What about Being Rid of Jesus?

Any one of the world does not like Jesus. They choose to to divide those they despise! They choose to try the Jewish nation and find them guilty. In 1 John 4:6 We are of God: he that knoweth God hears us; he that is not of God hears not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. 7 Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God; and every one that loves is born of God, and knows God.

Those who refuse God cannot hear us. They hear not the truth of God or His Son Jesus Christ!  Jeremiah 43:11 NKJV  11 When he comes, he shall strike the land of Egypt and deliver to death those appointed for death, and to captivity those appointed for captivity, and to the sword those appointed for the sword.

Even today, people are choosing the path they want to take. They go after that "want" and not the "need". In Jeremiah 43, the prophet Jeremiah provides an excellent example of the level of control God maintains in an apparently chaotic situation. In this context the prophecy that Nebuchadnezzar will conquer Egypt is revealed. In this, [Nebuchadnezzar] will defeat Egypt. He will bring death to those who are supposed to die at moments notice!. He will capture those who are supposed to be captured. He will kill in battle those who are supposed to be killed in battle. (Jeremiah 43:11, God's Word Translation)

 In other translations, some verbs list doomed or destined to.....as "those which are destined to die" or "those who will doomed for captivity".

 In the tense action of any battle, confusion will reign. And it is God Who will remain in control. He knows precisely whom He wants to live and whom He wants to die. Nebuchadnezzar did not have that knowledge; his generals did not; and certainly, his foot soldiers did not. If they had known it, they could not reliably have implemented God's will in the heat of battle. ( If you think about today, even those God has chosen for captivity will go, and hell is a long dark place for eternity for many.) 

 God, though, knew His plans for each individual and controlled the situation precisely to bring about His planned end. That is why God can be so specific in Ezekiel 5:1-2, using the fraction “one-third.” God will maintain control to ensure that one-third will be burned in the fire, another third scattered in the wind, and so on.  A second witness of this concept, using similar rhetoric, appears at Jeremiah 15:2:

 And when they ask you, “Where shall we go?” you shall say to them, “Thus says the Lord: Those who are for pestilence, to pestilence, and those who are for the sword, to the sword;  those who are for famine, to famine, and those who are for captivity, to captivity.”  (English Standard Version)

 And what do we see for the future:  An echo of this concept of control sounds in Christ's words, recorded at Revelation 13:10: If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes;  if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. [ESV]

 

Interestingly, this verse ends with a call for patience and faith during extremely rough times: “Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.” The horrific events of the Day of the Lord might well cause God's elect to question His level of control—perhaps even His beneficence. This will be a year requiring consummate faith and patience on the part of God's people. They must truly know that God's actions during that Day will not be chaotic or haphazard. What is coming in 2026 reminds us that God is for those who love Him.

 Christ will look at each man's heart and if it is the least bit corrupted by sin, that man, not being pure, will receive the justice of hell. The believer too would fail this test, if he were not already made clean by his baptism into Christ's death. Thus he is rightly judged clean by Christ and enters into eternal Sabbath.

In God's justice, we can find a comfort for all the wrongs perpetrated against us and against mankind. We know that our cruel boss who cheated us for so many years will receive what he deserves. We know that the politician who did wrong to gain personal power will receive justice. We know that killers like Hitler, and Stalin will receive justice.  And have we not seen many choosing to take a life because of certain beliefs. There are those who want "control" and use anyway to get that power.

Here we see another passage, and in this Jews sought to kill Jesus. They say He broke the Sabbath and made Himself equal with God.

John 5:18-23 Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. 19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does the Son also does in like manner. 20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that he Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. 22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23” that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.

Judgment has been committed to the Son. Yes, He whom the world wants to be rid of for they choose to sin and commit fraud.

As our homes must be cleansed so does our soul and body. God cleans with His Holy Spirit and the water of the Word of God. In decorating with God's word, we go from trauma to life in Him. In the cleansing, we find repentance required. It is turning back to God and His plan for life. The maintenance is by our faith in Him and is the powerhouse for living today. In that powerhouse of prayer, we live by faith receiving by believing in Him. 

