Focus, today, is upon Jesus Christ as the only provision from Deity for the preservation of Creation, existence, and life from the makeup of divinity. The mature followers of Jesus participate as agents for the Savior’s priesthood, and rule as king. Those opposing unity of Christ and the Holy Spirit as the one sent from the full divine person we call the GODhead also condemn the word sent, sacred inheritance, repentance and godly sorrow for sin, the cleansing and healing of Creation as well as the sovereignty of the Father who has done the sending. Those who come having an antichrist spirit, and in the name of the Adversary, bring only condemnation, confusion, death, deceit, despair, destruction, and lies. Consider the following, and the presentation below:
Deuteronomy 18: 18-20, King James Version (KJV): 18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. 19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him. 20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.
Galatians 4: 4-7, KJV: 4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Acts 3: 22-26, KJV: 22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. 23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. 24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. 25 Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. 26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
Matthew 18: 4-9, KJV: 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. 6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! 8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. 9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
The writer at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Annsan_In_ Him” (Level with 209,351 points, a member since May 10, 2007) posted the following:
How can it be true that the only work God wants of us is to believe in the one he has sent?
That's what Jesus said in John 6:29, answering people who said "We want to perform God's works, too. What should we do?" Jesus told them, "This is the only work God wants from you: believe in the one he has sent." Can anyone expand on this to explain its meaning?
THE GOLDEN ARROW: God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high: Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. (Hebrews 1: 1-4, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: The Evidence GOD Exists? (09/29/2015); Why Prophets Were Sent to Israel (11/23/2014); The Need for Prophecy Then and Now (11/24/2014); Why Was A Son Sent? (11/10/2013); Promise of A Spirit? (11/11/2013); Our Need for a Son (03/04/2013); Unless You Repent (03/05/2013); How Was GOD Known Before Jesus? (10/06/2012); Jesus, King of Earth? (10/07/2012)
“Annsan_In_ Him”, many have been sent from GOD. Various principles for Deity working among the living are quietly displayed through both Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit being “sent” to minister the divine presence among mankind. Along with protection from GOD, those who are agents of divinity will be instruments of divine authority, forgiveness, love, mercy, and power. Even so, for many mature Christian believers, “the one sent” is a sign and seal upon divine prophecy that authenticates and verifies the origin, and truth for sacred covenants, events (we say, miracles) and promises as well as utterance by the Holy Spirit through chosen spokespersons (we say, apostles and prophets). Accepting and endorsing the one sent is pivotal to continued existence and permanence through the operations of divinity (we say, eternal life).
The birth of Jesus Christ upon the earth is unlike finite one-time events, for it continues to put forth fresh meaning, quality, and value as an aspect of things that are eternal. Christ is an appearance or manifestation of GOD in flesh (we say, Incarnate), and operates through, upon and within the consciousness and self-will of all created beings and livings creatures—even those who disbelieve, like Phara0h whose heart was hardened to repeatedly challenge Moses).
Through Christ, all the things of divinity intended for the living are to be crystallized, clearly displayed, carried out, and completed. Because men must apprehend these things through gradual life experience (e.g., discovery, growth, learning, suffering), teachings to speak of the divine operations on behalf of mankind use such terms as Advent, assurance, certainty, faith, longsuffering, maturing, patience, revelation, testimony, “the second death,” and waiting. Consider again the following from the holy writings:
(1.) Exodus 3: 12-14, King James Version (KJV): 12 And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain. 13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? 14 And God said unto Moses, I AM That I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
(2.) 2nd Chronicles 36: 14-16, KJV: 14 Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen; and polluted the house of the LORD which he had hallowed in Jerusalem. 15 And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place: 16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy.
(3.) John 17: 1-3, KJV: 1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
(4.) John 14: 15-18, KJV: 15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
(5.) Mark 9: 37, KJV: 37 Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.
