ eternal inheritance that He has planned for His children.

In Adam, God gave man power and authority over the physical realm. This was God’s creation and He entrusted its well being to Adam. The spirit of the serpent was already in existence, and like Jezebel in the story, his plan was to intrude. Whether this fallen angel, as a spiritual being possessed the serpent or transmuted into the image of a serpent, I do not know and don’t really care. All I know is that he was a spiritual creation that had rebelled against God at a time somewhere in the past. He was not content as a creation of God and instead wanted to be above God, and so he rebelled against God. Through his rebellion, he brought about his own spiritual death and now, he sees Adam and this new creation. He sees Adam’s authority and he wants it, so he takes on the form of the physical enters, so he can steal the spiritual. He failed his test and now he wants Adam and us to fail ours. Snake analogy from last pm.

Flesh and blood cannot and will not inherit the kingdom (1 Corinthians 15:50); therefore, we will be tested in the physical before entering into the eternal.

So the story has a setting, a physical place where a spiritual battle is taking place—like a garden, a vineyard, a church, a workplace, a home, a family. And then a spiritual intruder disguised in a physical body with plans to steal, kill and destroy.

And the only way that it can enter and cause trouble is if the will in the natural gives permission to the demonic in the spiritual and Adam does, and Adam brings in death, chaos, confusion and rebellion into the narrative of God. The serpent was an outsider, looking for a way into the plan of God. The serpent is always looking for a way into the plan of God and Jezebel is the opening of the serpent’s intrusion into God’s kingdom on earth during this time of Israel’s history. We must remain vigilant:

1 Peter 5:8

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

God has a plan for the human race and He is looking for people that will be His people and help Him bring His plan to fruition. There will be opposition, there will be tribulation, but praise God, He is worthy of it all. For from you are all things and to you are all things. You deserve the glory….

We’ve talked enough about Jezebel recently. She isn’t the topic of this message. But she, like the serpent is the intruder on the outside given permission to come on the inside to cause trouble in the kingdom.

The topic of this message is Naboth’s inheritance. God has a plan for His people. His people are His family. According to the New Testament, the son’s of God have received an inheritance.

Matthew 21:33-41 is a good parable to describe what I mean by inheritance and the intrusion by evil to steal it. READ

The direct context is that God entrusted Israel with His vineyard, but religion killed the Son and tried to steal His inheritance. The serpent will use Jezebel, false prophets, Pharisees, false doctrine, the enticements of the world…whatever he can use to steal the inheritance and to spoil the harvest of God.

If you’re saved this morning, you have protection from the deception Satan plans. If you’re truly saved, you’ve experienced God’s entry into your physical realm. He spoke and you responded and invited Him in. He is there now and wants to protect you from the intrusion of the enemy.

Something happened in your heart and like Jesus told Nicodemus, you may not know where a specific breeze originated from but you can feel it’s effects, so it is when a person is regenerated, when a person is truly cleansed by the washing of regeneration and their life is transformed, it is the result of a supernatural move of the Holy Spirit.

Titus 3:5

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

There is a fountain filled with blood Drawn from Immanuel’s veins; And sinners, plunged beneath that flood, Lose all their guilty stains:

The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day; And there may I, though vile as he, Wash all my sins away:

If this person continues to grow in truth, and protects the presence of God and God’s will for their lives, the spiritual transformation will be manifest outwardly by the fruit of the Spirit being produced in their lives. Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, goodness, faith, self control, patience, kindness, … these are outward, physical manifestations of a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. In our new life with Christ, the word says that we’ve been healed, delivered, set free, sanctified. The blood of Jesus cleanses us and makes us a completely new person.

That is really my message this morning. As new creations in Christ, we have received an inheritance of promises. These promises include the future, but they are also true for today. It’s important that we understand that Jesus came to restore to us what Adam lost in the fall to Satan.

This is important! Just as Ahab wants to steal Naboth‘s vineyard and inheritance, Satan wants to steal the inheritance of the saints. He wants to make a deal and if that doesn’t work Jezebel through seduction or violence will try to steal. They want to steal God’s plan for the church and they want to steal, God’s plan for our individual lives. Satan wants to offer Christian a deal. He wants you to serve yourself and trade in your inheritance, exchange what you want in place of the Lord’s plan for your life.

