Reflecting the Love of Christ

Matthew 25:34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: ³⁵ for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; ³⁶ I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

There are many people out there who need a helping hand but very few people are willing to help those in need. When we have compassion for the poor and sick, we reflect the love of Christ. Greed seems to control many people in our materialistic society, and the love of money outweighs compassion for the needy. There were times in my past when I went through crisis situations and could have used a friend, or a helping hand, but no one was there for me. People tend to run the other way when a person is experiencing hardships, like sickness, financial problems, or the death of a loved one. But Christians should be examples of love to a lost and dying world. The love of money is truly the root of all kinds of evil.

 1 Timothy 6:9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

I admire the fine work of ministries like the Salvation Army, homeless shelters, food pantries, shelters for battered women etc. My wife and I used to do volunteer work for a Salvation Army homeless shelter, and we found it to be very rewarding to be able to minister the love of Christ to those who were hurting. The entire world is a mission field, and if you know Christ, then you are a minister, as well as an ambassador for the kingdom of God. Not everyone is called to preach behind a pulpit, but we are all called to share our faith however we can, as well as reflect the attributes of Christ. Christ taught us to let our light shine before men and not to hide it under a basket.

^{MATT 5:14} “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

The Bible has many warnings in regard to neglecting the poor if you are able to make a difference. James the brother of Christ, said that faith without works is dead. I have heard many people say to those in need, "I will pray for you", but they neglect to help them. In the book of Acts, those who had an abundance shared with those who lacked, so that every need was met. We need to have the same compassion that the early church had.  

James 2:14  What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? ¹⁵ If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? ¹⁷ Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

There are many ministers today that are teaching their flocks to worship money, this is known as the prosperity gospel. It is appalling to me how many messages they preach are about, make me rich and bless me. What about blessing others and helping the poor? These wolves are blessing their own pocketbooks with the money from many who are struggling to pay their bills. Quite often these apostate ministers are living in million dollar mansions and driving very expensive cars. They are robbing God by fleecing the flock. The prosperity gospel is polar opposite to the teachings of Jesus Christ. However, I believe that God does prosper some to further advance his kingdom, but few people are good stewards of God's  blessings. You cannot worship God and money, because only one will be your master. 

Matt 6:24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.


Matt 25: 31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. ³² All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. ³³ And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. ³⁴ Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: ³⁵ for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; ³⁶ I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? ³⁸ When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? ³⁹ Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ ⁴⁰ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
⁴¹ “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: ⁴² for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; ⁴³ I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’
⁴⁴ “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ ⁴⁵ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ ⁴⁶ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”     

The Lord's Table - Revelation 12

Rev 12: 1 Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. ² Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.
³ And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. ⁴ His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. ⁵ She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. ⁶ Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

I believe that many of the Lord's children will be protected, as well as fed by the Lord, in the wilderness during the Great Tribulation. Even now, I believe God is raising up people to prepare a place of God's choosing, in remote areas for this time. I refer to this as the ministry of Joseph. During the seven years of plenty, God's servant Joseph, stockpiled enough food to feed both Egypt, as well as the surrounding nations for the seven year famine that followed.  God also, instructed Noah to build an ark for the survival of mankind, if Noah had not been obedient to the Lord, none of us would be here today. God did not build the ark for Noah, but instructed him how to do it, and it took Noah one hundred and twenty years to complete the ark. I believe that those who will hear God's voice will be prepared for this time of war, famine, as well as persecution.  God will have his ark's of safety and provision established in remote areas for this time. Now is the time to make preparation for the seven years of distress ahead. 

In Rev 12 we read about the woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a garland of twelve stars upon her head, this is a representation of Israel. The twelve stars are the twelve tribes of Israel, and she bore a male child who will rule the nations with a rod of iron, as well as will be caught up to Heaven, this of course is our Lord Jesus Christ.  The description of the woman is similar to Joseph's dream (Genesis 37:9-11). In that dream, the sun represented Jacob, the moon represented Joseph's mother Rachel, and the eleven stars were the sons of Israel which bowed down to Joseph. In this sign with twelve stars, Joseph is now among the other tribes of Israel. I also believe that this comparison to Joseph's dream is an indication of God's provision in the wilderness. The dragon who is making war with the woman is Satan, working through his anti-christ, and beast empire. 

