Hello my friends, this page presents a summary outline of the teachings in the Gospels and Book of Acts. The goal is to help the reader understand God’s revelation given under the New Covenant and what it means for our lives from a layman’s perspective. This question and answer format is striving to stimulate the reader to go deeper into the Scriptures and wrestle with their relationship to the Creator. My paraphrases are based on the New Kings James Version. Of utmost importance is this link where I provide my understanding of how a soul is born again because Jesus said, unless this happens you cannot enter the Kingdom of God: The 3Rs

The Gospels: 4 BC to 33 AD: 37 years

The Seed of the Woman, birth of Jesus Christ

The lineage of our Lord is given from Abraham to Jesus by Matthew and from Adam to Jesus, by Luke. The Bible indicates there were 14 generations from Abraham to David, 14 generations from David until the captivity in Babylon and 14 generations from the captivity until the Christ. There maybe some fathers skipped in the passage but as a whole, I believe the number of generations is accurate. While some of us have a longer string, some of us have a shorter one.

If we follow the prophecy in Daniel 9 regarding the announcement to return from captivity until the Messiah is cut off, we get 483 years. Doing some simple math (483/14), we get a generation approximately 34.5 years. In the gospels, I believe the Olivet discourse indicates that once certain signs begin to happen, that generation would see the return of the Lord. This is consistent with the prophecy given to me regarding our Lord’s return in my sister Deborah’s lifetime. 

Regarding our Lord’s birth, the angel said you shall have a son and call his name Jesus. Mary said how shall this be because I am a virgin. Remember the prophecy back in Genesis, the Seed of the Woman. This prophecy makes sense now because no man has provided the seed, thus it is truly the Seed of the Woman, so now we have the miraculous virgin birth. This was a beautiful gift to Mary and Joseph but it was also their cross to bear because most people, including the Pharisees, assumed Mary was unfaithful and Joseph was being played. We see how they bore their cross so let’s bear ours the same. Also, we see Joseph being warned in a dream and addressed as the son of David. My friends, once we are born again, we to are a son of David. At this point, Mary and Joseph followed the law and had the Child circumcised on the 8th day and after the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.

Zacharias

In the gospel of Luke, the Bible says that the priest Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth were both righteous before the Lord, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless, which means they were obeying all the rules God had given them. However, they were well advanced in years and had no children. The angel told Elizabeth what to name her son, that he could not drink strong drink and that he would be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb. Now does that mean John did not need a savor? The answer is that he had sin because he said to the Lord, I have need to be baptized by you even before he doubted Christ was the Messiah. God heard their prayers for a child and gave them John the Baptist in their later years. My friends, if you desire something from the Lord, please continue to ask because God’s timing is not always ours. Now, Zacharias did not believe the Angel so as a sign, he was not able to speak until John’s birth.

The priest Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, prophesied after he received his voice again saying that our Lord would save them from their enemies. He prophesied that Israel might serve God without fear in holiness and righteousness and you child, speaking of John, will be called the prophet of the Highest. Our Lord would give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death and to guide our feet in the way of peace. This means our Lord will bring and understanding of how a person is saved or the light of salvation to those who are lost in the darkness of sin. At this point, Zacharias did not have a complete understanding that the Lord came to save them from their sins rather than Roman rule. My friends, do you understand why the Lord has come?  

Simeon and Anna Prophecies

The gospel of Luke says Simeon was a just and devout man waiting for the consolation of Israel and the Holy Spirt was upon him. The Spirt had revealed to him that he would not see death until he had seen the Messiah. This man saw the Lord and said, now let your servant depart in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation. My friends, I am telling you that the physical presence of the Holy Spirit is on me continuously and confirming the Lord is coming in my sister Deborah’s lifetime. Unlike Simeon’s promise, the Lord has not confirmed to me that I will be alive.

Also, Anna a prophetess, a widow of 84 years came into the temple and spoke regarding the Lord’s plan of redemption in Jerusalem. There were people prophesying around the Lord’s first coming and there are many people, in addition to me, prophesying that the Lord’s second coming will be in this generation. Now some are giving dates of his return, so Satan is deceiving as well.

The Word made flesh

John’s gospel says in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God. This word was manifested or made into flesh and dwelt among us. Now, the New World translation says the word was “a God”. The insertion of the alphabet “A” is saying that Jesus is a God, rather than the All Mighty God. This interpretation of the nature of Jesus as a smaller God is contradictory to the Old Testament revelation of God.

The 10 commandments says you shall have no other Gods before me and throughout the Old Testament, the Israelites quote the phrase, hear old Israel the Lord your God, the Lord is one. We know the gospel record Jesus receiving worship as a child all during his recorded life and upon his resurrection. Never once did the Lord tell anyone not to worship him. Yet, he told Satan you should only worship God. Obviously, if Jesus were not God, him and Father God would have a problem.

The revelation of Jesus as God is consistent with God referring to himself with a plural nature in Genesis. Let Us make man in our image. We now understand the Us refers to God the Father, God the Son and the soon to be revealed, God the Holy Spirit. Please click on this link for more insight on this subject: How is God Revealed in the Bible?

The Light vs Darkness

When the Bible says Jesus is the Light that has come into the world, what is it talking about? When the Bible says the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it, what is it talking about? When the Bible says the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, what is it talking about? When the Bible says those who sat in the region and shadow of death, Light has dawned, what is it talking about? When the Bible says this is the condemnation that the light has come into the world and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil, what is it talking about? When the Bible says everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deed should be exposed, but he who does the truth comes to the light that his deeds may be clearly seen that they have been done in God, what is it talking about? When Jesus says I am the light of the world, he who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life, what is he talking about? When the Bible says what fellowship does light have with darkness, what is it talking about? My friends, how do we cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light?

My friends, we are all born into darkness, that is without an understanding of who the true God is. Now I am not saying God will send a little baby or young child to torment for sinning. The reason is God will not hold that little one accountable until they have the knowledge of good and evil or an understanding they are disobeying him. Now only God knows when a soul reaches the point where they are accountable to him for their actions. Do you honestly think God will send a soul to eternal torment, while knowing the soul could not submit to him? However, I believe it is safe to say that if you are comprehending what I am writing, then you are definitely at the age of accountability. The Bible says sin entered the world through one man’s disobedience. However, God will not send me to hell for Adam’s sin, but my own! Now, grace has always been in the world, because when God was going to destroy everything with the flood, the Bible says Noah found grace in his eyes.

The Bible says the Holy Spirit is convicting the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. This means regardless of your race, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, etc., God is trying to reach you. The Bible says God placed each of us at a unique period in time, so we might seek him. Our job is to respond to this action by examining our lives to see if we are living in obedience or disobedience. Obviously, the first step is recognizing that Jesus is the true way to eternal life. Then, we repent from believing false Gods as well as a life of sinful practices. Finally, we develop a hunger and thirst to live right before God and ask him to give us his Holy Spirit. The Bible says that the Father is looking for those to worship him, but we can only worship through spirit and truth. This means that our souls must living in the right relationship with God. My friends, let us leave the darkness of sin and disobedience and walk into his marvelous light of holiness and obedience!

Emmanuel is here to save us from what?

What is the ultimate reason Jesus came into the world? To save us from our sin? The Bible indicates that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. What is sin? Sin is the transgression or breaking of God’s law or rules. Were we born sinners and therefore sinners because we are human? No, we are not born sinners or sinners just because we are human because Jesus was human and he never sinned. Hebrews tells us that Jesus was tempted just like we were but without sin. We sin when we disobey God’s rules. Again, little children are not held responsible for the consequences of their sins until they have the knowledge that what they are doing is disobeying God or the knowledge of good and evil. A young child cannot comprehend his actions have offended a Holy God and thus he must repent. 

Remember, Jesus said you must repent and become like a little child or you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. In other words, little children are innocent of the consequences of their actions until a certain age. For instance, if a little two year old uses foul language because he heard his parents say this, he is not held responsible for this because he is just repeating what his parents have said. However, when the parent uses it, they are sinning because the Bible says let not corrupt communication come out of your mouth but only what is proper for edification. Therefore, if you are comprehending what I am saying, then you have sinned at some point in your life. 

Now, those who live in a continuous state of unrepentant sin will end up in hell. However, those who put to death the sinful desires will end up in heaven. Make no mistake my friends, we must allow the Holy Spirit to transform us continuously, thus perfecting holiness in the fear of God. As Paul says in Romans, we must present our bodies a living sacrifice and take dominion over every thought. We take dominion by comparing our thoughts with the teaching of the Bible and asking the Holy Spirit to help us reject all evil thoughts as well as actions. Please visit this link for more insight on this subject: Understanding Sin

The wise men and massacre of the innocents

Matthew 2 indicates that around the birth of the Lord, wise men came from the East being led by a star. Now the Scripture does not say it was 3 wise men, but I will not beat up our Christmas events. This star was no doubt an angel who was announcing the Lord’s birth. Remember our Lord is referred to as the Bright and Morning Star in the Revelation. We also have the star, who I believe is Satan, that fell from heaven and was given the key of the bottomless pit at the fifth trumpet in the Revelation. Also, Satan’s tail threw one third of the stars down, later we are told these are Satan’s angels. I believe the wise men understood the prophecies in Daniel regarding the birth and crucifixion of the Lord and the star confirmed the time of fulfillment. The star was a sign in the heavens of our Lord’s first birth and we will have signs and wonders in the heavens as we get closer to his second return.   

Remember the prophecy given by God back in Genesis. There is coming one who is going to bruise your head and you will bruise his heel. I will put enmity between your seed and the woman’s seed. Satan influenced Herod to kill all the new born male children from 2 years under after speaking with the wise men. Can you remember another place in the Bible where all the male children were killed?

Joseph was warned in a dream to take the young child and flee to Egypt and wait for word. Also, the wise men found the young child, who was about 2 years old, brought gifts and worshiped him. Then being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their own country. My friends, considering what is about to come upon the world, we are receiving dreams letting us know how to proceed. Now Herod tried to deceive the wise men by telling them he wanted to worship the young child and there will be great deception from false prophets just before the Lord’s second coming. 

After Herod killed the young children there was weeping and mourning as prophesied by Jeremiah. This prophecy was first fulfilled during the time when the Babylonians invaded, was fulfilled during the birth of our Lord, fulfilled in AD 70 when Rome destroyed the temple, Hitler fulfilled some of it and no doubt the Antichrist will have his fulfillment. Once Herod died, an angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream telling him it is now safe to return to Israel. Also, God directs him in a dream to settle in the region of Galilee, thus fulfilling prophecy. 

I must be about my Father’s business

What can we learn about the incident recorded in the Gospel of Luke, where the boy Jesus was separated from his parents? We see the family obeyed the command to observe the annual Feast of the Passover. We see Mary and Joseph did not understand the Lord’s true mission and asked him why he had worried them. What they were saying was son, why are you disobeying us? The boy Jesus was listening to and questioning the teachers in the temple. The Lord was only 12 years old and already knew that he must be about his heavenly, rather than earthly, father’s business. However, this does not mean Jesus did not submit to his parents. My friends, we might not fully understand why our Creator brought us into existence, but must continue to follow and obey him.

John the Baptist prepares the way

John preached strong repentance of sin, baptized people and helped prepare them to accept Jesus as the Messiah. Remember, John says he will baptize you will the Holy Spirit and with fire. However, John let’s us know that we must bring forth fruit worthy of repentance. This is what I am preaching through this ministry, there must be true repentance of sin before the Holy Spirit chooses to baptize or dwell in us. The specific prophecies given regarding the Lord’s return must be given out. The specific anointing I am receiving must be used to keep the sin out of my life as well as help others prepare to meet the Lord.

John the Baptist knew the Lord’s mission because he said, behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. However, many people did not understand and were not prepared for the Lord’s 1st coming. They believed the Messiah’s 1st coming was to conquer Israel’s enemies and set up a physical kingdom. They did not understand that their greatest enemy was their sin and the wrath of God. Do you understand your greatest enemy and the purpose for the Lord’s 1st and 2nd coming?

The final instructions on how to approach God

John was the first one to preach that water baptism and baptism by the one coming after me, the Messiah, as the new way to have our sins forgiven. This was revolutionary because all the people knew was they had to follow the rules of the Old Covenant, which included animal sacrifices and circumcision to have their sins forgiven. Why did the Holy Spirit lead John into the wilderness rather than have him minister in the Jewish temple system? Remember, John’s father, the priest Zacharias was required to minister in the temple. Also, they had many pools and bodies of water around Jerusalem. The reason is God wanted to totally shift people minds from the Old Covenant, because he was implementing the new way for us to have our sins forgiven.

What does a baptism unto repentance mean? When the Pharisees came to his baptism John said you brood of vipers who warned you to flee from the wrath to come. Bring forth fruits worthy of repentance and do not think to say to yourself we have Abraham as our fathers. What John meant was God looks at the fruit of our confession, a changed life, to determine whether he gives us his Holy Spirit. What did John mean when he said make straight the way of the Lord? My friends, any form of mouth confession, sprinkling or emersion into water, which does not cause us to change the way we live, means nothing to the Lord. Remember the Lord said these people honor me with their lips but their heart is far from me.

Jonah went to Nineveh and preached 40 days, then the City would be destroyed. The people of Nineveh from the King down to the servants put on sackcloth and ashes, they stopped sinning to demonstrate true repentance! The Lord saw this change in their lives and spared the City. Our life is the same way, when we repent from unbelief or a specific sin, the Lord is looking to see if a change in actions or what the Bible calls our fruit, will follow.

In the case of the thief on the cross, he could not come down from the cross and live a holy life but he demonstrated his repentance by saying we deserve what we are getting but this man, speaking of Jesus, has done nothing wrong. However, we do not want a death bed conversion when we can live for the Lord today. As we deny ourself pleasures that we know are sinful, are we not repenting and bearing our cross?

The Holy Spirit’s baptism with fire

John mentioned the one coming after me, speaking of Jesus, will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand. This was an instrument used to separate the wheat from the chaff. After harvest, farmers would toss the wheat and chaff in the air over the threshing floor, while waving the winnowing fan over their harvest. The wheat had more weigh so it would not blow away when the fan was used. The chaff had no substance so it would blow away. My friends, in this illustration, at any given time a soul is either the wheat or the chaff, not the wheat and the chaff. Now our Lord is the one waving the fan across our lives. As we live, we can be tossed back and forth by every wind or doctrine. Also, our mind is like shifting sand if it is not being anchored to the Word of God. Remember, our Lord said that he who builds his life on the sand will not stand when the winds and rain come. 

Remember, when God sent the hand writing on the wall for King Belshazzar and the words, “MENE, MENE” were given. Daniel interpreted these words by saying, God has weighed you in the balance and you have been found wanting. In the Revelation, the Lord tells us that he sees us in a state of nakedness or clothed in righteousness. As the Lord examines our lives, he provides us garments of fine linen based upon whether we are living holy. Alternatively, the Lord will remove our lampstands if we begin to live in sin.

Our Lord tells us to store up treasures in heaven because where our treasure is there will our heart be. Now we cannot earn salvation because we cannot live a perfect, sinless life, like Jesus. However, faith without works is dead. In order words, our lifestyle will demonstrate whether we have the Holy Spirit and true saving faith. As we continue to work out our own salvation, by presenting our body a living sacrifice, the Holy Spirit is working in us or baptizing us with fire. All of us, excluding Jesus, have born the image of Satan, which is why we must be born again. Please visit this link for more insight on this subject: Man’s Baptism vs God’s Baptism

John Baptizes Jesus

Why was Jesus baptized by John? Was John baptizing Jesus unto repentance? No, because the Bible says Jesus had no sin and the Lord said to the Pharisees, which of you convicts me of sin. In fact, John did not want to baptize the Lord but was obedient to the Lord’s command. The Bible says the purpose of Jesus baptism was to fulfill all righteousness. Now, to fulfill all righteousness is a broad, general statement. Remember when the Lord said I did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. 