There is far more to be said, understood, and spiritually apprehended. (Sixty-six books of the Bible can not be reduced to a few verses. Thus, for example, it should be shared, (6.) Habakkuk 2: 2-4, KJV: 2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. 3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. 4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.) I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
Scripture
points are shared, today, in reply to concern aroused by a fake report
that the Vatican decided to stop waiting for the coming of Christ (see http://www.examiner.com/article/fake-vatican-report-creates-real-outrage-over-end-times-prophecy). Consider again the following Scriptures and the response below:
Isaiah 50: 9-11, King James Version (KJV): 9 Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up. 10 Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God. 11 Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.
Acts 5: 29-32, KJV: 29 Then Peter and the other
apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. 30
The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a
tree. 31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a
Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness
of sins. 32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
Hebrews 10: 35-37, KJV:
35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence
of reward. 36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done
the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 37 For yet a little
while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
The
fighter at “Yahoo! Answers” who uses the ID “BleuMonday” (Level 1 with
175 points, a member since July 11, 2013) posted the following:
Is it a sin as a Christian to not believe in the return of Jesus, and are you "waiting!?"?
It's no surprise that The Vatican stopped waiting for the return of Jesus upon its 1,891st anniversary of doing so.
Here is an article link if interested- http://www.examiner.com/article/vatican-announces-jesus-is-not-coming-back
I
don't think anyone is actually "waiting," but what if any is the major
belief on this subject by Christians? To all the atheists, try not to
have too much of a field day with this, I'm actually looking for serious
answers from believers. Thanks!
THE
GOLDEN ARROW: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the
knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power
hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and
godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and
virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious
promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature,
having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And
beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to
virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance
patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly
kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in
you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be
barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But
he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath
forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather,
brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if
ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be
ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ. (2nd Peter 1: 2-11, KJV)
THE
DOUBLE DAGGER: A Promise of Return (01/15/2016); In Times of Progress?
(12/21/2015); Christ Coming Soon? (10/16/2015); About The End Of The
World (08/30/2015); Becoming Ripe for Harvest? (07/03/2015); The Soon
Return of Jesus? (01/05/2015); About the Second Coming? (01/18/2014);
Unprofitable Servants? (01/19/2014)
“BleuMonday”,
for believers who trust the holy writings as a true record showing
divinity made known and knowable through thousands of lives and
thousands of events, over the course of thousands of years, the
operations of sin oppose the continued existence of divine law, the
Creator and Law Giver, and essential order put forth as a platform for
the universe. The importance of commitment and cooperation with the
things from divinity intended as benefit for created beings and living
creatures should be self-evident. The Christian believer is affirmed
and endowed with divine substance through acknowledgement of
proclamations, promises and prophecies from GOD along with specific expectations
(we say, hope) believers are commanded to embrace regarding coming
sacred events. Consider again the following verses from the Bible:
(1.)
John 14: 1-3, King James Version (KJV): 1 Let not your heart be
troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s
house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would
have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and
prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself;
that where I am, there ye may be also.
(2.)
Acts 1: 7-11, KJV: 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know
the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon
you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all
Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 9 And
when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up;
and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked
stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in
white apparel; 11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye
gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into
heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
(3.)
John 8: 23-26, KJV: 23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I
am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I said
therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe
not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. 25 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same
that I said unto you from the beginning. 26 I have many things to say
and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the
world those things which I have heard of him.
(4.)
Acts 10: 40-44, KJV: 40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed
him openly; 41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before
God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose
from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to
testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the
Judge of quick and dead. 43 To him give all the prophets witness, that
through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of
sins. 44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all
them which heard the word.
(5.) 2nd Timothy 4: 1-3, KJV: 1 I charge thee
therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the
quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word;
be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all
long suffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will
not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to
themselves teachers, having itching ears;
(6.) Revelation 1: 7-8, KJV: 7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also
which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of
him. Even so, Amen. 8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the
ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come,
the Almighty.