  Rev 12:13  Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. ¹⁴ But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. ¹⁵ So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. ¹⁶ But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. ¹⁷ And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.  

Rev 12:13-17 speaks further of the persecution against the church. The woman is given two wings of an eagle so that she may fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for three and a half years. Satan (the dragon), is enraged and makes war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. The woman mentioned in this chapter is symbolic of Jewish believers in Christ, and the rest of her offspring is a reference to the gentile Christians. Rev 12 is not a reference to the modern day nation of Israel. It is a reference to both Jews, as well as gentiles in Christ. Apart from Christ, there is no salvation or protection from God. May those who have open hearts to God, read this prophecy and understand.  

Come as you are, but don't stay that way! Written by my wife!

 

It has been on my heart to write about what it means to be truly born again.  My last blog, "The Parable of the Lost Sheep," had to do with being lost, and allowing Jesus to find you and be saved.  However, once you have surrendered your heart, mind, and soul to Christ, you are not instantly saved forever.  The theory of eternal security is a lie of the devil in order to put Christians to sleep.  When we think there is grace for everything, and that our actions suffer no consequences because our salvation is guaranteed with one simple prayer, we can easily slip into a life of sin and comfortably stay there.

“Now, therefore,” says the Lord, “Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness.  Joel 2:12-13

It is very true that Christ accepts us as we are and He gave His life on the cross for our sins so we can have eternal life.  Yet it is also very true that, though we may come just as we are with all our faults, God expects us to change.  Jesus is a loving Father who readily forgives our sins as long as our repentance is sincere and we do not continue to live in sin.  Think of it this way:  if your child wrote on the living room walls and said, "I'm so sorry, please forgive me," you would forgive him.  If he does it again, you will still love him, but there will be consequences for his actions.  If he does it a third time, and continues to defy you and take advantage of your gracious heart, the consequences become more dire.  It is the same with our Heavenly Father.  Even more so since He is holy and it is His desire that we live holy lives if we are to follow Him.  That does not mean we have to be perfect, but we must seek out to destroy our sinful nature.

Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;  as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;  but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,  because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear;  knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,  but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.  I Peter 1:13-19

On my husband's blog "The Sword of the Spirit," http://swordofthespirit77.blogspot.com/ Mel wrote a blog in July 2015 titled "The Finish Line," http://swordofthespirit77.blogspot.com/2015/07/the-finish-line.html that goes along perfectly with my blog.  Here is some of what he wrote (I would encourage you to read his entire writing): 

"Most churches today are not teaching their people the truth in regard to salvation. They are taught that by simply reciting the sinner’s prayer that they are saved and the angels are singing in Heaven. The sinner’s prayer is a great prayer when done in sincerity, but this alone does not save a person’s soul, it is just the beginning. Most churches today are not teaching their people to repent of their sins and to be born again. To be born again, a person must become a new creation in Christ, and this means to be set apart from the world and unto God...  If Jesus Christ is truly the Lord of your life then his attributes will be apparent in your life. Christ said that any tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. 


"This life of probation, may be compared to running a race. We run this race of life hoping to obtain the prize, which is eternal life with God, but if we do not complete the race and cross the finish line, then all is lost... Paul was saying that like a runner in a race keeps his body in good physical condition, we must also keep our spiritual body in good condition so that we might be able to cross the finish line and win our crown.  Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.  Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.  I Corinthians 9:24 

"Christ said that those who endure unto the end shall be saved, if we fail to cross the finish line in victory, then all is lost... And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.  13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved.  14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:12

"The lukewarm church of the end time is preaching a greasy grace message that makes people feel good, instead of  teaching them the truth. When there is no distinction between the sinful world and the saints, then the salt has lost it’s savor and the truth has been turned into a lie. If we live, dress, talk, as well as act like sinners, then we are lost as well. Christ made atonement upon the cross for sins committed in ignorance, as well as for sins that are repented of. If we do not repent of willful sins, then there is no forgiveness. Atonement is not automatic, it follows repentance. No one is perfect of course, but we are called to righteousness, and this means to live right..."
 