My understanding for the purpose of Jesus’s baptism was to announce his ministry to the public and declare his authority came from God. Remember, the Pharisees on numerous occasions asked the Lord, who gave you this authority? At the Lord baptism, the Father spoke this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased, the Son came out of the water and the Holy Spirit descended on the Lord in the form of a dove. The Lord was also demonstrating through this act, that we die to our will under the water and are raised to do the Father’s. Jesus baptism was different from ours because when we go into the water, we are dying to the old sinful, disobedient man, which our Lord never needed to. Now, the Triune God was present and no doubt, Satan and the demonic kingdom were looking on. 

Satan tempts Jesus

The number 40 is very significant in the Bible. Our Lord fasted for 40 days and 40 nights before the recorded temptations in Matthew 4. It rained 40 days and 40 nights during Noah’s flood. Moses was on the mountain fasting for 40 days and nights while receiving the 10 commandments. Moses sent the spies into the promise land for 40 days. The children of Israel were made to wander 40 years in the wilderness because of disobedience. Goliath taunted Israel for 40 days until David killed him. Ezekiel had to fast for 40 days because of the transgressions of Judah. Jonah preached judgment for 40 days to Nineveh. After the resurrection, the Lord presented himself for 40 days demonstrating that he was alive. 

The 1st temptation, the lust of the flesh

We have the 1st temptation where Satan said, if you are the Son of God, command these stones be made bread. This was an appeal to the flesh because our Lord was extremely hungry after fasting for 40 days. The longest fast without food I have gone on was 8 days. I can say that after that long, I was dreaming about food and extremely week. My fast was for a physical healing for my 1st wife who died of cancer. My bargain with the Lord was, I am your favorite Lord so I know you are going to do this thing I am asking. Therefore, I am going to fast until you heal her or I die. Thankfully, the Lord did not allow me to die because I had 3 children under 10 years of age to raise. 

Satan heard the Father’s voice at the baptism but still tried to get the Lord to doubt what God had said. Remember, when Satan tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden. He said, has God really said? The devil was saying to Jesus, we heard the voice but let’s see if you believe it and can prove it. The Lord’s response to Satan was man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. There are times when the word of God is more important than eating physical food. We have been given the revealed word of God and at times, direct words from God. Now I would advise you to compare direct words against the written word. If your direct revelation conflicts with the written word, you discard your revelation and go with the written word. In these end times, many spirits are speaking. 

Now, I am receiving the physical presence of the Holy Spirit continuously as well as powerful dreams, confirming that he is coming in Deborah’s lifetime. However, as I receive more dreams and a greater anointing, I run directly to Scripture to see if what I am receiving is in conflict with the Bible. In one of my dreams, a spirit spoke to me and said the Lord told me to tell you to stop going out to the colleges and speaking to them. I conclude this was a demonic being because the Scripture says to go out into all the world and witness.

The 2nd temptation, the lust of the eyes

Next, Satan took the Lord up to the pinnacle of the temple and said throw yourself off because it is written, the angels will rescue you. Satan applied this Scripture in Psalms to Jesus. When David wrote this psalm, it was just a general promise of how the Lord will protect the righteous. The Devil took it out of context and then used it to put God to the test. Our Lord tells Satan and us, not to tempt God by putting him into a situation where he has to rescue us. If we happen to get into a though situation by following the Lord, then pray for deliverance. Also, many people would have seen this public miracle and no doubt lusted for this type of power.

There is a verse in the gospel of Mark that says you will handle serpents and if you drink anything poison, it will not harm you. I have heard of people doing this and dying as a result of it. Now, when I received a COVID vaccine, I said Lord if the government is deliberately trying to harm me, then please protect me. This same approach will not work when it comes to the mark of the beast in Revelation 13, which you will need to take on your body to buy or sell. The reason is the Bible has specifically forbidden us from receiving it. I fully believe, if someone thinks the mark of the beast is symbolic and have the Holy Spirit within them, he will direct them accordingly.

The 3rd temptation, the pride of life

The next temptation and Satan’s ultimate goal, which is to be worshipped was presented to the Lord. The first 2 temptations are designed to get the Lord to sin by going outside the will of the Father’s timing and forcing the Father to rescue him. However, now comes the direct approach. Satan is offering the Lord all the kingdoms of the earth, which is a position of ultimate power on earth. Jesus, I will allow you to control all the political, financial, military, entertainment, communication, etc. systems of the world. Is this a legitimate offer? Yes, because Satan said this has been delivered to me and I give it to whom I will and Jesus did not dispute his claim.

Remember when the Lord spoke with Pilate and said my kingdom is not of this world, if it were so, then my subjects would fight so that I would not be taken. We are in this world but not of this world. Never forget my friends that Satan is ultimately behind the control of this fallen world. Am I saying that God cannot accomplish good in the world through his servants? Of course not, because I am speaking to you now. Remember, our Lord said I will build my church and the gates of hell will not stop me.

Satan was also saying Jesus, you do not have to do it the Father’s way, just worship me and you can have all of this. Satan did not comprehend the true value of a soul because Jesus said one soul is more valuable than the whole world. Our Lord said what would it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul? Now at this point, I do not believe Satan understood that the Lord was going to die on the cross. Even in our lives my friends, Satan does not know all the plans the Lord has for us. However, he knows that if he can get us to disobey the Father, then he will rule us by default. Furthermore, if he can get us to disobey the Lord, we will not accomplish all the good work the Lord has for us.

Jesus used the written Word to overcome Satan’s temptations. My friends, we need to know our Bible so that when the fiery darts come, we can say the Word of God says this. For instance, the world is telling us that homosexuality or just living together in a sexual union before marriage is acceptable, but the Bible is telling us this is sin. Now the power to overcome sin is not just that we know the Bible, but we must obey the Bible. Revelation 12 tells us that we overcome by the blood of the lamb, the word of our testimony and we do not love our lives until the death. Now if we believe these facts but still continue to live in sin, how can we say we have overcome? The Bible says after these temptations, Satan departed from him until an opportune time. My friends, the Lord’s testing and temptation struggles were just beginning. Please visit this topic for more insight on this subject: Understanding Testing and Temptation

Protected until the time comes

When the Lord began to reveal himself as the Messiah, the attempts on his life begin. In Nazareth, the Lord read from the portion of the Book of Isaiah that was speaking about the Messiah and said, today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing. Now, some of the crowd had grown up with the Lord so they knew his parents and siblings. However, many of them were not willing to accept Jesus as the Messiah. Our Lord told them that many were sick during the days of Elijah and Elisha the prophets, but very few were healed. I believe what the Lord is saying is you are not going to get your sins forgiven unless you believe I am the Messiah. Likewise my friends, unless we believe and obey the Lord, we are doomed!

At this point, the people were filled with wrath, rose up, thrust him out of Nazareth and took him to the cliffs, intending to murder him. Now do you think they took him gently or laid hands in a violent way? During many future occasions, the Lord’s life will be threatened and ultimately taken because of his claim of being the Messiah or Son of God. However, the supernatural protection of God is on the Lord as well as his children, until our ministries are finished. My friends, please do not be afraid to live boldly for the Lord because no one can harm us until the time. As we approach the end of time, physical persecution will become a reality for many, if not all, of God’s children.

The Sermon on the Mountain

The Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 5-7 is the most comprehensive passage on how we should live our lives, the problem of sin and insight on how we will be judged after death. It has been said that Moses went up the mountain to receive the law and the Lord went up to interpret it. This sermon was a fulfillment of what was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, the land of Zebulun and Naphtali, the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death, light has dawned. John uses some of this language when he refers to us walking in the light or walking in darkness. My friends, this means we cannot be practicing sin or walking in darkness and believe we are in his light or saved.

Notice how the Lord did not provide this extensive level of teaching on the ceremonial, dietary, social governance and other laws contained in the Torah. Why do you think he did not? The reason is Jesus came to bring in the New Covenant. For he says that after this, I will write my laws on their hearts and in their minds and I will be their God and they shall be my people. The “after this” refers to after the Lord’s death, which provided propitiation for our sin and cleared the way for the Holy Spirit. From this time Jesus began to preach repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

The beatitudes and greatest commandments

The Lord said the greatest commandments are to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves. What does these commands look like when put into practice? All the teaching given at the Sermon on the Mount, Book of Acts and subsequent Epistles, explains what this looks like. Blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are those who mourn, blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, blessed are the merciful, blessed are the pure in heart, blessed are the peacemakers, blessed are you when you are persecuted for righteousness. 

The poor in spirit are those who see their need for God. Jesus says that without, God no one is going to make it into the kingdom of heaven. Can you see that we need his power to stop sinning and forgiveness if we sin in the future? Jesus wants us to mourn over our sin and hunger and thirst to live a holy life. As we cultivate a gentle spirit that understands how much God has forgiven us, then we will be quick to forgive others, while speaking the truth in love. This means even if we wound others with our words by telling them the truth, our heart’s desire is to see people repent and come to the Lord.

Believers actions are salt and light 

Salt can be used as a purifying, healing and preserving agent as well as giving flavor to our food. Likewise, light can illuminate a dark path, extend our activities or signal important news. Peter says for us to always be ready to give an answer for the hope that lies within us, with meekness and gentleness. As a believer, we are called to join the Lord on this rescue mission to reach the lost. However, as we do, Paul says be careful how we build because everyone’s work will be examined in the day and depending on our motivation, it might be burned up. 

Jesus calls us to be the salt of the earth and to let our light shine before men, so they can see them and glorify our Father in heaven. However, our interactions must be humble and not like the hypocrites who pray, fast and serve to be seen my men. We want people to see our work on the streets and search out the Lord, but we are not doing them to bring glory to ourselves. Our Lord tells us that if we deny him before men, he will deny us before the Father. In other words, just as our Lord did not live a quiet Christian life, we to must live out loud for the Lord.

Christ fulfills the law

Prior to the Lord’s death, mankind was instructed to reach God through the instructions he gave before the Law, then the instructions within the Law. The Book of Hebrews is an excellent source to help us understand the various priesthoods. Because God is eternally righteous, after the first sin there needed to be an intercessor or priesthood placed into operation. In some way, Melchizedek began to intercede for sin up in heaven. We know a priesthood was established because Abraham met him after the battle with the kings to rescue Lot and gave him a tithe. Hebrews tells us that this man was without mother or father, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days or end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually. Please visit this topic for more insight on this subject: The Priesthoods of God

God gave the Law for various reasons but I believe the primary reasons was to show us his holiness and our sinfulness. Now, the wages of sin are death and death means separation from God. You have heard the phrase, you are dead in your trespasses and sins. You might say, what do you mean I am dead? I am breathing so I am alive. That’s true, but the death the Bible is speaking of is your current separation from God, if you have not been saved. Now, if we physically die this way, it results in eternal separation in the lake of fire. 

My friends, on one occasion, the Lord gave me a powerful dream. The dream was in three scenes. In the first scene, I am in a book convention and the author wanted someone to write the chapter on hell. Then I heard people talking and they said, let’s get Marvin to write that chapter. The dream shifted to the second scene where I was in a room and heard a phone ringing. I could hear people on the line discussing whether or not hell was real. I heard them say let’s call Marvin for he will know. The dream shifted to the final scene and I was in a room with the Lord sitting across from me in a chair. I was looking directly in the Lord’s face and I cannot remember what his face looked like.  I asked, Lord is the lake of fire ready? The Lord said, Marvin whoever gets in the lake of fire, they cannot get out. Then, I woke up. 

Ultimately, the Law could only point out the problem of mankind, without providing a solution. Until a person comes to Christ for payment of sin and power over sin, he is still under the condemnation of the wages of sin. My friends, our entire existence on this side of heaven is a test. Through obedience to God’s rules, we demonstrate our love for the Lord as well as our neighbor. We live a holy life by asking the Holy Spirit to help us abide in Jesus, read our Bible, pray, fast and stay involved with God’s program. 

Murder and adultery or all sin begin in the heart

Our Lord tells us that it is not what goes into a man, but what comes out of a man that defiles him. For out of the heart flows evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies, etc. This is why we receive a new heart after being born again. Our mind, heart or will can be enticed or allured to do something against God’s rules. Our flesh likes this enticement and we act on this thought by enjoying it further in the mind and often in the physical realm. During this process my friends, we are making many choices in our mind. Therefore, we are choosing to sin or not to sin. Now are we heavily influenced by the world, Satan and others? Of course, but ultimately, it is our choice. 

Think about it my friends, is God going to send us to hell for someone else’s actions or our own? Is God going to send us to hell, while knowing we did not have freedom of choice? Is God going to send us to heaven for someone else’s actions or our own? Now sin entered the world through one man’s disobedience and grace entered the world through one man’s obedience. We have the opportunity to sin or live holy. We sin with the help of Satan and sometimes on our own and we cannot live holy without the help of the Holy Spirit. Remember what Jesus said about entering eternal life, that with men alone, it is impossible.

That is why the Bible says that we must take every thought and action captive and compare it to what the Bible says. If the Bible says that’s a sin, then we say Holy Spirit give me the power to reject this thought or action and submit my body a living sacrifice to you. As often as we do this, we are dying to ourself, crucifying our flesh and bearing our cross. Now sometimes the temptation to hate or lust is very strong so this is why the Bible says, if we sin, we confess our sins. Now as we turn from our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Therefore, like Paul says, we must battle using the full armor of God to keep sin out of our life. Our Lord tells us, strive to enter the narrow gate because many will try and not be able.

Marriage is sacred

Jesus says he made them male and female in the beginning, joined them together and these two are one flesh. Obviously, the Lord is defining marriage between one man and one woman. I can see one flesh representing a couple’s biological offspring. Since our bodies are the temple of God, meaning he dwells in us, we cannot take our bodies and join them sexually outside of God’s design. 

My friends, I believe the divorce rate among so called Christians is just as high as it is among non believers. This is because our society has forgotten how to honor marriage as the second most sacred covenant or commitment. The most important covenant or commitment is us pledging our heart and life to the Lord. Now the Lord hates divorce, but he does allow it in cases of sexual immorality, which definitely includes someone watching porn and bringing that filth into their marriage. 

If you are divorced and it was a result of you being unfaithful, then you need to repent of this sin and vow not to do it again, especially if you remarry. Remember, if we humbly confess and forsake our sin, the Lord will forgive us. However, unconfessed sin is not forgiven. If you are unsure whether a particular action is sin, read your Bible, pray and fast to hear from the Holy Spirit. Be patient because God is not a microwave oven being, but we know he will let you know somehow because he desires holiness from our lives. 

Turn the other cheek

Our Lord gave this teaching under the Roman empire, an extremely dominant society who chose their method of death as crucifixion. Our Lord took them back to the law which allowed an eye for and eye and a tooth for a tooth. The people understood that in some circumstances, the law allowed them to take revenge against their enemies. However, our Lord is brining in a higher law, which says I must lay my will down and do the Father’s will. Remember, vengeance is mine says the Lord, I will repay, therefore if your enemy is hungry feed him.

When the Lord tells you to turn the other cheek if someone slaps you, he is not saying stand there and let someone beat your brains out. What he is saying is we do not have to defend ourselves when our character or reputation is attacked. Also, we must be willing to share with the good and evil, just as the Father makes the rain fall on the just and unjust. Now if someone breaks into your home to rob you, do not kill them over things but you will have to defend yourself if they are trying to physically harm you. However, never harm a person with the intent to kill them and always pray for a soul if you have to harm them.

Actions toward enemies and people we do not like

We all have people we do not like to be around. Even if they call on the phone or text us, we just do not want to interact with them. Now do we consider those people enemies or just someone we are choosing not to spend time with? My friends, a person we do not want to spend time with can quickly become our enemy depending on our thoughts toward that person. A strong indication of where that person resides in our mind is what emotions are engendered when we hear their name? An indication of whether we are walking in love toward that person is can we pray for them? If not, then we need the power of the Holy Spirit to help us overcome this attitude because the Lord has told us to pray for our enemies. 

Remember, our Lord says we must be like our Father in heaven who makes the rain fall on the just and unjust. This is an example of the Father’s love for all, including those who do not love him. Remember, there was one point when we did not love and obey the Lord. Although both the just and unjust benefit from a universal blessings like rain and sun, an unjust person who did not repent and obey Christ will not receive the special blessings by God. God gives the gift of the Holy Spirit to his children which enables them to live a holy life. In fact, the unjust will receive the ultimate punishment meted out by God, that is eternal separation. Remember, the Lord says vengeance is mine, I will repay, so we do not need to repay and are free to extend compassion to our enemies.

