Archives for June 2020

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.

Psalm 133:1-3

The Lord has ordained eternal life to as many as will put their trust and hope in Him. This is THE blessing, even life forevermore. There’s nothing greater God can offer mankind than the opportunity to live forever with Him, being taught by Him in the holy ways of love. This is what God intended for Adam before sin was found in him. When Adam sinned, death set in and he spiritually died. God gave him the blood of animals, which could only ceremonially cover the sin. It was not until Jesus Christ, the perfect sacrifice, that sin could be removed from our consciences. Now we can truly live forever with God, just as God intended from the beginning. God’s plans may be interrupted, but in the end, His love wins out.

There is a connection here between brotherly unity, the anointing of the Holy Spirit and eternal life. The Word declares that we are to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of brotherly love. When we are all baptized in the Holy Spirit, we should all speak and think the same things. God has prepared a people that will love and respect each other throughout all eternity. Image the godly fellowship you will be able to have with Paul, Moses and Elijah, not to mention Jesus Christ Himself! If we want to live forever with Christ, we need to be baptized with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is the down payment or engagement ring that shows we will one day have resurrected spiritual bodies just like Christ and will be married to Him.

As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

John 17:2

The Father has given all power to His Son Jesus Christ during this gospel age. It is Jesus that is the giver of eternal life, under the supervision of the Father, who gives as many as will come to Christ. God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and eternal life in Christ.

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

John 17:3

Eternal life is knowing the Father and knowing His Son Jesus Christ. Christ said if you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father. They are united in love and holy character. They think and say the same things. God is looking for a holy people that will love and know Him and His ways. This life is the testing ground to prove our love for God and Jesus. If we pass the trials, then we will be accounted worthy of eternal life and Jesus will raise us up at the last day, with our immortal, glorified, spiritual bodies just like Jesus has. We will truly be one with Christ, in body as well as in spirit. Oh the good things the Lord has prepared for them that love Him!

To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

Romans 2:7

To have eternal life in the next world, we must be doers of God’s Word in this life and in this present world. It takes a constant effort of well doing or righteousness or love in order to be deemed worthy of eternal life. He that endures until the end shall be saved.

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

Luke 10:25-28

Loving God and loving others as yourself is the key that unlocks the door of eternal life. Jesus said this to a certain lawyer, but He could have been answering anyone that came to Him. Christ has the same standard for holiness and righteousness that the Father has, and that is love. Whosoever conforms to the image and likeness of Christ will be saved and will live forever.

And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

1 John 2:25

God has promised to do many things for His people, but the greatest of all is eternal life. Eternal life is equivalent to eternal love. Just imagine spending eternity with God who is love and with the holy angels who love and the people of God who love. What a blessing! His promise is conditional on us knowing and following and obeying His Son Jesus Christ. Christ is the resurrection and the life. Without Christ, no man will see or understand God. Without Christ, no man will comprehend love and how to walk in it.

That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 5:21

There is no eternal life found in the path of sin and unrighteousness and wickedness. Grace reigns through righteousness, also known as love. Grace is the divine influence on our hearts by God’s Word, that influences us to love. Grace always produces love in our lives, unless we resist the Spirit of grace and sin. It is this graceful love that will determine that we spend eternity with Christ and have eternal life with Him. Obey Christ’s commandments in love and you are well on your way to eternal life.

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

Romans 6:23

The payment for sin is spiritual and physical death. However, the free gift of God is eternal life which comes through a relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus must be Lord in order to have eternal life. He is only your Lord if you are obeying everything He has commanded you to do. Listen to the voice of Christ’s Spirit and He will guide you into all Truth. He will make sure you stay on the path of eternal life. Never forget that eternal life is God’s gift to mankind. It’s something His holiness and love compels Him to do for us. He is trying to rescue as many as will come to their senses and live holy lives in Christ Jesus. The gift is free but it has a cost to us. We must surrender all of our lives to Christ in order to be saved in the end.

Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

1 John 3:15

The things we do or don’t do determines whether or not we have eternal life abiding in us. To abide is to stay, remain or continue. Jesus is synonymous with eternal life. If you abide in Christ you are automatically abiding in eternal life. He is the author of eternal life through faith in His Father.

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Galatians 6:7-8

We must avoid at all costs the things of this world that are soon to pass away. We must sow to the Spirit of God, doing things that Jesus Christ approves of. Oh, please spend your time wisely. Only godly, spiritual things will last forever. By doing righteousness and love towards God and others right now, you are ensuring that you will be found worthy of eternal life. Your eternal future depends on what you do in this current life. Use the gifts God has given you wisely. Invest your time in things that eternally profit. Then, you will not be ashamed on judgment day.