"The Book of Revelation was given to the Apostle John by the angel of Jesus Christ. Within Revelation, Christ gave warnings to the various churches that they must keep the commandments of God or they would be cast away. In Rev 2:4 Christ told them that they had left their first love, he told them to repent, and do their first works over or he would remove their lampstand from it’s place. He also told the church of Sardis to repent, because their works, were not found to be perfect before God. Christ told the church of Laodicea that because they are lukewarm that he would vomit them out of his mouth. As you can see, the Word of God teaches us that it is very possible to fall from grace, due to sin, or lack of faith. It is time for the lukewarm churches to wake up and stop leading people astray. James states the truth very clearly, when he said that faith without works is dead."

 
Here are some more thoughts on this subject from a blog I wrote in June 2014 titled: "How do we survive this world?" http://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2014/06/how-do-we-survive-in-this-world.html which I also encourage you to read in its entirety. 
 
If we cry out to God, He will hear our pleas.  He wants to protect us and save us... Man’s desire for independence corrupts him more and more.  The mentality of not wanting to be told what to do is only getting worse... It is up to you to surrender yourself to God as well as your independence.  It is up to you to choose to live right and separate yourself from this world. 

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. II Chronicles 7:14
The key words there are “if,” and “humble themselves.”

The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit. Psalm 34:18

Humble yourself and admit you have done wrong.  Salvation begins with repentance and admittance of sin.  In spite of the very popular Calvinistic belief that, poof, you are now saved forever and will automatically go to heaven because you ask Jesus into your heart is a lie.  It is an excuse to live however you want because you are a “Christian.” There is no desire to please your Creator or live a truly Christian lifestyle. There is no self-evaluation or repentance. 

Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. Luke 9:23

I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.  I Corinthians 15:31 

Daily very simply means we must crucify our flesh every day not just once.   Psalm 139: 23-24 should be a daily prayer: Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.

So do we wait until some crazy gunman is at our door (so to speak) before we choose to make the decision to live a holy life?  Of course not.  There are no atheists in foxholes, so the saying goes.  And it is also true that God will have mercy on your soul if you wait until you are on your deathbed to call upon God and repent of your sins.  Yet, why would you wait until then?  If everyone died at the age of 99, most would wait until they were 98 ¾ to start living right.  But no one ever knows when their time on this world is coming to an end.  Nobody is invincible.  Age, race, wealth, none of it matters when you’re on a highway full of reckless drivers or the day you decide to go to the courthouse to renew your driver’s license just happens to be the same day a man with bombs storms in and blows the place up.    

For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. II Corinthians 6:2

 

 

Jesus longs to hold each of us in His arms.  He wants us to cross the Finish Line and not perish. 

 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. II Peter 8:10

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life John 3:16.

 

 

I'll end with a few more scriptures on salvation & repentance.

The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved.’ Acts 2:20-22

For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.  And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’ Acts 22:15-16

 

For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:12-13

He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8

Mystery Babylon

Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. ⁵ For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. 

In Revelation chapters 17 and 18 we read about mystery Babylon. I believe that this prophecy is in reference to both spiritual Babylon (harlot church), as well as physical Babylon (Rome, United States).  Bible prophecy tends to be multi-layered, which means it may have dual or tri significance. First, we will examine the spiritual meaning of the harlot who sits upon the back of the beast. 



Rev 17: 1 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, ² with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.”
³ So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. ⁴ The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. ⁵ And on her forehead a name was written:

MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT,
THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS
AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS
OF THE EARTH.

⁶ I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.

 

Rev 17:18 And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.”