The command to be perfect

When our Lord’s says we shall be perfect just as our Father in heaven is, how should we understand this? We know our Lord could not mean for us to be eternally free of sin, because all of us have sinned in the past and might sin in the future. If we understand the command means that our character must always be like the Father, then our Lord is setting us up for failure. Now, we know our Lord never wants us to fail or disobey the Father. I believe we implement this command the same way the woman caught in adultery did. Our Lord said to the woman, I know you are a sinner, but repent and sin no more. Also, remember the command our Lord gave the man healed by the pool, stop sinning, unless a worse thing come upon you. In other words, you cannot change the past, but go and practice holiness.

The Lord’s Prayer 

Our Father: These are the first two words in the Lords’ prayer. So if God is not our Father, then this prayer is not going to be heard by him. We are all Gods’ creation but only some of us have become children of God through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  Once we have a relationship with God, then we acknowledge that he is holy and so is his name. Now if we pray this and are living an unholy life, how should this make us feel? 

Your kingdom come, your will be done: This portion of the prayer is asking for God’s will to be done first in our lives and ultimately on earth. Did God want mankind or Satan to rebel against him? I once heard a teacher of the Bible who held a Ph.D. in religious studies and knew the ancient languages of the Bible say that God wanted mankind to disobey him in the garden. I thought about this for a second and came to the conclusion that the man was deceived. My friends, God never wanted his angels or mankind to rebel against him. However, Gods’ will is that angels and humans have freedom to accept or reject him. We generally do not have freedom to choose our consequences. I recall a passage where God gave David the option to choose three consequences for his sin.

Give us this day our daily bread: Remember our Lord said that man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. In other words, we are not going to make it if we do not feed from God’s word on a regular and sometimes daily basis. As the testing of our soul increases, because the end of time is upon us, we must stay close to the Father. A person who only goes to church on the weekends and does not commune with God during the week is probably not going to make it.

Forgive us our sins or debts as we forgive others: This is a prayer asking God to keep our heart free of bitterness and revenge as others do us wrong. Remember the Scripture that says vengeance is mine says the Lord, I will repay. Therefore, we are free to forgive and not seek revenge. The Godhead has made a covenant that Jesus will always be available to intercede for our sins because the Father swore in the Psalms that Jesus is a priest forever. Remember my friends, even though we might be living a holy life now, our past sins are still ours. However, like the rich man in Luke 16, who wanted forgiveness or a drink of cold water while in torment, our opportunity to receive the mercy of God ends after physical death. Our Lord told the Pharisees, some sins will not be forgiven in this age or the next.

Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil: How should we think of this portion of the Lord’s prayer? Think of it as the difference between the motives of God and Satan. God’s desire when testing our faith is never for us to fail the test and disobey him. Satan’s desire is for us to fail God’s test, give into temptation, which means submit to our will rather than God’s will, thereby sinning. The Scripture says that after Jesus’ baptism, he was led into the wildness to be tempted by the Devil. The Holy Spirit lead the Lord into the wilderness to test his obedience to the Father and Satan brought the temptations to sin. Likewise, God placed the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the garden to test their obedience and Satan deceived them and they fell into sin. 

God might provide a computer or phone for us to communicate and find a job. Satan, through our lust, will tempt us to look at images on the devices or listen to music, which causes us to sin. Then, if we happen to sin, he will condemn us by saying we are not a Christian. We must then repent through the power of the Holy Spirit and begin to walk in victory again. Remember, unconfessed sin is not going to be covered by the blood.

For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever: When Jesus resurrected, he said all power has been given to me in heaven and earth. Never forget that through Jesus permission, Satan is currently controlling all this fallen world kingdoms. Revelation 11 says the time will come when the kingdoms of this earth have become the kingdoms of our Lord. However, evil continuous to run its’ course and will culminate in the final rebellious kingdom under the Beast or Antichrist.  

Priorities in life

Our Lord’s teachings on treasures in heaven, the eye being the lamp of the body, our relationship to material things and who are we really serving are intended for us to consider the priorities of our life. The very essence of what we are is spirit and therefore we must order our time around this. Now, I am not saying we can ignore our physical needs and then beg others to provide for our needs. However, the Lord makes it clear that we must seek him first and everything else we need in life will be given. We must remember that God is eternal and not on our time table, so when we ask for specific things be patience and continue to ask, unless the Lord tells you to stop. 

Remember, Job knew he was living righteous, yet many bad things came upon him. Job continued to ask God why. God never told him why but God did provide some answers.  Jesus said that if we, being evil, know how to give good gifts to our children then surely God knows how to give good things to those who seek Him. In the context of this statement, Jesus is speaking of the entire actions of a person and comparing us to our eternally holy God, which definitely means we are evil. Remember, the Bible tells us that when we ask, we must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who diligently seeks him. Let me challenge you to develop a one-year or five-year plan and see if your priorities align with the way Jesus told us to live.     

The narrow way or cost of discipleship

The Lord tells us there are 2 ways to go through life, the narrow way or the broad way. The narrow way is the way of the cross, which means live this life for the next one.  The broad way is every way that is not focused on Christ. Remember, it cost John the Baptist his head because he rebuked Herod. As a Christian, we will have to obey the teaching of the Lord and abstain from sin. The Bible says that in the end deception will be so great that if possible, the very elect will be deceived. My friends, we are at that point because a large part of society does not know what holy living is. In fact, they are saying that holy living is self righteous works and you are not saved by any works but by grace. Jesus says for us to beware of false prophets. The Lord says that we will know them by their fruits and you must know what fruit is holy and what fruit is unholy, based upon the Bible. 

Remember our Lord said many will say to me Lord, Lord in that day and I will say depart from me, you who practice lawlessness or sin. In other passages the Lord tells us that there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Are you on the narrow path or the broad path? If you are on the broad way, reach out to me and I can help you get on the narrow way. My friends, as the rains and storms or circumstances of our life occur, if our life is not in Jesus, then we will not stand. The Bible says when the evil day comes, we must have the full armor of God on to stand. Even if you do not believe the prophecy regarding our Lord’s return in my sister’s lifetime, do you think we are living in an extremely evil day? 

Power over illness, spirits and nature

In Matthew 8 and 9, our Lord demonstrates power over every realm. That evening, the Scripture says many where brought to him with demons and various forms of sicknesses and he healed them. Also, he casted out 7 demons from Mary Magdalene. A Leper came and worshipped the Lord, begging him for a healing. Notice, that the Lord does not say do not worship me. After this healing, the Lord instructed the Leper to go and show himself to the priest or continue to follow the Old Covenant. Why did he tell the Leper to go and show himself to the priest or continue to follow the Old Covenant? The reason is the Old Covenant was still in full effect, at this time. As the Lord moves closer and closer to his death, he ushers in the New Covenant.

Our Lord had compassion on the centurion, a gentile in Capernaum and marveled at this man’s faith, because he understood the Lord’s authority. In this instance, the Lord warned the Jews or sons of the kingdom that many will come from the east and west, this includes the gentiles, but they could end up in outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Do you understand my friends, that the Lord alone has the authority to sentence us to eternal hell or let us into heaven?

Matthew records an incident where the Lord rebuked the waves and there was a great calm. At this point, the disciples did not know who the Lord was because they said, who can this be that even the winds and sea obey him? Also, after crossing over into Nazareth, our Lord healed a paralytic but first said, my son your sins are forgiven you. The scribes claimed the Lord was blaspheming but he assured them with this miracle that he had the authority to say this. Now, notice after this miracle, he did not tell the paralytic to go and offer the gift Moses commanded but rather to just go home. The reason is the Lord was beginning to usher in the new way to have our sins forgiven. The new way is by my word rather than the words given by Moses. My friends, do you understand how to have your sins forgiven?

Power over death and ability to forgive sins

In the Gospel of Luke our Lord demonstrated he had power over death in the city of Nain. A widow lost her only son and was weeping. The Bible says our Lord had compassion on her. He came and touched the open coffin and said, young man I say to you arise. This miracle brought fear upon everyone there and they glorified God saying, a great prophet has risen among us. However, I do not believe the crowd understood he was the promised Messiah or Son of God yet. Also, given the fact that the lady was a widow and her only son died, without him she probably would not have survived. In that male dominated society, many women did not have the same opportunity as men. Also, our Lord raised Jairus’, the ruler of the synagogue, 12 year old daughter with the simple words, little girl arise. No doubt, this spared Jairus family, a lifetime of grief. Never forget my friends, God cares for our physical and emotional needs, but definitely more for our spiritual ones.

In another incident, the Lord sat down to eat with a Pharisee. While at the meal, a woman, who was a sinner, came in and washed his feet with her tears, anointed his head with an alabaster flask of fragrant oil and dried them with her hair. The Pharisee said if this man were a prophet he would know what type of woman is touching him, because she is a sinner. Our Lord acknowledged that the women had many sins and told her they were forgiven. Then, our Lord told the Pharisee a story about two people, one owed a large amount of money and the other a small amount. The creditor forgave both of their debts and the Lord asked him, which one would love the most? The Pharisee said, I suppose the one who has been forgiven the most. The Lord told him he answered correctly, then told him to compare how the women was treating him to how he was. My friends, what can we learn from this incident?

I heard pastors say an alabaster flask of fragrant oil was like the savings account for a rainy day. It would be similar to our IRA, pension or 401K. This could have been worth 5 or even 10 years of the women’s life. We can see that God expects us to take many of our material things and share them with others. My friends, when we consider how much it is costing God to redeem our souls, how on earth can we remain stingy with our love and devotion to him? We can see that the people did not understand that Jesus has the authority to forgive sins. Also, at this point, he did not have her go through the Old Covenant steps to get her sins forgiven. Again, he is brining in the New Covenant. Ultimately, when we stand before God, Jesus is going to decide whether our sins have been forgiven or remain on us. My friends, do you understand this truth?

The cost of discipleship

There was a certain scribe that approached the Lord and said, teacher I will follow you where ever you go. The Lord replied that it will be uncomfortable because I do not have a permanent residence. Another disciple said Lord I will follow you but first let me go and bury my father. In another gospel, the Bible says that his disciples began to make excuses by saying, I have just purchased some new farm equipment or I have just taken a new wife. Our Lord’s response was follow me and let the dead bury their own dead. My friends, what our Lord means is there is nothing more important in this life than ordering your time and talents around his kingdom. Let me challenge you to first begin giving the Lord some of your time and asking the Holy Spirit to use your life for his glory. Trust me, if you begin to speak to the Lord this way, he will place a rich calling on your life and help you implement the plan.

In the Gospel of Luke on one occasion, our Lord turned to the crowd and said if anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brother and sisters, yes and even his own life, cannot be my disciple. He said whoever does not bear his cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple. Our Lord ask them to consider the cost to build something or to win a war against a powerful enemy. Now, obviously, the Lord does not want you to hate anyone, remember we must love our enemies. What the Lord is saying is your affections for him cannot be shared with anything or anyone. At the deepest part of our heart, there cannot be divided loyalty between God and something else. Ultimately, our Lord says whoever does not forsake all that he has cannot be my disciple. My friends, does this sound like the Lord asking you to believe some facts in the Bible and you will be saved? My friends, what the Lord means is we bear our cross by keeping the sin out of our lives. As we are living holy, we follow after the Lord by meeting physical needs, spreading the message of repentance and warning of the soon coming judgment. Again, what are the priorities in our lives?

The work of the kingdom

The Bible says the Lord went about all the cities and villages, teaching in synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing diseases. However, when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were scattered like sheep having no shepherd. Then our Lord said, the harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few, therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.

My friends, God is calling us to go out into the world to reach the lost. In what ways can we labor for the lost? First, we must develop a deep desire to see people rescued from a worthless life and ultimately, worthless eternity. Next, we order our lives, this means our time and resources, around the agenda of the kingdom. Remember, the Bible says for the joy set before him, he stepped down from glory, scoffed at the cross and now is interceding as our High Priest. Just how the Lord said at 12 years old, we must be about our Father’s business. Let me encourage you my friend to get involved with this great work because time is short and there is no greater calling!

Sending of the 12 apostles

Why did Jesus send the 12 apostles out in Matthew 10? At this point, the command was to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel but not to the Gentiles. After the resurrection, the command was to go into all the world. They were instructed to preach saying the kingdom of heaven is at hand, heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons, freely you have received, freely give. The Lord said I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored. In other words, some sow the word, others come along and water it, but God gives the increase. However, our Lord reminded them to be as wise as serpents and harmless as doves. This means, when we are in public, continue to ask the Holy Spirit to direct our conversations. When need wisdom to know when to push forward and when to back off.

Before the Lord sent them, he taught things they would encounter and ultimately told them not to fear those who could kill the body but rather fear God, who could destroy both body and soul in hell. The Lord reminded them that they would be hated by all for his name’s sake but he who endures to the end will be saved. Eventually most of the disciples died a horrible death. We must be ready to endure anything for this gospel because it is the power of God to save a person. Our Lord says that he who does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. He who finds his life will lose it and he who loses his life for my sake will find it. My friends, are you paying the cost of discipleship?

Do not fear persecutions or death, only God

Fear is a strange experience. Fear of falling when standing on top of a building is a good thing because the feeling makes us more cautious. However, the fear of not getting hired can stop us from going to the interview. The fear of withdrawal symptoms can stop us from going into a recovery program. Also, the fear of embarrassment, rejection or physical harm might stop us from evangelizing. Regardless of who you are, our greatest fear is death and what lies beyond.

Our Lord instructed the disciples to preach loud, run from city to city as persecutions come, but continue to labor for the kingdom. Our Lord tells them that persecutions and even death can occur, but do not fear physical death but rather fear the one who can send us to hell. In order words, only fear God at the ultimate level. I Lord reminds us that the very hairs on our head are numbered and we are very valuable to him. In fact, our Lord has given his life to redeem us.

Our Lord reminds us that we must decide to acknowledge or live for him before men or he will deny us before the only judge that really matters, his Father. Jesus reminds us that everyone, including our own families might be against us, but our greatest love or devotion must be for his kingdom. In other words, the cost of the cross or discipleship involves us leaving our goals and life to follow his agenda. My friends, are you paying the cost of eternal life? Rest assured, he who gives anyone a cup of cold water in our Lord’s name will by no means lose his reward.

Christ brings division

In what way does Christ bring division? Didn’t Paul preach the importance of unity in 1 Corinthians, Ephesians and Philippians? The division our Lord brings is the tearing we experience when we leave this fallen world and enter his kingdom. At times, father will be divided against son and son against father. There will be division between mother and daughter, mother in law against daughter in law. The reason is as we get closer to the end, the children or God will be divided from the children of Satan. Also, just like the physical birth is a 9 month, difficult process that ends in extreme pain, the spiritual birth requires striving until our last breath or persevering until the end. When our Lord teaches that all men will know you if you have love for one another and Paul stresses the church must keep unity in the bound of peace, they are referring to the true church.

My friends, you will encounter many false teachings and religions trying to tell you that all roads leave to God and all we need to do is just love one another. Trust me my friends, there can be no union between people in the Kingdom of Darkness and the Kingdom of God. This means, eventually those of our earthly family, who are not born or God, will be separated from us. Now, our job is to lovingly try to rescue those whose souls are in jeopardy of God’s eternal wrath. There is nothing loving about us believing a soul is lost and not trying to help it. This is what the Lord meant when he said the kingdom of heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force. My friends, we are in a dog fight for our as well as others souls!

Is it wrong to doubt God, Jesus or the Bible?

My friends, Jesus said John the Baptist was one of the greatest men ever born. When we consider all the Old and New Testament saints, this is quite a statement. So, if this man had doubts regarding whether Jesus was the promised Messiah, then we will have some doubts when it comes to God. Our Lord assured John’s disciples that the things spoken about him through the Law and Prophets, were happening. In other words, the blind see, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised and the poor have the gospel preached to them. Our Lord tells them that John’s birth was prophesied and his sacrificial ministry required him not to be eating and drinking, unlike the Lords. However, he rebuked that generation for saying both men were evil because both men had completely separate ministries.

