The awakening in Psalm 17

Have you heard the words of Jesus in the Psalms?

They are there.

All the poetry in the Bible expounds His wondrous works.

Even when the Beloved, David so eloquently penned what he thought was his own words ... they were really the words of the BELOVED Himself.

Join me as we hear Jesus in the poetry of Psalm 17 ... every word a grand prophecy ...

A Marvellous Work

Don't you just love the turn-around?

... how that when all seems lost and hopeless and desolate and impossible and desperate and futile and out-of-control ...

... and the answer comes ...

You must be kidding

I love how Jesus just cuts to the point.

At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them Mat 18:1-2

Just that?

The problem with finding but still searching ...

We are taught to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all other needs will be added.

Seek first and find.

And it is true ...

... but what when you find?

Do you keep seeking then?

What do we do when we follow?

Ever heard a preaching where you are told to follow Jesus?

Have you ever heard the prerequisites and rules and obligations for following Jesus?

Have you been told how the true follower looks?

What you must leave?

Give up?

And do?

Adolos - unbeguiled Word of God

When it comes to the Word of Truth, the pure Gospel itself ... mixture with anything else becomes a deadly and lethal thing!

Just a little poison mixed into the most healthy meal or drink can kill you and totally defeats the good qualities and nutrients of that meal.

Saved from our business of works

The mind game of the enemy is over!

We know how the accuser operates ...

The trump card of the enemy is not just to make us feel guilty, but more so to make us feel ashamed ...

Married anew

I get all excited when I read a "therefore"!

Why?

Because it brings a therefore.

Things are never the same after a "therefore".

The best "therefore" of all

The Grandest Plan!

There is a wisdom so great,

A love so immense and profound,

A desire beyond comprehension,

A yearning that burns with the brightest light that it all culminated in the grandest, perfect plan of al time ...

Substance

We have spoken many times of Faith.

And how that Faith is a Person (check here and here and here and elsewhere).

And how that we have each been dealt THE SET Measure of Faith.

But all of this stands on what?

Well, funny you should ask ...

Let's get to the substance

One of my favorite verses is Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Heb 11:1

To get a clearer picture we are going to have to look at some basic Greek.

The word used here for substance is hupostasis, directly translated as support or essence or assurance.

It is a compound Greek word from hupo which basically means to be under or of a place that is or from whence, and the word histēmi which means to stand or abide or establish, appoint, bring, continue, ...

Hupostasis?

To be under the Abidance.

TO BE ESTABLISHED IN SUPPORT. To be established in the original place that God intended.

To place oneself within the guidance of Him who abides.

To be unshaken in the established Word, Jesus!

Can you see that?

Look and see?

When we are established in our Support, we look further.

We look not at what this world presents as the truth. We look beyond to see the real Truth!

We (and our vision) are not hindered by our circumstances. We see Jesus! We walk by faith. Not by sight. 2Co 5:7

And if we do not see?

We have been given dominion.

We speak the things that are not as though they were!

In the image of God, who ordained us with power and authority to rule and have dominion on this earth, we speak the Truth until we see evidence - Him. While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2Co 4:18

Where is the evidence?

The evidence is already there. His name is Jesus! In Him all are blessed. In Him each and every good and perfect gift presents itself. In Him there is no sickness, no death, no lack, no discouragement, no pain, no shame ...

Speak and command those things, the things that you as an heir is entitled to. Speak to those things that are not as though they are so that they present themselves to the heir in the Kingdom of God!

Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. Heb 11:3

Before God created this earth and the heavens and all that we now see, there was nothing to see at first. But He saw it by Faith and spoke it into being, Father God Who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. Rom 4:17

Jesus, the substance and the evidence of the finished work of the cross!

Looking again at the Feast of Trumpets, Rosh Hashana

Feast of trumpets (Rosh Hashanah)

I am again amazed at how many people feel obliged to celebrate the Jewish feasts.

What amazes me even more is just how wonderfully Jesus had completely fulfilled each and every one of these feasts.

In and around September the Jewish feast of Rosh Hashanah is celebrated (The dates on our western calendar differs every year because our calendar is not synchronized with the Hebrew calendar. In 2015 it was on 14 to 15 September, in 2016 it was on 3 to 4 October, in 2017 on 21 to 22 September, 2018 on 10 to 11 September and 18 to 20 September 2020).