 

Rev 17:18 states that the harlot is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth. I believe that this is a reference to both Rome, as well as the Roman Catholic Church. She is depicted as an adulterous woman clothed in purple and scarlet, scarlet is symbolic of sin, and purple is symbolic of royalty, as well as is the official color of the Roman Catholic Church. This adulterous woman sits on many waters and commits  fornication with the kings of the earth.  This is a depiction of the harlot church which rides upon the back of the beast (anti-christ, as well as his beast empire).  The biblical term Babylon is used many times within the old testament as a reference to sin and wickedness. There is also a similarity between the adulterous wife of Yahweh, mentioned in Ezekiel, and the harlot of Revelation. Just as Israel was unfaithful to God many times within the old testament, so much of the church is unfaithful to Christ today. To live in un-repented sin is to commit spiritual adultery. Mystery Babylon, is referred to as the mother of all harlots, I believe this is a reference to the Roman Catholic Church, as well as her offspring, the many protestant churches that preach a lukewarm message of compromise (grace without repentance). God commands his children to come out of the harlot churches.   

Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. ⁵ For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.

The dragon is a symbol of Satan, and it is interesting that many of the popes use the symbol of the dragon on their coat of arms, medals, shields, as well as grave guardians. In fact, dragon art work, as well as statues of dragons are found throughout the Vatican in Rome. I believe that this clearly shows that Satan is the god of the popes. I will post some pics of the Papal medals depicting satanic artwork.

The Lord has given me many dreams, in which he refers to the modern church as Babylon.  Within the dream of the lukewarm church, the Lord showed me many Christian congregations within a Roman Catholic Church building. The Lord referred to these harlot churches as the offspring of their mother church. The number one concern of the Lord is the sin in peoples lives. Many who profess to know Christ, are adulterous in God's eyes, because of sinful bondages in their lives, they are slaves to sin, instead of allowing the Lord to set them free. Here is a link to my dream of the lukewarm church.  http://twelfthhourendtimeministries.blogspot.com/2014/08/dreams-of-history-of-lukewarm-church.html

There are many similarities between Babylon, Rome and the United States. I believe that Rev 18 has a duel prophetic meaning, in which the modern Rome of the end times (United States) is depicted.  The book of Revelation was written by the Apostle John while he was imprisoned by the Romans on the isle of Patmos. At that time, Rome was the most powerful empire in the world, as well as the richest, through it's merchant trade. Today, the United States is the most powerful nation, as well as the richest economy in the world.

And according to Rev 18 it will burn in a single hour. This may refer to nuclear warfare. Rev 18 also states that the merchants of the world will mourn over her, because they were made rich through their commerce with her. Babylon, Rome, as well as the United States were melting pots of many ethnic groups. In fact, our federal government is based off of Rome's government which was the world's first democracy. Our Senate and House of Representatives are also modeled after Rome's equivalent. Even many of the buildings in Washington D.C. are of Greco-Roman architecture, including Capital Hill. The seal of the Caesars was the eagle with arrows in one talon and an olive branch in the other. And the motto of Rome was "E Pluribus Unum" meaning, out of the many one. Look on the back of your one dollar bill and you will see the same. I believe that only the United States meets the criteria to be the Rome of the end times. Like I stated before, Rev 17 and 18 depict both spiritual, as well as physical Babylon, and that is defined as wickedness.   

The Fall of Babylon the Great

Rev 18:1 After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. ² And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! ³ For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.”

⁴ And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. ⁵ For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. ⁶ Render to her just as she rendered to you, and repay her double according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her. ⁷ In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.’ ⁸ Therefore her plagues will come in one day—death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her.

The World Mourns Babylon’s Fall

⁹ “The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning, ¹⁰ standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.’
¹¹ “And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore: ¹² merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; ¹³ and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of men. ¹⁴ The fruit that your soul longed for has gone from you, and all the things which are rich and splendid have gone from you, and you shall find them no more at all. ¹⁵ The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, ¹⁶ and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! ¹⁷ For in one hour such great riches came to nothing.’ Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance ¹⁸ and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What is like this great city?’
¹⁹ “They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate.’
²⁰ “Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!”

Finality of Babylon’s Fall

²¹ Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore. ²² The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters shall not be heard in you anymore. No craftsman of any craft shall be found in you anymore, and the sound of a millstone shall not be heard in you anymore. ²³ The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived. ²⁴ And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth.”