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

1 Timothy 6:12

We must lay hold on eternal life. In the Greek lay hold means to seize or grab. We have an enemy that is trying desperately to destroy us and to keep us from eternal life in Christ. We must FIGHT! The victory is assured if we will only humble ourselves and follow Jesus. It is by faith in Christ that we inherit the promise of eternal life. Keep your faith with all diligence, for if you do these things, you will never fall. May we all live a life of faith and love that pleases God. See you on judgment day, when all lives will be revealed for what they truly were. Amen.

Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?

Daniel 3:14-15

When we refuse to go the way of the world and worship its false gods, there is always persecution and affliction to be had by the saints of God. The greek word for holy and the greek word for saint are the same word, meaning one that is pure or that has been separated by the fire of affliction. The king of this world, satan, always has threats for us if we will not go his way of filthiness and unrighteousness. Sometimes his threats come from friends or family members. Sometimes from doctors or governmental officials. His threats are empty. We must obey God rather than men or rather than satan. God promises great reward for those who refuse to touch the unclean thing. Let’s embrace the testing and trials of life, for Christ has overcome the world. There is nothing to fear in the furnace of affliction. When we are tried we shall come forth as gold, and God will be pleased with our holy character and life.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

Daniel 3:16-18

It takes a bold and courageous stand to withstand the furnace of fire. We must make a choice to be righteous and hold fast to that decision no matter what happens. We won’t stand alone, for the Lord will minister to us in our time of trial. We must speak the words of life, for that is how we overcome this world. It is by our holy testimony of Jesus that we overcome the devil and his schemes and tricks. There is no turning back to our past life of sin. We must embrace the fire, embrace the testing, embrace the affliction. It is for our ultimate salvation in Christ that we endure testing, just as Christ was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. He is our holy example to follow. We can do it, for He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us.

Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

Daniel 3:24-25

When we obey Jesus Christ and keep His commandments, we will pass through the fire but we shall not be burned. We may be temporarily bound by the enemy but when we enter the fire our bounds will be loosed! Hallelujah! The fire is for our benefit. When we embrace the fire, we embrace Jesus Christ Himself, for He is our holiness and righteousness. He walks with us through the trials of life. He is the fourth man in the fire with us and our brothers and sisters. Jesus has already suffered the fires of affliction for us, but we must go the way of Jesus, picking up our cross daily and following Him. He has chosen us in the fires of affliction. Only the pure in heart will see God and what purifies more than the fire? It burns away anything that is not pleasing to the Lord. We must be refined in order to be suitable for Christ’s presence in heaven.

Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire. And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them. Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort. Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.

Daniel 3:26-30

The fire is nothing to fear. If we will embrace the suffering of the moment, the trial by fire, we will not be harmed. Only by passing through the death may we have the life that is in Christ Jesus. The fire has no power over us and will not harm us. It is for our glory and the pleasing of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The world will see us. We are a living testimony to the world, that there is indeed a reward for serving God and walking through His trials and chastising. Some will come out of the world when they see our example. Those that don’t will be judged by our holy lives. They could have had the same benefits, but they would not.

The end result of the fire is not death but LIFE! The 3 Hebrew children were promoted at the end of the trial. That is our fate as well. God will always promote the faithful, but only after they have passed through the fire.

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

James 1:2-4

Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

1 Peter 1:6-7

The Word of God declares that we should be joyful and rejoicing through the midst of temptations and trials. They may originate with the enemy of our souls, but it is ultimately working together for our good who love God. The only thing that matters is that we be ready to meet Jesus Christ when He appears. Our trials are only for a short time in this life, but these things are not worthy to be compared with the GLORY that shall be revealed in us at the coming of Jesus!

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

Isaiah 43:2

Just like the Hebrew children, the fire will not burn us. It will only burn those things that aren’t eternal. It will only burn away death, leaving us with only life remaining. The fire is our friend, doing the works of Jesus Christ in our hearts and spirits. Call upon the Lord when you are passing through the fires of affliction! He will hear you and answer you. He will give you the presence of His Holy Spirit to aid you when you are tempted. Don’t be afraid, the trial is not sin. Only when your will gives in to the trial do you sin. Christ enables us to always say NO to the temptation and YES to His will for our lives, which is love and perfection in love. All must pass through the fire. If we try to avoid the fire, we will suffer loss. Patiently endure the fires of life and in the end you will come forth a true Christian, ready to rejoice in the presence of God Almighty forever and ever. Amen.

Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.