Let's ask some questions about the feast

Heritage of the saints here on earth

In South Africa September is Heritage month. 

You find that many of the diverse cultures will celebrate their heritage and culture throughout the month by dressing in colourful attire, participating in cultural events and taking part in activities that celebrate whence they come from.

All well and good ... what about the bride of Christ?

Teacher - YAH-rah and bridling

Unbridled horses are just strong, elegant and beautiful animals that serve no purpose, except to satisfy their own needs.

Yet, once bridled, they can fulfill a multitude of useful purposes with all the power and might that they have.

... its the same with man ...

If we are not taught (by the Holy Spirit) we are without understanding, like a horse or a mule running wild and without purpose.

The question is: How to bridle oneself?

What is a fervent prayer?

We can never underestimate prayer.

The finished work of Jesus goes beyond our imaginations.

Jesus died on a cross, not just to save you and heal you and secure your position in Him, but also to restore man into his original position of authority.

Surety

I find that sometimes even Grace believers need reassurance.

Some get ill. Some are stolen from. Some are discouraged. Some are disappointed in life …

Protected with exceedingly great joy - agalliasis

The word of God is different.

It is so amazing that when you are warned and told to watch out for the enemy, you are at the same time comforted and reminded that you are protected by Someone with the wildest, most extravagant, supernatural joy over you.

Is this even possible?

Why not just go? Why therefore?

Why did Jesus not say "go"?

Why did He say "... therefore go"?

I bet you there is a reason!

And it's a GOOD one too!

Beware of enticing philosophy

Man made ordinances and traditions can strip us of our identity in Christ.

I essence we could allow ourselves to be stripped of our identity in Christ by the very choices we make.

How?

By persuasion of deceit for the love of wisdom ...

What?

Build the house - oikodomē

How do we proceed with the Gospel?

Amid all the ungodliness and strive and and deception and lies and idol worship that is going on in the world ... today ...

How do we proceed with our calling?

How do we act and react and move and find our being?

Death is abolished - katargeō

Jesus abolished death.

What? People are still dying, Daniel. Have you noticed?

Yes, but are they?

Paul writing to his spiritual son, Timothy who was sent on an apostolic mission to one of the greatest idol worshiping cities of all times
, Ephesus, writes words of encouragement to him.

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

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

But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: 2Ti 1:7-10

What is Paul saying and why?

Paul is encouraging his spiritual son, Timothy who appears to have been going through some  difficult times and criticisms.

Paul is saying to Timothy be encouraged, stir up the Gift, the Spirit of God inside. Do not listen to the wrong spirit, the Spirit that instills fear. Listen to the One Who overwhelms you with love and power and make you think straight in line with Truth Himself.

Maybe some paraphrasing is required here ...

He says therefore don't be quiet on how good God is in Jesus, nor of those testifying about His goodness. 

Partake of the endurance of the Good News by applying the power of your dominion as a son of God. This was the original plan of God, His calling for man from the beginning, to rule not by our own strength and might, but by the finished work of Jesus Christ given to us even before time was. This true Grace toward man was beautifully confirmed by Jesus, God manifest in flesh.

It is made tangible and within reach for all by our Saviour, Jesus, who had katargeō death. He brought only life and eternal living, face to face with man. He is the wondrous Gospel! 

katargeō?

katargeō means to make entirely useless, to destroy, do away with entirely, to totally abolish, to finish off for good both literally or figuratively.

Case closed!

... only life and eternal living, face to face with man for man to receive!

Amen.

HalleluYAH, Amen!

GIGO - we are what we eat

We are all familiar with the saying garbage-in-garbage-out. 

It is used a lot in the world of computer programming and data analysis. But it holds true for most of life ...

We are what we eat ... so the nutritionists say.

Are we?

Justification and Righteousness

If you look at yourself ... just how acceptable are you?

Is there room for improvement?

Somewhat ...?

Slightly ...?

What exactly is the picture you see looking in the mirror?

Amazing what the brain-washed mind can see!

What is this all about?

hopoios - what quality of person are you?

ὁποῖος Hopoios - What manner of person are you?

What kind of Greek question is this?

This is really the question ...

To be or not to be ...

Being a human-being or being a human-doing

Built to specifications!

My dear friend, church, house, holy one ...

Can I call you that?