There
is far more to be said, understood, and spiritually apprehended. (For
example, (7.) 2nd Timothy 4: 8, KJV: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for
me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall
give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that
love his appearing.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be
it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
Points
are shared, here, on the correctness of continuing to expect the return
of Jesus Christ to the earth. Mature Christian believers receive
Christ as Messiah, and as a divine High Priest who now is making
atonement for sin within the Temple of heaven. Acknowledging our
present time as also being a “Day of Atonement,” believers now afflict themselves (i.e., humble themselves in fasting, mourning
(not bereavement, sorrow for sin), obedience, prayer, and study of the
holy writings) knowing our High Priest is entered into the Holiest of
Holies applying consecrated blood for remission of sin. More than this,
a word of divine promise has been spoken. In the same way we are not
saved by obeying the Ordinance of Humility, washing the feet of others,
we are not saved by our other demonstrations of faith. Rather,
salvation is imparted on the basis of grace, proclamation, and promise.
Just as a pregnant woman and others around her become increasingly
aware that the birth of a child is coming, yet, do not know exactly what
day or hour she will go into labor, so we know Christ is coming,
without knowing the exact time. Believers are to persevere and prepare
by continuing faith, and performing good works as the expression of new life and rebirth in Christ. Examine again the following Scriptures, and consider the presentation below:
Leviticus 23: 27-29, King James Version (KJV): 27 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be
a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye
shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. 28 And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God. 29 For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.
Numbers 23: 19, KJV: God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
Isaiah 55: 10-12, KJV:
10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth
not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud,
that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11 So
shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return
unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall
prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 12 For ye shall go out
with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills
shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the
field shall clap their hands.
Isaiah 61: 1-3, KJV: 1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD
hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me
to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and
the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD,
and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 3 To
appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for
ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit
of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the
planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
1st Thessalonians 3: 12-13, KJV: 12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do
toward you: 13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in
holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ with all his saints.
1st Thessalonians 5: 1-5, KJV:
1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I
write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the
Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say,
Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail
upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren,
are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5
Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are
not of the night, nor of darkness.
The writer at “Yahoo! Answers” that ID “Sherry” (Level 1 with 2 points, a member since July 19, 2007) posted the following:
Is it a mistake to assume Jesus will never return because He didn't return around the year 2000 ?
THE GOLDEN ARROW: I charge thee
therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the
quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word;
be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all
long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not
endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to
themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears
from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all
things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full
proof of thy ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time
of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished
my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up
for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge,
shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also
that love his appearing. (2nd Timothy 4: 1-8, KJV)
THE
DOUBLE DAGGER: In Times of Progress? (12/21/2015); Ongoing and
Unfinished? (11/22/2015); Wanting To Know When? (10/18/2015); Christ
Coming Soon? (10/16/2015); That GOD Is Faithful? (08/31/2015); About The
End Of The World (08/30/2015); The Imminent Return of Christ?
(07/19/2015); Becoming Ripe for Harvest? (07/03/2015); Sacrificed and
Risen? (10/06/2013); Assurances of Salvation? (10/07/2013)
“Sherry”,
for mature Christian believers, proclaiming the promise of Christ to
come again is an undeniable aspect of sharing the full Gospel (we say, good news).
The Savior’s Advent (Second Coming) must occur for the further
fulfillment of redemption and salvation begun in heaven, carried out
upon the earth, and soon to be completed by his presence. Many
sensitive elements are involved that make the doctrine of his coming
“non-negotiable”. Included are manifesting the authority, legitimacy,
and power in GOD’s word; continuing eternal revelation (i.e., divinity
becoming known and visible to created beings and living creatures);
displaying the integrity and righteousness of GOD as well as meeting all
the demands of atonement, judgment, and sanctification. For those who
have received the same faith that was in Jesus upon the earth, there is
no issue or question of “if” or “when” the Father will conclude the
Creation. We are commanded to be vigilant (Watch and pray!), and no
further warning will be given. Our present condition is to be
acknowledged as an expression of divine mercy and salvation that affirms
our expectation (we say, hope). We are now in an ongoing
process where permanent changes gradually are being made to the
character, nature, and substance of those who are “born again.” The
transformation to fit mankind as an eternal companion of divinity will
be completed as we are caught up to meet the Lord at the time of his
appearing. Consider again the following:
(1.)
2nd Peter 1: 2-4, King James Version (KJV): 2 Grace and peace be
multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our
Lord, 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things
that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of
him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto
us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be
partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in
the world through lust.