It is not wrong to doubt God or the one who is claiming to be God in human form. However, if our doubts prevent us from living for the Lord, then we must ask the Holy Spirit to help us overcome this level of doubt. I could never doubt the existence of a supernatural being because I am experiencing him continuously. However, I can still doubt this being is the same being I am reading about in the Bible. Regardless of our level of doubt, at the end of the day, God expects us to deny ourself, pickup our cross and follow Jesus. Remember the man who said Jesus I believe, help my unbelief.

Woe to people who have received much light

In Matthew 11, the Lord said that the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum would receive a greater judgment than the land of Sodom. The reason is these cities had seen his mighty works and still did not repent. Likewise, the generation that saw God’s miracles in Egypt and returned to sin, were not allowed to enter his rest. God has given America so much light of the gospel and yet it has made unholy laws and is walking in filth. Do you think America will receive a greater judgment than say a nation in the Middle East, Russia or China?

Now think of your life, how much light or chances has the Lord given you to repent and begin to live a holy life? Jesus said that the servant who did not know his master’s will can be beaten with few stripes but the servant who knew his master’s will and did not do it, will be beaten with many stripes. Given the anointing and dreams I am receiving if I do not do his will, it would be the lowest part of hell for me! Yes my friends, woe is me if I do not proclaim the prophecies and gospel! How about you my friends, given the amount of light you have received and your understanding of the word, how are you living?

The true meaning of the Sabbath

When God gave the law of the Sabbath to Moses in the wilderness, how did he intend for them to implement it? Remember, the people were given twice as much manna on Friday and told not to go out and gather it on the next day, which was the Sabbath. If you recall, some of the people went out and received a strong rebuke from Moses. Our God created the heavens and earth in 6 days and said he rested on the 7th day and blessed it. Now, this means he rested from his work of creation but not from trying to rescue our souls from his wrath. We know the Holy Spirit is convicting the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. The Sabbath was given for them to draw closer to God, while resting from their normal schedule of working to sustain their lives, hence the double portion of food given on Fridays.

The Pharisees saw eating the temple’s bread and healing on the Sabbath as forbidden work. Our Lord rebuked them by saying God desires mercy and not sacrifice. In other words, God is looking at you to render justice, mercy and forgiveness over the tithe and your understanding of the Law. Also, our Lord deliberately healed a man’s hand on the Sabbath and told them their understanding of keeping the Sabbath was wrong. No doubt, these acts continued to seal the Lord’s death. God never intended the Sabbath to be a burden for them, but rather a blessing. It is ridiculous to think you are breaking the Sabbath by showing kindness and mercy on that day. Now since the New Covenant has been implemented, the writer told the Hebrews to stop working under the Old Covenant or Sabbath and enter into Christ rest or the New Covenant.

To us, our Lord says take my yoke upon yourself and learn from me for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. In what way is the Christian life easy? The Lord’s yoke is light from the perspective that even as the world is spinning out of control, we have the internal peace of God. We know that even if we sin, if we come correct, we have an advocate for us before the Father. My friends, the world cannot say this. Even Muslims say I do not know what Allah will do to me? In other words, true Christians are fighting from a position of victory, not from a position of defeat.

The unpardonable sin

What is the unpardonable sin spoken of in Matthew 12? Are you concerned whether you have crossed this line and cannot be forgiven? My friends, is there any hope for you? Our Lord gave this teaching when the Pharisees said this fellow is casting out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons. The Lord said if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? In addition to cautioning the Pharisees there is a point of no return for the soul, the Lord was confirming another name for Satan is Beelzebub. 

The Lord mentioned you cannot take a strong man’s goods before you bind him then you can spoil his goods. In other words, I am demonstrating to you I am more powerful than Satan. Obviously, the Lord has not bound the strong man fully because Satan continues to walk around as a roaring lion seeking people to destroy. Also, The Lord said either make the tree good or bad, which is another way of saying you cannot be in the Kingdom of God and Kingdom of Satan at the same time. Now the Lord also cautioned them that man will give account for every idle word spoken, in the Day of Judgment. 

In this instance, blaspheme of the Holy Spirit was attributing God’s miracles to the power of Satan. It’s like you seeing someone perform a miracle, yet because of your ignorance, you say he is doing this from the power of Satan. Also, another way to cross the point of no return is to continue to grieve the Holy Spirit after receiving the knowledge of salvation. My friends, do not continue to live in sin and rebellion which ultimately results in hell. 

My understanding is if we are concerned whether we can still be forgiven, then we can. I believe a person who has reached the point of no return is no longer sensitive or concerned with God. In fact, they do not hate, love or even think about God very much, they are indifferent to him. Now I do not believe this is a fair assessment of our friends who are atheist or agnostic because many genuinely believe God does not exist. Obviously, if you truly believe God or something does not exist, you will not think about them very much. For example, how often do you think about Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny?

Eternal relationships take precedence

On one occasion, Mary and the Lord’s family was trying to speak to him. Other gospels say they were trying to take him home because they thought he had lost his mind. When the Lord responded by saying my disciples are my brother, sister and mother was he saying we should not care for our earthly family? Then Paul say that whoever does not care for his own household has denied the faith and worse than an unbeliever. James also says let us not love in word but in deed. In other words, if we see someone in need of physical things, let’s try to meet them. My friends, our Lord is not telling us to stop honoring our family, but to recognize that in the end, the only family that is going to matter is those who are born of God.

More parables of the kingdom

Matthew 13 contains many parables of how the Word of God interacts with us and contrast the kingdom of heaven against the kingdom of darkness. The Lord spoke in parables to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah. A parable is meant to induce us to think about the symbolism and seek out the deeper meaning of what is being said. As the Lord interacts with us, he wants us to think beyond this physical existence and understand what is happening in the spiritual realm. Do you have any understanding of the spiritual realm or is everything just physical to you? 

Jesus said man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. The Bible says Lord teach me to number my days and our life is only a vapor. I believe it is a good idea to think of our death often and what will happen to us after death. My brother wrote a powerful book called “Gambling with Your Soul”, which is an extremely candid way to ponder this question. You can find a little more about this book on the Street Ministries page.

The parable of the Sower

When anyone teaches or preaches the gospel, they are sending seed out into the world. The Bible says some of the seed will fall by the wayside and immediately the birds will come snatch it, some will fall on stony places and have no root so the sun will scorch it and it will wither, some will fall among thorns and be choked, while some will fall on good ground and produce fruit. 

Our Lord said when anyone hears the Word and does not understand it, the Devil comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart, this is the seed by the wayside.  He who receives it on stony places is the person who hears the Word and immediately receives it with joy. However, because he has no root within himself, he only endures for a while and when tribulation or persecution arise because of the word, he stumbles. 

He who receives seed among the thorns allow the cares of this world and deceitfulness of riches to choke the Word and he becomes unfruitful. My friends, what are some of the cares of this world? Let me ask the question this way? Is there anything you should be concerned about more than your eternal soul? Please understand that the things which occupy our thought life the most are the things we are more concerned with. Now he who receives seed on good ground hears the word and understands it, endures and bears fruit, some 100, 60 and 30 fold. 

So, I ask you my friends, where are you in this parable? How can we become a heart that produces good fruit for the master? Jesus said that unless you abide in me, you can do nothing. I like to add a phrase to this statement.  Unless we abide in the Lord, we can do nothing, “but sin”.

The parable of the mustard seed and leaven

The parable of the mustard seed indicates the Word of God appears to be small or insignificant but will eventually prove to be the most significant. The parable of leaven is similar to the mustard seed parable, meaning that the Kingdom of God will start small but will eventually span all eternity. Remember in the book of Daniel, the rock that struck the image on the foot grew to fill the entire earth.

The parable of the wheat and tares at the end

This parable of the kingdom explains the interaction between the Kingdom of God, Kingdom of Satan and how everything ends up at the end of this age. Gods word is going forth as grain, thus bearing wheat useful to feed us. While this is occurring, Satan’s word as useless grain is going forth, thus producing tares that are not sufficient for eating. The servants in the parable are instructed not to try and separate the wheat from the tares, because doing so would uproot the wheat. Therefore, both will grow together until harvest, then the reapers will do the separating. The tares will be burnt and the wheat will be stored in the owner’s barn. Our Lord explains the parable.

Jesus is sowing the good seed, the field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom of God and the tares are the sons of the wicked one, sown by the Devil. The harvest is the end of the age and the reapers are the angels. At the end of the age, the Lord will send out his angels and gather out everything that offends and those who practice lawlessness or sin. These seeds will be cast into the fire and there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has an ears to hear, let him hear. My friends, will you be the wheat or tares? This little man is living to be the wheat.

The parables of hidden treasure, pearl of great price, the dragnet

These parables of the kingdom use symbols of treasures, pearls and a dragnet. As Jesus said, no one can come after me unless he forsakes all and follows me. Remember the rich young ruler was told to give all his money away, pick up his cross and follow Jesus. The prize of eternal life is worth it for the Lord said what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? What the Lord is saying is that we must go all in for the prize of eternal life. My brother has written another powerful resource called “Going All In” which is an excellent way of ordering our life.

As we spend our time down here, God will evaluate us based upon where we invested it. Do not be deceived my friends, whatever dominates our thought life will dominate our actions for the Bible says as a man thinks so he is. Our Lord warns us that at the end of the age, the angels will come forth, separate the wicked from the just and cast the wicked into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. My friends, this is not a pretty sight.

John pays the ultimate price

When Nathan the prophet rebuked David for his sin with Bathsheba, David humbled himself and cried out for God’s mercy. When John the Baptist rebuked Herod for his sin, he put him in prison and ultimately, cut his head off. One king humbled himself and one king hardened his heart. My friends, when you decide to do the Lord’s work, you will be persecuted by people as well as demons. Trust me, I continue to experience it from both parties. However, we remember the words from our Lord, deny yourself, pickup your cross and follow me. Remember, the enemy sought to kill the Lord as a child, all during his life and eventually, hung him on a cross. But like I have said before, what appeared to be the greatest defeat for the Kingdom of God, was actually the greatest victory!

The feeding of the multitudes

What can we learn from the feeding of the 5,000 and 4,000 in Matthew 14 and 15? With the 5,000, the multitude had been with him all day and with the 4,000 they had been with him for 3 days and had nothing to eat. This tells us that the people were willing to sacrifice physical food to hear the words of Jesus. Have you ever had a time when you just got caught up with spending time with the Lord and forgot to eat? Also, remember when Satan tempted the Lord to turn the stone into bread at his request, but now it is time for the Lord to produce this miracle, in accordance with the Father’s timing.

Under both of these miracles, the people only had a few fish and pieces of bread. This tells us that whatever resources we have, the Lord can make sure we have enough and plenty left over when we submit them to him. I remember a time in my life when I lost my job and had a wife with leukemia and 3 small children to provide for.  I asked the Lord for a job on a specific day and guess what, I got it on the specific day. The new job paid me more money than the one I lost! Now my friends, I had to go and fill out the applications and test for the positions. Likewise my friends, God has placed eternal life within our reach, we must strive to enter in.

Walking through our trials in life

What can we learn from this event? Our Lord left the disciples, commanded them to get into a boat and meet him on the other side of the sea. Did the disciples encounter difficult trying to carry out the Lord’s request? Did our Lord tell them he would meet them in the midst of the sea? While in the midst of the sea, did it appear hopeless for a moment? The text tells us the boat was tossed by the waves in the middle of the sea and about the 4th watch of the night, Jesus went to them walking on the sea. They were afraid and thought it was a ghost. Our Lord assured them it was him and said be of good cheer, it is I. Even though Peter was afraid, he said Lord command me and I will come to you. While Peter’s eyes were on Jesus he walked on the water, but sink once he focused more on the storm. The Lord saved him but said, O you of little faith, why did you doubt? They worshipped the Lord and made it safely out of the storm.

What this tells me is in this life, we will have difficulty living the Christian life. In fact, it might appear hopeless at times. This is because we are definitely fighting against powers and principalities in the spirit realm. However, if we continue to build our life on the rock, that is Christ, we will overcome our challenges and make it to glory. Because greater is he who is in us than he would is in the world. My friends, it is not the size of our faith but the consistency of our faith. However, like Peter demonstrated, our faith must be combined with works or actions because Peter had to get out of the boat. So the question remains, are we continuing to build our lives on the rock?

The signs of the times and hypocrisy

In Matthew 16, the Pharisees ask Jesus to show them a sign to believe. Jesus said you hypocrites, how is it that you can discern the face of the sky and not the signs of the times? Now later they acknowledged the Lord had given them many signs, including the resurrection of Lazarus, who they wanted to kill again. My friends, when Jesus came the 1st time, many did not understand what he was coming for and rejected the Lord as the Messiah. Now our Lord has promised to return and is giving us signs that it will be soon. His return in my sister Deborah’s lifetime is a prophecy to me and the physical presence of the Holy Spirit is a strong sign to me. Also, in Matthew 24 and other parts of the Bible, the Scripture indicates, now when you see all these things begin to happen know that his coming is at the door. My friends, are we watching and understanding the signs of the times?

Our Lord told the disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. The disciples were confused and thought he was talking about physical bread because they forgot to bring some. Our Lord explained to them that he just supernaturally provided plenty bread so their understanding and faith was very poor. The doctrine of the religious leaders then and now is hypocrisy. In other words, you are not practicing what you are preaching. My friends, I would be the biggest hypocrite of all if I was practicing sin and then going out and preaching true repentance. That is why people with sin in their lives will run from this type of teaching. Remember, our Lord said those who are doing evil run from the light, but those who are doing good, run to the light.  

Jesus reveals his mission

The apostle Peter made a declaration after being asked by the Lord, who do men say that I am? Peter responded, you are the Christ, the Son of the living God. It was after this statement that our Lord revealed his mission and predicted his death on the cross. Peter said, no Lord you are not going to the cross and received a strong rebuke from the Lord. Peter, the disciple and so many of the people were looking for a Messiah who would conquer Rome and bring back the Davidic kingdom. However, like so many now, they were ignorant of God’s ultimate plan and went about doing their own will. Why do you think the crowds were shouting, hosanna to the Son of David, when he rode in on the donkey? Do you think they were crying for Jesus to save them from sin or from Roman domination? Remember, after the Lord did not rescue them from Rome’s rule, the same crowd shouted, crucify him!

God’s timing and plan is not always consistent with ours. The disciples and people wanted to reign with the Lord but did not want to suffer for him. Likewise, many so called Christians want the benefits of eternal life but do not want to wrestle to get the sin out of their lives. Now, whatever we may think about Jesus Christ will impact every part of our life now and into eternity. What year is it and why is it that year? Who is the most famous human being that ever lived? Who is the most controversial human that ever lived? Now, Peter was not saved after making this declaration and neither are we. Our lifestyle must back up our mouth confession. Remember, Peter subsequently denied the Lord, but thankfully was restored after repentance.

Understand this my friends, there are a lot of Jesus’s in the religions of the world. There is a Jesus in the Islamic faith, a Jesus in the Jewish faith, a Jesus in the Mormon faith, a Jesus in the Jehovah witness faith, a Jesus in the Oneness faith, a Jesus in the Prosperity Gospel, a Jesus in the Catholic faith, a Jesus in the New Age, etc. It is incumbent upon us to ensure we know and follow the correct Jesus. Remember, the Lord said many will come in my name and deceive many. 

• The correct Jesus will tell us to deny ourself, that is our sin as well as any ambitions in life which do not line up with his program.

• The correct Jesus will tell us to pick up our cross, that is we must understand our life is to do God’s will even when painful and ultimately to the point of death.

• The correct Jesus will tell us to follow him, remember what our Lord said when he was 12 years old, “I must be about my Father’s business”.

• The correct Jesus will tell us to pluck out our eye and cut off body parts to get the sin out of our life. My friends, anyone telling you that the Lord is fine with you continuing to disobey him is mistaken.

• The correct Jesus will tell us to worship him because he received worship all through the gospels. The divinity and worship of the Lord is a significant distinction among the world religions.

• The correct Jesus will tell us to order our financial resources toward his agenda. James says true religion is to help the widows in their distress and keep oneself from being stained by the world. We must always take some of our physical resources to further the Lord’s work.