The Parable of the Lost Sheep (Written by my wife)

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

My favorite parable from Jesus is The Parable of the Lost Sheep.  It is proof that Jesus loves us and does not want any of us to perish spiritually.  He is actively seeking out each and every one of us, and wants to welcome us into His fold.

There is more than one version of this parable, so I'll start with the one from Matthew:

“Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.  “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?  And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.  Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.  Matthew 18:10-14
 
As I am writing this, I am realizing there is so much to say on this topic, that it may be difficult to say all that is rattling around in my brain.  I pray I can convey all God is laying on my heart. 
 

 
First of all, Jesus already gave His life for us.  He shed us holy, sinless blood on the cross with the desire that we might live with Him forever. 
 
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  John 3:16
 
Christ does not have to do anything else; it is up us to choose to accept God's precious gift.  Yet, in spite of this fact, God still actively seeks each of us out and calls us to Him.  He will search for the one lost sheep that has wandered away.
 

 
I would next like to focus on what it means to be lost.  The bible makes it clear that we are all like sheep that have gone astray.   
 
But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53:5-6

Or put it another way:
 
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  Romans 3:23
 
Which means we are all in need of God's saving grace.  In another blog I will explore more on the topic that, although God is full of grace and mercy, there is a whole lot more to salvation than most churches preach.  For today, I will keep it more simple.
 
We all have sinned, but being a lost sheep does not just refer to those who have not received Christ as their Savior.  For one thing, we all sin most every day (without losing our salvation), which means we confess our sins daily.  There are those, whoever, who have been saved and have backslidden.  Therefore, to me this parable is also about those who received Christ as Lord of their life, then later fell away.  In other words, one can become lost again, even after God found you.
 
Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.  Revelation 2:5
 
There is no shame in admitting that we have done wrong and allow God to change us from the inside out.  Sometime that requires a daily cleansing and always a daily self-examination of our hearts.
 
Let my soul live, and it shall praise You;
And let Your judgments help me.
I have gone astray like a lost sheep;
Seek Your servant,
For I do not forget Your commandments.
Psalm 119:175-176

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 139:23-24 

 
Jesus loves us all very much and wants to rescue us from a life of sin.  He will never stop chasing us.  His Word shows He has compassion for us and longs to capture us forever.  He wants to teach us, guide us, direct us, encourage us.  He wants us to cling to the folds of His robes and learn at His feet (by daily reading the Bible).
 
And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.  Mark 6:34
 
Once we have been rescued, we are to remain changed.  We are not to give into the temptations of the world.  Reading the words of Jesus will really encourage and guide you in your daily walk.  Obviously, there is nothing wrong with the Old Testament and I love and study the entire bible.  However, if you truly want to learn and grow and be worthy of being rescued, studying the gospels and really allowing Jesus' own words to sink deep into your heart and soul will transform you.  I can say from experience that really focusing on the words of Christ will make you calmer and feel more at peace with every day life.  It will make it easier to live a life set apart from the ways of the world.   
 
Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.  For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.  1 Peter 2:1-3 & 21-25
 

Jesus referred to Himself as "The Good Shepherd," and He is indeed good.  Life is often full of pain, sorrow, and frustration, but God's love never changes.  Jesus is the only way to Salvation and a life of peace. 

Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.  I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.  The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.   “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.  But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.  The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.  I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.  As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.  And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.   “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.  No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”  John 10:7-18

Since I started with the Parable of the Lost Sheep from Matthew, I will end with the version of Luke: 

Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him.  And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” So He spoke this parable to them, saying:  “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?  5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.  Luke 15:1-7
 

Understanding The New Covenant

Understanding  The New Covenant

 

Colossians 2: 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.  15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. 16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,  17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.

Eph 2:14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,  15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,  16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.