(2.) Revelation 1: 7-8, KJV: 7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also
which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of
him. Even so, Amen. 8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the
ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come,
the Almighty.
(3.)
John 14: 1-3, KJV: 1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in
God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were
not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And
if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you
unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
There
is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually
apprehended. (For example, (4.) Romans 8: 5-9, KJV: 5 For they that
are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are
after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is
enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither
indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the
Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of
Christ, he is none of his.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be
useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
Proper reading of a Scripture verse often identified as being from sacred “wisdom literature” is in focus, today. Also, there is more on why prayer may not be enough. The “Yahoo! Answers” writer using ID “Jack Xi Jin” (Level 1 with 18 points, a member since may 14, 2013) posted the following:
What is the meaning of Ecclesiastes 11:3?
deeper meaning?
THE BATTLE AXE: Prayer not Enough? (07/12/2013)— (4) In the same way the absence or presence of faith is not to depend upon a person regularly hearing or seeing miracles, ones belief and trust in GOD is not to depend upon the evidence of answered or unanswered prayer. Faith permits certainty and knowing based upon a person’s inner content being influenced by and interacting with divine spirit matter. (5) Until believers mature to higher levels of faith and submission to GOD, they will continue to engage ambitions, desires and hopes generated from material, physical and social objects. While GOD has authority and power to grant all that we might ask in prayer, all things we may ask are not expedient for our service as covenant partners, examples, leaders, priests and the righteous offspring of GOD. Nor do all things further our complete transformation into those glorified, justified, immortal, incorruptible, redeemed, and sanctified. (6) In addition to confession of sin, confession of need and declarations of forgiveness are aspects of effectual prayer. Given that prayer is to be a further demonstration of humility, love and unselfishness the better content is what we give and release to GOD. Included are acknowledgment, glory, gratitude, honor, praise, and worship. It remains that the prayers of believers are most correct, and in greatest harmony with GOD—not when pursuing a private agenda or personal affairs—when asking for divine judgment; fulfillment of sacred proclamations, promises, and prophecies; outpourings of divine spirit; repentance; salvation; and the fulfillment of eternal purpose. See Psalm 80: 3-7, Philippians 4: 5-7, 1st Corinthians 10: 22-24 and Romans 8: 26-30, KJV.
THE GOLDEN ARROW: There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? (John 3: 1-12, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: A Guide to Salvation (04/10/2013); Faith, Language and “Mystery” (04/11/2013); A Spirit Church? (04/04/2013); Spirit Matter (10/21/2012); Caesarea Philippi (10/22/2012); GOD Does Exist (03/20/2012); The “Original” Bible (03/21/2012); (09/04/2011) Dispatch 25: Comparing Spiritual Things
“Jack Xi Jin”, many serious believers in Christ would first caution you not to separate passages and verses that form a paragraph of the Scriptures. The message immediately becomes distorted and warped when taken out of context. The full context includes New Testament writings (see John 3, KJV). Even so, here are some points to consider that should help you to avoid spiritual confusion:
(1) The verse states that there are finite conditions, natural limitations (we say, laws), and peculiar sequences of events within the material sphere that holds created beings and living creatures.
(2) With verses 1-5, the following verse (# 4) goes on to assert that a person’s focus upon aspects of the material sphere does not produce knowledge of divinity and right relationship to the Creator any more than research and study (we say, meteorology, and science) of the wind produces authority over and control of the weather.
(3) Mankind is encouraged to apply information, make measured choices, and pursue meaningful goals despite lacking total knowledge of the human environment, and despite not having a perfect knowledge of GOD. Thus, unstated elements come into view that include confidence, faith, holy boldness, risk-taking, and trust.
As with all Scripture, there is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (4) Just as obtaining right knowledge of material reality often requires a person to take action, have contact, immerse themselves, participate in events and then wait, acquiring right relationship to GOD as Creator, Judge, redeemer, and Savior demands peculiar operations and responses through the ministry of Jesus Christ that appear to go forward or come into view only after extended periods of waiting. Much of what believers receive (baptism, church attendance, study of the Bible, etc.) is to enable and enrich ones wait.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