• The true Jesus tells us to count the cost and understand that even if we gain the entire worlds attention and loses our soul, it is an eternal disaster. My friends, the Lord is asking us the question, what are we pursuing in life that is worth more than our souls?

Then our Lord said the Son of Man will come in the glory of the Father with his angels and then he will reward each according to his works. My friends, are you following the correct Jesus? 

The Transfiguration

In Matthew 17, we get the miracle of the transfiguration of our Lord. Matthew says after 6 days Jesus took them up into the mountain and he was transfigured or changed before their eyes. Now, Luke’s gospel says this miracle happened after about 8 days so the word “about” prevents a contradiction in the Scripture. I can see a pattern in the Scripture that after 6 days or roughly 6,000 years, the Lord will be transfigured or changed before our eyes, in his 2nd coming. 

It is interesting that we are approaching the end of 6 days or roughly 6,000 years of recorded human history. In Psalms and Peter, we get the statements one day is like 1,000 years to the Lord and 1,000 years like one day. This is consistent with my dreams and anointing, which tells me the Lord is returning in my sister Deborah’s lifetime. Now I do not believe we can hold God to a formula, but I definitely believe we are at the end of Satan’s rule.

During the experience, Moses and Elijah came and talked about the Lord’s death and things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. Peter knew who they were because he said master, it is good for us to be here and let us make 3 tabernacles, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah. Within my dream in July 2023, I read the pastor’s mind and heard the word, Moses. I believe the plagues and miracles performed during the time of Moses are almost upon us. My friends, has the Lord been transfigured in your life? God wants to show us his glory and power, which will be used to transform us from darkness into his marvelous light.

Spiritual warfare

In this incident, our Lord casted out a demon that was giving a man epileptic seizures. From Mark’s gospel we are told the demon had been with the man since childhood. The father brought the man to the disciples and they could not cast him out. However, we remember back in Matthew 10, the Lord gave them power over unclean spirits and the ability to cast them out. This tells me that some demons will not leave at our command but requires a period of prayer and fasting. Obviously, the Lord’s authority is different from ours because he did not have to go through a period of prayer and fasting, yet was still able to overcome the demon. Also, we know from other passages that even after some demons leave, if that person does not get the Holy Spirit in them, the unclean spirit is coming back with 7 others. Then the Lord says the last state of than man is worse than the first.

Direct demonic possession is a greater level of warfare than when Paul says to resist the devil and he will flee from you. The reason is the person who is possessed has not resisted the devil but done something to allow the demon the ability to possess their body. Also, when we consider Job’s trials, his body was being attacked by Satan but it does not appear Satan was possessing him. I see a difference between demonic oppression and demonic possession. Can a Christian be oppressed by a demonic spirit? Yes, Paul was given a thorn in the flesh, a messenger from Satan to attack his body. However, I do not believe at any time, Paul was demonically possessed. However, we see before Judas denied the Lord, the Scripture says, then Satan entered him, which I understand means possessed him.

Personal demonic experiences

I remember a street witnessing incident where I casted a demon out of a man. The young man was cursing and swearing when he approached me. He calmed down for a second and admitted to living a homosexual lifestyle. He admitted to feeling like something was inside of him causing him to act that way. The young man told me he wanted it out. I begin to pray over him and he opened his mouth and another voice begin to speak in some weird language. I spoke to the demon and commanded him to leave for about a minute or 2. The young man begin to cry and after a while, a smile came on his face and he said what just happened? I placed him on my prayer list and told him the spirit has left him. I told him to get into the Bible and reach out to his family members that he said he hated. I gave him some money, he left, bought a sandwich, came back and sit down beside me while eating it.

I recall another incident where a young lady came to my church and asked for prayer. While speaking with her I noticed she would twitch periodically and scratch her arm. I asked her was she using drugs and she said no. She said they diagnosed her with a form of Tourette. I took her into a room and begin to pray over her. I noticed something under her skin moving and she begin to twitch pretty strong. This lasted for a couple of minutes and she begin to cry. We spent about another 10 minutes talking about life and her career. She was in her 30s but said she had been experiencing this since a teenager. I learned that while growing up, her mom practiced deep new age seances and burned sage all the time. No doubt, her mom opened her up to deep demonic possession. I placed her on my prayer list, instructed her to go deep into Scripture and ask the Lord to have the Holy Spirit dwell in her. I never saw the young lady in church again so I am unsure if the demon came out.

I recall another incident where a friend of mind asked me to come and pray over his house. He said, he was arguing with his girlfriend one day and heard a voice in his mind say, just kill her. It scared him, so he immediately stopped arguing and called me. I went over his house and entered one of the back bed rooms. The window in the room was closed, yet the room was full of flies and nets. However, the room did not have a smell and I noticed nothing dead in the room. I begin to walk through the house, read Scripture in the rooms and praying for about 30 minutes. When I stopped, the back room did not have a single insect. I talked with him for a while and learned that he was letting homeless people sleep in the room. I told him not to stop helping the homeless but to stop bringing them into his home, because some where bring evil spirits. He reported that after a month, his home was still insect free and they were getting married in a couple of months. I attended his wedding in his home and noticed the home was still free of insects. We must be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

My friends, we have authority over demons but the Scripture and my experience has taught me that one size does not fit all, when dealing with the demonic realm. It is evident to me that as we approach the Lord’s return, the power from both Kingdoms are increasing.

Humility and children

In Matthew 18, the Bible says that we must humble ourself and become as a little child to be converted, before we can enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The world teaches us to believe in ourselves and we can accomplish anything? Now a certain level of believing in oneself is good because if you believe you will never be blessed and cannot overcome poverty, lust, drunkenness, depression, etc., you will never overcome these things. 

The humility the Scripture is referring to is our understanding that we cannot make it in this world and certainly not the next, without help from the Lord. In this passage, the Lord also warns us of leading little children into sin. Our society and educational system are corrupting the minds of young children, so they will endure the greater condemnation. I beg you my friends, not to agree with the perverted doctrines being given to little children. Jesus says woe to the world because of sin, but woe to that person who sins. 

The Lord instructs us to cut off body parts rather than have our whole body cast into the everlasting fire. Now the Lord does not want us to mutilate ourself. What this means is we must take drastic steps to get sin out of our life. This is because sin separates us from God and if we die in unrepentant sin, we will go to hell. If we know we have a problem with lust, then we must be careful with the images we are looking at. If we have a problem with alcohol, we dare not join a wine club or frequent drinking establishments. If we have a problem with gossip, then we must keep a distance from people who are doing this. Remember, we are in the world but not of the world.

How we must forgive

Our Lord gives us a story where a servant owed his master a large amount of money and he begged his master to forgive him and his master did. Then that same servant went and found a person who owed him a small amount of money and would not forgive him but threw him into prison. So, when the master found out, he called in the servant and said you wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt and should not you have forgiven your fellow servant? Then the master threw him in prison until he had paid all he owed. 

My friends, we have been forgiven an eternal debt that we could not pay. Therefore, we must forgive others who have wronged us in this life, which is temporary. Hebrews says do not let a root of bitterness in your heart, which will defile you. Also, Paul told the Corinthian church in the 2nd letter to forgive the person who had slept with his fathers’ wife and receive him back into the church because he had repented. Then he reminded them that we are not ignorant of Satan’s devices. 

The Bible says immediately before God was going to destroy the earth in Genesis, he said it pained him to his heart that he made us. Also, do you think it was easy for God to send our Lord to be beaten and crucified? Do you think it was easy for the Lord to endure the cross, as it said he sweat as it were great drops of blood? I have heard this is a condition that can happen if a person is under intense pressure, which results in blood and sweat mingled together. The Lord gave me the secret of how to forgive anyone, it is to see them from eternity and desire, just as he does, that everyone would make it. When we understand that we are eternal, hurt souls just trying to find meaning in our existence, it will drastically change our compassion toward each other.

Difficulty for the rich to enter heaven

In Matthew 19, a rich young ruler came to Jesus and said good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? My friends, what can we learn from this encounter between the Lord and the rich young ruler? The rich young ruler believed Jesus was a good teacher and he also believed Jesus knew how someone could obtain eternal life. The 1st thing our Lord did was to have him think about the word good, he used to describe the Lord. Now, the Lord said why do you call me good, there is no one good but one that is God? Was the Lord saying he was not God? No my friends, the Lord was saying that he was God because in John 10, the Lord says that I am the good shepherd. The Lord told the young ruler that if you want to enter life then keep the commandments and he asked the rich young ruler to sell all that he had, pick up his cross and follow him. 

Did the Lord ask the rich young ruler to do something he is not asking us? When we examine all the teachings of the Lord is he not saying we cannot love anything more than him or we must give up everything for him? Yes my friends, the Lord is saying the same thing to us that he said to the rich young ruler. In this encounter, money and the security it brings, was the thing being loved more than the Lord. If you recall in the encounter with Zacchaeus, a rich tax collector, the Lord did not tell him to give all his money away. The reason was that money was not hindering Zacchaeus from following the Lord. Now, the Lord told his disciples that we cannot obtain eternal life by ourselves because he says with man this is impossible but with God all things are possible. In this encounter, the Lord wanted to let the rich man know that he is God. The Lord tells us that anyone who has given up everything in this life to follow him will receive a 100 fold and inherit eternal life. Trust me my friends, it is definitely worth it in this age and the age to come, to live for the Lord.

The parable of the workers

Matthew 20 gives us the parable of the worker in the vineyard. The landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers is God and the Lord Jesus, believers or Christians are the laborers and the vineyard is humanity. The believer’s goal is to collaborate with the Holy Spirit for its’ soul as well as others to come into the Kingdom of God. The landowner went into the marketplace about the 3rd, 6th, 9th and finally 11th hour to hire workers to work, in his vineyard. His question to those standing idle at the 11th hour was friend, why have you been standing here idle all day? In other words, why is your life not focused on the Kingdom of God?  My friends, this parable confirms that God is long suffering when attempting to save our souls. 

So my friends, as we live our lives we earn wages. If we have lived an unrighteous life we will receive or earn eternal death and for those of us who continuously hunger and thirst for righteousness, we will receive or earn eternal life. Now, we cannot earn eternal life based solely on our efforts because someone has to pay for our past sins. My friends, if we believe our salvation is based 100 percent on the Lord and our faith does not have to be backed up by works, then we are mistaken. This parable says very clearly that we are working in God’s vineyard.  

Now when the land owner called the stewards to give the laborers their wages, each one received a denarius. This tells us that whatever we receive from the Lord is more than we deserve. Remember, we must strive or work hard to enter the narrow gate because many will try and not be able.  If it cost God his Son to give us eternal life, is it going to cost us anything?  Let me put it another way, if we say we love Jesus and believe in him but do not depart from sin, can we say we have obeyed him? Let’s say it this way, if we say we are living for the kingdom and do not order our time and materials around his program, can we say that he is first in our heart?

Guard against seeking authority

As the Lord was heading to Jerusalem for the final time before the crucifixion, Peter or Judas did not know the role they would play. Also, James and John’s mother asked if her sons could sit on his right and left hand in glory. Now, Jesus had just told the 12 that they would sit on 12 thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel but apparently the brothers and mom, wanted more power. Are we satisfied with the authority we have on our job, within our social gathering, within our family or church? Does the thought of power and authority excite us? As the nations of the world have come and gone, what was it the kings and powerful men seeking? If we are a believer, are we satisfied with the gifts given to us by the Holy Spirit? If we are a pastor, are we satisfied with the size of our congregation? 

The Lord corrects the brothers by telling them that our greatness is displayed when we serve others, rather than when we dictate orders. My friends, we should never ask someone to do something that we are not willing to jump in and do ourselves. I will let you in on a secret. Once we have overcome our sin, we have all the authority a human being can possess. Jesus said I will give you authority to trample on serpents, snakes and faith to move mountains. This means we have authority to overcome depression, sadness, anger, bitterness, hatred, lust, thoughts of suicide, satanic powers, etc. My friends, are we walking in this level of authority?

The triumphal entry and temple cleansing

Matthew 21 and John 12 records our Lord’s trip to Jerusalem that revealed him as the Passover Lamb or Messiah. Our Lord had been up to Jerusalem many times because the Passover required this every year. Why was this time special? Why did the Lord come into Jerusalem riding on a colt this time? Why was the crowd in such an uproar as they cut down leaves and palm branches, screaming out hosanna to the Son of David? Did the crowds want the Lord to save them from their sins or save them from Roman oppression? Do we want the Lord to save us from the present consequences of our sins or do we want to continue to sin and just have the Lord save us from hell? Now during this incident, the Pharisees said Rabbi, rebuke the crowd for saying this. Jesus said I tell you the truth, if the crowds remain silent the very stones would cry out. My friends, this scene was a direct fulfillment of Bible prophecy. The Serpent is about to bruise the heel of the Seed of the Woman and his head is about to get conquered!

The crowd wanted a savior to rescue them from their Roman oppressors. They did not want a savior who was going to die on a cross. In other words, they wanted to receive their best life now. Jesus said he who loves this life will lose it and he who hates this life, in this world, will keep it for eternal life. My friends, we must like Jesus did, pick up our cross and die to ourself, which means it is no longer our will but God’s will. Now, after we have born our cross, we will reign when our Lord returns. We must accept that our best life is the next one.

Our Lord wept over the city because they did not understand their time of visitation. In fact, the Lord predicted the time would come when their enemies would build and embankment around them, kill their children and not leave one stone upon another. We know great persecution of the church arose after the Lord’s death as well as destruction of the temple in AD 70. Why did the Lord go into the temple, overturn the tables and drive out the money changers? No doubt, greed and dishonestly was occurring in the physical temple. Since our bodies have become the temple of the living God, if we are lusting and living for these material things down here, what is the Lord going to do to us? 

The parable of the two sons and wicked vinedressers

Our Lord gave these parables after the chief priests and elders questioned his authority to do the things he was doing in the temple. In the parable of the 2 sons, each was told to go and work in the vineyard. One said he would not go, but later changed his mind and went. The other said he would go, but never went. The Lord question to the elders was which one did his father’s will? My friends, anyone preaching that we do not have to do the Father’s will but only believe in the Father’s will is setting themselves up for failure. God is not going to accept lip service from our life.

In the other parable, the land owner planted a vineyard, set a hedge around it, dug a winepress and built a tower. He then hired vinedressers to care for it so that he might receive fruit. Periodically, the landowner sent servants and finally his son to receive fruit. The vinedressers killed beat and stoned the servants and eventually killed his son. The question was what shall the landowner due to the vinedressers? The elders perceived that this parable was directed at them and sought to kill him but were afraid because the people took Jesus as a prophet.

Our Lord told them the stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone, this was the Lord’s doing and it is marvelous in our eyes. In other words, I am that stone and whoever falls on me will be broken, but on whomever I fall, I will grind him to powder. My friends, for those of us who do not do his will, it is not going to go well for us.

The parable of the wedding feast

In Matthew 22, we get the parable of the wedding feast. The Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for is son and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding, yet they were not willing to come. Then he sent out more and said tell those who are invited, see my dinner is prepared, my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, all things are ready. But then all with one accord began to make excuses. Some asked to be excused because of a business, while one said he just got married. Is there anything wrong with working or being married? Of course not. However, if we are using any excuse not to work for the kingdom, it is not going to be acceptable. My friends, I am inviting you to join me at the wedding and I am telling you it will occur in my sister Deborah’s lifetime. Now the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully and killed them. But when the king heard about it, he was furious and he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers and burned up their city.  

Then the king said to his servants, the wedding is ready but those who were invited were not worthy. Therefore, go into the highways and as many as you find, invite to the wedding. But when the king came into the wedding, he found him who did not have a wedding garment. He said friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment? Now he was speechless, so the king said bind him hand and foot, take him away and cast him into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. My friends, heaven his going to be a wedding feast which last forever. Everyone is invited but we must have the proper attire. Anyone trying to make it to heaven without following the Lord will be cast out. If casted out, the experience we will have is like weeping and gnashing our teeth. 