Both Naboth’s name and his home town have spiritual significance

Naboth= fruits

Jezreel= sown of God

To be sown of God means that God planted the seed. This means that the land was God’s, that Naboth was called by God to bear or bring forth fruit for God, and in the story, Ahab wants to take from Naboth what belongs to him. Look at Naboth’s response:

1 Kings 21:3

And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee. REPEAT

The land is very important to God. There is a scripture in Leviticus where God tells His people not to sell the land:

Leviticus 25:23

The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with me.

There is quite a statement being made here.

1. The land is God’s and His people Israel are instructed not to sell it.

2. He explains to them that they are fellow strangers and travelers in the land with Him.

3. While the land belongs to God, He refers to Himself as a stranger

4. The context is God created it and gave it to Adam. Adam lost it, and now God, finding others that will trust and obey His word, is taking it back one piece at a time. His creating the nation of Israel was a plot of land that He used as territory to produce an inheritance through Jesus and says, “Do not sell my land.”

5. The land He is giving them a land has been invaded by inhabitants that were polluting it with their occult practices, and it’s still going on today. He is sending them in to conquer and take over control of the land Leviticus 18:25-27.

6. Adam allowed a deceptive lie to bring darkness into the realm that God had given Him to have authority over. The result of Adam’s decision not only caused a personal problem with sin, but it also brought sin into the land

7. Now, thousands of years later, God is giving land back to His people Israel and He is saying, “Right now, we are strangers together in our own land [it’s bigger than this. It’s bigger than Israel. It’s the whole world, the whole Earth, but it starts here with Israel, it starts here with Naboth’s vineyard, it starts here with Shammah’s pea patch (2 Samuel 23:11), it starts here with your house and family, it starts here with this church and anyone willing to join us in this area and hopefully we will be able to help other churches see it also,  but we’re taking it back one piece at a time, one step at a time. God would say, “You have to trust me. I have a plan. Don’t sell the land. The land is mine. I’m taking back what belongs to me, and I’m allowing you, my people, to work with me, while I’m taking it back.” But you can’t let the snake into the garden and you can’t let Jezebel into the kingdom.

8. Now, Ahab wants Naboth to do what Adam did. Ahab wants Naboth’s vineyard, he wants Naboth’s fruits, he wants Naboth’s inheritance, but Naboth’s said: 1 Kings 21:3 And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee

• Adam gave Satan a foothold  through disobedience

• Ahab gave Jezebel a foothold when he transgressed the written word of God and married an unbeliever.

• Paul said don’t give place to the devil, which means a foothold to the devil

Satan infiltrated God‘s kingdom, but God is reclaiming it all through the lives of His people.

His plan includes partnering with people that He has given authority and dominion on the earth to occupy until He comes. When you, as a born again believer with the Spirit of God in you, believe God and pray God’s will, it has power on earth. When you, a Spirit filled believer work with God by planting seeds of truth on earth, it has the power of heaven behind it, it’s going to bring a harvest, you don’t have to see it, you just need to believe it. Story of what Stephen told me

I believe that true Christianity is us walking with God and reclaiming the land, advancing the Kingdom of God, learning His word, believing His word and doing His word. If Jesus said:

Matthew 28:19-20

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Then that is what we believe, teach and do

If Jesus said:

Luke 10:19-20

19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Then that is what we believe, teach and do

If Jesus said:

Mark 16:15-19

15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Teach it, believe it, do it

God created Adam and Eve in the image and likeness of God. And God told them to reproduce after their own kind and to have dominion over the earth and to spread His glory over the earth. Sin may have changed man’s image (Genesis 5:3), but it didn’t change God’s plan. Sin may have caused them to lose their authority and stripped them naked of God’s glory. But Jesus gives believers His glory (JN 17). Sin may have left them banished outside the presence of God in the darkness of night, but God has a plan of grace, and He’s looking for a people that will finish the race.

He started showing us the plan by clothing Adam and Eve with the skins of an innocent animal:

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

God created the earth for Adam to reproduce and replenish the earth with the image and glory of God. Satan offered light and life but his lie brought death and darkness. Now, with the power that he’s taken from Adam, he fills the earth with his plans. Then comes Jesus:

John 1:14

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

READ John 1:1-13

And conclude w/ the Luke 19:11 parable