There are many groups today that are teaching that God requires Christians to be Torah observant, but this is contrary to Scripture. Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law and wiped out the requirements of it, as well as taken it out of the way, through his death upon the cross (Col 2:14-17).  The Lord’s atonement provided for a new covenant that is based upon faith, as well as grace (unmerited favor).  The Law given to Moses by angels was necessary to teach us about sin, it was our school master, and as children the Israelites were kept by it, but as children they were also slaves to it (Gal 3:19-25).  But through Christ’s atonement upon the cross we have now been justified by faith, and are no longer slaves to the Law, but free men, who are sons, heirs of God (Gal 4:1-7). To put the heavy yoke of the Mosaic Law upon the necks of free men is to bring them under bondage, as well as a curse (Gal 3:10-14). The apostle Paul said that to be entangled again with the yoke of bondage by trying to be justified by the Law, will make you estranged from Christ, as well as fallen from grace.

 Gal 5:1  Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.  2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing.  3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law.  4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.  5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.  6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

Under the old covenant of the Law, men were required to be circumcised, as a sign of being in covenant with God, but the sign of being in covenant with Christ today, is water baptism. Through water baptism we proclaim, as well as identify with the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Under the old covenant, if a person was caught in adultery they would be stoned to death, but Christ said, that he who is without sin cast the first stone. Also, Christ taught that the old custom of eye for an eye, or tooth for a tooth, was replaced by turning the other cheek when slapped or wronged. Also, the dietary laws of the old testament were set in place to symbolize sin, but all food is declared to be clean through prayer, (Mark7:14-23) (1 Timothy 4:1-5) (Rom 14:1-6).

 I have never met a truly Torah observant person in my life. If a person buys a shirt that is a mix of polyester and cotton he is in violation of Torah, or a farmer raises two different crops within the same field, he is also in violation of Torah. If your house has mold in it, you are required to burn it down according to the Mosaic Law. I could go on and on with many examples of how it is impossible to keep the old Law.

 The early new testament Christians, as well as Christians  today, were and are, being influenced by those who teach that we are required to keep the Mosaic law.  The Apostles and Elders of the church at Jerusalem, under the leadership of James, the brother of Christ, made a decree concerning this matter. They were all in agreement, that the keeping of the Law should not be required of the Gentile Christians. They only asked that they would abstain from sexual immorality, eating food sacrificed to idols, eating of things strangled, as well as, the consumption of blood.  No further requirements were put upon these new converts.  But the new testament is clear that we need to be born again in order to be truly saved.  To be born again, we must repent and turn away from our sins, as well as, live a separated lifestyle from that of the sinful world.  We must truly make Jesus Christ the Lord of every area of our lives. The Law and the Prophets are fulfilled in one statement, You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, body, and soul, as well as love your neighbor as yourself.  Below, I have listed the Scriptures addressed in this writing.    

 The Jerusalem Decree

Acts15:19  Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God,  20 but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood.  21 For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.” 22 Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren. 23 They wrote this letter by them:  The apostles, the elders, and the brethren, To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.

24 Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law” —to whom we gave no such commandment—  25 it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,  26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth.  28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:  29 that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.

 

Galatians 3:1  O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?  2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?  3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?

Galatians 3: 10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.”  11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.”  12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.” 13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

 Purpose of the Law

Galatians 3: 19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator.  20 Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one. 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.  22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.  23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.  24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

Galatians 4: Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all,  2 but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father.  3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.  4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born  of a woman, born under the law,  5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”  7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Two Covenants

Galatians 4: 1 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law?  22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman.  23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise,  24 which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar—  25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children—  26 but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.  27 For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren, You who do not bear! Break forth and shout, You who are not in labor! For the desolate has many more children than she who has a husband.” 28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise.  29 But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now.  30 Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.”  31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.

Galatians 5: 1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.  2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing.  3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law.  4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.  5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.  6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

Galatians 5: 13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.  14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

 

Dietary laws

Mark 7: 14 When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear Me, everyone, and understand:  15 There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man.  16 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!” 17 When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable.  18 So He said to them, “Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him,  19 because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?”  20 And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man.  21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,  22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.  23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”

1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,  2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,  3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.  4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving;  5 for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

Romans 14:1  Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.  2 For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.  3 Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him.  4 Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. 5 One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.  6 He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.