The promise of the resurrection

There was a group of religious leaders known as the Sadducees who did not believe in the resurrection. They believed that we die and there is no afterlife or essentially no eternal state. This group had influenced the church in Corinth prompting Paul to ask, why are some of you saying there is no resurrection? They gave the Lord a scenario where one man died and had no children. This man had 7 brothers and under the Jewish law a brother was required to marry his brother’s widow and raise up a child, so his brother’s lineage would not end. The scenario presented says each of the 7 brothers married the woman, yet produced no offspring before she died. Then the group asked, in the resurrection whose wife shall she be? 

The Lord corrected them by saying you are mistaken not knowing the Scripture nor the power of God. The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, but those who are counted worthy to attain that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage, nor can they die anymore for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God. However, the Lord reminded them that when God spoke to Moses from the burning bush, he said I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Now, the patriarchs had been physically dead for over 500 years, but God was referring to them as alive, establishing there is life after death.

My friends, the resurrection proves that Jesus was who he said he was and without a belief in the resurrection, you cannot be saved because you have the wrong Jesus. Now before our Lord raised Lazarus from the grave, he said I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in me, even though he might die, that is physically, he will never really die. Do you have hope beyond the grave or is your mind still in fear of death and what lies beyond the grave? Come to the Lord and he will help you overcome this problem.

Woe to the religious leaders

Matthew 23 records some of the most damaging words the Lord had for the religious leaders. No doubt, this exchange helped to seal the Lord’s death. Modern day scribes and Pharisees are anyone in a religion that puts themselves out as a teacher. My friends, it is not wrong to put yourself out as a teacher but we must make sure we are practicing what we preach. The Lord hates hypocrites, which mean we are saying one thing and actually not living consistent with that. I would be a hypocrite if I were trying to call you out of a sinful lifestyle and I was actually living one.  

Similarly, we are also a hypocrite if we are telling a person to stop a certain sin and secretly doing that sin. In fact, if we have unrepentant sin in our life, we must repent of it before trying to help others overcome sin. Obviously, if we are sinning continuously then none of us should be trying to teach or correct anyone. Make no mistake my friends, bad theology and a poor understanding of testing, temptation and sin will leave us in a state of total confusion.

Our Lord said the scribes were doing religious things in public to be seen of men. However, did not the Lord say to let our light shine before men so they may see our good works and glorify our father in heaven? The Lord is not telling us to stop doing religious things like preaching, praying and helping people in public. What he is saying is if we are doing this to demonstrate how holy we are, then this is wrong. Our actions in public or private must have the same goal of glorifying God, building up the church and reaching the loss. When our good works are done with the right motive, God will reward us accordingly.

Our Lord weeps over Jerusalem because they did not know the time of their visitation.  My friends, have you missed the time of your visitation? Hebrews says that if we will hear his voice today, do not harden our hearts. How do we know the Lord will not call our number today or tonight? Remember, our lives are but a vapor, which appears for a little while and then we must stand before God and give account.

The end of the age or eschatology

The teaching in Matthew 10 and 24, Mark 13, Luke 17 and 21, the book of Daniel, the letters to the Thessalonians, other passages and ultimately the Revelation are primarily dealing with the 2nd coming of the Lord and the end of this present age. This subject is referred to as eschatology. There is prophecy in Luke regarding the destruction of the temple in AD 70 but that passage tells you that then the nation will be dispersed, until the time of the Gentiles are fulfilled. We know the time of the Gentiles has not been fulfilled because many Gentiles, including myself, are still being saved. 

Prophecy in the Bible and the gift of prophecy demonstrates that the Bible is unlike any other book, which declares what will happen before it does. God is outside of time and therefore knows what will happen within time. Also, the Bible declares that Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever. The Lord also declared that he was the I AM, who spoke to Moses from the burning bush. When he made that declaration in John 8, the Pharisees picked up stones to stone him, because they understood what he was claiming. The Bible declares the gift of prophecy is a gift similar to the gift of teaching, evangelism, healing, tongues, etc. The type of prophecy referred to in these passages is the foretelling of the future. Prophecy also means to proclaim something in the present. 

Once an individual declares or prophesies something in the future and it does not happen, then that person becomes a false prophet and does not have this gift. I am not saying that person did not hear a voice, interact with a spirit or receive a strong impression but the information did not come from the Lord. That individual should repent and not declare anything in the future because he does not have this gift. Also, that individual should be very careful because an unholy or demonic spirit has been able to deceive them in the past. 

I recall when Harold Camping declared that the Lord would return in May 2012 and then again in October 2012. Some said the Mayan’s calendar prophesied that December 2012 would bring about worldwide cataclysmic events. Remember when the prophets were saying that Donald Trump was going to win the 2020 election and he did not. Trust me, God is strong enough not to allow someone to steal an election through illegal votes. Remember when the individuals were saying the Lord will rapture the church in September 23, 24 or October 6, 7 of 2025. There is now an individual saying the Lord told him when he was 6 or 7 years old, that he would return when he was 66. I watched the guys video in September 2025 and if I remember correctly, he turned 66 in May 2025. Obviously, if we get to May 2026 and the Lord has not returned, the guy has been listening to a demonic spirit.

Now, I am proclaiming a prophecy that says the second coming of the Lord will be in my sister Deborah’s lifetime. I consider the physical presence of the Holy Spirit confirmation that my prophecy is true. If I were not receiving his physical presence, I would not be declaring this to the world. Even though I am receiving this physical anointing from the Lord, I must still check my experience with the Word of God. Since I am extremely close to the spirit world, I receive visits and words from the demonic realm on a regular basis. 

The question asked

The disciples were pointing to the temple and its’ beauty when the Lord said it will be destroyed and no stone will be left standing. The disciples asked him when will these things be and what will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age? Luke’s gospel says teacher, when will these things be and what sign will there be when these things are about to take place? The 1st thing I notice is the disciples believed all these things would happen together and shortly after the Lord’s resurrection. This is true because after the Lord’s resurrection, in the book of Acts, they said Lord are you at this time going to restore the kingdom? They believed the restoration of David’s throne and destruction of the Roman empire would occur in their lifetime. At this point, they did not understand that Jesus’s primary goal was to rescue people from their sin and God’s wrath. In several places within the gospels, the writers said the people thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately. 

They did not foresee the 2,000 years after the resurrection also known as the church age. Using the 3 gospel accounts, we see where the Lord speaks about the destruction of the temple in Luke, which includes the dispersion of the Jews until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled, signs of his second coming and the end of the age. The Lord answered the disciples question correctly, even though they thought all the events would happen shortly after his resurrection.

The end but destruction of Jerusalem, comes first

Luke’s gospel speaks about deception, wars, kingdoms against kingdoms, great earthquakes, famines, pestilences, fearful sights and great signs from heaven. Then it says, but before all these things they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake. This gospel lets us know that the end of Jerusalem and end of the age are not the same event. Also, it hints that the disciples he was speaking to would be dead before most of the fearful sights took place.

But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its’ desolation is near. I do not see this as the same event spoken of in Matthew 24:15. Matthew’s event says when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place. Luke’s event mentions Jerusalem surrounded by armies. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains and let those who are in the country not enter her. For these are the days of vengeance that all things which are written may be fulfilled. For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. You notice that in this prophecy, the Lord does not say that this tribulation will be so great that if these days were not shortened, no flesh would be saved. But for the elect’s sake, the days will be shortened. The reason is this event is describing AD 70, not the end of the age or his 2nd coming. After this event, the text says they will be led away captive into all nations and Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. Now we know Jerusalem was dominated by Gentiles from this time until Israel took her again in the 1967 six day war. 

Great deception

When we examine this teaching, the Lord mentioned beware of false prophets and deception three times. In fact, he says that false prophets would arise and show great signs and wonders that, if possible, the very elect would be deceived. In Revelation 13, it speaks about a 2nd beast coming out of the earth, which is also spoken of as the False Prophet. The Bible says this individual will have the ability to call down fire from heaven in the sight of people. There is a passage in the book of Kings where Elijah the prophet challenged the false prophets of Baal to a showdown to determine who the true God was. The God that answered by fire from heaven was the true God. It appears at that time, God is going to allow the False Prophet to perform a sign that was reserved for true prophets. 

In the letter to the Thessalonians, Paul says the coming of the lawless one will be accompanied with great signs and wonders. Paul also says during that time, God will send the world a strong delusion, allowing those who have pleasure in unrighteousness to believe the lie. I believe the strong lie at that time will be that the Antichrist is the true Christ. This is why it is critical for us not to have pleasure or agree with sinful lifestyles. Never before in the history of the church have we married same sexes, accepted transgender practices and agreed with these lifestyles. Now, we love and try to help all people but this is clear evidence of a falling away from historical church practices.

Many Christs

The Lord said that in the end many would come in my name saying I am the Christ. Paul, John, James and all the New Testament writers said that the end of the ages have come upon us or this is the last time or something similar to this. So, we know that the last time or end of time began after the Lord was resurrected. These are the worldwide religious movements I can think of that sprang up within the last 200 years:

• Mormonism – Joseph Smith in 1830, reported over 17 million members.
• Jehovah Witnesses – Charles Tazz Russell in 1870, reported over 8.7 million members.
• 7 Day Adventist – Ellen G Whit in 1863, reported over 22 million members
• Scientology – L. Ron Hubbard in 1950, reported over 10 million members
• Christian Science – Mary Baker Eddy in 1870s, reported around 400,000 members
• Unity Church – Charles and Mrytle Fillmore in 1889, reported over 1 million members
• Modern New Age Movement – David Spanger in 1970s, unknown membership
• Hare Krishna – A.C. Bhaktivedanta in 1966, around a few million members
• Rastafari – Haile Selassie in 1930s, around a million members
• Black Hebrew Israelites – Frank Cherry and William Crowdy in 1890s, unknown
• Christian Nationalist – unknown founders, group appearing within 10 – 15 years

 All these movements claim to be following the teaching of Jesus Christ or some form of Jesus and believe they are correct. Most, if not all of the founders believe they have experienced or experiencing supernatural guidance. Now I am saying the same thing, that I am experiencing supernatural sensations and they are from the Lord. Who among us are right? Are we all deceived? Furthermore, Daniel says in the end knowledge will be increased while the Lord says around this time the greatest deception will occur. My friends, the only way we can even hope not to be deceived is to live a holy life according to the Bible and pray that the Holy Spirit gives us discernment.

Great tribulation and the end of all flesh

The Bible says there will be wars, rumors of wars and great tribulation such as has not been since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will be again. Our Lord said unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved. Now let us consider this statement. There have been wars since the beginning of time until now. In fact, Jesus says that in this life you will have tribulation but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world. So, our Lord’s statement does not make sense until we arrive at a time that humanity is at risk of becoming extinct. I believe when we invented the atomic bomb, which now has evolved into more powerful nuclear weapons, this statement became a reality. How long do you think it will be before North Korea, India, Iran, Russia, China, America or some other nuclear power starts a conflict that escalates into a nuclear war?

The days of Noah and days of Lot

The Lord said that his coming would be similar to the days of Noah and the days of Lot.  In one respect civilization was moving normal because people were marrying and being given in marriage. However, in another respect the civilization during Noah’s time was so wicked that God said it pained him to his heart that he created us. The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were so wicked that the men wanted to have sex with two male strangers. 

When God judged during the time of Noah and Lot, he gave warning through Noah and warning through the angels. The Bible says no one knows the day or hour and I still believe this. Our Lord is confirming to me that it will be in my sister Deborah’s lifetime but has not revealed a particular year, month or day. However, the Lord says to us that when we see all these signs look up for your redemption draws near. My friends, are you looking for the return of the Lord? 

The parable of the fig tree

The Lord gave this parable to give us a general time length to be aware of as his second coming approaches. He mentioned when you see the fig tree branches become tender and leaves appear, then you know summer is near. In Luke’s gospel he says when you see the fig tree and all the trees branches become tender. Therefore, I do not see the fig tree definitely having to represent Israel’s rebirth. However, Israel becoming a nation again in 1948 and reclaiming Jerusalem in the 1967 six day war was no doubt aided by the Lord. However, I do not believe we can count 70 or 80 years from 1948 and say, the Lord is coming before 2,028.

Furthermore, the changing of seasons from winter to summer will occur within a year. I see the final generation before the Lord’s return as the one which sees the beginning of sorrows spoke about in Matthew 24:8 and the major sign given in Matthew 24:15. I believe my understanding of these verses is consistent with my prophecy of the Lord’s coming in my sister Deborah’s lifetime.

The faithful and evil servant

This parable is given to us to understand that our Lord expects us to be faithful to his commands and understand what will happen if we are not. The Lord says that the faithful servant will be rewarded when he returns. The Lord says that the person who says that he is delaying his coming and begins to eat and drink with the drunkards will be in big trouble. Also, Luke’s gospel tells us to take heed to ourselves lest our hearts be weighted down with the cares of this life and that day come on us unexpectedly. The Lord says he will come upon them when they are not ready and appoint them their portion with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. My friends, as long as we are in the body, we have earthly concerns. However, our heavenly concerns but always out weigh them. Will you be the faithful or unfaithful servant?

The coming of the Lord

The Bible says that the Lord’s second coming will be like lighting flashing from the east until the west. Therefore, the Lord says that if anyone has told you the Lord has returned, do not believe them. I do not believe in a pre-tribulation rapture because this speaks of a secret return of the Lord for his church and few people, comparatively, will see it. However, I sincerely hope we can escape some tribulation. In Luke 17, our Lord said two men will be in the bed and one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding together, the one will be taken and the other left. Two men will be in the field, the one will be taken and the other left. The crowds asked him where Lord? The Lords said where ever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together. In other words, this passage is not talking about us being taken up in some rapture to glory, but rather taken in a violent death, leaving the vultures to eat the bodies! 

Also, when we read Revelation 20, the Lord has returned in Revelation 19 to destroy the Antichrist and False Prophet. Now, after their deaths, the dead in Christ participate in the first resurrection. If there was a resurrection before the tribulation period, this would be the 2nd resurrection, which would make this verse inaccurate. Some believe our born again experience is the same thing as our 1st resurrection. Our born again experience is not complete because you can fall back into sin and be cutoff without subsequent repentance. I know upon baptism, we are raised to walk in newest of life, but I see this different from the resurrection spoken of in 1 Thessalonians and Revelation 20. I understand the former to be a resurrection in spirit and the later a resurrection of the body. Please click on this link for more insight on this subject: End times or Eschatology

The parables of virgins, talents and judgment

In Matthew 25, our Lord gives us parables of 2 ways to live and the ultimate judgment. Our Lord says that there were 10 virgins, 5 were wise and 5 were foolish. The virgins are a picture of the church and the Lord views humanity as his potential church, whether you are lost or saved. The Bible says the Holy Spirit is convicting the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. The Scripture says that when the bridegroom delayed his coming, they all fell asleep. The thing to understand is that we are all resting while waiting for what happens to us after this life. The question is are you resting in Jesus or something else? Let me put it this way, what are you believing will happen to you after you die?  Please get a copy of my brother book, Gambling with your Soul at this link. I believe it is an objective way to consider what happens after death. 

Now Jesus said the wise virgins took oil and the unwise virgins did not. So, when the call was given to go out and meet the bridegroom, the virgins arose quickly and ran out to meet him. I view this as the Lord saying, do not think that we can get right with him tomorrow, because tomorrow may not come or we may not be prepared if it does. We should be living right at all times. So those who were ready went in and the unwise were trying to buy oil but the time had run out. In the Gospel of Luke, our Lord said that you will then begin to say, we ate and drank in your presence and taught in your streets. But the Lord will say, depart from me all you workers of iniquity, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. My friends, I am pleading with you that the time will run out in my sister’s lifetime according to the prophecy and anointing I am receiving. If you have sin in your life, please get it out!

We must work for the Kingdom

The parable of the talents given teaches us to work for the Kingdom of God and not be afraid to live for him. The person who received 5 talents worked and received 5 more. The person who received 2 talents worked and received 2 more. However, the person who received 1 talent hid the talent and did not live for the Lord. My friends, we all have been given life and abilities so use your life to build the Kingdom of God. Are you using your resources and time to build the Kingdom of God?

Our Lord pulled back the curtain and gave me insight into a person being judged.  Around March 2020, I had a dream where suddenly I was outside, the Lord’s face appeared in the clouds and I was standing in a line in heaven. The Lord was sitting on the throne judging everyone. The person before me was judged and it appeared that person did not make it. I remember thinking this man has made an excellent case as to why he can enter but as he walked by me his face was full of tears and I knew he did not make it. I was next, I walked up to the podium and before I could say a word, the Lord stepped down from the throne and placed a gold ring on my finger.