Do you feel comfortable responding to that?

Do you consider yourself that?

Holy? House? Church? Friend of God?

Ultimate Grace to those in bondage!

I am sometimes astonished that even today people get confused over who exactly God is.

They mix good and evil and call that God. 

They mix distance and delay with living within and now, and call that God.

They mix law and Grace and call that God.

... very much the same as in the time of Moses.

Continually consume my mind - kisses!

Don't you just love the Message translation when it comes to conveying feelings and emotions and the heart of Jesus?

There is something about love-language that instantly focuses your attention.

Hear Jesus' voice when it comes to His lover in Songs of Solomon 1:1-4:

The accomplished Word and Perfect Liberty

I am sure that you have heard many sermons on the last words of Jesus before He gave up his life.

"(It is) FINISHED"

This word had been greatly dissected and explained and interpreted and reinterpreted over and over again.

Why is it so important?

What did Jesus say?

Nevertheless - being inside of us!

Whenever Jesus says "nevertheless", He has my full attention. 

When He says "nevertheless" He actually says: "contrary to what you are thinking ..."

"In contrast to your line of thought and your feelings ..."

"Instead of your convictions ..."

Left or right?

I recently said during a fellowship that when we read the Word of God, we should do so with our brains in tact.

Be present ...

... apply your mind, man!

So, the other day I read the book of an old covenant prophet with my mind in tact ... and was blown away!

Look at this quote:

I soooo like the word dioti!!

Dioti is used in the Word of God 22 times (New Testament).

Every time it is in exactly the right place and for the right purpose.

Dioti is a word.

It is a conjunction.

What?

I guess we all need a revelation of dioti(c) proportions!

It's simple ...

Test the Wind

Recently in a fellowship group we spoke about hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit.

To the current-day Christian, paralyzed with the poison of religious distortion, this is still a very strange concept. How can Christ live inside of you without the anointing having to come over you from somewhere out there?

Refined Silver

Isn't social media just wonderful?

So many people spreading so many "Gospels" ...

... and we pass them on!

Someone posted the post below from a site a while ago and I just had to react to this kind of sick, twisted message.

As if the truth doesn't matter

The post reads as follows:

Plērophoreō - naked or clothed?

plērophoreō

What?

The Gospel is the Grace message that declares that you are fully righteous.

It is the righteousness-message.

It is the message of an imputed condition.

Restored! How to pray...

Brainwashed Christians pray pitifully.

They are led to believe that life and death is not in the power of the tongue by a passive, clueless institutional church.

They don't speak to God. They don't speak Life. And they don't speak to their circumstances.

They do not exercise their authority because they are utterly confused and defeated in religion. Destitute!

In one word, it is just pathetic!

Nehemiah - Yah comforts

The books of Ezra (help or aid) and Nehemiah (Yahveh comforts) are essentially a shadow and summary of God's redemption plan and the response of the redeemed.

It is the story of the Holy Spirit at work.

It is the story of the precious Holy Spirit testifying and teaching the very being of our Father: "And they sang together

Shout with a voice of triumph - rinnâh רִנָּה

The sons of Korah saw triumph (רִנָּה - pictograph says: the Highest life revealed).

Here is how. 

Read for yourself ...

A better Promise!

Here is some logic to start this post of with:

Einstein's definition of stupidity is simply doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.

This is exactly what the old covenant requires. And for so many thousands of years God has been trying to demonstrate to His beloved this very same exact point ... only, we have been so occupied with ourselves that we never got it ...

Teaching contrary to the law

There is a way that one can identify a true Grace preacher. 

Those hearing him who are imprisoned by the law will always come with an accusation that: 

This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law. Act 18:13

... and then there will always be others in authority who do not care ...

kubeia - dice playing of men

... henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.

The world of the institutional church has become a world of chance. Luck.

Adversity, prosperity, blessing curse ... all happens by chance. Then, when you get healed or delivered ... chance again. Even if God heals you, you are healed if He feels so. It is a world that says everything that happens is determined by the throw of a dice - sleight of men.

Double-edged Sword?

We read God's Word to discover God's Word.

The Bible is NOT firstly about us.

It is NOT a manual to be followed whereby we may attain righteousness.

It is NOT a set of principles or rules or guidelines or prescription or ordinances or recipe that, when followed, makes us right before God.