Our focus is to be on life in Him. It is on Him, His riches by grace, glory and goodness. What counts in reality is the eternity with Him and not on the lesser of the earthly man seeks today.

If we dwell on the earthly, say like singing. Is it truly something one can do or is it just seeking the great lights and fame one desires? If it is about starting a business, is it about our ego or creating a business that will hire people, create a product people can use in safety and be about loving that place people dwell.  What about being a doctor or a lawyer? Is it about Jesus in us to be the best doctor or lawyer or just to be crooked in business and dealing with others?

Jesus came to deliver what the Father sent Him to do. Jesus came to bring the kingdom of God on earth. And the angels said it was good will to men on earth to men. Yet, we have many today who lie, cheat, and tell many Jesus was just another man.  They curse His name and think cruelly about Him. 

For us, He is healing, provider, and Prince of Peace. In this season, we know Him to be truth to His word.  While we breathe we hope. We hope in His return to earth. We hope in the His word, and promise to us about this life now and that of the future. God is in control,  and is the powerhouse to that control. The loudness of His control can be heard. The greater their violence, the greater His control.  His love is absorbed into our hearts and His hand holds us tightly. We will not let go. In this season, we reach for Him, call out and ask to share our heart and know He will show us great and mighty things we did not know. Amen.

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A Foggy Situation

Hebrews 12:1-6

12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:

"My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD,

Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 

6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens,

And scourges every son whom He receives." 

NKJV

Are we looking for a successful conclusion? But does that conclusion involve that one ultimate "thing" that in a life of faith we will actually sit down in the presence of God?

From the above passage, Jesus has gone before us. He ran the race, who is the Author and the Finisher of our faith. If we keep our eyes of faith on Jesus, then we certainly come out in safety, reside in green pastures where we lie down in God's presence and His peace.

Almost two decades ago, I wanted to help out in this Book Ministry at the church. In volunteering I learned a lot about authors of the latter part of the twentieth century. I learned of one specifically who had a publishing company in the Lynnwood, Washington area. 

Many Christians today should know of this man and his heart for God. He had many books published, like New Creations Realities, In His Presence, The Two Kinds of Life, Jesus the Healer, The Two Kinds of Righteousness and the Blood Covenant. Now I only list a few of those great books.

In assisting in the book store one day I was asked to go to the Kenyon Publishing Society and get a few books the church had ordered. I got the list, and headed home. It would be late if I tried to stop off at this book place, so I reserved that time for early the next morning.

Unbeknownst to me, I would arise early the next morning to find fog laid over the entire city. And I was to drive to Lynnwood, Washington. The best thing about it was that I did not have to go by the Interstate but could take the back roads and neighborhoods to get to the publisher.

I backed out of our driveway, and fixed my eyes on the school bus in front of me. The further I went south to Lynnwood, the heavier the fog appeared to me. So during this trip that took about 50 minutes that morning, I arrived to get the books for the church. My job done, I needed to find my way through the fog again.

I certainly was challenged on that trip. I had to continually fix my eyes, not only consistently but with an intensity and focus on Jesus. I was intent on getting home, but I was also intent to arrive safely in the presence of my God and Father.

I do not know if Jesus encountered fog. I know He could not have had a car or even a driver's license. The book He knew was the Torah. But for certain, Jesus is the only one who knows the safest and best path to that goal.

We are not to despise the chastening of the Lord. For correction can come and we must embrace it to grow further in His grace. For He had to love us dearly to send His love to us. And when the chastening comes, we should remember that He, the Father will scourge every son whom He receives.

 That scourge is a contact with us. It is with a cord or strap for disciplining another. I certainly recall a couple of real "discipline" moments when I was growing up, and one was soap on the tongue when I spoke what my parents said was wrong at the time.

I learned not to speak those things and I really learned after the third time I did it. Yikes!