The reason for hell and how to avoid it

Our Lord gives us insight into who he created hell or the everlasting fire for. In this picture of the judgment, the Lord tells us that it matters if we help others with physical things and not to be selfish with our time. However, remember in Matthew 7 that the Lord lets us that even if we do good things and still live in lawlessness or sin, we will hear depart from me. The letter from James says that true religion is to help the widows in their distress and keep oneself from sin. My friends, this comes back to the fact that we must have the Spirit of God living in us to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and love our neighbors as ourselves. A love of our neighbor will cause us to be concerned over their temporary, physical needs but more concerned over their eternal, spiritual needs. There is a time to help others with material things but we must be living a holy life at all times. Now the Lord says that at the end of the judgment, some will go into everlasting punishment but the righteous into eternal life. This is the same message given in Daniel 12 that some will rise to everlasting life and some to everlasting shame and contempt.  My friends, what will be your destination?

Not all will receive the same judgment

My Lord said woe to the Cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum. For if the mighty works that were done in them had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago. I Lord said it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for them. The Lord said the men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment and condemn his generation because they repented at the preaching of Jonah and no doubt, a greater than Jonah was among them. Our Lord said that servant who knew his master’s will and did not prepare himself or do his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. However, the servant who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, much will be required.

Also, our Lord said beware of the scribes who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplace, the best seats in the synagogues and feast. Yet, they devour widows houses and for pretense bake long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation, In other words, those who are suppose to be teaching and leading people to Christ and doing it wrong, will receive more punishment. Furthermore, when you consider the availability and freedom we have in the Western World to live for and proclaim Jesus, we must except a stricter judgment?

Behind the Veil of Death

In Luke 16, our Lord pulls back the veil and gives us a look into the spirit world after death. Some believe this story was a parable or symbolic of another meaning. I do not believe this because if that were the case, our Lord would have given us the parable’s meaning or the symbolism used would have been obvious. Also, our Lord used the name of the patriarch Abraham and more details like the beggars name, the condition of his body and even the dogs licking his sores. So, whether we believe this story is a parable or not, what can we learn from the text?

Our works and actions follow us

1st, your actions will follow you because the rich man lived a materialistic life and Lazarus was a poor beggar. Now I am not saying all the rich will go to hell and all the poor will be saved. Because even if you are poor financially, you must still be rich toward Christ to enter in. The story gives us the relationship between the two men because the beggar laid at the rich man’s gate asking for alms. I assume over the course of the rich man going in and out of his gate, he saw Lazarus. The part which said Lazarus desired to be feed from the rich man’s table just means the rich man’s wealth. I assume Lazarus knew the rich man would not allow him inside his physical home.

Next, the rich man died and was in torment and Lazarus died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom, which is a place of paradise. In other words, neither man’s conscience went out of existence, so we see there is existence after physical death. The rich man and Abraham were able to see, hear and understand each other. Also, the rich man remembered Lazarus and had a sense of feeling because he wanted water to cool his tongue. Therefore, we conclude that the rich man and I assume Lazarus, had all their senses. In fact, I believe we will be more aware once we get fully into the spirit realm. You see my friends, once we die, everybody is a believer.

No repentance once in torment

Next, we see the rich man was repentant and no longer thinking selfishly because he did not want either of his five brother to end up in this place of torment. Also, the rich man had a sense of feelings and desperately wanted some relief. At statement like can I just have the tip of a finger against my tongue indicates the torment was extremely uncomfortable. Abraham indicated there was a great gulf fixed between the place of paradise and torment, so neither could cross to the other.

Finally, Abraham tells us that God has made a way for man to escape torment after death, through Moses and the prophets. He went on to say if they will not believe them then neither will they believe if one rises from the dead. The prophet John the Baptist told us that there is one coming who will baptize us with the Holy Spirt and fire. The one baptizing us with the Holy Spirit and rising from the dead, is none other than our Lord Jesus. Our Lord has demonstrated he is the only way for our sins to be forgiven and receive eternal life. My friends, let us not miss our ticket and live like the rich man, who ended up in torment.

Jesus final Passover, Communion and the Garden

In Matthew 26, our Lord celebrates his last Passover before suffering and institutes communion. The Lord told them where to go to find the man who had the upper room already prepared for his final Passover. Again, our Lord is demonstrating that he can foretell the future and he knew his time was at hand. Also, our Lord knew exactly which one of the disciples would betray him. Our Lord said woe to the man who betrays him, it would be better for that man if he was not born. 

My friends, unless you are thinking that Judas received the harish words, anyone who does not make it to heaven is in the same boat. If we do not make it to heaven, it would have been better if we were never born. This statement tells us that for lost people, there is a condition worse in the afterlife than if they had ever existed. This is a clear statement against the doctrine of annihilation and supports some type of eternal conscience torment of the soul. The reason is if we are annihilated and cease to exist then ultimately, it is the same as we having never been born in terms of our pain or pleasure experiences.  

The New Covenant: Look to serve others

My friends, it was at this last Passover, that our Lord after supper and the devil having already entered Judas, took off his garment, took a towel and washed the disciples feet. Regardless of the gift the Holy Spirit has given us, we must implement that gift with a servant heart. We can never view ourselves as better than anyone and always remember that we all deserve eternal hell. Our eternally perfect God has given us an example to always follow.

Our Lord took bread and said this is my body. Then our Lord took the cup and said drink from it for this is my blood of the new covenant which is shed for many, for the remission of sins. The Bible says that without the shedding of blood there is no remission or forgiveness of sins. During several occasions, the Lord would say your sins are forgiven you. The Lord was saying that with me, you no longer have to follow the Levitical priesthood where the high priest would offer the blood of animals once per year in the holy of holies for his, as well as the people sins. 

Our Lord’s death on the cross brought in the New Covenant of forgiveness because the angel told Mary he will save his people from their sins. Immanuel means God with us or God living in us. Our Lord came and walked among us and left his Holy Spirit to live in us. The covenant among the Godhead, where they accept the Lord’s blood as payment for our sin is one of those mysteries we will understand fully on the other side. We take it by faith that the Godhead will forgive us if we repent after sinning and continuously ask the Holy Spirit to live in us.   

The true vine and gift of the Holy Spirit

During this hour, our Lord was preparing to pay the high cost to submit to the Father, he would be abandoned by his closes disciples, placed under extreme spiritual and physical persecution and receive death by crucifixion. Can you imagine what your anxiety level would be if you knew, like the Lord knew, what you were about to face? This is why the Bible said, he sweat like great drops of blood in the garden. My friends, when we are experiencing some of our greatest trials, it is good to reflect on these chapters in the gospel of John. He assured his disciples that he is going to prepare a place for them and he was the way, the truth and the life. In other words, no one gets to God other than by Jesus. He claimed that whoever has seen him as seen the Father.

At this point, the disciples did not know what was headed for the Lord, nor headed for them once he returned to the Father. In fact, they all abandoned him once they saw the Lord was not going to use his power to conquer the Romans and bring back David’s Kingdom. They had yet to understand God’s timing or the Father’s will for the Lord. My Lord is telling me we are the final generation and the Holy Spirit is confirming this to me moment by moment. However, we all must walk by faith and practice holiness. He reminded us that if we pray in his name, the Father will answer. He told us that the Father would send the Helper, the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth. This means regardless of what a person is saying to you, always take it to the Holy Spirit.

In one metaphor, our Lord claimed to be the true vine and the Father is the vinedresser. He lets us know that there is no such thing as an unfruitful branch. If we abide in the Lord, which means live out his commands, then we will bear much fruit. You are my friends if you do whatever I command you. If we are in this world, the world will love us, but because we are not of this world, the world hates us. I am not saying every unbeliever will hate you, but what I am saying is ultimately, our Christian way of life will anger this fallen world. Our Lord ends these teaching by praying for himself, praying for his disciples and praying for future believers. I do not pray that you should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil one.

Spiritual warfare in the garden, your greatest test

Just how our Lord experienced his greatest test and spiritual warfare before his greatest challenge, we to will experience this. The prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane proves that our Lord was experiencing great sorrow and his soul was close to the point of death. Now, the Bible does not record any temptations directly from Satan but a statement such as my soul is extremely sorrowful even unto death probably means he was experiencing tremendous attacks. I am attacked strong when I pray by chest pressure and dizziness throughout the prayer but obviously nothing compared to our Lord’s level. 

I believe the devil was confused at the interaction between the Lord and the Father because he ultimately wanted to destroy or kill the Lord. Also, when the Lord said Father let this cup pass from me if possible and did not hear a word from the Father, the devil figured his plan was working. However, God’s ultimate plan given back in Genesis was about to be fulfilled for he said there is one coming who will bruise your head and you will bruise his heel. What appeared to be the greatest defeat for the Kingdom of God was actually the greatest victory!

My friends, prophecy will be fulfilled because when they came to arrest the Lord, he could have called down 12 legions of angels to stop them but our Lord did not. He did not need Peter to draw his sword and cutoff the high priest’s servant’s right ear. Remember our Lord said, I was teaching you daily in the temple and you did not try to seize me. But this is your hour and the power of darkness. My friends, our Lord does not need us for his purposes to be fulfilled. When the time comes for the return of the Lord, which he is assuring me will be in my sister Deborah’s lifetime, nothing can stop it. However, the man of sin or Antichrist will have his reign for 42 months. 

Peter, Judas, Chief Priest, Herod and Pilate’s role

Matthew 26 and 27 record the role Peter and Judas played during the time surrounding the cross. Both of these men denied the Lord. Peter reacted in the flesh by cutting off the guy’s ear and later denied the Lord 3 times. However, there was a difference in the motivation behind these 2 denials. Peter denied the Lord because of the fear he would receive after viewing the brutality against him. This is why we must stand firm even when physical persecution shows up in our lives. However, notice that Peter did stay close enough to the Lord for their eyes to meet on one occasion, but was not yet in line with the Father’s will. Judas denied the Lord because of the money he received. Now, Judas convinced the same people who were sitting in the temple listening to the Lord, to hand him over to the religious leaders. Obviously the people did not know he was paid 30 pieces of silver. Just like in the Garden of Eden, Satan’s deception always appears right but is ultimately wrong.

Why did Peter seek forgiveness and Judas decide to hang himself? Does not the Bible say Judas was remorseful, admitted to sinning and gave the money back? Now being sad you are a sinner and turning from your sin and asking God for his Holy Spirit are completely separate things. Now only God knows why one heart seeks forgiveness and why one decides to reject God’s mercy. Even if you have denied God for all your life, the Holy Spirit is reaching out his forgiving hands to you through this preacher. Now the Chief Priest delivered the Lord up because he threatened their way of life. Essentially, they resisted God’s will and wanted their own will. My friends, are you still resisting God’s will for your life?

Are you the Son of God?

As Jesus stood before Caiaphas the high priest, the elders and Jerusalem Council, they brought many false witnesses forward. However, the gospel of Mark said none of the false witnesses testimony agreed. Finally, one remembered the Lord’s actual words when he said I will destroy this temple and build it again in 3 days. Now, even though this is a strong threat, the religious leaders knew this was not a claim worthy of death. Finally, the high priest becomes frustrated and said to the Lord plainly, I put you under oath by the living God, tell us are you the Christ, the Son of God!

When the Lord said yes and furthermore, you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven, what was he claiming? If you recall from the Law, Israel always quoted hear Old Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord. Also, there were instances when the Pharisees wanted to stone the Lord because they knew he was claiming to be God. Remember when the Lord claimed to be the I AM and they picked up stones to stone him. Remember when he healed the man with a disease for 38 years on the Sabbath. The text said the Jews sought to kill him because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also said God was his father, making himself equal with God. When the Lord said he will be standing at the right hand of the Power, he was claiming to be God and possess all God’s authority to judge and rule. We know how Caiaphas understood this because he tore his clothes and said this guy is blaspheming! My friends, do you know who Jesus is claiming to be?

God does not do miracles for show

For those who are waiting for God to do some miracle to demonstrate he is real before you believe in him, why do you think he hasn’t? My friends, the Bible says the heavens display the glory of God and the earth is his handy work. Day after day and night after night they proclaim his existence. Also, when you think about it, the biggest miracle is that we are aware of our existence or consciousness. When Jesus stood before Herod, the Bible says he hoped to see some miracle done. Herod questioned him with many words, but the Lord did nothing for him. Now I am receiving the physical presence of the Holy Spirit moment by moment and at this point, it does not feel like a miracle. However, I know that it is. The reason I am receiving his presence is to confirm the prophecy I received is from him, to intercede and proclaim his soon return. If you are still an unbeliever and have never experienced God in a supernatural way, please continue to ask him. However, understand that even if he never grants you a supernatural experience, you are still required to believe the Bible, repent of your sins and obey Jesus.

The existential question, what is truth?

As Jesus stood before the Governor, Pilate asked the existential question, what is truth? Let’s ask this question another way, what is the meaning of life or why are we here? My friends, is there a reason for your existence? Let’s ask this question another way, what is your purpose in life? If you are trying to define your reason for existence without God you will come up empty. Jesus said to the woman at the well, if you drink of this water, you will thirst again but if you drink of the water that I give you, you will never thirst again but it will become a well in you springing up into eternal life. My friends, do you want this water? Our Lord said, what will a man give in exchange for his life? My friends, the truth is this is our testing period and until we are born again, we are failing the test and subject to the wrath of God. Please click on this link for more insight on this subject: What is the meaning of life or why are we here?

Now Pilate had been warned by his wife to have nothing to do with condemning the Lord because she had suffered in her dreams. Pilate was looking for a way to release the Lord because he knew the religious leaders had delivered him because they envied his ministry. Remember the Pharisees said, what shall we do for this man works many signs. If we let him alone, everyone will believe in him and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation. The Bible says at the Feast of Passover, Pilate would grant one prisoner freedom. The Bible say’s Pilate told the crowd he found no fault in the Lord and tried to wash his hands. Pilate was a hypocrite because he knew the Lord was innocent, yet still beat and condemned him to death. He probably figured killing one delusional Jew to settle the region down was acceptable. Now, having decided on killing the Lord, he then sank deeper into his decision by ordering a flogging, severe mocking and the crucifixion. Finally, in utter contempt of the Lord, he nailed the accusation over his head on the cross, this is Jesus the King of the Jews. Trust me my friends, sin is a slippery slope.

After Jesus received his scourging, he came out wearing the crown of thorns and purple rob. Fear set in on Pilate after he heard the Jews say Jesus claimed to be the Son of God. Now, Pilate believed Jesus was innocent and definitely believed in the Roman and Greek Gods, so this increased his level of fear. He gave it one last attempt to set the Lord free, but the Lord remained silent. My friends, when we are brought before the authorities for doing the Lord’s will, there is no need to defend ourself. Pilate said, are you going to ignore me, do you not know I have the power to kill you. The Lord finally said, you could have no power over me unless it was not given, therefore the one who delivered me to you has the greater sin. The Lord is saying, Pilate what you are doing is sinful but what the Jews did is a greater wrong. My friends, never let anyone tell you that all sins are equal. Now, we definitely do not want to practice any sin, but there will be different levels of punishment for different levels of crimes against God.

The words going to and from the cross

The Bible says there were many people following the Lord, mourning and lamenting as he headed for the cross. The Lord turned and said daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me but weep for yourselves. For indeed the days are coming when they will say blessed are the barren wombs and breasts that never nursed. The Lord went on to say they will cry for the mountains to fall on them and the hills to cover them. When we read the 6 six seal opening in the Revelation, we see people crying for the mountains and rocks to hide them from the face of him who sets on the throne and the wrath of the Lamb. My friends, I am continuing to prophesy of the Lord’s return in my sister’s lifetime, while pleading with people to repent and get it right before its’ to late!

As the Lord hung on the cross, the Bible tells us there was darkness over all the land from the 6th hour until the 9th. I understand the Jewish day starts at 6:00am in the morning, which would mean it was dark from noon until 3:00pm. No doubt this was one of the most difficult times within the Godhead. Our Lord spoke these words from the cross. 

• Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do. My friends, if someone was beating us to death could we say father forgive them, for they know not what they do? Remember, the words of Stephen when he was stoned. He said my Lord, do not lay this to their account.

• Woman, behold your son and to John he said, behold your mother. Our Lord cared for the physical needs of his mother when he was leaving. Therefore, we must care for the physical needs of others. However, our Lord cautions us not to labor for the food which perishes but the food which leads to eternal life.

• Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise. Now, this was a promise to the thief on the cross. Heaven and paradise are where ever the Lord is. This also tells us that our Lord is long suffering and held out for this man until his final hours. In fact, both of the thieves were initially mocking, but one came to his senses.

• My God, My God, why have you forsaken me? In what way did the Father forsake the Lord? The Lord is saying you are allowing me to die this death. Remember, the Jews tried to take the Lord’s life on many occasions and the Lord said no one takes my life, I have power to lay it down and power to take it up again. Remember, the Lord predicted his time of death as well as manner when he said, if I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto myself. I do not believe the Lord was separated from the Father in some spiritual sense.

• I thirst. The Lord was literally thirsty due to enormous blood lost and severe dehydration. Also, this statement was a fulfillment of prophecy as the one who created water said, I am thirsty.

• It is finished. This was an odd statement to make so what did the Lord mean? I have heard that some translations say, paid in full. This means that the Lord had finished the work given to him by the Father. The work was the Lord needed to be the lamb slain or propitiation for our sin debt. In other words, someone had to pay the Godhead for our sin. Also, the Lord’s death clears the way for the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts. My friends, has the convicting work of the Holy Spirit brought you to repentance?

• Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. I interpret this statement that the Lord did not need to go down and suffer in hell for your sins because as soon as his spirit left his body, it remained in the Father’s hands.

Jesus’s dead body and the resurrection

Matthew 27 and 28 indicates that Joseph of Arimathea, a rich Councilman, had become a follower of Christ and asked Pilate if he could have the body. The gospel of John tells us that Nicodemus, a Pharisee, joined him in taking the body. No doubt, this will now cost them wealth and their positions of authority because anyone opposing the religious leaders were put out of those circles. My friends, what are we willing to give up to follow the Lord? Our Lord says no one who puts his hands to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom.

The Bible indicates an angel of the Lord descended from heaven causing a great earthquake and rolled back the stone. No doubt this caused the guards to shake with fear and become like dead men. This is true because on all my interactions with the angelic realm, there is a sense of fear when in their presence. The angels asked the women, why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here but risen. Remember how he spoke to you when he was still in Galilee. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Jesus’ mother and other women went and told all these things to the apostles. At this point, the apostles were not believing because the Bible says their words seemed to be like idle tales. My friends, God wants to show up in our lives but it requires faith and obedience to live the way he told us.

The Bible says the chief priests bribed the soldiers to say that while we slept, his followers came and stole the body. The soldiers knew if this information reached the ears of the Governor, it was a death sentence for them. Therefore, when the Bible says they gave them a large sum of money to say this, think in terms of enough to retire on. As a final safety net, the religious leaders said we will appease Pilate if this information reaches his ears. No doubt, they were ready to pay Pilate enough money to leave this alone.

The Bible tells us the veil of the temple was torn, the earth quaked, the graves were opened and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. The Bible indicates that these bodies came out of the grave after the Lord’s resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many. Now, Paul says that the dead in Christ will rise first and then the rapture will occur. I believe this resurrection was for the Old Testament saints residing in the bosom of Abraham described in Luke 16. Paul says in Ephesians that when he ascended he lead captivity captive and gave gifts. My position is captivity captive refers to those Old Testament saints and the gifts are described in Corinthians. For more insight on this subject please click on this link: Did Jesus resurrect himself? The empty tomb.

The Serpent’s head has been bruised, life after death

God’s plan given back in Genesis, the Seed of the Woman has now bruised the Serpents head. In the paradox of God’s economy, the obvious defeat of the Lord brings in the unseen victory for him, as well as us. Now, it was time for God to write his laws on our hearts through the giving of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said when he comes, that is the Holy Spirit, he will convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. From the world’s perspective, it makes no sense to deny ourselves, pickup our cross and follow the Lord. However, for those of us who are doing this, we are receiving the greatest reward! My friends, the work of the Holy Spirit is to help us keep the sin out of our lives, which will allow God to dwell within our temple. My friends, have you heard what God is saying to his creation through his Holy Spirit?

At one encounter, he appeared to Cleopas and Peter in another form on the road to Emmaus but they still did not believe. However, the Bible says their eyes were restrained from recognizing him. I understand the disciples reluctance to believe because they just witnessed the brutal death of their leader, so no one was rushing to sign up for this type level of persecution. There was a great amount of disappointment experienced by the discipled because they said we were hoping that he, speaking of Jesus, was going to redeem Israel. My friends, they did not understand our Lord’s true mission was to redeem mankind, not just a select group and they were ignorant of God’s timing, not understanding the church age.

At one encounter, the Lord appeared to them by walking though the closed doors. The disciples were frightened and thought he was a spirit, so our Lord demonstrated he had a physical body by eating and allowing them to touch his body. Now, Thomas just refused to believe unless he physically touched the Lord. Perhaps this is why he appeared to all the disciples first and waited 8 days to appear to Thomas. Our Lord granted Thomas request but said blessed are those who have not seen yet still believe. My friends, the first step to becoming born again is we must believe the facts of the Bible. Have you overcome that level of unbelief?

At one encounter, the disciples went on a little fishing trip, where our Lord appeared to them on the shore and restored Peter’s faith. Our Lord allowed them to have a miraculous catch, which says to us, that if we abide in him we will be fruitful. However, we see the question asked to Peter as well as us, do you love me? If we say we love God but do not obey him, then we lie and the truth is not in us. Our lives must be about the Father’s business of building the Lord’s church or like Jesus said, feeding his lambs and sheep.

Our Lord appeared to them over a period of 40 days, confirming to them it was truly him. Over this period, the Holy Spirit was opening their understanding of God’s plan revealed in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and Psalms. My friends, we are almost at the conclusion of this present age and God’s ultimate plan, to dwell with us in New Jerusalem is almost complete. Trust me, it does not matter how rich, powerful or intelligent we are, until we humble ourself and cry out to the Holy Spirit, we will not be able to understand God’s reason for bringing us into existence.

Jesus final words in the gospels

Matthew 28 records all authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you. The Lord then indicates he will be with us always, even to the end of the age. This is a mandate to every disciple of the Lord. However, our obedience to the Lord is implemented through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Mark 16 records go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe. In my name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues, they will take up serpents, if they drink anything deadly it will by no means hurt them and they will lay hands on the sick who will recover. I do not believe that every believer will perform every sign here because Paul tells us that we all have different gifts. 

Luke 24 records it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem and you are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the promise of my father upon you, but tarry in the City of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high. This tells us that our primary task is to preach repentance and remission of sins. Just as the power of the Holy Spirit was given to the first church, he is given to every believer. However, the Holy Spirit gives us wisdom to understand how to accomplish this task.

John 21 records some last instructions where the Lord told Peter to feed my sheep and follow him. Peter was concerned over what would happen with John but the Lord reminded him to be more concerned with himself obeying the Lord. Likewise my friends, we are definitely concerned with savings the lost but more concerned with our personal relationship with the Lord. My friends, all these final statements are commanding us to do God’s work. Let me encourage you to first become reconciled to God, then access the Holy Spirit for strength to overcome sin, so you can advance the Kingdom of God.

The Acts: 33 – 62 AD: 29 years

The promised Holy Spirit

When God said in the Old Testament, after these days I will put my laws in their mind and write them on their hearts and I will be their God and they shall be my people, do you know what he was referring to? When God said none of them shall teach his neighbor or brother but all shall know me from the least of them to the greatest, do you know what he was referring to? My friends, God was referring to the indwelling work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer.

Remember the Lord said that it is to your advantage that I return because I will send the Comforter to you and he will lead you into all truth. Now, I am not saying that you can just check your brain and think you will understand the Bible through some weird osmosis. However, what I am saying is the natural man cannot discern the things of the spirit. If your mind is continually focused on the things of this world, you will not be able to understand the Bible. The reason is your mind and pursuits will be in conflict with what the Holy Spirit is trying to accomplish in you and ultimately the world.

Has God changed the function of the Holy Spirit between the Old and New Testament? Was the Holy Spirit working in us the same way he worked in the Old Testament saints? I believe the Holy Spirit is working differently in the New Testament saints. In the Old Testament, the physical temple was standing and God’s presence was primarily active through the prophets, priests and kings. Remember, Old Testament saints had to become circumcised and obey the laws of Moses to have their sins forgiven. Now, an Old Testament prophet of God had the presence of the Holy Spirit and when the priest went into the temple for daily and annual duties, the Holy Spirit was present. However, under the New Covenant, the believer’s body is the temple and so the Holy Spirit is continuously dwelling in us. This speaks of a closer relationship God is experiencing with every believer, not just certain ones.

After the resurrection and prior to the coming of the Holy Spirit, our Lord confirmed to the disciples he was alive over a period of 40 days before being taken back into heaven. Now the disciples believed the Lord would restore the kingdom to Israel at that time, but the Lord reminded them that first, they must become a witness of him in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth. Recall when he told them to only go to the lost tribes of Israel, but now it’s time to go to the Gentiles as well. However, implementation of this command takes power so he told his followers to wait in Jerusalem, until they receive power from on high. My friends, are you trying to live this Christian life and carry out the Lord’s command without the power of the Holy Spirit?

The coming of the Holy Spirit

Is our world spiraling out of control? Are there great wars and rumors of wars occurring? Are large asteroids and meteors coming closer to hitting our planet? Are the earthquakes, tornadoes and climate becoming more intense? Are the mental health crisis facing a person becoming more challenging? Are we having more and more demonic attacks on our bodies? Is confusion surrounding our sexuality increasing? My friends, it should be obvious to you that the answer to all these questions is a resounding yes! Based on all these challenges, God has given us his Holy Spirit to overcome.

Our Lord told his followers to wait until they receive power from on high and they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. I believe this command was given around the end of our Lord’s 40 day stay. Since Pentecost is celebrated 50 days after Passover, the coming of the Holy Spirit was around 10 days after he commanded them to wait. The Holy Spirit showed up with the sound of a mighty rushing wind, bringing tongues of fire on their heads and the gift of tongues, which were a recognizable language, in this instance. The crowds were confused with the sound as well as those in Jerusalem. They heard the disciples speaking in their languages, the wonderful works of God. However, some were mocking saying they were filled with new wine or drunk.

After this event, Peter stood up and boldly proclaimed this was the fulfillment of what was spoken of by the prophet Joel. It shall come to pass in the last days, I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, we will get an increase in dreams, visions and the ability to prophesy. This promise tells us that men and women can both teach and prophesy. I also see a promise of the Holy Spirit working differently under the New Covenant. Also, according to this event, the last days started when the New Covenant begin. Now, this was not the complete fulfillment because the sun was not turned to darkness and the moon into blood, because this was not the great and terrible day of the Lord. In fact, this was the wonderful giving of the Holy Spirit to help us escape the great and terrible day of the Lord, which refers to the 2nd coming in judgment. We are living in the age of grace but fast approaching the day of judgment. My friends, are you operating in God’s grace or continuing to resist the power of the Holy Sprit in your life?

He will lead you into all Truth

Now all the apostles, including Paul, were doing miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit, so God was confirming their message and authority. The Holy Spirit was leading them into the true interpretation of Scripture. Remember, the Lord says when he comes, the Spirit of Truth, he will lead you into all truth. However, at this point, many of the apostles did not yet understand the Lord’s command to make disciples of the Gentiles as well as Jews.

Also, Acts 15 tells us that many were confused about whether new believers in Christ must also become circumcised and keep the laws of Moses. This was evident, because in most of Paul’s epistles, he continuously mentioned we are not saved by the Old Testament works or Law and if we continue to follow those rules, Christ has died in vain. When someone tries to tell you today that we are not saved by works but faith, they are misunderstanding the meaning of Paul’s letters. When Paul mentions works, he is referring to the law of circumcision given to Abraham or laws given under the Levitical priesthood to Moses, never once does Paul even hint that we do not have to practice a holy life or depart from sin. If you are struggling to understand the Bible as well as God’s call on your life, let me encourage you to continue to obey him, study the Bible and be patient.

The message preached

What was the message that Peter preached in Acts 2 after the Holy Spirit fell? What was the message Peter preached in Acts 4 before the Sanhedrin? What was the message Peter preached to the household of Cornelius in Acts 10? What was the message that Stephen preached in Acts 7 that got him stoned? What was the message that Philip preached in Samaria to Simon the Sorcerer as well as to the Eunuch under Candace the queen in Acts 8? After Paul’s conversion in Acts 9, what was the message he immediately begin to preach at Damascus? What was the message that Paul preached at Antioch, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe in Acts 13 and 14? What was the message the Jerusalem Council sent in Acts 15 to the Gentiles after the dispute arose over the way to salvation? What was the message Paul preached in Syria, Galatia, Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, Corinth and Ephesus in Acts 15 through 19? When Paul stood before King Agrippa in Acts 26, what was the message preached? What was Paul’s final message in Acts 28 to the Romans for two years?

My friends, their message is the same message we preach, repent and turn from your sins, believe that Jesus is your only sacrifice for your sins and cry out to God for his Holy Spirit. When we present the gospel the right way, it will cause us to be slandered, accused of being a heretic, accused of preaching a works based salvation, accused of being a false teacher, physically attacked by the demonic realm and eventually might cause us to be martyred. The disciples never watered down the gospel message because a soft message will never cause anyone to repent and run from their sin. Remember, our Lord said go and teach all things I have commanded you. My friends, are you willing to preach the full council of God? Your message must include the cost God is paying to save us as well as the cost we must pay to be saved!

You will have tribulation

In Acts 4 and 6 we see the persecutions begin for the apostles, including imprisonments and beatings. However, the Holy Sprit determines when its’ time for us to die so they are supernaturally released and commanded by the angel to go and preach all the words of salvation. Also, Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit as he spoke, but it was time for his departure so they stoned him to death. King Herod’s violence escalates and he killed the apostle John’s brother James.

Paul gives us a summary of what it cost him to deliver the message in 2 Corinthians. He was beaten 5 times, which consisted of 40 stripes less one. No doubt, this was the type of beating the Lord received before Pilate. 3 times he was beaten with rods, once stoned, which happened at Lystra where they dragged him out of the city assuming he was dead. He was ship wrecked 3 times and was lost at sea. He was often in perils of robbers as well as his own countrymen, in the wilderness and among false brethren. He was often in weariness and toil, sleeplessness, hunger, thirst, fasting, cold and naked. In addition, he mentioned the daily pressure associated with his deep concern for the churches. Now, on top of all this, the Lord allowed a messenger of Satan to inflict his body with, what I believe based on Paul’s comment in Galatians 4, was some type of eye illness.

My friends, let me encourage you to get a reputable book on the history of the Christian Church. You will see that throughout time, true believers have always been persecuted. Remember in Genesis, God said I will put enmity between the woman’s seed and the serpent’s seed. In the Revelation, we read Satan went off to make war against the woman’s children. In other words, the Children/Spirit/Kingdom of God will always be at war with the Children/Flesh/Kingdom of Satan. My friends, our faith must stand up in the midst of persecutions, whether coming from the physical or spiritual realm.

Go and make disciples

The question we must ask ourself is are we being obedient to his command? Let’s consider our main objectives in life? If our time and talents are not being used to build God’s church, what are they being used for? Remember the parable of the talents, where the Lord gave some 5, some 2 and others just 1. Each of us have something to offer toward building the Lord’s kingdom and reaching the lost. My friends, if you consider yourself a follower of the Lord but are not using your life in his service, then ask the Lord to provide a ministry where you can get involved. If you feel this is the sort of ministry you would like to get into, please use this link. DeborahsLifetime. My friends, at the end of the day, the Lord is not going to beat us up over the type of ministry, but that we are doing some ministry. Remember, the Lord said well done to the guys with the 5 and 2 talents but what did he say to the guy who hid his 1 talent?