Daniel 2:34-35

And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

Daniel 2:44

God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. Who could predict that God would use a stone to bring to nothing the governmental kingdoms of the world? That stone is Jesus Christ, who instituted an eternal kingdom through His death and resurrection. No temporal king or president can stop the power of the kingdom of God, for its power comes from the Spirit of Christ. The temporary kingdoms of the world are ordained by God. How much more His eternal kingdom and glory in the church of Jesus Christ? This is the kingdom God wants everyone, everywhere to be a part of. This is the mountain, beautiful for its elevation in Christ, that God wants all His people to live in.

I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

Daniel 7:13-14

Jesus Christ called Himself the Son of man. He was fully human and fully God. This prophecy states that Christ’s kingdom is made up of all people, nations and languages. He is the stone cut out without hands. That is, this is the Lord’s doing, it is marvelous in our eyes. No man could create the beautiful and glorious kingdom that the Lord has instituted through the blood of Jesus Christ. This is the mountain that fills the whole earth, that people may flow into the kingdom of God. It takes a choice of mankind’s freewill in order to enter this kingdom or mountain. No one will be forced to be a part of the kingdom of God. We are to exercise our will and choices to make our calling and election sure on the foundation of Jesus Christ.

And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

Isaiah 2:2

God always planned that in the last days, beginning with the days of Jesus Christ, that there would be a mountain to show forth His praise. His kingdom, His house, His tabernacle are all made up of men and women, purified by the blood of Jesus Christ. They willingly offer up the sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving unto the Lord our God. Again, this is an eternal kingdom, made up of the eternal spirits of just men and women made perfect by the blood of Jesus Christ. This is the mountain we need to be partakers of. There is a counterfeit mountain, as we shall soon see.

Behold, I am against thee, O destroying mountain, saith the LORD, which destroyest all the earth: and I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burnt mountain.

Jeremiah 51:25

And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.

Revelation 8:8-9

The earth is made up of free moral agents called human beings. They are all made in the image of God, with a will to choose good. Some exercise their will unto righteousness and flow into the kingdom of God, His holy mountain that fills the whole earth. Some exercise their will unto disobedience and flow into the mountain called Babylon. This deceitful mountain destroys and kills every person it touches. The holy mountain is a life giving mountain, while Babylon is nothing but a mountain of death and destruction. All the saints represent the kingdom of God, the holy mountain. All the sinners represent the kingdom of satan, the destroying mountain. God builds up in love, while satan tears down in selfishness. Which mountain will you be a part of? Choose you this day whom you will serve!

And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

Revelation 17:1-5

This mountain or woman called Babylon is the mother of harlotry. She is a whore. She has left her first love of Jesus Christ, the man she is supposed to be married to. She is committing all kinds of spiritual fornication with the inhabitants of the earth, the world, spiritually called Egypt and Babylon. She sits on many waters, which represent people of all nations and tongues. There is no part of the world where this destroying mountain has not touched, just like there is no part of the world where the healing mountain of Christ has not been seen. This whore is very alluring and seductive. Every wicked work and evil thing is found in her. She rides on the back of her father, satan. He is the spirit at work in the children of disobedience. Every time one disobeys Christ, he or she is participating in Babylon. We must guard our hearts and listen only to the Word of God. Just as the spiritual mountain of Christ starts with the seed of the Word of God, so does the destroying mountain of satan start with a single lie, “thou shalt not surely die”. That is, you can sin and not be separated from the eternal life that is in Jesus Christ. Babylon is full of lies. It promises much but delivers little. The true riches are in Jesus Christ. True joy and satisfaction is found in Jesus Christ alone. Eternal glory belongs unto God and His people.

And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

Revelation 18:4

God has a remedy for those who want to be holy. Come out of Babylon! Come out of the destroying mountain to the loving mountain of Jesus Christ and His eternal kingdom. Babylon is a lie. It will soon pass away, with all its allurements and deceptions. All the lusts of the world will vanish in an instant, at the 2nd coming of Christ! This present earth and its deceitful works will be burned up in the glory of Jesus Christ at His coming. Be careful not to be part of Babylon. Her influence is in all the earth. Her influence is very subtle and deceiving. Things are not what they seem in the world. We can only trust the eternal Words of Jesus Christ. Partake of the stream of water that flows from the throne of God, the living Word of God. It will keep you on the strait and narrow path that leads to life. Come out from among them, and be separate, and touch not the unclean thing and God will receive you and will be a Father unto you. Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself. This will keep you as a pillar in the house of God, the holy mountain that fills the whole earth. The influence of God and the influence of satan are in all the earth. Which mountain will you live in? Which mountain will influence you today?