But true discipline is: a love and it is a force that flows from a willing heart for the true God. God has given us His Holy Spirit not to fear.  He has given us power, love and a sound mind to prevail in all situations, including FOG! Holding on to fast to the pattern of sound words we are cultivating a relationship with His Holy Spirit. And within that relationship we are propelled into His power for signs and wonders.

Let's remind ourselves of the joy that was in Jesus. And the walk He took to Calvary was a benefit to me and for you. Set your focus on Him. 
Wherever you go today, may you arrive at your destination safety and in the presence of Almighty God!

Father, we thank You and declare that everything we put our hands to do will prosper beyond our expectations. We declare that with God our Father, all things are possible. We are thankful for Jesus and our focus is set on Him, the Author and Finisher of our faith. We are truly blessed with a clean, wise and understanding heart. For we are the blessed with self-control and discipline. We are blessed with a great family, good friends, and good health. Today we are blessed with faith, favor and fulfillment. We experience promotion, supernatural strength and Your divine protection. Today we walk out of any foggy areas, and the release from captivity. We walk with compassion in our hearts and with a positive outlook on life. For it is in Jesus, that we live, move and have our being. We are the blessed of the Lord and thankful for Jesus. It is in His name, we have given much thanks!


Notice: 

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WHAT PLANS?

Jeremiah 29:8-14
8 For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are in your midst deceive you, nor listen to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed. 9 For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them, says the LORD.

10 For thus says the LORD: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place. 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.   NKJV

Now most people within the body of Christ can quote this scripture. The most wonderful thing to hear is that God has thoughts toward us and they are of peace and not of evil to give you and  me a future and a hope! That makes you want to smile, give a shout and give thanks for God has thoughts about us.

In truth all of chapter 29 should be read in its entirety to gain the true picture of what is going on here as this was given.

In reality, the text is meaning that which was taught to the people at the time was by those prophets who only spoke what the people wanted to hear. God was wanting their foundation to be built on the truth of what He wanted for them. It was to be by that Word of God to discern the truth and not heed any false teaching or way. 

Psalm 127:1 

Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand in guard in vain.

These people had been in captivity and God did not want them to put down roots in Babylon. In a foreign place, these men and women dreamed dreams and had desires of the earlier days of freedom and life they had known. But in the place of the captive, one has only the dreams. As they had thought and then spoke on "what they desired" they came up dreaming about it, but alas it was not from God.

I think of ministering to people and especially those who have come from really hard places. In the jail ministry, I think of those who so desire to go back home to their own thing and ways. They would ask for prayer regarding the life they had. But I would always remind them that God had better for them, and His plan was found when we seek Him with our whole heart. 

For finding those who think as you, do as you, is not always good unity. Enlarging our hearts to receive that which we have already experienced, is never from God. He desires us to have the richness in life that brings change as the seasons change.

I remember this happening twice in the last ten years. I had been praying for these different pastors. They seemed to be going forward in the things of God and after sometime, I noticed they seemed to ask the unusual thing to pray for at the time. The asking is good in prayer, to find God's plan if something seems amiss. But when praying for people and that includes pastors, you must give them that word which is given by God for them.

In the case of these people, they wanted to flatter the false prophets so that the words the prophets spoke to them would be the good, the fun, the joyful and flatter me if you will!

So many today and that includes pastors, are still riding around in that 1963 Chevy Panel Wagon, they call ministry, because someone they liked ministered a word to them, and it was a good word. But they are still running ministry based on that word from that time. God desires us to have a good foundation to build hopes upon.  We must be willing to teach that word that God has placed on our hearts. It is important to share with others what God is speaking. 

Luke 12:1-3

12:1 In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops. 

NKJV

God's Word speaks loudly, and will confirm what He is doing. Though these men and women who were in captivity,  had they kept hearing God, they would not be the deceived. But there are those who, like some pastors, who will give only that word which will soothe the man, to give him something he wants to hear and not give them truth when they really need it. Some pastors will do it to keep people coming back week after week. But if we look at other pastors, and I can think of a few off hand, they are giving the TRUTH and we see them gaining momentum that ONLY COMES FROM GOD!

These men and women being separated from the vast numbers in another country, would all be gathered again together and brought to where they were meant to be from the beginning. We too, have the place to be brought together with other individuals, not of the false and the pretentious, but in the word of God that brings truth and light to us in a walk that is fulfilling.

Yes, Jesus came to set captives free. He even said it TO  those WHO needed it the most and they became unhinged and sought to kill HIM!

Luke 4:17-30

And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: 

18 "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,

Because He has anointed Me 

To preach the gospel to the poor;

He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,

To proclaim liberty to the captives 

And recovery of sight to the blind,

To set at liberty those who are oppressed;  

19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD."  

20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." 22 So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, "Is this not Joseph's son?" 23 He said to them, "You will surely say this proverb to Me, 'Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in Your country.' " 24 Then He said, "Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country. 25 But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; 26 but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian." 28 So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, 29 and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. 30 Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way. NKJV

Yes, rejection was the dominate factor here. They did not want to hear this from the carpenter's son who they knew. They liked the preeminence and gave heed to their own vain appetites. 

Jesus said, "This scripture (this writing) is fulfilled in your hearing". Jesus as the Prophet was giving that which had come. And He was the appointed by God!

"Yes, is not this Joseph's son"? Jesus had spoken with power and was backed up by truth of the Word.

Yes, He came to bring freedom to the captives, to open the eyes that were blind, and especially to those of the oppressed.  Jesus came to show the "new way" to walk, and it was not under a rule of the Pharisees that was hard and very harsh. Jesus bore witness that the Prophet Elijah had been sent to Zarephath in the region of Sidon to the widow. Yes, she was a gentile. And then He brought up the truth that Elijah had seen many lepers in Israel yet, he was sent to Naaman the Syrian. Yikes! GENTILES! THAT WOULD BITE!

So the kindly folk became hostile and wanted Jesus done away with, so they could continue on in their "own way of living".

We must call upon God and hear Him. We must go and pray and seek His plans for us...........that we would not listen to that "smooth talk"..........to stroke that kitty cat fur, but be willing to take a stand with God and find that plan that brings us to freedom for life, to no longer be captive to the past thing or things or held by that last good word spoken decades ago, but to find the fresh Manna that brings us to life and joy in the Holy Ghost! For truly should that Word was given by God decades ago and not by man, it will surely come to pass. It will be fresh, filling, adding zest to make all of our days of wholeness and peace. We should not be weary in this time of season. We should be looking forward to that hope that is within us. For His Word is given to instruct us, leading us in righteousness that is truth and justice, so that we may carry out His plan for us today. So if something does come our way, it will not be because of sin, because we did not want to hear it, but merely be but a very narrow speed bump as we travel on this journey through life with God taking our hand all of the way HOME!

2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.   NKJV

Let's remember these people as the ones who sinned against God and they were sent into captivity. They ended up in Babylon, which is serving the world in bondage. Today we are the "new man in Christ" when we have received Him as Lord. We are to remain, abide in the truth of what God has given us, so that we are not carried off by idolatry and into sin. Our sight should be kept on the Lord Who has Come and Know that HE IS COMING AGAIN, SOON!

 REMEMBER THAT NOT ONE OF GOD'S WORDS WILL FAIL WHEN HE GIVES IT TO YOU!

Father, we thank You for the opportunity to become the "new man" in Christ.
We are thankful for His crucifixion and that we can have life abundantly now in this lifetime. We truly seek to find YOU in the Word and in prayer to hear You speak truths to us. Help us when we are weak, for YOU make us strong. Help us when we might become weary,  Refresh the weary and satisfy the faint. (Jeremiah 31:25) Father, today we are reminded of that from Hebrews 12:1-5 that we willing throw  off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, so that we run with perseverance the race marked out for us. We fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Even as Jesus endured such opposition from sinful men, may we continue forward, not growing weary or losing heart, but face the tomorrows with courage in our hearts that God is for us. It is in Jesus' name we have prayed.  Amen.

You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV